Highlights from the Carolinas SETAC Regional Chapter 2025 Annual Meeting
Bonnie Ertel, University of South Carolina and CSETAC Communications Subcommittee
The 2025 Carolinas SETAC (CSETAC) Regional Chapter Annual Meeting was held from17–19 April at the Fort Johnson Research Complex in Charleston, South Carolina. We welcomed researchers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia to the Lowcountry for this regional meeting. More than 90 people attended, including a large student presence. Participants represented eleven universities, four government agencies, and two businesses.
The meeting began on Thursday afternoon with a short course in the salt marsh facilitated by the South Carolina Aquarium and the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. Through an interactive ice-breaker, we learned about critters that live in the estuarine environment, including blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), periwinkle snails (Littorina littorea) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus). Then, we quantified and removed litter from the park and recorded our data in the South Carolina Aquarium’s Litter Journal. Our group removed a total of 35 pounds of litter (1,198 items, 77% of which were plastic) from the salt marsh ecosystem of Brittlebank Park. This waterfront public park runs along the Ashley River, which opens into the Charleston Harbor. The activity allowed CSETAC to leave behind a positive impact on the local environment. Thursday evening, CSETAC members met at Edmunds Oast Brewing Co. for an informal social get-together. Friends and colleagues reconnected and mingled with new members, and a group went to the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park to watch the Charleston RiverDogs win in baseball.
To start the meeting on Friday morning, Pete Key, CSETAC Past President, welcomed attendees to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) facilities and thanked our meeting sponsors. Michele Harmon, SETAC North America Board Member and CSETAC Treasurer, gave a heartfelt update from the SETAC North America Board of Directors. Students discussed how to get involved as a CSETAC student representative and participate in the North America Student Advisory Council (NASAC).
Austin Gray, Virginia Tech, gave an inspirational plenary talk regarding the similarities between ecotoxicology and ecosystem ecology. His talk walked us down the divergent path of these fields, while emphasizing their inherent connections throughout history. As we build upon our understanding about contaminants as agents of global change and look to the future, Gray encouraged members to remain nimble, responsive and collaborative.
This opening was followed by a full day of 16 platform presentations by students and professionals, with fantastic talks all around. The sessions covered topics including animal models, ecotoxicology, emerging contaminants (such as PFAS and microplastics) and fate of chemicals in the environment. Plenty of scheduled breaks allowed for additional discussions and professional connections. Networking continued during the Friday dinner social at the Charles Towne Fermentory, featuring local brews and food by Roti Rolls.
Saturday morning kicked off with a packed poster social in the SCDNR Outdoor Classroom, with beautiful views of the salt marsh and Charleston harbor. The meeting wrapped up with a brief CSETAC business meeting and announcement of our best graduate and undergraduate student presentation awards.
Congratulations to the CSETAC 2025 Student Presentation Award Winners
We would like to thank our Past President, Pete Key, for putting together this annual meeting. Big thanks also to our Communication Committee members Jessica Wenclawiak and Bonnie Ertel for meeting messaging, Student Rrepresentatives Lola Renauer and Gabby Jones for meeting logistics, Secretary Bob Swarthout for organizing student judging, and Katy Chung for meeting planning and photography. Lastly, thank you to our presentation judges, question askers and engaged attendees!
As of the conclusion of this meeting, Elizabeth Medlock Kakaley, USEPA, is now the Past President and Lisa Manglass, Francis Marion University, is now the President of Carolinas SETAC. Our 2026 CSETAC annual meeting will be held next spring in North Carolina. We look forward to seeing everyone again then, if not before at the SETAC North America 46 Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, this November.
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