Organization Of Biological Field Stations Inc

As part of its strategic plan, OBFS worked to increase its international presence. OBFS made a concerted effort to increase international membership by establishing an International Matching Program (Resources spent in 2024 = $7,362). This program brings two or more stations together to deepen networking opportunities throughout our international community or jump start multi-year research projects or collaborations across diverse lands and expertise. Findings from visits are presented at "Virtual Cafe" talks four times annually. These talks are simultaneously translated into English or Spanish ($200). A second related program, the Station Exchange program, that provides travel awards for field station staff to visit other field stations in the OBFS network for shadowing, cross-training, and mentoring opportunities as a way to connect with peers (Resources spent in 2024 = $2,640). Finally, OBFS established a mini-grants program to support small research or infrastructure projects that support strategic planning goals (Resources spent in 2024 = $6,875).

The OBFS continues to be a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) ($750), a confederation of smaller scientific organizations that provides educational, professional, and public policy opportunities for the group. Education of decision makers about the critical role of field stations for experiential learning, the blending of art and natural history, and in scientific research is another program service accomplishment of OBFS. This year OBFS contributed to Congressional Visits Day, a program sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. This program allows members to meet with their Congressional state delegation to inform them of the role of field stations in scientific research, conservation, and the education of a new generation of scientists. OBFS also paid the registration fees for 3 members to attend these programs ($3,615). The OBFS continued to support the Virtual Field, an effort to create and distribute virtual learning resources that focused on teaching observational skills through virtual experiences from field stations and marine laboratories to support faculty, students, and others ($3,157).

The OBFS received a generous grant from the Maxwell | Hanrahan Foundation, San Francisco, CA ($15,0000). This grant will support graduate students from member organizations in field-based research. The OBFS will solicit grant applications from member stations in February to award grant money for the 2025 field season.