CERF 2025 Collab Session A

Monday, 10 November 2025  |  10:00 AM - 11:30 AM ET 

ICC Open Session

Affinity Group Welcome Event

Early Career Networking Event


Description

The Early Career Networking Event provides a space for students and those early in their careers to converse with one another and with professionals who are already established in their careers. Attendees will be able to meet a variety of professionals spanning four broad career paths: 1) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and non-profits; 2) Academia; 3) Private industry/Consulting; and 4) Government (federal and/or state). Overall, this event will provide an opportunity to meet others across various career stages and to build professional connections.

Facilitators

  • Lesley Baggett, AKRF, Inc.
  • Sohaib Alahmed, Halff Associates, Inc.

From Awareness to Action: Building Effective Coastal Science Accomplices/Diverse Teams


Description 

This interactive workshop transforms awareness into meaningful action for coastal science professionals committed to equity and inclusion. Participants will develop practical skills for supporting underrepresented colleagues, learn to recognize and address systemic barriers, and create actionable plans for fostering inclusive coastal research and practice environments.

Facilitators

  • Kristy Lewis, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography
  • Danielle Perry, NOAA

Evaluating Your Co-Production Process: Strategies and Tools

Description

Co-production is the collaboration of researchers and stakeholders throughout the research process. The co-production process endeavors to bring researchers closer to a specific issue and generate more useful and relevant research outputs. Co-production is widely supported, but monitoring and evaluation of co-production is less common. This Collab Session includes evaluation professionals and team leaders to share their experiences in assessing co-production efforts. We will discuss the opportunities and barriers to creating actionable science and inclusive and equitable spaces for science co-production to occur and identify concrete strategies and tools for implementing co-production processes.

Facilitators

  • Miranda Madrid, NOAA RESTORE Science Program / CSS, Inc.
  • Wendy-Lin Bartels, University of Florida (UF), Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute
  • Carrie Furman

All Things Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Description 

This dynamic session brings together researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts from all career stages to explore topics related to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV). Featuring partner updates, interactive discussions, and innovative facilitation techniques, the session encourages active engagement and meaningful networking, especially for early-career attendees. Participants will drive the conversation by selecting discussion topics and engaging in structured activities to foster collaboration and generate actionable insights. Join us to share updates, build connections, and shape the future of SAV research, conservation, and restoration.

Facilitators

  • Jessie Jarvis, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Brooke Landry, Maryland DNR
  • Jamie Vaudrey, University of Connecticut

Collaborative Research at all scales: Working WITH communities, from NERRS to Internation

 

Description

Coming soon!

Facilitators

  • Jennifer Read, UM Water Center
  • Douglas George, NOAA
  • Katie May Laumann, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science