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ADVISORY FROM EXPERTS
Government funding in Great Lakes studies not only safeguards the region’s ecosystems but also enhances safety and prosperity for those residing in the area, as per a recent peer-reviewed study.
The document was released by the International Association for Great Lakes Research and comprises contributions from specialists affiliated with institutions across the Great Lakes area, including the University of Michigan. Authors and IAGLR members are accessible for discussions on the extensive advantages of this publicly supported research, designed for community benefit.
Gregory Dick serves as the director of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research and heads the Great Lakes Center for Freshwaters and Human Health. He holds the title of Alfred F. Thurnau Professor in the U-M Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability.
His work delves into the influence of microorganisms on environmental processes, water quality, and biogeochemistry. Currently, his laboratory is examining the microbial ecology of harmful cyanobacterial blooms that pose risks to freshwater ecosystems globally, utilizing Lake Erie as a natural laboratory.
“Investing in scientific inquiry about the Great Lakes yields returns by safeguarding ecosystems and human well-being, while stimulating economic development,” he stated. This initiative is crucial for maintaining clean drinking water, facilitating safe boating and swimming, promoting robust fisheries, and supporting industries reliant on the lakes. Ensuring Great Lakes preservation transcends party lines and has consistently received bipartisan support; this funding must persist for the benefit of the millions who live, work, and enjoy the lakes.”
Contact: [email protected]
Mary Ogdahl is the managing director of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, which encompasses both a research body and a regional consortium made of universities, NGOs, corporations, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Odgahl aids in advancing NOAA’s mission and strategic objectives by coordinating and overseeing CIGLR’s personnel, organizational activities, proposal creation, and research and administrative budgets.
“We possess the largest freshwater supply globally. In an era where we have witnessed the severe consequences of scarcity and degradation in various regions, the U.S. and Canada must commit to fostering the long-term well-being of the Great Lakes. Research and surveillance are imperative to ensure the Great Lakes can continue to sustain a thriving economy and vibrant communities,” she expressed. “Our future hinges upon understanding the natural systems we depend on, and this comprehension can solely be achieved through scientific investigation.
“As with any aspect crucial to our health, safety, or economic security, continued investment is obligatory and anticipated. We don’t anticipate our bodies or even our vehicles to remain in good condition without regular evaluations and maintenance. Why should the Great Lakes—essential to the everyday lives of millions—be treated any differently?”
Contact: [email protected]
Mike Shriberg, a practice and engagement professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability, serves as the associate director for the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research. He is also the engagement director at Michigan Sea Grant and will assume leadership of the U-M Water Center on July 1. Previously, he held the role of regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation in the Great Lakes area and co-chaired the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. His expertise lies in Great Lakes water policy and governance.
“We find ourselves at a pivotal juncture regarding the management of the Great Lakes,” he remarked. “It is uncommon for prominent scientists and researchers in the region to unite in submitting a commentary, yet we all acknowledge the urgency of the situation and the genuine repercussions of the present reductions in scientific funding and research. The Great Lakes are what connect the area, and the scientific ability to comprehend and manage our shared resource is at imminent risk. That’s why we are collectively vocal about the significance of our combined scientific work to the health and well-being of our communities, individuals, and natural assets.”
Contact: [email protected]
Patrick Doran
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serves as the strategic director for measurement and scientific initiatives within The Nature Conservancy’s five-state Midwest Division in the United States. His responsibilities encompass strategic development, metrics, assessment and education, and science grounded in evidence, following TNC’s Conservation by Design methodology, with particular emphasis on the North American Great Lakes.
“Safeguarding the Great Lakes, the most extensive collection of freshwater lakes globally, necessitates an ‘all in’ strategy, and this commentary supports that notion,” he remarked. “Funding from the federal government is vital for facilitating research throughout the Great Lakes, but it is the partnerships among states, local governments, tribal groups, conservation organizations, and businesses that effectively channel this funding to yield benefits for both humans and nature.
“The daily experiences with the Great Lakes that offer immense value to each of us—such as swimming, fishing, boating, birdwatching, and hiking along the edges of these expansive water bodies—are, in part, the outcome of the attention our federal agencies, states, municipalities, tribal entities, conservation organizations, and enterprises dedicate to these magnificent waters. These commitments are steered by a strong and lasting dedication to scientific inquiry. We absolutely must not allow that to diminish.”
Mathis Eckelmann drawing. Image courtesy: Traugott archive [email protected]
Catherine O’Reilly holds the position of director at the Large Lakes Observatory within the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Her investigations concentrate on the effects of climate and land-use alterations on water bodies worldwide, with a notable focus on Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, where climate change has influenced food security.
“How might future history texts characterize the current events? I believe they will narrate a tale of how the dismantling of American scientific endeavors has led to ecological decline, economic hardship, alongside a decrease in national safety and public welfare,” she stated.
Contact: [email protected]
Rebecca Klaper functions as the dean of the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her research investigates developing contaminants—including pharmaceuticals, personal care items, microplastics, and PFAS—within freshwater environments and their possible consequences on organisms.
“Our freshwater ecosystems, encompassing the Great Lakes, are our most vital assets,” she explained. “The federal funding directed toward research, remediation, and conservation of these resources has resulted in safer drinking water, the safeguarding of fisheries, improved weather forecasting, cleaner beaches, economic advancement, and healthier human populations. Ongoing support for these initiatives should remain a national priority.”
Contact: [email protected]
Jérôme Marty is the executive director of the International Association for Great Lakes Research and acts as a Canadian representative on the Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission. With training as a limnologist, his research has concentrated on shifts in food webs due to various pressures in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Over the past 15 years, his focus has been on the intersection of scientific inquiry and policy, particularly on integrating diverse types of knowledge to foster informed decision-making.
“The United States and Canada share a collective responsibility for the stewardship of the Great Lakes, a commitment embedded in binational pacts such as the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,” he noted. “The strides made toward restoration and protection of the Great Lakes are the outcome of prolonged, coordinated, and sustained investments in science, outreach, and policy. Diminishing these efforts on either side of the border threatens to erode these achievements and will affect all communities and sectors reliant on a clean and dependable water supply.”
Contact: [email protected]
Donna Kashian leads the International Association for Great Lakes Research and is a professor in the Biology Department at Wayne State University, where she also heads the Environmental Science Program and the UN Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development in the Detroit-Windsor area. Her research investigates Great Lakes water quality, exploring how disturbances such as invasive species and pollutants influence aquatic ecosystems. She merges scientific research, policy, and community involvement, often through an environmental justice framework, and her findings have been integrated into statewide monitoring initiatives and public outreach programs.
“The Great Lakes are confronting unparalleled environmental issues driven by climate change, novel contaminants, and invasive species,” she observed. “Ongoing financial support is vital not solely for monitoring these transformations but to inspire informed action through innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, effective management practices, and inclusive policies aimed at protecting and revitalizing these ecosystems. Progressing social and political research alongside scientific study is essential for formulating equitable, climate-resilient solutions. Investing in Great Lakes research equates to investing in practical knowledge that secures the future of the region’s environment and communities.”
Contact: [email protected]
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