Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation facts for kids
The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) is a group that helps us understand and protect estuaries and coasts around the world. It's a private, nonprofit organization that started in 1971. Back then, two smaller groups, the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS) and the New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS), realized they needed a bigger organization to look at coastal issues across the country and even globally. Today, CERF brings together many different scientists and experts. It also works with seven smaller groups that focus on specific regions.
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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
CERF works to improve our understanding and care for estuarine and coastal ecosystems everywhere. Its main goals are:
- To encourage and support research about estuaries and coasts.
- To help educate scientists, people who make decisions, and the public.
- To make it easier for these groups to talk and share ideas.
Anyone who supports these goals can join CERF. The Federation has about 1,400 members. Plus, about 1,000 more people are part of its regional groups.
CERF achieves its goals in several ways. It holds big conferences every two years. Its smaller regional groups have meetings more often. CERF also publishes a scientific journal called Estuaries and Coasts. They also have an e-newsletter, Coastal and Estuarine Science News (CESN), and a quarterly bulletin called CERF's Up. The Federation also gives advice on coastal matters. It provides official statements and answers questions from lawmakers and management groups. CERF also helps its members and the community with webinars, online groups, and scholarships.
How CERF Started
In the mid-1960s, scientists studying estuaries began to realize something important. They saw that sharing information about how water moves in estuaries, how materials are exchanged, and how living things in estuaries behave was key. This knowledge was needed to properly manage estuaries in the future. This showed that studying estuaries was very focused on solving real-world problems, like eutrophication (when too many nutrients cause problems in water).
In the fall of 1969, a special committee was formed. They wanted to create a new group that wasn't just for one specific area. This would allow more people from different places to join. This new group was called the Estuarine Research Federation (ERF).
To make sure everyone interested in coastal areas felt welcome, ERF members voted in the summer of 2007. They decided to change the name to the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). This new name better showed the wide range of interests the Federation covered.
CERF Conferences
CERF (which used to be ERF) has hosted 27 international conferences since it began in 1971. These big meetings bring together scientists and experts from all over the world. They share their research and discuss important topics about estuaries and coasts. The conferences happen every two years.
| 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 |
CERF Leaders
CERF has been guided by many important scientists throughout its history. These leaders have helped the organization grow and adapt. They are well-known in the fields of estuarine and coastal science.
- Linda Blum is the current president, serving from 2023 to 2025. She has done important research on Spartina alterniflora (cord grass) in marshes.
- Sharon Herzka will be the next president, from 2025 to 2027. Her work includes studying how estuarine fish are connected using special scientific methods.
CERF's Partner Societies
CERF works closely with several regional groups, called Affiliate Societies. These groups help CERF achieve its goals in different parts of the world.
- 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
