Great Lakes science leaders honored at research conference

June 9, 2025

Contact: Neil Rooney, IAGLR Awards Committee Co-Chair, awardschair@iaglr.org

MILWAUKEE — The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) honored several professionals for their contributions to large lake science and IAGLR. The following awards were presented last week at the association’s 68th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research last week in Milwaukee.

Left to right: IAGLR President Donna Kashian; Ted Lawrence, ACARE, Large Lake Champion Award recipient; Deborah Lee, retired director of NOAA GLERL, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient; Chris Winslow, Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, Large Lake Champion Award recipient; and IAGLR Executive Director Jerome Marty. Missing are award winners John Hartig, Mary-Claire Buell, and Paul Sibley. 

Lifetime Achievement Award
Deborah Lee received IAGLR's IAGLR Lifetime Achievement Award for important and continued contributions to large lake research. As the recent director of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Lee's foresight, innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence set a standard for the field. Her role in shaping international regulatory frameworks, such as Plan 2014, demonstrated a remarkable ability to restore ecological balance to Lake Ontario while balancing diverse stakeholder interests. Lee consistently demonstrated the ability to navigate complex challenges, addressing critical issues like climate change and harmful algal blooms in the Laurentian Great Lakes. In collaborating with a wide array of partners—including academic, government, and industry representatives—she kept the region’s scientific research at the forefront while ensuring its relevance and impact. Beyond science, her dedication to creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field has brought about a meaningful shift in the diversity of the research community.

John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award
The John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award went to John Hartig (University of Windsor) who has championed ecosystem restoration for 45+ years, including through the creation and management of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. The refuge continues to serve as a model for binational collaboration and community engagement. Hartig's ability to convene and connect diverse groups—from government agencies and research institutions to grassroots organizations and local residents—has been essential in building consensus and catalyzing real, lasting change. Hartig has a unique capacity to communicate complex environmental issues in ways that resonate with a broad audience. Through his long-running “Great Lakes Moment” column and numerous other public outreach efforts, he has made scientific knowledge accessible, inspiring action and hope across communities. He has shown a remarkable talent for blending historical context, policy insight, and ecological science to tell the evolving story of the Great Lakes with clarity and purpose.

The Vallentyne award recognizes important and sustained efforts to inform and educate the public and policymakers on large lakes issues, thereby raising awareness and support for their protection and restoration. Its namesake is long-time IAGLR member and environmental scientist and educator, John R. (Jack) Vallentyne, aka “Johnny Biosphere.”

Large Lake Champion Award
IAGLR is pleased to announce three recipients of the Large Lake Champion Award this year:

• Mary-Claire Buell (Trent University), was recognized for her outstanding leadership in fostering ethical, community-based research that centers Indigenous voices and priorities around the Laurentian Great Lakes. Her pivotal role in establishing the Indigenous Great Lakes Network Initiative has helped to create an essential platform for collaboration between Indigenous communities and researchers. Buell is noted for her focus on relationship-building over extractive research, promoting long-term partnerships, mentorship, and mutual benefits. Her efforts have led to impactful initiatives such as culturally relevant fish consumption guides and the integration of Indigenous knowledge with contemporary ecological science
• Ted Lawrence (African Center for Aquatice Research and Education) has made transformative contributions to the science, governance, and international collaboration surrounding large lakes, particularly the African Great Lakes. Through his leadership at ACARE, Ted has created vital spaces for collaboration between African and North American scientists, building bridges that have strengthened both science and policy for the African Great Lakes. His commitment to inclusive capacity-building, from the African Women in Science program to the lake-specific advisory committees, has laid a foundation that will support sustainable lake management for generations.
• Chris Winslow (Ohio Sea Grant) was recognized for his capacity to consistently bring together people—researchers, agency staff, community members, and decision makers—to address the many challenges facing the Laurentian Great Lakes. The programs and partnerships that he has helped to build not only support great science but also make it accessible and actionable for those who need it most. From his leadership in formation of the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network, through the development of the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program, to establishing the annual "State of the Science" meetings, he has created meaningful space for collaboration, learning, and progress across so many areas.

This award recognizes and honors individuals whose work has made significant contributions to sharing the social, economic, and ecological understanding of large lakes of the world. IAGLR looks to pay tribute to the luminaries and rising voices for large lakes that will help shape the association for years to come and pave the way for IAGLR’s future.

Anderson-Everett Award
Paul Sibley received the Anderson-Everett Award in recognition of his long-time service to IAGLR. His leadership as president in 2019—and particularly through the unprecedented challenges of 2020—was marked by resilience, vision, and calm resolve. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of our in-person conference in Manitoba, he guided IAGLR through the transition to our first-ever virtual conference, at a time when few could predict how such a format would be received. His steady hand ensured IAGLR not only adapted but flourished during the uncertainty of that time. He also helped shape the association’s long-term direction, co-leading the strategic planning process. Sibley also co-chaired the highly successful 59th Annual Conference at the University of Guelph in 2016, played a key role in the State of the Lake conference series, and supported early-career scholars through scholarship reviews and publication awards. Paul’s generosity with his time, his humility, and his deep institutional knowledge have made him a trusted and respected voice across the board and committees for many years.

This award recognizes important and continued contributions to the association over a period of years and honors the efforts of David Anderson and Margaret Everett for their significant early contributions to the association and the Great Lakes.

In addition, the following people received IAGLR Appreciation Awards for their service to the association:

• The IAGLR Board of Directors Appreciation Award went to Alex Duncan (Centre for Indigenous Fisheries, University of British Columbia), Calvin Hitch (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority), and outgoing treasurer Lizhu Wang (International Joint Commission, retired) who have faithfully served on the IAGLR board and completed their term of service. 
• The IAGLR Conference Appreciation Award went to IAGLR 2025 Conference Site Chair Rebecca Klaper (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) and IAGLR 2025 Program Chair Harvey Bootsma (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee).

IAGLR President Donna Kashian and Executive Director Jerome Marty are pictured with the IAGLR Appreciation Award Winners. Top: Rebecca Klapper, conference site chair, and Harvey Bootsma, conference program chair, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Bottom left: Alex Duncan, outgoing Canadian student board member, and Lizhu Wang, outgoing IAGLR treasurer. Not pictured: Calvin Hitch, outgoing board member.