Freshwater Scientists to Convene in Brockport June 10-14

June 10, 2019

Discussions focus on problems and solutions for the world’s large lakes

BROCKPORT, NY — More than 700 freshwater researchers from the Great Lakes region and beyond will gather at The College of Brockport, SUNY, June 10-14, for the 62nd Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research. Large Lakes Research: Connecting People and Ideas is the theme for the conference, convened by the International Association for Great Lakes Research.

“At a time when our region is facing threats to drinking water quality, the health of organisms (including people), and our enjoyment of beaches, having hundreds of scientists, engineers, and decision makers gather for a face-to-face meeting is important,” notes IAGLR President Michael Twiss of Clarkson University. “Our association has hundreds of members, yet millions of constituents when we factor in the people who live on the shores of great lakes both here in North America and around the world. Large lakes are truly a global resource and IAGLR is the premier association with a mission to advance understanding of large lake ecosystems.”

The conference will feature more than 600 presentations highlighting scientific findings. Topics include fisheries, climate change, microplastics, aquatic invasive species, harmful algae blooms, and more. In addition, three keynote speakers will share their perspectives on vital issues in Great Lakes research.

KEYNOTES & SESSION OF INTEREST

• On Tuesday, John Smol, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change at Queen’s University, will discuss the challenge of using appropriate times scales to assess environmental change. Without long-term monitoring data, understanding these changes can be difficult. Smol will share recent efforts that tap into using lake sediment as archives to provide long-term perspectives to today’s ecological issues.
• On Wednesday, Jennifer Tank, professor and director of the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative at Notre Dame University, examines the benefit of two conservation strategies that may prevent loss of excess nutrients from agricultural lands. Such runoff can enter nearby streams and rivers, harming sensitive species, contaminating water supplies, and fueling downstream algal blooms.
• On Thursday, Hugh MacIsaac, professor and senior Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Invasive Species at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, discusses aquatic invasions in the Great Lakes and other North American lakes. MacIsaac will explore the changing nature of these invasions over time.

IJC Town Hall: Provide your Valuable Perspective on Progress to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes
Wednesday, June 12, 1:40 - 5:40 p.m., Edwards Hall, Room 100

The International Joint Commission wants to hear from Great Lakes scientists about how the lakes are faring in their areas of research. The town hall will start with a focus on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement’s annexes, with presentations based on the governments’ 2019 progress report. Then we’ll open the floor to hear scientists’ insights and recommendations for additional research and actions in those topic areas. We’ll also use instant surveying during all sessions to get everyone’s input on key questions. The last segment is an interactive plenary session from 4:50-5:40 for a town hall conversation about future priorities and needs to truly restore and protect the Great Lakes. The Commission is eager to hear your views, which will contribute to the work and priorities for the IJC’s assessment reporting. Contact: Sally Cole-Misch, IJC, [email protected]

Walk-in participants and media are welcome and must register onsite. A welcome reception to kick off the conference will be held Monday, June 10, 6-8 p.m. in the Seymour College Union.

Join the conversation on Twitter: @IAGLR and #iaglr19

CONTACTS

The College at Brockport, SUNY
James Haynes, Conference Site Chair
(585) 355-2720
[email protected]

Joseph C. Makarewicz, Conference Program Chair
(585) 352-9724
[email protected]

IAGLR
Michael Twiss, President
(315) 244-7146
[email protected]

Christine Manninen, Conference Coordinator
(734) 560-8598
[email protected]

Paula McIntyre, Communications Director
(231) 933-8416
[email protected]

The International Association for Great Lakes Research is a scientific organization made up of researchers studying the Laurentian Great Lakes, other large lakes of the world, and their watersheds, as well as those with an interest in such research. With its mission to promote all aspects of large lakes research and communicate research findings, IAGLR is uniquely positioned to foster the connection between science and policy, a connection vital for effective management and protection of the world’s large lakes.