Society for Freshwater Science - Benthos News

Call for Abstracts: Pacific Northwest Chapter

webeditor — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 00:43:40 +0000

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

When: October 26th-28th, 2021
Where: Olympia, Washington*
In person & virtual
*more details to follow

You are invited to submit an abstract for an individual presentation or roundtable discussion during our 2021 meeting. Presentations should inform our understanding and management of aquatic ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. We are currently planning sessions which could include:

Macroinvertebrates, Algae and Bioassessment
Urban Waters
Freshwater Mussels
River Fragmentation and Connectivity
Climate Change.

Please send abstracts (<200 words) as a .docx file to Jessie Doyle at jdoyle@csumb.edu no later than September 16th, 2021. Abstract submissions should include name, affiliation, and abstract body. We hope to select and notify authors by September 30th, 2021.

**NEW** This year we will be putting together our first meeting proceedings. To submit to the proceedings please bring a manuscript of your presentation results to the meeting on October 26th. Submissions will be reviewed and revised within two months of the conference for website publication. All submissions are welcomed even those with working projects or with just initial results.

Please contact Bob Danehy (Chapter Chair; danehy@catchmentae.com), Rob Plotnikoff (President-Elect; Robert.Plotnikoff@snoco.org), or Jessie Doyle (Secretary/Treasurer; jdoyle@csumb.edu) if you have any questions or need additional information.

Thank you to the planning committee members: Bob Danehy, Robert Plotnikoff, Oliver Miler, Sara Owen, Celeste Searles Mazzacano, Dorene MacCoy, Chad Larson, Francine Mejia, Mindy Allen, David Wooster and Jessie Doyle

SFS Announces 2021 Leadership Election Results

webeditor — Tue, 04 May 2021 00:19:18 +0000

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Benthos News

The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) is honored to announce the results of its 2021 leadership elections. The Society is an international scientific organization whose purpose is to promote further understanding of freshwater ecosystems and ecosystems at the interface between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The Society fosters the exchange of scientific information among the membership, and with other professional societies, resource managers, policymakers, educators, and the public.

Members of the SFS voted virtually, including students, general members, and emeritus members; the results are as follows:

President: Steve Thomas, PhD. Thomas is a Professor in the School of Natural Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He focuses on river and stream ecology and has previously served in a range of leadership roles in the Society. Thomas will serve as President-Elect for one year beginning this month until he assumes leadership in May 2022.

Treasurer: Peter Levi, PhD. Levi is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability at Drake University. Levi has served in various roles in the Society, including on the Finance Committee.

Academic Representative: Lauren Kinsman-Costello, PhD. Kinsman-Costello is an Assistant Professor in Kent State University’s Biological Sciences Department and has been a member of the Society since 2008.

Early Career Representative: Ann Marie Reinhold, PhD. Reinhold is a hydroecologist and interdisciplinary scientist who hopes to welcome a broader spectrum of freshwater science careers into the Society.

The Society is excited to welcome these accomplished individuals into their new leadership roles, with terms set to commence upon the conclusion of the SFS annual meeting in May.

“It is an honor to have been elected as president of the Society for Freshwater Science,” said Thomas. “I have been enamored by rivers and streams since spending my childhood along the St. Lawrence River. I look forward to working toward growing our Society into a truly international community by finding new ways of engaging with freshwater scientists across the globe. In this process, I will continue to champion our commitment to a culture of inclusion, as called for in our 2020-2025 strategic plan, to elevate and expand the reach of our society.”

The Society for Freshwater Science is a premier international organization for aquatic scientists and anyone interested in freshwater science. For more about the Society for Freshwater Science, visit www.freshwater-science.org.

SFS By-Laws - Revisions

webeditor — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 18:41:41 +0000

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Benthos News

At the 2021 SFS Virtual Annual Meeting, members will vote on changes to the Society's By-Laws. The proposed by-laws and the changes are posted below for review.

Proposed SFS By-Laws

Changes to Existing By-Laws

Voting will take place live during the Business Lunch on Wednesday, 26 May from 2-3:30pm Eastern time. We encourage all members to review the summary of proposed By-laws changes as well as the revised By-laws text in advance of casting their vote.

New BRIDGES Fact Sheet

webeditor — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 23:53:45 +0000

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Benthos News

BRIDGES is a forum for contrasting or complementary perspectives on new and emerging ideas in aquatic science. Clusters of short articles offering different perspectives within a topic area are welcome. Topics that build across disciplines are preferred, e.g., integrating public policy and science, improving communication among scientists and other communities, or linking scientific disciplines. BRIDGES fact sheets highlight the main points of each BRIDGES cluster using non-technical language to aid in the accessibility of BRIDGES issues.

