The Gulf Estuarine Research Society (GERS) and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) South-Central and South-Atlantic chapters are convening a meeting on November 2-5, 2016 at the Hilton Pensacola Beach on Pensacola Beach, Florida. The theme for this meeting is: "Connections across the Gulf Coast: Watersheds, Wetlands, and Waterways." Both societies emphasize mentoring and support for students and early career professionals in aquatic and wetland sciences in the Gulf of Mexico region.