TO:
FROM:
Chair, SETAC Regional Chapters Committee
David Janz, Acting President, Prairie Northern Chapter
DATE: August 31, 2011
2010 – 2011 Activities
I. PREAMBLE
This is our 2 nd
annual report and our chapter is still a work in progress. Most of the activities during this year were focused on “getting the word out” about the chapter, soliciting new members, and encouraging people to attend the annual meeting.
II. ANNUAL CHAPTER MEETING
Our 2 nd
annual meeting was held on June 24, 2011 at the University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg,
Manitoba. The main venue was the new Richardson College for the Environment and Science
Complex. The theme of the meeting was “From Pole to Pothole: Ecotoxicology in a Changing
Climate”. There were 92 registrants at the meeting, which received national media attention
(CBC).
Special thanks to Co-Chairs Drs. Charles Wong and Mark Hanson, and all the student support, that made this an outstanding meeting. There was a wide geographical representation in attendance, from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Lethbridge, Alberta, a distance of 1700 km. The meeting wrapped up with a celebratory banquet at the ballpark, where the Winnipeg Goldeyes defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 9-5. Our 3 rd annual meeting will be held in Saskatoon in June
2012.
Plenary Speakers:
Dr. Paul Hoekstra, Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, “The environmental safety of pesticides in a changing climate”
Dr. Feiyue Wang, University of Manitoba, “Chemical contamination in aquatic ecosystems under a changing climate: Early warnings from the polar regions”
Dr. Markus Hecker, University of Saskatchewan, “Aquatic ecotoxicology in times of climate change: A Canadian prairie perspective”
Platform Presentations:
14 oral presentations (9 student presentations)

Poster Social:
23 posters (16 graduate student and 4 undergraduate student posters)
Student Awards:
Best student platform competition:
1 st place: Amber Tompsett, University of Saskatchewan, “All mixed up: Phenotypic plasticity in a genotypic world”
2 nd place: William Dew, Lakehead University, “The (non) effect of calcium on copper-induced olfactory dysfunction in fathead minnows”
Best student poster competition:
1 st place: Sarah Beattie, University of Winnipeg, “Effects of pH and membrane pore size on aqueous passive sampling rates of selected polar organic compounds: A lab calibration study”
2 nd
place: Ashley Elliot and Caitlin Bartel, University of Winnipeg, “Characterization of nutrient loading in southern Manitoba’s Dead Horse Creek”
III. MEMBERSHIP
Regular memberships:
Student memberships:
31
23
IV. CHAPTER GOVERNANCE
We have not yet held elections for Officers and Board Members; this is on our agenda for the upcoming year.
Our interim Chapter Officers are:
President:
Vice-President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
David Janz, University of Saskatchewan
Mark Hanson, University of Manitoba
Karsten Liber, University of Saskatchewan
Adriana Brown, University of Saskatchewan
The interim Board members are:
Erin Robertson, Cameco Corporation
Lana Miller, University of Lethbridge (Student)
Nav Toor, University of Saskatchewan (Student)