2025 Fellows
Eugènia Martí
Dr. Eugènia Martí is a full professor at the Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB, Blanes, Spain), an institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) devoted to the study of aquatic ecosystems. She has worked there since 1999 under different research positions. Prior to that, she completed her PhD in 1995 on the study of in-stream nutrient dynamics in Mediterranean streams at the University of Barcelona, with Dr. F. Sabater. She then served as a postdoctoral researcher in the Stream Lab of Drs. N. Grimm and S. Fisher at Arizona State University, and in the LEQUIA Lab of Dr. M. Poch at the University of Girona, Spain. For more than 30 years, her research has focused on the dynamics of nutrients (N and P) and organic matter in fluvial ecosystems and the environmental controls and biogeochemical mechanisms driving them. Research has been mostly done in Mediterranean streams draining both pristine and human-altered catchments. Her recent research focuses on urban streams receiving inputs from wastewater treatment plant effluents (WWTP). Since 2014, she is one of the leaders of the Urban River Lab (www.urbanriverlab.com), an experimental platform aimed at assessing stream responses to WWTP effluent inputs and finding nature-based solutions to reduce this impact. She has been a member of the Society for Freshwater Science since 1991, as she describes, “because from the very first minute of the initial meeting I have felt very welcome by the generous spirit of SFS members. In fact, most SFS members have become great long-time friends.” In turn, she has enjoyed serving the Society in different administrative roles and capacities during her decades of membership.
Selections from Eugènia’s Fellows nomination and letters of support:
“Perhaps Eugènia’s most enduring contribution to SFS will be her pivotal role in bridging SFS with our European colleagues. She has long served as a vital link between North American and European stream ecologists, particularly in the fields of biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology. At least a dozen SFS members have been hosted by Eugènia at her research institute in Blanes, Spain, including several SFS Fellows. Many of her former students and postdocs have become core SFS members, now representing their own laboratories across Europe and the United States.”
“I can say without hesitation that [Eugènia] embodies the qualities I associate with SFS Fellows: scientific leadership, dedicated service, and outstanding mentorship [...] Dr. Martí exemplifies the warmth and welcoming nature that our Society strives to promote … Her youthful exuberance and enthusiasm for stream ecology are contagious, and I especially enjoy watching the reactions of students meeting her for the first time. These interactions leave lasting impressions and contribute as much to the strength of our Society as the science we advance.”
“Eugènia’s contributions to stream ecology, particularly in nutrient dynamics, are groundbreaking. Her creativity and scientific rigor have advanced our understanding of nutrient transport and retention in stream ecosystems affected by multiple stressors, with a particular emphasis on urbanization … Moreover, her work has gone beyond academia, informing better management strategies for polluted rivers and demonstrating her commitment to bridging science and practice … Beyond her scientific achievements, Eugènia’s personal qualities make her an exceptional mentor and leader. She fosters a collaborative and inclusive environment, creating a lab culture where students and colleagues feel valued and motivated. Her enthusiasm for all aspects of science—whether grant writing, fieldwork, or public outreach—is contagious, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she works with.”
“Dr. Martí has been a pioneering leader in advancing international engagement within SFS. Nowadays, the Society has grown to have a broader global impact, with increasing representation of international members and participants at the annual meetings. However, three decades ago, this was not the case. At that time, Dr. Martí was one of only a handful of scientists based outside the U.S. who considered SFS (or NABS) their professional home. As a woman in science, with mentors who had limited connections to North American scientists, her decision to rely on and contribute to SFS was, at the very least, courageous. Not only did she become a respected and integral member of SFS, but she also helped increase the diversity of the Society by bringing a large number of international graduate students and postdocs to the meetings over the years.”
“Throughout her career, Dr. Martí has addressed a wide range of fundamental and applied research topics, always with a focus on asking insightful questions. Her students and collaborators have experienced her determination to ask the right questions, to discover what we do not yet know, and to go one step further. This mindset has led her to tackle high-risk research goals, such as the development of metabolically smart tracers, as well as exploring uncharted areas, such as the microbial communities inhabiting the dark side of stream cobbles. Dr. Martí is always willing to address new and exciting questions, striving for simplicity in her approach. She is an unparalleled collaborator, known for her enthusiasm and encouragement.”