Since its beginnings, the International Cassiopea Workshop has prioritized fostering a professionally and socially non-discriminative environment as the foundation of our mission. For our organizers and participants, it is second nature to approach this space with a welcoming mindset. This spirit creates a uniquely collaborative atmosphere where differences are not just acknowledged but celebrated. We are keenly aware of the varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that our participants bring, and actively strive to support the scientific endeavors of participants from a variety of disciplines, in terms including but not limited to global, disciplinary, occupational, career stage, age, cultural, ethnic, gender, mental/physical health, and socioeconomic background. Championing these values, we as a community are rooted in the scientific and social legacy of Dr. Robert Trench, who advanced the study of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses by integrating multiple disciplines, while also confronting social prejudices and overturning biases to earn respect amongst his peers.
Figure 1. Workshop attendees at the 2023 International Cassiopea Workshop.
We remain conscious of historical exclusion of certain groups and thus seek to continually learn, improve, and expand our efforts towards fostering a multifaceted community. Over the years, we have successfully increased participation with each workshop, creating a dynamic, global network of researchers, educators, and students. What began as a simple gathering of minds has evolved into a vibrant, welcoming platform where everyone—regardless of their nationality, career stage, or scientific interests—feels valued and empowered to contribute to our expanding team.
As the workshop grows, it is increasingly important to acknowledge the barriers that many face for success in the scientific world. As an organization, we commit to identifying and removing barriers to participation in the workshop, and the Cassiopea community in general. For instance, we strive to overcome any language barriers by providing closed captions, interpreters, or translators for those who may need one. Additionally, we make sure that virtual participation options are always available to accommodate people that cannot join us physically. It is also our goal for our workshop to be held in a space with mobility aids for those who may need them. We understand that financial accessibility is also a big barrier to entry, thus we try to provide as many funding opportunities as possible to lower this barrier for our participants.
Figure 2. Summary of International Cassiopea Workshop (ICW) Attendance. The number of participants to the workshop has increased gradually each year (purple = female; orange = male), outgrowing the conference space at the Key Largo Marine Research Laboratory. The ICW highlights early career scientists, reflected in the number of graduate student attendees. The ICW also works to increase attendance globally.
We will regularly evaluate and revise our mission statement, goals and code of conduct to better embody our mission and values by reviewing the organization’s successes, failures, and progress towards each of our goals set forth in the statement. This evaluation will also incorporate feedback from meeting attendees, lessons learned from other organizations, and solutions to potential challenges we may face in the future.
We hope that being welcoming to all will ensure that the Cassiopea Workshop remains a space where innovation thrives, collaborations flourish, and meaningful connections are forged, setting a standard for professional and academic communities worldwide.