Society Awards
The SWS awards program strives to acknowledge outstanding contributors in wetland science and service and looks to honor those who have made a major impact in the field. This award program not only honors award recipients, but also creates awareness of the progress and leadership that takes place within the field. Awards are presented each year at the SWS Annual Meeting.
Interested in our SWS student research grants? Click here to learn more.
Chapter and Section Development Grant
The SWS Board of Directors is pleased to offer a Development Grant to Chapters and Sections in order to expand programs and membership in keeping with our mission to promote understanding, conservation, scientifically based management and sustainable use of wetlands throughout the world. The term of the grant is a maximum of five years and amounts up to $4,000 will be considered by the SWS Awards Committee. Up to two winners will be selected each year. Chapters and Sections can apply for the Grant twice a year by completing an online application where they must answer questions to outline their objectives.
Selection of Chapters and/or Sections to receive funding is based on demonstration of need, quality of proposal, statement of objectives, and likelihood of success. Grant money will be transferred to the Chapter/Section account on an incremental basis. The Chapter president and treasurer/Section Chair will be responsible for sending an annual report to the Board of Directors and the SWS Awards Committee detailing how the money was spent and how goals have (or have not) been met. There will be an opportunity for explanation after one year if goals have not yet been met. A final report will be due at the end of the grant period.
Access the application form here. Due Date has been extended to Monday March 1, 2021.
Please email Suzanna Hogendorn at membership@sws.org if you have any questions.
The Fellow Award is the highest recognition of membership bestowed by the Society. Nominees must be active SWS members who have been nominated by other active members to receive the honor, selected by the Fellows Committee. Access the nomination form here. Due date is March 5, 2021.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2019 | Andrew Hamilton Baldwin | University of Maryland |
J. Patrick Megonigal | Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | |
2018 | Ralph W. Tiner, PWS | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Retired |
2017 | Robert Brooks | Pennsylvania State University |
Max Finlayson, Ph.D. | Charles Sturt University | |
Cliff Hupp, Ph.D. | U.S. Geological Survey | |
2016 | R. Eugene Turner | Louisiana State University |
2015 | Christopher Craft | Indiana University |
Paul Keddy | Independent Scholar | |
2013 | Katherine Ewel | University of Florida |
Chris Freeman | Bangor University | |
Carol Johnston | South Dakota State University | |
Beth Middleton | U.S. Geological Survey | |
James Morris | University of South Carolina | |
Joy Zedler | University of Wisconsin - Madison | |
2012 | Scott D. Bridgham | University of Oregon |
Susan M. Galatowitsch | University of Minnesota | |
2011 | Donald R. Cahoon | U.S. Geological Survey |
Frank P. Day | Old Dominion University | |
Neil Saintilan | NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Water | |
Jos T.A. Verhoeven | University of Utrecht | |
Dennis Whigham | Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | |
2010 | Barbara L. Bedford | Cornell University |
Joan G. Ehrenfeld | Rutgers University | |
Ned H. "Chip" Euliss, Jr. | U.S. Geological Survey | |
Irving A. Mendelssohn | Louisiana State University | |
Loren M. Smith | Oklahoma State University | |
Michael J. Vepraskas | North Carolina State University | |
Thomas C. Winter | U.S. Geological Survey | |
2008 | Karen L. McKee | U.S. Geological Survey |
Rebecca R. Sharitz | University of Georgia | |
Arnold G. van der Valk | Iowa State University | |
2007 | Mark M. Brinson | East Carolina University |
William H. Conner | Clemson University | |
R. Kelman Wieder | Villanova University | |
1994 | Sarah Cooke | Cooke Scientific |
Curt Richardson | Duke University | |
Doug Wilcox | U.S. Geological Survey |
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have achieved special distinction in their career through contributions to wetland science and management, specific to research, education or policy. The award comes with a Lifetime membership in the Society and is offered in odd-numbered years. A nomination letter, two supporting letters, and a resume are required for each nomination. Access the nomination here. Deadline is March 5, 2021.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2019 | Nick Davidson | Nick Davidson Environmental and Institute for Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University |