Freshwater Science BRIDGES issues are published about once a year and are comprised of a cluster of short articles offering different perspectives within a topic area. BRIDGES fact sheets highlight the main points of each BRIDGES cluster using non-technical language to aid in the accessibility of BRIDGES issues.

See the latest BRIDGES here.

SOCIETY FOR FRESHWATER SCIENCE ANNOUNCES 2021 FELLOWS

webeditor — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 23:33:54 +0000

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Benthos News

MARCH 11, 2021 — The Society for Freshwater Science is pleased to announce its 2021 Fellows.

“SFS Fellows are those who have led, shaped, and inspired the field of freshwater science,” said Dr. Alonso Ramirez, president of the Society. “These scientists have been recognized for game-changing contributions to our field. They have pushed the boundaries of freshwater science in research, teaching, policy, and management and have advanced our understanding in these areas. They have also built and supported networks of scientific collaboration, increasing the capacity and reach of our science. All of our work is stronger as a result of their contributions.”

This is the fourth year of the Fellows program and each class of Fellows is chosen by past Fellows. The 2021 Fellows include:

Leonard Ferrington, Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. Ferrington research focuses on the significance of Chironomidae in aquatic ecosystems. He has been a continuous member of SFS since 1974 and has served in various positions in the society, including President in 1989-1990.
Mary Freeman, ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and is dedicated to communication and connection with water managers and stakeholders. Freeman is also the recipient of the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award.
Judith Li, associate professor of fisheries (retired). Li’s research interests focused on riparian food webs, examining macroinvertebrates as resources for aquatic and terrestrial predators in mesic and semi-arid watersheds. In her retirement, Li has written several books encouraging the understanding of science by lay audiences, including elementary-aged students.
John Morse, internationally renowned caddisfly systematist studying the identification, biology, and evolution of Trichoptera worldwide since 1967. Morse is a SFS Distinguished Service Awardee and a founder and Co-Chair of the SFS Taxonomic Certification Committee.
Alan Steinman, Allen and Helen Hunting Director of the Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley University. Steinman’s current research interests include the study and mitigation of internal phosphorus loading in lakes and wetland ecosystems, valuation of aquatic ecosystem services, and cyanotoxin impacts in the Great Lakes and China.
Caryn Vaughn, George Lynn Cross Distinguished Research Professor and Presidential Professor in the Department of Biology and Oklahoma Biological Survey at the University of Oklahoma. Over the past 30 years, integrative research in her laboratory has demonstrated that mussels are hotspots of biological activity in rivers, providing biogenic habitat and modifying sediments, filtering the water, and storing and recycling nutrients.

The Fellows will be formally recognized and will receive their medal during the Society for Freshwater Science’s annual meeting in a plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, May 25 from 12-1:30 p.m. More about the Fellows program and accolades of the 2021 class can be found at www.freshwater-science.org.

SOCIETY FOR FRESHWATER SCIENCE ANNOUNCES 2021 CAREER AWARD RECIPIENTS

webeditor — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 01:45:18 +0000

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Benthos News

MARCH 10, 2021 — The Society for Freshwater Science is pleased to announce the honorees of three Career Awards.

“Our Career Awards recognize outstanding contributions in advancing freshwater science through research, translating this science into policy or social action, and service to SFS,” said Dr. Alonso Ramirez, president of the Society. “These three scholars and leaders have all exhibited excellence in their varied contributions to our field around the world.”

The 2021 Career Award winners are:

Award of Excellence: Chuck Hawkins. The Award of Excellence honors someone who has made outstanding contributions to freshwater science. The scope of the award reflects the broad interests and expertise exhibited in the Society. Hawkins is a Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University (USU) and Co-Director of the USU/Bureau of Land Management National Aquatic Monitoring Center. Chuck’s productive research career captures a wide breadth of topics from examining the fundamental ecology of organisms to predicting how freshwater ecosystems will adjust to climate change at continental scales. He was elected to the SFS Fellows in 2018 and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Freshwater Science. Chuck’s contributions to research on freshwater ecosystems, aquatic bioassessment, and leadership across freshwater science will impact current and future generations of freshwater scientists for years to come.
Environmental Stewardship Award: Mary Freeman. The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes someone who has worked successfully to translate scientific knowledge into the social/public arena. Freeman is a research ecologist with the US Geological Survey and is dedicated to communication and connection with water managers and stakeholders. This focus has helped lead holistic management and conservation strategies for rivers in the United States and abroad.
Hynes Award for New Investigators: Rafael Almeida. The Hynes Award honors a freshwater scientist who was senior author of an outstanding primary publication that appeared in print in the last three calendar years. Almeida is a sustainability scientist motivated by the challenge of providing energy and food to a growing human population in a fast-changing world. In a recent publication, Rafael and co-authors used a multi-objective optimization framework to demonstrate that low-carbon expansion of hydropower in the Amazon basin relies on strategically selecting future dam sites.

