Outstanding Young Professional Award

Purpose

May be presented annually to up to two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fisheries profession during the start of their fisheries careers.

Criteria

Nominees must not have completed five years of full-time fisheries employment. Contributions must be substantial and go beyond that required by their position. Nominees will have become established as contributors to the improvement of aquatic resources in Iowa. Nominations for the award shall come from Chapter members in good standing and shall be submitted to the Awards Committee for consideration.

Up to two individuals will be presented with this award per year.

Award of Professional Excellence

Purpose

This is the Chapter’s highest award. This award will be given to a Chapter member who has had a significant career-level impact on fisheries. The award is intended to recognize Iowa Chapter AFS members for loyalty, dedication, and service to the Chapter over a long period of time and for exceptional commitment to the programs, objectives, and long-term goals of the Chapter. In addition to recognition, the awardee will also receive Lifetime Membership in the Iowa Chapter of AFS.

Criteria

Nominations should include the names and signatures of at least 2 nominators, a brief (1 page) biographical sketch, a brief (< 2 pages) narrative of significant contributions made by the nominee, and copies of any additional materials to support the application. Significant contributions may include contributions to fishery management, research, and education; public service, outreach, and engagement; and professional society service and involvement.

Guiding Evaluation Criteria

1. Significant advancement of the fisheries profession in Iowa through changes in culture, management, research, or higher education beyond routine innovation, or
2. A monumental work and/or publication which contributes markedly to the basic understanding, conservation, or management of the fishery-aquatic resource, or
3. Original advancements or innovations in fisheries research methodology, culture, or management techniques in Iowa, or
4. Significant contributions to the understanding and successful conservation management of the fisheries resources in Iowa through public education and participation, or
5. Imaginative and successful programs in fish conservation education at any level of teaching or graduate student guidance, or
6. Development of fisheries research, culture, or management programs of state-level significance, or
7. New philosophies or ideas which significantly contribute to the understanding and management of aquatic resources

This award may be given to multiple awardees in a single year if appropriate, and might not be given annually if acceptable nominations are not received.

Aquatic Conservation Achievement Award

Purpose

This award will be given to a non-member individual, non-governmental organization, or state/local/federal agency that contributes substantially to conservation of Iowa’s fishery resources. This contribution may be a single activity, project, or demonstrated commitment to aquatic conservation in Iowa. Eligibility is not restricted to non-members, and accomplishments can include political, legal, educational, scientific, and managerial successes.

Criteria

Nominations should include the names and signatures of at least 2 nominators, a brief (1 page) biographical sketch of the nominee, a brief (1 page) narrative of significant contributions made by the nominee, and copies of any additional materials to support the application.

This award should be given annually.

Best Paper and Poster Awards

Purpose

These awards should be given annually at the Iowa Chapter Annual Meeting

Honorable mentions will be announced during the meeting at which papers are presented to recognize excellence for both students and professionals. However, to ensure adequate time for final scoring, a winner will not be announced until after the meeting. The awards will be formally presented at the following year's business meeting.

An award will be given to the Best Professional Paper, Best Student Paper, and Best Student Poster.

Criteria

Awardees must be members of the Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.

Application and Evaluation Process

All Iowa Chapter member presentations and posters are automatically entered into this process based on their current membership. Contact the Secretary-Treasurer if you are unsure whether you are a current member.

To participate, you must submit a paper to the annual meeting.

Presentations are evaluated based on their overall structure (e.g., organization of slides, presentation of adequate background and methodology, results, and implications), technical and analytical merit, and quality and clarity of delivery and follow-up discussion.

Presentations and posters are judged by professional Iowa Chapter members only.