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Strategic Plan

2020 Strategic Plan - Vision, Core Values, and Goals

Vision: The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) will be a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse community dedicated to advancing, applying and translating science for the health and vitality of freshwater ecosystems and the services they provide.

Core Values:

  • Promoting excellence in freshwater science: SFS is dedicated to advancing freshwater science to understand fundamental properties of aquatic ecosystems, promoting interaction across the disciplinary breadth of freshwater science, and applying our science to improve freshwater policy and management.
  • Sustaining a supportive, cooperative, and open scientific community: SFS is rooted in a welcoming and collaborative community committed to maintaining and growing that community through its publications, annual meetings, mentoring and training programs and associated activities.
  • Advancing diversity, inclusivity and equity in freshwater science: SFS recognizes the inherent value of diversity, inclusivity, and equity in freshwater science. SFS is dedicated to becoming a more diverse and equitable society through inclusion, where all scientists are welcomed and their voices heard, thus promoting diverse perspectives and representation in freshwater science.
  • Developing and supporting freshwater scientists: SFS is dedicated to the development of students and early career freshwater scientists and practitioners, and to supporting the continued development of all freshwater scientists throughout their careers.

Goals:

1. Elevate the Society by maintaining and improving the annual meeting, the flagship publication Freshwater Science, and the communication tools used for in-reach and outreach.

2. Translate and communicate freshwater science to policy makers, managers, and the general public.

3. Improve equity, inclusivity, representation and a sense of belonging at SFS meetings, welcoming all freshwater scientists.

4. Increase the diversity of the community of practitioners of freshwater science.

5. Increase membership, including regional and international participation, and promote the field of freshwater science globally.

6. Support the professional development of all members across all career stages through specific programs and actions.

7. Increase efforts to train the next generation of freshwater scientists by supporting graduate and undergraduate students and early career scientists.

8. Continually seek new and innovative ways to improve communication among and services to our members.

Read the 2020 Strategic Plan.