Science Center
The Subunit is proud to maintain a display tank, which serves to educate children about the fish that occupy local streams and lakes. In addition, this year the subunit put together flashcards with information on the various fish within the Center’s display tank. New to the Science Center this year is a state symbol exhibit honoring the symbols of the state of Illinois. Subunit members worked with the Director of the Science Center to set up and maintain an aquarium to display the bluegill as the official state fish.
Travel award to Aquaculture America 2007 for best student abstract
The Subunit voted to again judge and reward one of its student members with a monetary award for best abstract submitted to the Worl Aquaculture 2007 Conference in San Antonio. Jesse Trushenski distributed submitted abstracts to SIUC Zoology Department Faculty with the guidelines for ranking abstracts by the US Aquaculture Society. Heidi Lewis was awarded a check meeting. The Subunit is committed to continue this in the upcoming years as a way to reward its members for their outstanding research in the aquaculture field by supporting their presentations at USAS meetings through monetary support.
Trout Fundraiser
This past years Trout fundraiser was a success. Subunit members coordinated the entire project and shared the daily feeding responsibilities. Feed for this project was generously donated by Nelson and Sons, Inc. The rainbow trout for this fundraiser were purchased from Crystal Lake Fisheries in Ava, Missouri. The SIUC student subunit of the United States Aquaculture Society raising ~$1550 which helped to fund a travel award for the San Antonio World Aquaculture Society meeting, funds to support the American Fisheries Society social (pig roast), social and pool tournament night, operational costs of maintaining the Science Center aquarium, and the month to month supplies for the Children’s Science Center display tank. The club is currently preparing ponds and coordinating volunteer schedules to repeat this fundraiser over the 2007-2008 winter growing season.
2007 American Heartland Aquaculture Conference
In January the regional aquaculture producers hosted the American Heartland Aquaculture Conference at the Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center in Whittington, Illinois. The Subunit volunteered to help make this event a success by doing anything the organizers needed. Students managed registration, answered questions about the event, and handed out registration packets to all attendees. The students also displayed posters to highlight the aquaculture research undertaken at SIUC. The students also attended open discussions with local aquaculturists and shared relevant ideas on subjects to assist local farmers. This experience showed people in the industry of how SIUC can help cater research to local farmers current issues and concerns.
Election of new officers
Elections were held for new officers for the Subunit at the ending of spring semester 2007, according to the protocol set forth in the Subunit bylaws. Chris Green, Brett Timmons, Andy Coursey and Jamie Douglas, were newly elected to the offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, respectively. All officers were installed at the last meeting of the spring semester.