Mary E. Kentula | Western Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | |
Rebecca R. Sharitz | Savannah River Ecology Laboratory | |
2017 | Paul Keddy, Ph.D. | Independent Scholar |
2016 | K. Ramesh Reddy | University of Florida |
2015 | Jan Květ | University of South Bohemia |
2013 | Curtis Richardson | Duke University |
2011 | Lewis M. Cowardin | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired) |
2009 | Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. | |
2007 | William J. Mitsch | The Ohio State University |
John M. Teal | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | |
2005 | Eville Gorham | University of Minnesota |
2002 | William H. Patrick, Jr. | Louisiana State University |
Thomas C. Winter | U.S. Geological Survey | |
2000 | Robert G. Wetzel | University of Alabama |
1998 | James G. Gosselink | Louisiana State University |
1996 | Milton Weller | Texas A&M University |
The Merit Award recognizes individuals for specific accomplishments in any field of wetland science and management in order to inspire future efforts. The award comes with a three-year membership in the Society. A letter outlining the specific achievement, two supporting letters, and a resume are required for each nomination. Access the nomination here. Deadline is March 5, 2021.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2018 | Reyam Naji Ajmi | Mustansiryah University |
2016 | Dr. Judith S. Weis | Rutgers University |
2015 | Matthew G. Stahman | SWCA Environmental Consultants |
2012 | James T. Morris | University of South Carolina |
2011 | Donald R. Cahoon | U.S. Geological Survey |
2010 | Steven Pennings | University of Houston |
2008 | Irving A. Mendelssohn | Louisiana State University |
Arnold G. van der Valk | Iowa State University | |
2007 | Mary E. Kentula | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
2006 | Paul A. Keddy | Southeastern Louisiana University |
2004 | Beth Middleton | U.S.G.S. National Wetlands Research Center |
2003 | Carl Madsen | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
2001 | Barbara Bedford | Cornell University |
2000 | James B. Grace | U.S. Geological Survey |
1998 | Mark M. Brinson | East Carolina University |
The International Travel Awards are provided for financial assistance to wetland scientists, who are disadvantaged through regional economic conditions, to enhance their participation in Society activities. The goal of this award is to foster the participation of international membership through a travel grant to an annual meeting and free membership for three years in SWS. Two letters of recommendation, a CV, a submitted abstract and a proposed itinerary and budget are required at the time of application. The 2021 SWS Annual Meeting will be virtual and the travel award will not be awarded in 2021.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2019 | Noreen Khalid | Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan |
Excellence Akeredolu | University of Lagos, Nigeria | |
Bright Uchenna Ndimele | University of Lagos, Nigeria | |
2018 | Ian Bredin | Institute of Natural Resources |
Bright Uchenna Ndimele | University of Lagos | |
2017 | Adam Ceesay | Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology |
Philip Frenzel | Stellenbosch University | |
Anne Ola | University of Queensland | |
2016 | Dr. Abias Uwimana | University of Rwanda |
Dr. Ritesh Kumar | Wetlands International South Asia | |
Dr. Prince Emeka Ndimele | Lagos State University | |
2015 | Ajay Sehgal | PEC University of Technology |
2016 | Dr. Abias Uwimana | University of Rwanda |
Dr. Ritesh Kumar | Wetlands International South Asia | |
Dr. Prince Emeka Ndimele | Lagos State University | |
2015 | Ajay Sehgal | PEC University of Technology |
2014 | Tatiana Chuzhekova | Saint Petersburg State University |
Rajiv Das Kangabam | Bharathidasan University | |
Dr. Wahid M. Moufaddal | National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries | |
Monalisa Silva-Araujo | Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro | |
2013 | Jared Bosire | Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute |
Luis Epele | CONICET | |
Ritu Singh | INTACH | |
2010 | Mary Ghobrial | Institute Of Oceanography & Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt |
Piotr Woski | University of Botswana, Maun, Botswana | |
2009 | Maria E. Hernandez | Institute of Ecology, Veracruz, Mexico |
Xiao-Yan Li | Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China |
