Student Presentation Awards

About Student Presentation Awards

Each year, SFS offers eight merit awards (two of which are book donations) for student presentations at the SFS Annual Meeting. In recent years, student presentations have constituted nearly a third of all presentations at the SFS Annual Meeting. Encouraging young freshwater scientists and their future research is a top priority for SFS members.

Previous winners

How to Apply

Student presenters can opt in to participate when they submit their abstract.

For Professional Evaluators

Professional evaluators can opt in to participate when they register for the meeting.

Awards

Students are judged by professional freshwater scientists on research goals and design, data organization and dissemination, and presentation style. The award structure is as follows:

  • Best oral presentation (Basic Research); $400 cash award + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Runner-up oral presentation (Basic Research); $250 book certificate + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Best oral presentation (Applied Research); $400 cash award + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Runner-up oral presentation (Applied Research); $250 book certificate + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Best poster presentation (Basic Research); $250 cash award + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Best poster presentation (Applied Research); $250 cash award + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Best methodology presentation (oral or poster); $250 cash award + registration costs for the next SFS meeting that the winner attends.
  • Best undergraduate presentation (oral or poster); $400 cash award + registration costs for the next SFS meeting the winner attends.

Award Sponsors

Current sponsors for the awards are Frigid Units; Hach Environmental; Camp, Dresser and McKee; Elsevier/Academic Press; and YSI. All sponsors receive recognition and appreciation on the SFS website.

If your company would like to become a valuable sponsor supporting future generations of aquatic scientists, please contact Matthew Troia at SASS@freshwater-science.org.

Eligibility

  • The research must have been conducted while the entrant was a graduate or undergraduate student.
  • The research must not have been published before December 31st prior to the annual meeting.
  • The entrant must have been enrolled during the academic year prior to the annual meeting.
  • The student must be the senior author and present the paper.
  • Oral presentations must be given during the normal, 15-minute contributed or special sessions.
  • A student may enter and thus receive an award for only one presentation in any one year.