University Hosts Coastal Scientists for Annual Estuarine Research Society Conference
Some 100 coastal scientists and managers from across the Northeast converged on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus in late April for the annual meeting of the New England Estuarine Research Society.
Organized and hosted by Dr. Mary Alldred, SUNY Plattsburgh assistant professor in
the Center for Earth and Environmental Science along with Dr. Aude Lochet, SUNY Plattsburgh adjunct lecturer in biology, marine
ecologist Stephen Hale of Charlotte, Vt., and Emma Stewart from the City of Plattsburgh
events planning, the conference included sessions on topics such as coastal restoration
and management, fresh and saltwater life, saltmarsh issues, and contaminates and ecosystem
health.
As is custom with NEERS conferences, the host site offers a Thursday special symposium, and this spring, attendees learned about Lake Champlain — its unique history and geological and cultural setting, the efforts on both sides of the lake to protect, manage and restore this 120-mile waterway and its brief — 18 days — tenure as the sixth Great Lake.
Guest speakers for the Thursday symposium included Center for Earth and Environmental Science faculty SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus David Franzi and Distinguished Service Professor Timothy Mihuc; Dr. Nana Ankrah, SUNY Plattsburgh assistant professor of biology; Dr. Margaret Murphy from the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Chief Don Stevens, Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk-Abenaki Nation and president of Abenaki Helping Abenaki Inc..
Alldred said that while the annual meeting is usually held in a New England coastal
area, it is recognized that Lake Champlain has what she called “a lot of overlap.”
“The (NEERS) president at the time was interested in facilitating a meeting here,” Alldred said.
Having the gathering at SUNY Plattsburgh gave students the chance to participate and present work they did working in the Lake Champlain Research Institute housed in Hudson Hall and overseen by Mihuc.
“Two grad students gave talks and several undergraduates presented posters,” Alldred said. One of her students even received an honorable mention for their work, she said.
In addition to the sessions, participants were treated to a reception in Myers Fine Arts Building and tour of the Burke Gallery and its most recent exhibit, “Visions from Mountains to Valley,” by North Country Mohawk artist, illustrator and storyteller David Kanietakeron Fadden.
The reception at the museum was amazing — it set us apart,” Alldred said. “I received
great comments from attendees; it’s not something we do.”
During the planning for the NEERS conference, Alldred met with Museum Director Tonya Cribb, who she said, “was super excited to partner with us.”
The group also had the chance to head downtown where they had a social at Olive Ridley’s Restaurant and dancing at Retro Live Nite Club.
“We had a Stickleback Award for best dancer at Retro,” Alldred said. “We named it that because the stickleback fish does a little dance.”
— Story by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs with Photos Provided
