North Atlantic SETAC Chapter Annual Meeting Summary and Looking Ahead to 30th Year Celebration
Erin Warlow, NAC Secretary
Meeting Summary
The 29th Annual Meeting of the North Atlantic Chapter (NAC) took place 20–21 June at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Our chapter serves New England and Atlantic Canada. The meeting was a success, bringing together local subject matter experts in academia, industry and government. The event showcased the latest advancements in our field and region with a strong focus on emerging contaminants and using models to assess bioaccumulation and metabolism of contaminants.
Along with the meeting, a short course was given by Katherine von Stackelberg (NEK Associates and Harvard University) and Jennifer Sun (Harvard University) on the implementation of the FishRand model to address bioaccumulation of legacy contaminants along with modifications to the model to suit emerging contaminants like PFAS.
In the keynote address, Russell Tessier, a Senior Associate Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, shared information about the University’s forthcoming Sustainability Engineering Laboratory and the College of Engineering’s commitment to embracing innovation, fostering industry connections and training future leaders in sustainable design.
Save the Date
Mark your calendars for the week of 8 April 2024, as we plan our 30th annual meeting celebration at the prestigious Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole on Cape Cod. This meeting will not only celebrate the achievements of our chapter members, but also serve as a platform to share ideas as we envision a sustainable future for our field. Nestled amidst the natural beauty of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, this venue will inspire creativity and foster meaningful connections in our region.
The 30th anniversary meeting promises to be a memorable and thought-provoking meeting. We will work over the next year to curate a diverse range of presentations and sessions. We also expect that there will be ample opportunities for networking, collaborations and knowledge sharing with fellow professionals across New England and Atlantic Canada. We sincerely hope that you can join us!
Leadership Opportunities and Keeping in Touch
With our milestone year approaching, the leadership of the North Atlantic Chapter is seeking to expand its membership and events. We have open positions on our board of directors. Professionals in our field who are interested in fostering a vibrant scientific community in the North Atlantic Region are encouraged to consider leadership opportunities in our chapter.
In particular, we are looking for student representatives within chapter leadership. This position offers full board membership as well as networking opportunities. This position could be a good fit for a graduate student interested in local leadership.
We are also accepting proposals for virtual events, informal networking socials and educational discussions for the next year. If you have an idea that you would like to share with subject matter experts in our area, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Finally, we have recently updated our LinkedIn page to better meet the needs of our chapter. Please follow us there to see industry news relevant to our chapter and membership! You can also subscribe to our chapter newsletter for updates on our events.
Interested candidates for leadership can email: [email protected]
Author's contact: [email protected]