Organization Of Biological Field Stations Inc

HELPING MEMBER FIELD STATIONS INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION OF STUDENTS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE OBFS IS PROVIDING NETWORKING CAPACITY AMONG FIELD STATIONS. WITH 213 MEMBER STATIONS AND 46 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, THE NETWORK IS INVALUABLE. THE PROFESSIONAL FIELD STATION NETWORK IS MAINTAINED WITH A WEBSITE THAT CONTAINS INFORMATION AS SIMPLE AS A MAP WITH THE LOCATIONS OF MEMBER FIELD STATIONS, TO EXAMPLES OF FIELD STATION POLICIES, TO INFORMATION OF SPECIAL EVENTS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND JOBS POSTINGS. A COMPLETE REVISION OF THE WEBSITE WAS STARTED IN 2022 AS PART OF THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE ORGANIZATION, WITH THE GOALS OF MAKING A WEBSITE THAT IT MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY AND USEFUL TO MEMBERS ($23,438). ANNUAL MEETINGS ARE A SECOND WAY THAT OBFS MAINTAINS A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, THE OBFS ANNUAL MEETING WAS HELD IN PERSON AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY'S FIELD STATION ON BEAVER ISLAND. PARTS OF THE MEETING WERE HELD VIRTUALLY AND PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED WORKSHOPS ON TIMELY TOPICS AND HEARD KEY SPEAKERS. TRAVEL ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN TO A SMALL NUMBER OF MEMBERS ($9,613).

IT HAS BEEN OVER 5 YEARS SINCE THE OBFS MEMBERSHIP WAS SURVEYED ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS. SO, A MEMBER SURVEY WAS INITIATED IN 2022 TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF INTERESTS AND PRIORITIES OF THE MEMBERSHIP ($6,500). OBFS HAS MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO INCREASE IT INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AND MEMBERSHIP. AS PART OF ITS STRATEGIC PLAN IN THIS AREA, A MEMBER STATION EXCHANGE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED. THE OBFS INTERNATIONAL MATCHING PROGRAM BRINGS TWO OR MORE STATIONS TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE ON RESEARCH, COMPARE EXPERIENCES, SHARE STUDENTS, INITIATE PROJECTS, DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS OR PARTNERSHIPS, OR SOMETHING ELSE ALTOGETHER! NEW TECHNOLOGY ENABLES RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FIELD STATIONS REGARDLESS OF DISTANCE AND THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM IS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH PEERS. WHILE EACH RESEARCH STATION IS UNIQUE, THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES AMONG THEM, AND THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES SHARING KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTING STATIONS TO EACH OTHER BY IDENTIFYING POINTS OF COMPATIBILITY AND SHARED INTERESTS (RESOURCES SPENT IN 2022 = $3,559).

THE OBFS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE VIRTUAL FIELD, AN EFFORT TO CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE VIRTUAL LEARNING RESOURCES THAT FOCUSED ON TEACHING OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS THROUGH VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES FROM FIELD STATIONS AND MARINE LABORATORIES (FSMLS) TO SUPPORT FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND OTHERS ($1,095).

THE OBFS CONTINUES TO BE A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (AIBS) ($2,700), A CONFEDERATION OF SMALLER SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND PUBLIC POLICY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GROUP. EDUCATION OF DECISION MAKERS ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF FIELD STATIONS FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, THE BLENDING OF ART AND NATURAL HISTORY, AND IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS ANOTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF OBFS. THIS YEAR OBFS CONTRIBUTED TO CONGRESSIONAL VISITS DAY, A PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS MEMBERS TO MEET WITH THEIR CONGRESSIONAL STATE DELEGATION TO INFORM THEM OF THE ROLE OF FIELD STATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, AND THE EDUCATION OF A NEW GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS ($750). OBFS ALSO PAID THE REGISTRATION FEES FOR 8 MEMBERS TO ATTEND THESE PROGRAMS ($3,575).