The International Fellow Award is presented to an internationally outstanding wetland scientist for distinguished contributions to the field of wetland science and for fostering the aims of the SWS within their own country and abroad. Except for extraordinary circumstances, candidates should live and work outside of the United States. A nomination letter, two supporting letters and a resume are required for each nomination. Offered on even numbered years.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2018 | Christopher Freeman | Bangor University (United Kingdom) |
Robert McInnes, PWS | RM Wetlands & Environment Ltd. (United Kingdom) | |
2016 | Dra. Silvia Emilia Ibarra Obando | CICESE (Mexico) |
2014 | Jared Bosire | WWF Kenya |
2012 | Edward Maltby | University of Liverpool |
2010 | Nicholas Davidson | Deputy Secretary-General of the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands |
2008 | Peter Nevill Johnson | Landcare Research (New Zealand) |
2005 | Max Finlayson | International Water Management Institute |
2003 | David Searle Mitchell | Charles Sturt University |
2001 | Jan Kvet | Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic |
1999 | Wolfgang Johannes Junk | Max Planck Institute of Limnology, Germany |
1997 | Brij Gopal | Jawaharlal Nehru University, India |
1996 | Chung-Hsin Chung | Nanjing University, China |
The President's Service Award recognizes those members who have made significant contributions by serving the Society and its members. Recipients of the Service Award have promoted the goals of the Society in their efforts that extend above and beyond their duties as teachers, researchers, and administrators.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2020 | Gillian Davies, PWS | BSC Group, Inc. |
Andy Herb | AlpineEco | |
Scott Jecker, PWS | Whitenton Group Inc | |
Lori Sutter, PhD | University of Georgia | |
2019 | Jodie Burns | Cattails Environmental, LLC |
John Lowenthal | Cardno | |
2018 | Royal Gardner | Stetson University College of Law |
2017 | Wei-Ta Fang | National Taiwan Normal University |
Jim Perry, Ph.D. | College of William & Mary | |
Kimberli Ponzio | St. Johns River Water Management District | |
Jos Verhoeven, Ph.D. | Utrecht University | |
2016 | Bill Morgante | Maryland Board of Public Works |
2015 | Stephen Faulkner | U.S. Geological Survey |
Yvonne Vallette | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | |
2014 | Ted Burger | TOB Support Services |
2013 | William Conner | Clemson University |
Gregory Noe | U.S. Geological Survey | |
2012 | Sandy Doyle-Ahern | EMH&T |
Darold Batzer | University of Georgia | |
Steven Pennings | University of Houston | |
2011 | Wei-Ta Fang | Chung Hua University |
Rob McInnes | Bioscan UK, Ltd | |
Isidro Antonio T. Savillo | Iloilo State College of Fisheries | |
2010 | Charles Andrew Cole | Penn State University |
2009 | R. Harold Jones | Sigma Environmental Services, Inc. |
2008 | James C. Lynch | U.S. Geological Survey |
2007 | Douglas A. Wilcox | U.S. Geological Survey |
2006 | Frank P. Day | Old Dominion University |
2003 | Glenn Guntenspergen | U.S. Geological Survey |
Mary Kentula | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | |
2002 | Teresa Doss and the Mid-Atlantic USA Chapter |
|
2000 | U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center |
|
1999 | James Parnell | Univeristy of North Carolina |
1998 | Lee Ischinger | U.S. Geological Survey |
Janet Keough | U.S. Geological Survey | |
1996 | Frank P. Day, Courtney Hackney,James Kushlan, Mary Leck, Beth Middleton,Ming-Ko Woo, and Wayne Hudnall |
The Doug Wilcox Award for Outstanding Associate Editor of Wetlands is awarded each year based on the recommendation of the Editor-in-Chief of Wetlands.
Past Winners
Year |
Name |
Affiliation |
2019 | Sarah Finkelstein | University of Toronto |
2018 | David Cooper, Ph.D. | Colorado State University |
2017 | Debashish Mazumber, Ph.D. | Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organization |
2016 | Dr. David Mushet | United States Geological Surey |
2015 | Wei-Ta Fang | National Taiwan Normal University |
2014 | Diane De Steven | U.S. Forest Service |
2013 | Jan Vymazal | Czech University of Life Sciences Prague |
2012 | Eric Stein | Southern California Coastal Water Research |
2011 | Joshua D. Stafford | U.S. Geological Survey |
2010 | Aram J. K. Calhoun | University of Maine - Orono |
2009 | Gary N. Ervin | Mississippi State University |
2008 | Katharina A.M. Engelhardt | University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science |
2007 | Rachel A. Budelsky | University of Minnesota |
The Best Student Paper and Poster Presentation Awards are given to promote student participation at the Society's meetings and to recognize excellence in the presentation of posters and papers.
