FMCS Awards Committee
Chair: W. Gregory Cope
Co-Chair: Teresa J. Newton
Statement of Organization and Purpose
FMCS Awards are divided into two categories: Professional Awards (3 total) and Student Awards (2 total). Each award category is evaluated by separate guidelines but maintains the intent of the Society's award process. Unless an award specifies otherwise, candidates may: 1) be self-nominated or nominated by an individual or group; 2) may be from North America or any other geographical area; and 3) be FMCS members or non-members. Recipients of these awards are announced every two years at the FMCS Biennial Symposium, during the awards ceremony.
The FMCS Awards Committee is responsible for the administration and oversight of all FMCS awards, but award approval, unless otherwise stated, is granted by the FMCS Executive Board. The duties of the Awards Committee are to: (1) solicit nominations and to recommend recipients for each award given by the Society; (2) administer awards to students, including selecting the awardees in conjunction with a panel of independent judges; and (3) coordinate all award activities with the FMCS Treasurer and Executive Board to ensure the timely and smooth implementation of award programs.
FRESHWATER MOLLUSK
CONSERVATION SOCIETY
STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD PROGRAM
In 2002, the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS) established a Student Travel Award Program for the specific purpose of encouraging maximal participation of students (undergraduate and graduate) in the biennial symposium of the Society. Support is provided via an award of $100 to $300 (actual amount depends on the number of qualified applicants) to help defer the cost of travel, registration, and accommodations. Up to 30 travel awards will be made in a given year. The number of future annual awards will be determined each year by the Society's Executive Board. Awards will be made directly to the students during registration at the symposium
Eligibility Requirements and Limitations: Any student member of the Society who is enrolled as a full-time student at any college or university and is in good academic standing is eligible to apply. Specifically, each applicant must (1) be a student member of the Society or have paid their student membership dues ($15) to the FMCS Treasurer prior to submitting their application; (2) be a registered full-time student in good standing at any institution of higher learning; and (3) have submitted an abstract for a platform or poster presentation at the biennial symposium of the Society.
Application Materials: The following materials comprise a complete application package: One copy of the complete application package must be received by the Student Awards Committee on or before December 15, 2006. (Applications received by FAX will not be accepted.) Failure to meet the deadline or to follow instructions invalidates the application.
1. A completed application form: MS Word or PFD
2. A copy of the applicant's abstract that was already submitted through the abstract submission process.
3. A one-page curriculum vita of the applicant.
4. A letter of recommendation (one page maximum) from the applicant's research advisor.
EACH APPLICATION MUST STAND ALONE: GROUP APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Evaluation Procedures: We anticipate that most applicants for travel award will be funded. However, because the number of awards is limited by available funds, applicants will be ranked on the basis of the following criteria:
1) Completeness and timeliness of
the application package;
2) Quality of the abstract; and
3) Letter of recommendation.
Submit Application Materials on or before December 15 to:
Via US Mail Via
Courier (e.g., FedEx, UPS) Best Student Presentation Awards The Best Student Presentation Awards
were established by FMCS in 2002 and are given every two years (in conjunction
with the biennial symposium) to an individual for the Best Platform (oral) and
Best Poster Presentations at the symposium. Eligibility Requirements: All
students submitting abstracts, provided they meet the eligibility requirements,
will be judged for the best student platform or poster presentation unless
otherwise indicated on the abstract submittal form. 1. Must
presently be a student or graduated after March in the year preceding the
Biennial Symposium 2. Must
be a first author and present the paper 3. The
presentation must be from research conducted as a student and not as a
post-graduate 4. The
FMCS encourages students to give presentations on preliminary stages of their
research prior to any data having been collected; however, only
presentations that contain data (i.e., results) will be considered for awards 5. Student
status must be indicated on the abstract Lifetime Achievement Award The Lifetime Achievement Award was established by FMCS in
1998 and is given every two years (in conjunction with the biennial symposium),
if warranted, to an individual for singular accomplishments or long-term
contributions that have advanced the conservation and science of freshwater
mollusks at a national or international level. The recipient of this award must have had (1) activity in
one or more aspects of freshwater mollusk research and/or conservation for a
substantial period of time, with a recommended minimum guideline of 20 years
and (2) made substantial contributions to the scientific understanding of
freshwater mollusks and/or their conservation. Nomination Process: The candidate may or may not be an
active member of FMCS. However,
nominations for this award must be made by an active FMCS member and should
clearly and thoroughly document the accomplishments of the nominee. Application Instructions: An application package
containing the following materials must be submitted to the Chair, FMCS Awards
Committee and must contain all of the material requested to be considered for
the Award. Selection of Recipient: The
FMCS Awards Committee will receive and evaluate nomination packages for
completeness and eligibility.
