Dear IGAC Community –

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic that has reached every corner of the world, we believe it will be impossible to hold the 2020 16th IGAC Science Conference during the original dates 14-18 September 2020. Therefore, in consultation with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the Scientific Program Committee (SPC), we have decided to postpone the 16th IGAC Science Conference to 12-16 September 2021. The Manchester LOC has kindly agreed to host the conference in 2021, so the location will remain the same. Therefore, we will all be able to come together in Manchester as a community, one  year later than originally planned. We want to thank everyone that submitted an abstract by the 27 March 2020 deadline. It demonstrated to IGAC that even during these difficult times, the IGAC community is still eager to come together, share science, and build international collaborations.

There are several implications regarding the 16th IGAC Science Conference occurring in 2021 that we are still working out. Some of these are:

· The 2020 IGAC Early Career Short Course (ECSC) will also be postponed and will take place 9-11 September 2021 in Manchester, UK. At this time IGAC is assessing how it will move forward regarding the review of the applications it has received thus far, whether more applications will be accepted at a later date, how the definition of an early career scientist may change, etc. Please watch for further announcements regarding the ECSC later this spring/summer.

· The abstract submission system will be reopened to allow for the current abstracts that have been submitted to be edited or withdrawn and to allow for new abstract submissions. The SPC is assessing the timeline for when the abstract submission system will reopen and the new deadline for submitting an abstract. The description of the scientific program may also be slightly modified to include some of the research that will likely result due to the pandemic. Please watch for further announcements regarding abstract submissions and updates to the scientific program later this spring/summer.

· IGAC and our partner organization, the international Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP), have been in close contact and will continue to work together on how best to serve the international atmospheric chemistry community. IGAC and iCACGP have discussed the implications of moving the 16th IGAC Science Conference to 2021 and what it means for the 2022 International Atmospheric Chemistry Conference (jointly sponsored by the 15th Quadrennial iCACGP Symposium and the 17th IGAC Science Conference). iCACGP and IGAC have decided to move the joint conference to 2023 and subsequent IGAC Science Conferences and iCACGP Quadrennial Symposia will occur on odd years. Therefore, iCACGP and IGAC will be soliciting bids to host the 2023 International Atmospheric Chemistry Conference. The new deadline for bid solicitations is 26 February 2021. An updated bid announcement will be posted on igacproject.org.

We understand there are likely to be many questions from the community regarding these decisions. Therefore, we have set up a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page at igacproject.org/FAQ. If you have a question that is not addressed on the FAQ page, please send it to info@igacproject.org. We will continue to update the FAQ page as we receive questions.

We realize that many of you or your loved ones are suffering at this time and some of you will have lost people who are dear to you, our thoughts are most definitely with you all.  Please ensure that you take every possible precaution.

Sincerely,

IGAC

iCACGP

16th IGAC Science Conference Manchester LOC

16th IGAC Science Conference SPC