FORAMS 2026
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. When is the abstract deadline?
· The deadline to submit abstracts has been extended to Sunday March 15.
2. How long are the talks?
· 15 minutes total. Please plan on 10-12 minutes for the presentation and 3 minutes for questions.
· Our 4 plenary talks will be 30 minutes.
3. I am not able to attend FORAMS 2026 in person. Is there a remote option?
· Yes, you can attend remotely to listen to presentations, and to make your presentation.
· Registration for remote participation is $100, which will include a pdf of the program with abstracts.
4. Can I submit an abstract now, and register for the meeting later?
· Yes. Upload the abstract and proceed to the Registration page. Begin the Registration process, but select "Abstract Submission Only. I will come back to finish my registration”.
5. Can I upload and present poster abstracts on behalf of students/colleagues not attending?
· Yes, but there will still be an abstract fee of $20 per abstract.
6. I can only attend for one day. Is there a one-day Registration rate?
· Yes. $150 will include lunch, remote access for the rest of the meeting, and the Program and Abstract volume.
7. Can spouses/partners participate?
· Spouses/partners and families welcome! There is much for them to do while you're attending talks.
· No Registration cost. There is a $55 charge for the Symposium Dinner for spouses/partners.
8. I need to apply for a visa to travel to the U.S. Can I receive an invitation letter in support of my visa application?
· Yes. Contact F26 Organizing Committee Chair Mark Leckie directly (leckie@umass.edu).
· Mark will need confirmation that you have, or will, Register for the meeting and where you will be staying for the duration of the meeting (e.g., Hotel UMass or the North Residence suites).
9. How do I get from the airport in Logan International Airport in Boston (BOS), Bradley International Airport in Hartford (BDL), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark NJ?
· There is no train service to Amherst from Boston or Hartford. You can take a bus or shuttle service.
· For the NYC and Newark NJ airports, consult Google for various options to go from the airport to Penn Station train station. There is train service from NYC to Springfield MA (or Northampton MA), but then you would need to get a bus or Uber or Lyft to Amherst and the UMass campus.
Please find details on the Conference Information dropdown tab, and sign up on the Registration page.
10. Are there any workshops that are being offered?
There are three workshops that will be offered on Wednesday afternoon, June 24.
1. Teaching Microfossils with the Innovative App FossilSketch: Led by Christina Belanger, Anna Stepanova, and Katherine Cherry (Texas A&M University), this workshop will give geoscience educators practical experience working with the FossilSketch app to teach about foraminiferal morphology, assemblage analysis, and environmental applications of assemblage data. Maximum participants: 40; Cost: $10.
2. Triton Hackathon for Foraminiferal Macroecology and Macroevolution: Led by Adam Woodhouse (Cardiff University) and Anshuman Swain (University of Michigan), this workshop will train participants to use the Triton database, the most comprehensive record of Cenozoic planktonic foraminiferal occurrences, for macroecological and macroevolutionary research. Designed for graduate students, postdocs, and researchers alike, the course equips attendees with practical skills, collaborative experience, and new approaches to unlocking insights from the fossil record. Maximum participants: 25; Cost: $10.
3. Planktic and Benthic Foraminiferal Taxonomy Drop-in Hours: Biostratigraphers and taxonomists, including Brian Huber, Mimi Katz, Adriane Lam, Mark Leckie, Renata Moura, and Ellen Thomas, will be available Wednesday afternoon to help with any planktic and benthic foraminiferal identification questions you may have. Core and outcrop reference collections through the Cenozoic and late Mesozoic will be available for viewing. Maximum participants: Unlimited; Cost: Free.
Please find details on the Conference Information dropdown tab, and sign up on the Registration page.
11. Are there any field trips associated with FORAMS 2026?
There are 3 field trips being offered. Space is limited.
1. Connecticut salt marsh trip being led by Johan Varenkamp and Ellen Thomas on Sunday June 21. The trip will depart UMass at 7:30 am and return to UMass ~3:30 pm (Ice Breaker starts at 4 pm). Limited to 24 participants. Cost: $20 for boxed lunch.
2. Pioneer Valley geology field trip led by Julie Brigham-Grette and Mark Leckie on Saturday June 27. The trip will depart UMass at 7:30 am and return to UMass that evening. Limited to 48 participants. Cost: $20 for boxed lunch.
3. K-Pg boundary in New Jersey led by Ken Miller, Jim Browning, and Sean Kinney on Saturday June 27 ending at Newark Airport by ~6:30 pm (Note: need to leave UMass ~6 pm Friday June 26, drive to Piscataway and stay at a hotel). Limited to 20 participants. Estimated cost: $110, including Friday night accommodations.
Please sign up on the Registration page.
12. What else is there to do in the Amherst area and in Boston?
In addition to field trips, there are many events and/or places to visit. For example,
· Explore more of Amherst MA, shops, restaurants, breweries, Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College. https://www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory
· Explore Northampton MA, shops, restaurants, breweries.
· Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield MA, where basketball was invented in 1891. https://www.hoophall.com
· MGM Springfield. https://mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com/en.html
· World Cup is being hosted at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Check the schedule and ticket availability. https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/usa/boston https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/scores-fixtures?country=US&wtw-filter=AL
· Boston Red Sox (professional baseball) at Fenway Park in Boston (the oldest baseball stadium in the country). During F26, Boston is in town against the NY Yankees (no better rivalry in baseball!) Thursday June 25 at 7:10 pm, Friday June 26 at 7:10 pm, Saturday June 27 at 1:10 pm (get your tickets early), and Sunday June 28 at 7:20 pm. Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/boston-red-sox-tickets/artist/805904?home_away=home
· Tours of Boston, including The Freedom Trail. Two examples of many: Boston by Foot walking tours: https://bostonbyfoot.org; Duck Boat Tours: https://bostonducktours.com;
· Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market in Boston: https://faneuilhallmarketplace.com; https://www.quincy-market.com
· New England Aquarium in Boston. https://www.neaq.org
· Italian restaurants in the Boston North End, and many excellent seafood restaurants in Boston. For example: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/best-north-end-restaurants/; https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/best-seafood-restaurants-in-boston/