Inclusive Culture 

CERF is dedicated to broadening participation in coastal and estuarine science and management. CERF's Inclusive Culture programs promote opportunities for individuals from groups underrepresented in CERF disciplines and professions while cultivating a culture of belonging that actively engages and leverages diversity throughout our organization.

The Rising TIDES Program supports students historically underrepresented in CERF disciplines to participate in the CERF conference and Affiliate Society meetings through mentoring, professional development, and cohort building, while infusing inclusive practices and activities throughout the conferences. The Inclusive Culture Council guides the development and implementation of Rising TIDES initiatives. CERF also collaborates actively with partners to expand diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice throughout the coastal, ocean, and marine science enterprise.

Please click the links below to find out more!

Defining Diversity and Our Values 

CERF respects and values the many facets of diversity. These include differences among individuals in social identity such as race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity and expression, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, veteran status and socioeconomic background, as well as differences in discipline, career path, and life experience. From these differences arise a wide range of perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. Multi-faceted programming focuses on increasing the diversity of our society, by creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute to our mission. By creating a culture of inclusion and belonging, and leveraging our differences as a strength, the relevance and effectiveness of coastal and estuarine science in tackling complex ecological and societal issues will be enhanced.

Taking Action

Selected outcomes from CERF's sustained efforts to weave inclusivity throughout all aspects of our society and disciplines. 

Guiding Document

The Broadening Participation
Comprehensive Plan guides all of CERF
toward an inclusive culture and climate by
building representational, structural, and
interactional diversity. Read here.

Recent paper published by members of the
CERF Inclusive Culture Council

“For most of the scientific disciplines associated
with coastal and estuarine research, workforce
representation does not match the demographics
of communities we serve, especially for
Black, Hispanic or Latino, and Indigenous peoples.
This paper provides an overview of this inequity
and identifies how a scientific society can catalyze
representational, structural, and interactional
diversity to achieve greater inclusion.” (Harris et al. 2022)
Read here.

 

 


Earlier Conferences