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Rising TIDES
(Toward an Inclusive, Diverse, and Enriched Society)
2017 Conference Mentoring Program

The Rising TIDES 2017 Conference Mentoring Program application period is now CLOSED. This page is an archive for reference only.

CERF’s Rising TIDES initiative promotes opportunities for all underrepresented minorities while cultivating a culture that actively engages and leverages diversity of all types. The Rising TIDES Conference Mentoring Program will jointly support underrepresented minority (URM) students and mentors to participate in CERF 2017 - 24th Biennial Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, 5-9 November 2017. Through joint support of both students and mentors, this program aims to enhance career development of URM students, ensure that students participating in the program will have sustained mentorship following the conference, help develop a community of practice for CERF members who are engaged in building diversity and inclusion within their own organizations and across institutions, and involve those who are already mentors of URM students in helping to transform CERF into a broadly inclusive society.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

The deadline for receiving applications and letters of recommendation is 7 July 2017, at midnight (EDT).  Award offers will be issued via email by 14 August 2017.

  • The goal of this mentoring program is to broaden participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ community, women, people with disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, people with disabilities) in coastal and estuarine science and in CERF. Applications must be submitted by students and will be evaluated in terms of how participation would help accomplish this goal.

  • Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in an accredited baccalaureate or advanced degree program in a coastal, estuarine, or related science.

  • Applications are being accepted by CERF and by each of its seven Affiliate Societies through the common application. Applicants do not need to be a member of CERF and/or an Affiliate Society to apply; however, for an application to be evaluated by an Affiliate Society, the applicant must reside in or belong to an institution in the Affiliate Society’s respective region.

  • Each award will be granted jointly to a student/mentor pair. Student applicants may identify a mentor who will also participate in the program. Mentors should be professionals with established, ongoing relationships with student applicants; mentors could be faculty advisors or other faculty members from students’ home institutions or could be other science professionals. Students who have not identified a mentor may request a mentor through CERF.

  • Mentors are expected to participate in the morning and afternoon Rising TIDES Sunday workshops described below, to support students throughout the conference as meeting-mentors, and to mentor students through the following year or more. If you are interested in serving as a mentor for the Rising TIDES program, please send an email to Hilary Neckles at [email protected].
  • Every application must have one supporting letter of recommendation submitted by the student’s mentor or by someone (not a relative) who can speak to the applicant’s academic and career potential. The recommendation letter must be submitted directly to the online form. Recommendation letters are also due by Midnight EDT on 7 July 2017. 

  • Abstract submission is not an eligibility requirement, but preference will be given to students who have/are intending to submit presentation abstracts. Although the original deadline for abstract submission has passed, there will be a second call for late-breaking poster (only) abstracts with a submission deadline of mid-August.

Program Components

Ten student/mentor pairs will be selected to participate in the Rising TIDES 2017 Conference Mentoring Program, including one from each Affiliate Society region and three from the community at large. The program begins Sunday morning, 5 November and extends through Thursday afternoon, 9 November.  The following components apply to both students and mentors selected for this program:

  • Paid conference registration fee
  • Rising TIDES workshop Part I on Sunday morning featuring testimonials by URM professionals on paths to success and small group discussions with speakers, URM mentors, and other CERF members
  • Buffet luncheon with workshop participants
  • Rising TIDES workshop Part II Sunday afternoon on Building and Embracing CERF Diversity (expected for mentors; included among afternoon workshop options for students)
  • Monday-morning breakfast with the full Meeting Mentoring Program
  • Ticket to the CERF Inclusion Luncheon on Tuesday

Additional student benefits:

  • Reimbursement of travel expenses to attend the conference, and paid hotel (double occupancy) and meal allowance during the conference
  • Opportunity to participate in other workshops Sunday afternoon on topics useful for students
  • Other student-oriented activities throughout the conference
  • Free two-year student membership to CERF

Additional mentor benefits:

  • Up to $500 (USD) reimbursement of travel expenses to attend the conference

The Rising TIDES 2017 Conference Mentoring Program is supported by NSF Award No 1734775 and contributions from CERF. 

Please contact [email protected] if you have questions.