Packages will be forwarded with recommendations to the Executive Board
of the Society for majority approval.
Announcement of the Award will be made at the Biennial Symposium. The recipient of this award will be
granted free lifetime membership in the Society Completed applications must arrive by 31 December of the year preceding the Biennial Symposium. Send
to: Chair, FMCS Awards Committee William J. Clench Memorial Award The William J. Clench Memorial Award was established by FMCS
in 2000 to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of malacology,
including significant collections.
William J. Clench was born on October 24, 1897 and later served as
Curator of Mollusks at the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology
from 1926 to 1966. He worked
toward having a well balanced worldwide research collection, through exchanges,
collecting trips, and acquiring collections from small private museums or
individuals which could no longer afford to care for them. He remained active in this regard until
his death on February 22, 1984. This award is given every two years (in conjunction with the
biennial symposium), if warranted, to an individual for singular
accomplishments or long-term contributions that have advanced the natural
history and understanding of freshwater mollusks at an academic or non-academic
level. The recipient of this award
must have had (1) activity in one or more aspects of freshwater mollusks for a
substantial period of time, with a recommended minimum guideline of 20 years
and (2) made substantial contributions to the field of freshwater malacology. Nomination Process: The candidate may or may not be an
active member of FMCS. However,
nominations for this award must be made by an active FMCS member and should
clearly and thoroughly document the accomplishments of the nominee. Application Instructions: An application package
containing the following materials must be submitted to the Chair, FMCS Awards
Committee and must contain all of the material requested to be considered for
the Award. Selection of Recipient: The
FMCS Awards Committee will receive and evaluate nomination packages for
completeness and eligibility.
Packages will be forwarded with recommendations to the Executive Board
of the Society for majority approval.
Announcement of the Award will be made at the Biennial Symposium. Completed applications must arrive by 31 December of the year preceding the Biennial Symposium. Send
to: Chair, FMCS Awards Committee Meritorious Service Award The Meritorious Service Award was established by FMCS in
2000 and is given every two years (in conjunction with the biennial symposium),
if warranted, to an individual for singular accomplishments or long-term
contributions to the Society. The
recipient of this award must be a past or present FMCS member who has performed
long-term, exceptionally high-quality service to the Society. Nomination Process: The candidate must have been an active
member of FMCS to qualify.
Nominations for this award may be made by the candidate or by a past or
present FMCS member. The
nomination must be accompanied by documentation of service made to the Society. Application Instructions: An application package
containing the following materials must be submitted to the Chair, FMCS Awards
Committee and must contain all of the material requested to be considered for
the Award. Selection of Recipient: The
FMCS Awards Committee will receive and evaluate nomination packages for
completeness and eligibility.
Packages will be forwarded with recommendations to the Executive Board
of the Society for majority approval.
Announcement of the Award will be made at the Biennial Symposium. Completed applications must arrive by 31 December of the year preceding the Biennial Symposium. Send
to: Chair, FMCS Awards Committee Freshwater Mollusk
Conservation Society 6 April 2007
