Bringing the Global Environmental Science Community to the Majestic Pacific Northwest

Stacey Harper, Mark Surette and Denis da Silva, Chairs of the SETAC North America 46th Annual Meeting Programme Committee

Please join us for the upcoming SETAC North America 46th Annual Meeting, taking place from 16-20 November in beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Portland’s unofficial slogan is “Keep Portland Weird,” which reflects the city’s unique character and charm and also inspired this year’s meeting theme, “The Essence of Science: Curiosity, Discovery and Solutions.” The daily schedule is now available and abstract submissions will open on 26 March. Consider offering a training course for meeting attendees; proposals are due on 4 June. Training courses allow you to share your expertise with a broader audience, shape the next generation of scientists and professionals, and to build community with like-minded professionals and leaders of tomorrow. 

Meet the Annual Meeting Program Committee Chairs

Stacey Harper is a Professor in the Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology and the School of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering at Oregon State University.  Harper laboratory uses rapid assays with whole organisms and communities of organisms to evaluate the toxic potential of diverse nanomaterials, including micro- and nanoplastics.  Harper served as president for the Pacific Northwest SETAC Regional Chapter from 2020–2021 and past president from 2021–2023. She is a member of the steering committee for the SETAC Nano Interest Group and is a member of the Microplastics Interest Group. She also serves as a co-leader of the Pacific Northwest Consortium on Plastics and was recognized by the U.S. National Nanotechnology Coordination Office as one of the outstanding women in nanotechnology in 2019. Harper is an avid gardener, hunter and fisherman and a beginning disc golfer.

Mark Surette is a Vice President and Senior Technical Principal at WSP USA, Inc. with more than 15 years’ experience investigating and remediating complex, large-scale contaminated sediment sites. Surette’s professional career centers on leading and participating in multidisciplinary teams conducting remedial investigations (RIs) and remedial designs (RDs) to address legacy contaminants (PCBs, DDT, PAHs and heavy metals) in aquatic environments, while his research focuses on the analysis of emerging environmental contaminants (nano-and microplastics and engineered nanomaterials). Surette obtained his B.S. in Environmental and Civil Engineering from Clarkson University, his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Oregon State University, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Washington and New York. Mark enjoys spending time with his family exploring the outdoor wonders of the Pacific Northwest and is currently focused on teaching his 4 year old how to ski.

Denis da Silva is as a research chemist at the NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) in Seattle, Washington, since 2011. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry in 2000 and his Ph.D. degree in chemical oceanography from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2005. From 2000 to 2007, da Silva worked on several environmental monitoring projects in a number of regions, including Antarctica and urbanized coastal areas in Brazil, focusing on petroleum contamination. He first joined the NWFSC as a post-doc scientist in 2007, developing methods to analyze fish tissues for trace levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). He also helped develop LC-MS/MS methods to measure dispersant components and PAH metabolites in tissues of NOAA trust resources after the Deepwater Horizon MC252 oil spill. When not working on new methods for contaminants via LC-MS/MS, da Silva enjoys life spending time with his daughter and training for marathons, triathlon and kiteboarding.
 

Social Activities, Events and Places Not to Miss in the Portland Area

Since Oregon is home to the infamous Sasquatch (a.k.a., Bigfoot), SETAC leaders have reached out to the big guy with an invitation to attend the meeting with all of you! Don’t forget your cameras because there is a strong chance that he will make an appearance at our conference. Can you just imagine being able to take home a photo of you with the Bigfoot?

We are lining up numerous social events and activities to enthrall meeting attendees and their guests. The Portland Convention Center is close to downtown Portland, only a quick ride on the MAX light rail away. There you have access to the wonders of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. With more than 400 miles of bike lanes, greenways and dedicated paths, Portland is known as a very bike-friendly city. Pick up some energy at the infamous Voodoo Donuts. Mills End Park in Portland is the world’s smallest park at only three square feet located near the Willamette River, just a half-hour walk or 12-minute bike ride from the Portland Convention Center. Bring your own or rent a bike for the day to explore the area.

Join the annual fun run with colleagues, tour local salmon-safe wineries in the valley, and visit the Bonneville Dam fish ladder to see salmon and other fish climb to pass the dam and swim upstream to spawn. Take a day trip to Mount Hood, located less than a two-hour drive from Portland. There you will be able to enjoy some of the magnificent wildlife and scenery that Oregon has to offer. Or, if you are a fan of the Steven King movie “The Shining,” visit the historic Timberline Lodge where part of the movie was filmed.

The Pacific Northwest is an Amphibian Hotspot

Oregon is home to lots of stream, pond and terrestrial frogs and salamanders. Some are widespread, like the Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla), which are Oregon’s only native vocalizing frog. They are found throughout the state, breed in any waterbody they can find, and have many adult color morphs, including green, brown, orange and the elusive (and probably fictitious) blue color morph. Oregon has other amphibian species that are way more cryptic than the chorus frog: You have to use your wits and wood sense to find them. The Oregon slender salamander (Batrachoseps wright) is a direct developer, meaning it skips the aquatic larval life stage. It is often called a “Goldilocks” species because it thrives in mid-elevation coniferous forests and is only surface active when conditions are just right – not too hot, not too cold, and when there’s lots of decayed logs to hide in. These two species are examples of how diverse our amphibian community is in this state! (credit for amphibian highlights: Tiffany Garcia)

The State Tree and Animal

The Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is the state tree of Oregon and is the most significant conifer in the state. These trees can grow to phenomenal sizes with the Oregon Champion Coast Douglas fir measuring 329 feet tall and 7.8 feet in diameter, believed to be the third tallest tree in the world. Douglas firs are fire resistant and constitute a major part of the Oregon economy.  The state animal and mascot of Oregon State University is the beaver (Castorcanadensis).

 

 

We know you will find an exciting program, many networking opportunities and top-notch science at this year’s SETAC North America annual meeting. Portland and the surrounding area have much to offer for outdoor enthusiasts, easily accessible from the conference center. We look forward to seeing you in November!

Author’s contact:  [email protected]