Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation facts for kids
The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) is a special group that started in 1971. It's a private, non-profit organization. Back then, two smaller groups, the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS) and the New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS), saw a need for a bigger group. This new group would focus on issues affecting estuaries and coasts all over the world. Today, CERF brings together many different experts and seven smaller groups. They all work to understand and protect estuaries and coasts around the globe.
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| Abbreviation | CERF |
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| Formation | 1971 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
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President
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Linda Blum |
Contents
What CERF Does: Its Mission
CERF works to improve our understanding and care for estuarine and coastal ecosystems worldwide. Its main goals are to:
- Promote research about estuaries and coastal areas.
- Help educate scientists, leaders, and the public.
- Make it easier for these groups to talk to each other.
Anyone who supports these goals can join CERF. The Federation has about 1,400 members. Plus, about 1,000 more people belong to its smaller partner groups.
CERF achieves its goals in several ways. They hold big conferences every two years. Their partner groups also have meetings more often in their local areas. CERF also publishes a science journal called Estuaries and Coasts. They also have an e-newsletter, Coastal and Estuarine Science News, and a quarterly bulletin, CERF's Up. The Federation also gives advice on coastal matters. They share policy statements and answer questions from lawmakers and other organizations. They also offer webinars, online communities, scholarships, and awards to help their members and the community.
CERF's History: How It Started
In the mid-1960s, scientists worldwide began to realize something important. They saw that sharing information about estuarine water circulation (how water moves in estuaries) was key. They also needed to share details about how materials move in coastal waters. Understanding the ecology (how living things interact) of estuarine organisms was also vital. This knowledge was needed to manage estuaries well in the future. This showed that studying estuaries was very focused on solving problems.
In the fall of 1969, a special group was formed. Their goal was to create a new society. This society would not be limited to one region. It would welcome members from all over the country and the world. This new group was first called the Estuarine Research Federation (ERF).
To make sure everyone interested knew about them, ERF members voted in 2007. They decided to change the name to the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). This new name better showed the wide range of topics CERF covers.
CERF Meetings and Conferences
CERF (which used to be ERF) has hosted many international conferences. They have held 27 big meetings since the Federation started in 1971. These conferences bring together scientists and experts from around the world.
| 1971 – Long Island, NY | 1973 – Myrtle Beach, SC | 1975 – Galveston, TX | 1977 – Mt. Pocono, PA | 1979 – Jekyll Island, GA |
| 1981 – Gleneden Beach, OR | 1983 – Virginia Beach, VA | 1985 – Durham, NH | 1987 – New Orleans, LA | 1989 – Baltimore, MD |
| 1991 – San Francisco, CA | 1993 – Hilton Head, SC | 1995 – Corpus Christi, TX | 1997 – Providence RI | 1999 – New Orleans, LA |
| 2001 – St Petersburg Beach, FL | 2003 – Seattle, WA | 2005 – Norfolk, VA | 2007 - Providence, RI | 2009 – Portland, OR |
| 2011 – Daytona Beach, FL | 2012 – Mar del Plata, Argentina | 2013 – San Diego, CA | 2015 – Portland, OR | 2017 – Providence, RI |
| 2019 – Mobile, AL | 2021 – Virtual | 2023 – Portland, OR | 2025 – Richmond, VA | 2027 – San Juan, PR |
Leaders of CERF
CERF has grown and changed over the years thanks to its leaders. The people who have led this society are important scientists in the estuarine and coastal fields. They have all made big contributions to science. The current president is Linda Blum.
CERF's Partner Societies
CERF works with several smaller, regional groups. These are called Affiliate Societies:
- Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS)
- Southeastern Estuarine Research Society (SEERS)
- Atlantic Canada Coastal Estuarine Science Society (ACCESS)
- California Estuarine Research Society (CAERS)
- Gulf Estuarine Research Society (GERS)
- New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS)
- Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS)
See also
- Chesapeake Bay
- Long Island Sound
- The National Estuarine Research Reserve System
