Standing up for Great Lakes science

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2025

Contact: Jerome Marty, IAGLR Executive Director, jmarty@iaglr.org

ANN ARBOR, MI — The International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) issued a statement this week condemning recent U.S. federal actions that jeopardize scientific progress and the health of the Great Lakes. These actions include indiscriminately firing federal employees, slashing science funding, stifling international collaboration, and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments. The organization urges immediate action to safeguard the strength of the U.S. scientific enterprise and protect vital Great Lakes restoration efforts. IAGLR calls on U.S. courts to overturn executive orders that undermine science funding and talent, and it emphasizes the need for continued bipartisan support of Great Lakes programs.

IAGLR Executive Director Jérôme Marty warns that setbacks in restoration efforts could have long-lasting consequences for the region's water resources and ecosystems. "A setback in Great Lakes restoration today will require years of additional effort to recover," Marty notes. "We cannot afford to undo decades of scientific progress and the resulting restoration, risking the loss of healthy waters and ecosystems that millions of people depend on."

The Great Lakes are a vital resource, supplying drinking water, offering a place for sport and play, and providing a living to many of the more than 42 million people who live in the basin. More than 1.5 million jobs are directly connected to the Great Lakes, which drive a $6 trillion regional economy. Previous administrations have recognized the importance of the Great Lakes, with a 2004 executive order from President George Bush calling them "a national treasure" and promoting regional collaboration that led to significant policies, environmental cleanup efforts, and economic benefits.

IAGLR President Donna Kashian reaffirms the organization's commitment to science-based stewardship and collaborative approaches in Great Lakes management. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to science and stewardship of the Great Lakes," Kashian notes. "We believe in a collaborative approach that draws on multiple ways of knowing and embraces people from diverse identities, perspectives, and experiences on both sides of the international border between the United States and Canada."