Message from the President

The GERS Board has been meeting monthly to plan the upcoming fall 2014 GERS Biannual Meeting. In the spirit of CERF, GERS is holding a Halloween meeting the 30-31 October 2014 at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas. The Marine Science Institute is located on the tip of Mustang Island, directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The area boasts beautiful beaches within a few hundred meters of the lab and of course, pristine estuarine marsh and seagrass habitats in the immediate vicinity.

In keeping with the Halloween spirit, the organizers are planning an absolutely fun gathering that will feature two evening receptions. The Thursday social will be held in conjunction with the late afternoon and early evening poster session at the Marine Science Institute. For the Friday evening social, conference attendees should plan for a wild and appropriate Halloween-themed sunset cruise past the lighthouse and into Aransas Bay. Following the cruise, there will be a bonfire on the beach for those who wish to share their Halloween booty with others.

Fundraising activities have begun in earnest, and this year the Board plans to support both undergraduate and graduate participation through the distribution of at least 20 – 30 travel awards. In addition, GERS is inviting those with artistic talent to design the first ever GERS t-shirt, which will be made available at the meeting. The winner of the t-shirt design content will receive a travel award and an aerial tour of the local Gulf coast aboard "CERF One" (reliable sources indicate that CERF President Ken Heck will clandestinely arrive in Port Aransas aboard "CERF One" to give the opening address). All the latest details will be posted on our Facebook page and our website.