FishCAST & ACARE-AWIS Workshop at IAGLR 2024

Joint Workshop between FishCAST and ACARE-AWIS at IAGLR 2024 a chance for early-career researchers to share experiences

Windsor recently hosted the annual conference for the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) from May 20-24, 2024. Every year the IAGLR conference brings together aquatic scientists from across the world to share research and build connections. On Wednesday, May 22, members from the FishCAST Team in collaboration with members from the African Centre for Education and Research’s African Women in Science delegation hosted a networking workshop aimed at early career researchers. 

The workshop - Curating our Communities: Professional Networking Support in the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences - was designed to facilitate networking among early career researchers. Thanks to our incredible FishCAST community, seasoned professionals from University of Windsor, University of Manitoba, Wildlife Conservation of Canada, and WSP helped facilitate discussions and share their experiences in the aquatic science fields. Participants were in attendance from around the world, including Canada, United States, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Organizers invited participants to get to know each other with a friendly game of Bingo as an ice breaker activity over breakfast.

The workshop began with a ceremonial opening by Indigenous Elder Lucy Harrison from Walpole Island First Nation, who shared teachings on the vitality of water and the importance of connecting our work with local communities and one another. Participants then gathered at tables assigned by aquatic science topics, such Invasive Species, Restoration, and Community Engagement. The Organizing Committee was thrilled to see the connections being made across the room.

Graphical notetaker, Nik Charette, was on hand to record the main ideas and highlights from the discussions. Check out Nik’s work via these links: Page 1 and Page 2.