CERF Inclusion Event: Reflecting on the Past, Mapping the Course for Our Future

Wednesday, 3 November 2021

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET / 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM PT
FREE for conference attendees!

If you are interested in facilitating during the breakout rooms, please contact us.

CERF is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year! As we reach this major milestone, we are taking a moment to consider the evolution of our organization, including both progress and challenges. We will be exploring how CERF and the Inclusion Event have changed over the last 50 years and what that means for diversity and inclusion. There will be time to reflect on individual growth and experiences during the facilitated breakout room discussions. To map the course of the future, we will be gathering input through Padlet from all of the attendees on challenges, resources, and suggestions on how to improve inclusivity in the CERF community. After the event, all of the information will be provided to the Inclusion Event attendees and recommended to CERF for the future. 

Our keynote speakers Dr. Nancy Rabalais and Mr. Johnny Quispe will lead the audience through presentations before going into breakout rooms. They will reflect on their own experiences with CERF and provide examples of progress and opportunities that attendees can take with them.

Since we will all be tuning in from different locations and time zones, we invite you to bring a dish that represents you! It can be breakfast, lunch, or even a favorite snack.

About the Speakers

Dr. Nancy Rabalais
	Dr. Nancy Rabalais Professor and Shell Endowed Chair in Oceanography and Wetland Studies, Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University Dr. Nancy Rabalais has dedicated over 30 years to studying coastal change issues such as eutrophication and human impacts on coastal and wetland sciences. Dr. Rabalais was CERF’s president from 1997 to 1999 and attended the very first CERF Women’s Luncheon. They have guided younger scientists throughout the years and provided numerous opportunities for them to explore coastal issues, including a recent publication that walks through a 36-year career of studying dissolved oxygen in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.
Johnny Quispe
	Johnny Quispe Doctorate Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Rutgers University Mr. Johnny Quispe’s research incorporates interdisciplinary approaches to address climate change and coastal resilience. Mr. Quispe is CERF’s Student Member-At-Large and received the Risings TIDES award at CERF’s 2017 conference. Mr. Quispe is passionate about enhancing diversity and inclusion in coastal sciences by participating in the Broadening Perspectives council and in their research, connecting communities, particularly those that are marginalized, to coastal issues.