Decades of research on the fluid dynamics of individual appendages and propulsors have increased our overall understanding of flying and swimming. However, investigating the fluid dynamics of coordinated appendages sequentially beating in a metachronal pattern can require different approaches and frameworks, since fluid structures can synergistically interact to produce forces that could not be predicted from each appendage alone. This tactic is used by a large number of invertebrate animals (including crustaceans, polychaetes, ctenophores, and insect nymphs) during a variety of functional behaviors (e.g. swimming, feeding, and pumping). Because these animals are so dissimilar in other ways, there has been no prior opportunity for researchers to come together to discuss the salient commonality of metachronal motion. The purpose of this symposium is to bring together the heretofore disparate community of researchers working on the fluid dynamics of coordinated appendages in order to begin building a cross-specific and cross-disciplinary knowledge base. Speakers and attendees include biologists, engineers, and mathematicians from all career stages, working on a wide variety of model systems. The overall goal of the symposium is to establish a multifaceted foundation for what will become a robust and thriving community centered on metachronal swimming and pumping.