Past Winners
Year |
Type |
Name |
Affiliation |
2019 | Oral Presentation | Liza Goldberg | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center through the University of Maryland |
Poster Presentation | Samantha McCabe | Ohio State University | |
2017 | Oral Presentation | Margot Buchbinder | San Francisco State University |
Poster Presentation | Anna Braswell | Duke University | |
2016 | Oral Presentation | Christine Rohal | Utah State University |
Poster Presentation | Julia Stuart | Villanova University | |
2015 | Oral Presentation | Anya Hopple | University of Oregon |
Poster Presentation | Melissa Pastore | Villanova University | |
2014 | Oral Presentation | Bianca Pier | Siena College |
Poster Presentation | Aliana Britson | Pennsylvania State University | |
2013 | Oral Presentation | Emily Graham | University of Colorado - Boulder |
Poster Presentation | Anita Arenas | California State University - Long Beach | |
2012 | Oral Presentation | Sunitha Pangala | The Open University |
Poster Presentation | Rupesh Bhomia | University of Florida | |
2011 | Oral Presentation | Dagmara Sirova | University of South Bohemia |
Poster Presentation | Elodie Maillard | Laboratory of Hydrology and Geochemistry of Strasbourg | |
2010 | Oral Presentation | Maura Nowalk | Duke University |
Oral Presentation | Rebecca Rooney | University of Alberta | |
Poster Presentation | Alan Leslie | University of Maryland | |
2009 | Oral Presentation | Beth Lawrence | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Poster Presentation | Brett Dietz | Penn State University | |
2008 | Oral Presentation | Jennifer Karberg | Michigan Technological University |
Oral Presentation | Margaret Pepper | University of Delaware | |
Poster Presentation | Carolina Mendez | University of California - Los Angeles | |
2007 | Oral Presentation | Joanna Lemly | Colorado State University |
Poster Presentation | Amy Campbell | The Ohio State University | |
2006 | Oral Presentation | Alice Howe | University of Newcastle, Australia |
Poster Presentation | Jan-Olaf Meynecke | Griffith University, Australia | |
2005 | Oral Presentation | Brett Scheffers | The University of the South |
Poster Presentation | Jeffrey Smith | University of Florida | |
2004 | Oral Presentation | Kate Huckelbridge | University of California, Berkeley |
Poster Presentation | Katarzyna Dyszy | University of Alberta | |
2003 | Oral Presentation | Jason Keller | University of Notre Dame |
Poster Presentation | Wyatt Hartman | Cornell University | |
2002 | Oral Presentation | Sharon Ashworth | University of Kansas |
Poster Presentation | Amanda Nahlik | Kenyon College, OH | |
2001 | Oral Presentation | Susanne Hoeppner | Southeastern Louisiana State University |
Poster Presentation | Melynda May | ||
2000 | Oral Presentation | Julie Guimond | U. of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada |
Poster Presentation | Isa Woo | University of Wisconsin, Madison | |
1999 | Oral Presentation | Carrie H. Reinhardt | Penn State University |
Poster Presentation | Allison R. Aldous | Cornell University | |
1998 | Oral Presentation | Christopher E. Brown | University of Memphis |
Poster Presentation | Merritt Tuetsky | Villanova University | |
1997 | Oral Presentation | Deborah J. Picking | University of Massachusetts |
Poster Presentation | Laurie Bishel-Machung | Illinois History Survey | |
1996 | Oral Presentation | Rachel Budelsky | University of Minnesota |
Poster Presentation | Uygar Ozesmi | Ohio State University | |
1995 | Oral Presentation | Brian Windmiller | Tufts University |
Poster Presentation | Robert Nairn | Ohio State University | |
1994 | Oral Presentation | William J Streever | University of Florida |
Poster Presentation | Ferenc A. DeSzalay | University of California-Berkeley |
The Sponsors and Endowment Award is presented to individuals, organizations, or corporations in recognition of financial sponsorship or endowment.
Year | |
2008 | US Geological Survey |
1998 | Lyndon Lee |