Great Lakes Science Leaders honored at research conference

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2021

Ann Arbor, MI — 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 64th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research held online.

IAGLR's two top awards went to long-time employees of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL). Henry (“Hank”) Vanderploeg, chief of GLERL’s Ecosystems Dynamics Branch, received the IAGLR Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes important and continued contributions to Great Lakes research over a period of 20 years or more. Vanderploeg is an internationally renowned authority on food webs, and has been a leader in the study of feeding mechanisms and life cycle strategies of zooplankton, benthos, and fish, and spatial distribution and interactions of all food web components. "His research has addressed nearly all major concerns that have impacted the Great Lakes over the past 50 years," notes  GLERL Director Deborah Lee, "including effects of toxic contaminants, hypoxia, cultural eutrophication, harmful algal blooms (HABs), effects of invasive species, and sustainability of native fisheries."

The John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award went to Margaret Lansing, GLERL's chief of information services. Lansing is considered the "go-to person for NOAA, who delivers effective and strategic science communication about a wide range of Great Lakes research," according to Monica Allen, director of public affairs with NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. "She has been instrumental in raising national and international understanding of the key role the Great Lakes play in the environmental, economic, and cultural well-being of our nation, Canada and beyond." 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.”

Two Chandler-Misener Awards were presented for the best papers in the Journal of Great Lakes Research in 2019 and 2020. Papers are evaluated on originality, contribution, and presentation. Established in 1974, the award honors D.C. Chandler and A.D. Misener, IAGLR's first presidents.

• Ted R. Angradi, Kathleen C. Williams, Joel C. Hoffman, and David W. Bolgrien for "Goals, beneficiaries, and indicators of waterfront revitalization in Great Lakes Areas of Concern and coastal communities," published in 2019 (volume 45, issue 5, pages 851-863).
• Lauren Oldfield, Sabina Rakhimbekova, James W. Roy, and Clare E. Robinson for "Estimation of phosphorus loads from septic systems to tributaries in the Canadian Lake Erie Basin," published in 2020 (volume 46, issue 6, pages 1559-1569).

The Anderson-Everett Award was presented to IAGLR Communciations Director Paula McIntyre for her nearly 22 years of service to the association. "She has contributed to advancing the profile of IAGLR through her efforts on the website, Lakes Letter, and many creative ideas to advance IAGLR's mission," notes IAGLR Past President Paul Sibley. 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 Award was presented to Erin Dunlop, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. This award is given by the editors of the journal for outstanding support of the review process for the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

The journal editors also designated Michael Rennie, Lakehead University, as recipient of the Best Reviewer 2020 Award For outstanding support of the review process for the Journal of Great Lakes Research.

The Elsevier Early Career Scientist Award for the most notable article in the 2020 Journal of Great Lakes research went to Jordan Matley, Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research, University of Windsor for the article "Seasonal habitat-use differences among Lake Erie’s walleye stocks," Journal of Great Lakes Research 46(3):609-621. Co-authors include M.D. Faust, G.D. Raby, Y. Zhao, J. Robinson, T. MacDougall, T.A. Hayden, A.T. Fisk, C.S. Vandergoot, and C.C. Krueger.

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

• The IAGLR Board of Directors Appreciation Award went to Jennifer Boehme, International Joint Commission, Mary Ginnebaugh, retired from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Jessica Ives, University of Windsor, Sarah Larocque, University of Windsor, Richard Ogutu-Ohwayo, African Lakes Network, Scott McNaught, Central Michigan University, and Paul Sibley, University of Guelph. They have faithfully served on the IAGLR board and completed their terms of service.
• The IAGLR Committee Chair Appreciation Award went to Sarah Larocque, University of Windsor, and Francine McCarthy, Brock University, outgoing Awards Committee co-chairs;  Richard Ogutu-Ohwayo, outgoing International Committee chair, and Paul Sibley, outgoing chair of Conference and Nominations committees.
• The IAGLR Conference Appreciation Award went to IAGLR 2021 Conference Site Chair Noel Urban and IAGLR 2021 Program Co-Chairs Judith Perlinger and Gordon Paterson, all of Michgan Technilogical University.
• The JGLR Outgoing Associate Editor Appreciation Awards went to David (Bo) Bunnell, US Geological Survey, Lee Grapentine, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Joe Makarewicz, SUNY Brockport.