The 2013 COPUS Invitational (II)

On April 12-14, 2013, COPUS convened its second Invitational Unconference at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA. This conference was small in size (~ 35 maximum), but huge in impact. It follows from the initial COPUS Unconference held at the Biosphere in Arizona in 2012 in which 57 individuals came together, mostly meeting for the first time, to talk about a common concern - how the public perceives and interacts with science. That conference was truly something quite unique - a meeting of unparalleled energies that has become the signature of COPUS. We encourage you to read about the 2012 Conference in greater detail here...

This year many of the 2012 attendees (now known as the COPUS Corps) returned but we had a few new individuals who were enthusiastic about participating in COPUS and helping to build the next phase of its efforts. The event was built on the strengths of last year's event and to address the suggestions of the Corps, the event was half structured as a working group, half unstructured as an unconference.

The results of the meeting are a framework that provided participants and COPUS members something that (1) they can help to build and participate in, (2) they can "use" to further strengthen their individual efforts, and/or (3) provided more sustained interaction between the participants - a real community.

The expectation of participants were that they participate robustly at the meeting; connect their programs, activities, or energies to the products of the meeting; and that their participation endures through the duration of what is built. COPUS is not a "job" for anyone, but a volunteer effort that comes from and feeds into the needs and goals of its participants. Participation came easily and were enjoyable and productive.

2013 COPUS Invitational at a glance:

Who/What: The COPUS Invitational was an invitation only event organized by COPUS. The number of attendees were limited to ~35 to allow for the formation of in-depth connections.

When/Where: April 12-14, 2013 at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA.

How: Thanks to generous support from donors such as the Whitman Institute, travel and meeting expenses will be paid for most participants at this event.

♥ A special thank you to our primary sponsor for the Unconference: