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Great Lakes science leaders honored

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2023

Contact: Neil Rooney,IAGLR President & Awards Committee Co-Chair, [email protected]

TORONTO — The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) honored several professionals this week for their contributions to IAGLR and large lake science. The following awards were presented at the association’s 66th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research in Toronto.

The Lifetime Achievement Award for important and continued contributions to large lake research was awarded to Patricia Chow-Fraser, an internationally recognized scholar and professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Chow-Fraser was noted for her influential coastal wetlands research, innovative uses of technology, and mentorship of the next generation of Great Lake scientists.

The John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award went to the River Institute, a non-governmental organization in Cornwall, Ontario, established as a unique community partnership among governments, educators, business and industry, and the Mohawks of Akwesasne. The award recognizes the institute’s valuable education and outreach efforts that engage and excite researchers, communities, and educators about many aspects of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. 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.”

The Chandler-Misener Award went to Cody Sheik, Kaela Natwora, Elizabeth Alexson, Jake Callaghan, Austin Sailer, Kathryn Schreiner, Byron Steinman, Matthew Finkenbinder, Christopher Filstrup, and Andrew Bramburger for their paper Dolichospermum blooms in Lake Superior: DNA-based approach provides insight to the past, present and future of blooms,” published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research 48(5):1191-1205 (2022). IAGLR presents the Chandler-Misener Award annually to the author(s) of the peer-reviewed paper in the most recent complete volume of the journal judged to be “most notable.” Papers are evaluated based on originality, contribution, and presentation. Established in 1974, the award honors D.C. Chandler and A.D. Misener, IAGLR's first presidents.

The Anderson-Everett Award was presented to Edward Verhamme, principal and senior engineer at LimnoTech, in recognition of his service to IAGLR. Verhamme is a recent past president and navigated IAGLR through a challenging move to virtual conferences during the pandemic. He’s been a voice of support for the association’s diversity initiatives and a leader in creating IAGLR’s new executive director position. 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.

This year’s Best Associate Editor 2022 Award was presented to Anett Trebitz, U.S. EPA Duluth. This award is given by the journal editors for outstanding support of the review process for the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

The journal editors also designated Paul van Zwieten, Wageningen University, the Netherlands, as recipient of the Best Reviewer 2022 Award For outstanding support of the review process for the Journal of Great Lakes Research.
The Elsevier Early Career Scientist Award went to Joshua Tellier, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, for the article “Widespread prevalence of hypoxia and the classification of hypoxic conditions in the Laurentian Great Lakes,” Journal of Great Lakes Research 48 (1):13-23. Co-authors include Nicholas I. Kalejs, Benjamin S. Leonhardt, David Cannon, Tomas O. Hӧӧk, and Paris D. Collingsworth.

IAGLR Certificates of Appreciation
The following people received certificates of appreciation for their service to the association:

  • The JGLR Outgoing Associate Editor's Appreciation Award went to Craig Hebert, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Nicholas Johnson, Great Lakes Science Center Hammond Bay Biological Station, and Jason Stockwell, University of Vermont.
  • The IAGLR Board of Directors Appreciation Award went to Andrew Bramburger, Environment and Climate Change Canada, who has faithfully served on the IAGLR board and completed his term of service.
  • The IAGLR Committee Chair Appreciation Award went to Mary Ginnebaugh, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), outgoing Conference Committee co-chair and Financial Strategy Committee chair.
  • The IAGLR Conference Appreciation Award went to IAGLR 2023 Conference Site Chair Calvin Hitch, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and IAGLR 2023 Program Chair Tim Johnson, Ontario MNRF, Glenora Fisheries Station.