Buddy Program FAQ

Buddy Program

The National Adaptation Forum Buddy Program aims to facilitate a welcoming environment, foster conversation, build affinity across shared experiences or identities, create relationship-building with lasting collaborations, and encourage shared expertise and guidance among Forum participants, regardless of career stage. 

Your match is intended to be a friendly face, someone to discuss sessions with, and to help alleviate the stress that can come from entering a space where you might not know a lot of people.

  • When you register for the Forum, you will have the opportunity to express interest in participating. The Forum Team anticipates sign-ups will remain open until March 20th.
  • After March 20th, interested participants will receive a form to identify information about what criteria you prefer we use to match you up. You must fill this out to be matched!
  • The Forum Team will aim to provide matches by the end of April, giving you and your match several weeks to connect ahead of the event. 
  • A member of the Forum Team will email you and your match to make an initial connection, and you will take it from there!
  • Don’t worry! If we can’t find an exact match based on the criteria you outlined, we’ll reach out to see if you’re okay with a fellow that doesn’t exactly meet your original criteria.
  • In some cases, we may end up making three-person groups to best align interests and criteria.
  • As much as you and your match would like and agree to!
  • At a minimum, we expect you to contact your match before you arrive at the Forum and that you plan at least one meeting during the Forum. The structure and number of interactions are entirely up to you and your match.
  • Once your match is made, it is your responsibility to connect and coordinate meeting up before and during the Forum. 
  • Once you’re at the Forum, we expect you to meet up at least once, maybe for a meal or break, connect at the dedicated Poster & Networking Reception, visit the attendee activity area, or even attend a session together!
  • Topics of conversation could include, but are not limited to:
    • What are you hoping to get out of this conference?
    • What are you most excited about?
    • What sessions are you hoping to attend? 
    • How did you get into the field of climate change adaptation?
    • What’s your favorite part of your job? Your least favorite?
    • Do you know anyone else who is attending who I should connect with?
    • How can I support you and help make this conference experience better for you?
    • Have you experienced any professional challenges or successes, and how have you navigated them?
  • When you sign up to take part in the National Adaptation Forum Fellows Program, you are agreeing to have your name, email address, organizational/institutional affiliation, and why you were connected (e.g. based on similar interest) shared with your eventual match.
  • Any information disclosed during the registration process will remain confidential and will only be seen and used by the Forum Team for the purposes of making a match. None of this information, outside of the items listed above, will be shared.