“SWPBA Lifetime Achievement” Award
Sponsored each year by the EPA Region 4 Ecological Assessment Branch in Athens, GA, the “SWPBA Lifetime Achievement” award recognizes the long-term achievements and contributions of a member biologist (state, tribal or federal) to the science of water pollution biology. The Executive Committee of the Southeastern Water Pollution Biologist Association (SWPBA) will review the nominations and select the recipient. The “SWPBA Lifetime Achievement” award winner will receive a beautiful plaque from the EPA at the annual SWPBA meeting. An additional “rotating” plaque that lists the recipient’s name along with previous winners will be presented to their agency for display during the following year.
The Nomination Process
Each SWPBA member state, tribe or EPA Region IV may nominate one (1) biologist for consideration by the SWPBA Executive Committee. Names of the nominees for this award will be kept confidential by the Executive Committee. The SWPBA primary contact(s) for each member state, tribe or EPA Region IV are responsible for coordinating the nominating process in a manner that best suits their organization. The SWPBA President or Secretary may be consulted at any time concerning the nomination process, and at his/her discretion may ask the Executive Committee for clarifications or rulings on the conduct of the nomination and selection process. The intent of SWPBA is to keep the process as fair and uncomplicated as possible so that the award ceremony will be both enjoyable and a point of pride for SWPBA and its members.
The Nomination Timeline and Narrative
Nominations must be sent by the appropriate primary contact(s) via e-mail or letter to the SWPBA Secretary month prior to the conference in order to provide enough time for review and selection by the Executive Committee. The nomination narrative is limited to three pages and must include the nominee’s name and organization, the name, phone number, and e-mail address of the individual initiating the nomination, a biographical sketch of the nominee’s scientific career, a description of the nominee’s work with a focus on the criteria discussed in the following paragraph, and at least two (2) letters of support from other water pollution biologists.
Award Eligibility and Criteria
The nominee must be a SWPBA Member and a full time employee of a SWPBA member state, tribe or EPA Region IV, with at least 12 years of experience with a member state, tribe, or EPA Region IV, to be eligible for the award. It is the intent of this award to recognize state/tribal/Region IV biologists who have made significant and long-term contributions to water pollution biology. The criteria for selection will include factors such as the innovative nature of the work, the level of complexity, the potential for widespread application of the findings, the level of collaboration with other states/tribes/agencies, and the individual leadership demonstrated by the biologist in their respective program. Questions concerning the award or the nomination process may be directed to the current SWPBA President or Secretary.
