Message from the ASLO Business Office

Abstract

Many of us from the ASLO business office just returned from the LTER All Scientists Meeting. The meeting was held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. What a beautiful place to come together for the LTER working groups to meet and collaborate! Several “star performances” took place at the meeting. The first star performers were your own ASLO business office representatives, Sue Rulla and Jennifer McConaughy. They were called in to work with Christine O'Connell, Instructional Program Director for the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. As part of Christine's plenary presentation, they were asked to briefly explain their understanding of a message conveyed by a scientific abstract. This plenary ­session was very well received and helped us all to see the need for improved communication between scientists and non-scientists. The second group of stars was the many ASLO members, including Debbie Steinberg and Oscar Schofield, who appeared in the wonderful documentary, Antarctic Edge: 70° South. This documentary is available on YouTube and is well worth watching. It conveys a dire message about our entire planet due to climate change, but it also applauds the hours and hours of hard and dangerous work being done to advance scientific research. On the subject of meetings, ASLO will meet jointly with AGU and TOS at the 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, 21–26 February. Then, in the summer, ASLO will return to one of our favorite places, Santa Fe, New Mexico, over the dates of June 5–10, 2016. The summer meeting will focus on contributed sessions along with several special sessions. Abstract submission will close in early February so watch for more notices and plan to come and enjoy Santa Fe. By now, you should have received your renewal notice for 2016. ASLO is a member-driven society, and each and every member counts. Thus, it is important that you get your renewal in soon. There are no increases for 2016, and all the features and benefits continue including the new journal, L&O: Letters. Your membership allows access to ASLO journals, reduced rates at ASLO meetings, ability to vote in society elections, and many opportunities that encourage you to be an active part of the aquatic sciences community. Hope to see you soon! Helen Schneider Lemay, ASLO Business Office, ASLO Business Manager, Waco, Texas, USA; business@aslo.org