More about the Career Awards and the 2021 awardees can be found at www.freshwater-science.org. The Society for Freshwater Science is a premier international organization for aquatic scientists and anyone interested in freshwater science. For more about the Society for Freshwater Science, visit www.freshwater-science.org.

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Student Registration Fee Waivers

webeditor — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 02:49:42 +0000

Monday, February 22, 2021

Benthos News

Registration awards are available to cover the $30 student registration fee for graduate and undergraduate students attending the 2021 SFS Virtual Annual Meeting. This award is not merit based, meaning that selection of applicants is not based on student achievement. We hope to be able to use this award opportunity to increase the diversity of our student community. Demographic information will be used to assist us in that process, but providing this information is optional, and individual responses will be kept strictly confidential.

Undergraduate student form

Graduate student form

Deadline: 10 April, 2021

SFS Council of Underrepresented Voices: Call for Nominations

webeditor — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 00:59:36 +0000

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Benthos News

Nominations are now being accepted by SFS’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force for members of the newly formed SFS Council of Underrepresented Voices (CUV). The CUV will enhance the efforts of the JEDI Task Force by establishing a dedicated forum for representative members of underrepresented groups to convene and provide perspective and guidance on SFS goals, operations, and initiatives. The CUV will provide a safe space where all ideas and opinions are welcomed and cherished, and will play a key role in SFS’ path to become a truly diverse and inclusive Society. The following include some of the proposed responsibilities of the CUV:

Monitor and synthesize perceptions of SFS underrepresented members
Suggest and develop programming around justice and equity within SFS
Provide guidance and feedback on SFS initiatives
Summarize needs of minority groups to SFS JEDI Task Force, Diversity and Education Committee, and SFS Board of Directors
Support and enhance recruitment efforts of underrepresented individuals
Develop ideas for increasing mentorship of underrepresented members

Meetings will occur quarterly, and each member will serve a three-year term.

We encourage nominations for a diverse spectrum of individuals, including (but not limited to) underrepresented groups within North America (e.g., African Americans/Canadians, Latinos/Hispanics, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Asian Americans/Canadians); individuals with disabilities; individuals representing underserved sexual orientations and gender identities; and people from regions of the world with low representation in SFS (e.g., Latin America, Africa, Asia). Nominees can be SFS members or non-members that would like to join SFS. Self-nominations are accepted.

To nominate (or with questions), please send an email to jedi@freshwater-science.org and include the name, country of residence, and reasons why the nominee would bring a unique perspective to the CUV. Nominations will be accepted until Friday January 29, 2021.

Thank you for being part of this valuable effort, we look forward to receiving nominations!

Give the Gift of SFS Student Membership

webeditor — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 16:06:51 +0000

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Benthos News

Want to help your students during this difficult year? How about giving them the gift of SFS?

It's been a tough year for all of us, including student researchers everywhere. Students are important stakeholders in SFS, and their hard work has made our Society what it is today and will help shape its future. This year, while renewing your membership, consider also giving your student the gift of an SFS student membership.

Click here to purchase a gift SFS student membership for your student.

Make it a lab gift! You can purchase more than one gift student membership if you'd like. Offer is only valid for purchasing gift memberships at the student rate.

Check out the first Making Waves in Spanish!

webeditor — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 00:54:25 +0000

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Benthos News

Español: En este episodio tendremos la oportunidad de escuchar parte de las transformaciones que la Sociedad busca, donde la inclusión y diversidad también dan espacio para comunicarnos en español. El episodio 48 de Making Waves se presenta en español, así como en inglés. Este es un proyecto que nace desde las iniciativas en español, uno de los proyectos de la Fuerza de Tareas JEDI. Esperamos lo disfruten y si no eres bilingüe, aprovecha y date la oportunidad de escuchar una interesante entrevista a nuestro Presidente Alonso Ramírez, en su lengua materna.

English: In this episode we will have the opportunity to hear about the transformations that the Society seeks, where inclusion and diversity means also making space to communicate in Spanish. Making Waves Episode 48 is presented in Spanish as well as English. This is a project born from initiatives in Spanish, one of the JEDI Task Force projects. We hope you enjoy it and if you are not bilingual, take the opportunity to listen to an interesting interview with our President Alonso Ramírez, in his mother tongue.