Student freshwater scientists honored at annual conference

May 27, 2026

The International Association for Great Lakes Research recognized outstanding student scientists for their contributions to IAGLR and large lake science. The following awards were announced today at the association’s joint conference with the Society of Canadian Aquatic Sciences in Winnipeg.

Norman S. Baldwin Scholarship
The 2026 winners are Emily Bardwell-Patino, Michigan State University, for research on “Assessing the Genomic Impacts of Stocking on Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Recovery in Lake Superior" and Demetra Williams, The Ohio State University, for research on “Investigating the impacts of dam removal on Walleye spawner movements, juvenile recruitment, and fisheries harvest in Lake Erie.” The Norman S. Baldwin Fishery Science Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving graduate students conducting research pertaining to Great Lakes fisheries. Sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the scholarship honors the first executive secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

David M. Dolan Scholarship
The recipient of this year’s award is Grace Watson, The Ohio State University, for research on "Quantifying Bioavailable Phosphorus Flux in a Sub-Watershed of the Maumee River.” The scholarship is awarded for the pursuit of graduate research in applied mathematics for the advancement of a quantitative understanding and management of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The scholarship honors the memory of David M. Dolan, whose work in applied mathematics, statistics, and computer modeling provided a quantitative basis for phosphorus management on the Great Lakes.

IAGLR Scholarship
The 2026 winner is Lyndsie Collis, The Ohio State University, for research on "Interactions between zooplankton and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie.” The IAGLR Scholarship is awarded annually to promising Ph.D. students whose dissertation research is likely to make a significant contribution to the understanding of large lakes.

IDEA+ Presenter Scholarship
Gadfly Stratton received the IDEA+ Presenter Scholarship for the presentation titled "Priorities for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility in Aquatic Sciences” at the conference. This scholarship supports presenters who add to the diversity of perspectives shared at the IAGLR annual conference from the interface of large lake science, management, education, communication, policy, and community.

IDEA+ Research Scholarship
Emma Rice (Clarkson University) received the IDEA+ Research Scholarship for the presentation titled “Great Lakes Fish Food Systems in a Changing World: The Diverse Values of Lake Erie and Lake Victoria.” This scholarship supports research that adds to the diversity of perspectives regarding large lake science, management, education, communication, policy and community.

IAGLR Outstanding Student Paper Award
Jeffrey Ashby, Indiana University, received the IAGLR Outstanding Student Paper Award for research on “CRASID: A new community-based tool for risk, resilience, and evacuation planning” presented at the IAGLR 2025 conference.

IAGLR Outstanding Student Poster Award
John Gargasz III, Grand Valley State University, received the IAGLR Outstanding Student Poster Award for research on “Macroinvertebrate Community Development in Newly Constructed Interdunal Wetlands of Lake Michigan” presented at the IAGLR 2025 conference.