Source: The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS)
The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) announced it will present its 2025 Career Award for Environmental Stewardship to Professor Nelson Odume, the Director of the Institute for Water Research (IWR) at Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网.
SFS recognises up to five scientists each year with its Career Awards in environmental stewardship, service, mid-career leadership, emerging research, and excellence in scholarship. The Career Award for Environmental Stewardship recognises successful translation of scientific knowledge into the social/public arena through policy or regulatory reform, research enhancing freshwater ecosystem rehabilitation or conservation, or public outreach and science education strengthening public support for managing freshwater ecosystems.
Prof Odume’s research is at the interface of science-policy-practice, taking a social-ecological systems approach. He has led several multi-stakeholder, multi-country collaborative projects focusing on improving water quality, protecting river catchments, strengthening community participatory capacity, generating insights and knowledge into the nexus between water security and equity, securing water for vulnerable communities and livelihoods, and developing tools and guidelines for addressing contested water quality challenges. Prof Odume has contributed to the stewardship of water resources through multiple projects that improve the scientific basis of water and water quality in South Africa and beyond.
These projects promise to sustain freshwaters through technical improvements, engagement with policy and decision makers, practitioners, businesses, industries, community actors, education from primary schools, and mentoring future scientific leaders in Africa and beyond. The integration of scientific management, outreach, active engagement, training, and a collaborative philosophy reflected in these projects is exceptional and noteworthy.
Prof Odume was the inaugural recipient of the Emerging River Leader Award by the International River Foundation in Australia and the Bronze Medal Award by the Southern Africa Society of Aquatic Scientists. He sits on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, including Aquatic Sciences and Freshwater Science. He is a member of the South African Bureau of Standards scientific committee, responsible for developing water quality standards, and is the Chair of the African Chapter of the SFS. Since assuming this position, he has worked with his team to implement several capacity-building initiatives and programs for African early-career scientists. He believes in strengthening Africa’s scientific capacity to manage its water resources. Prof Odume is a registered professional scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).
"Our SFS Career Awards annually recognise novel and impactful contributions to freshwater science, environmental stewardship, and service and leadership within SFS,” said Dr. Dave Arscott, President of the Society. “We recognise and celebrate Dr. Odume and colleagues for their achievements and efforts to advance freshwater science and promote a more effective, inclusive, and diverse science society.”
To this end, Prof Odume has secured large grants that provided doctoral and master's scholarships to over 50 students and staff in the field of water science from 23 African countries. In May, SFS will present Prof Odume with the 2025 Career Award for Leadership at the Society’s 2025 Annual Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) is a premier international organisation of aquatic scientists. Our members study freshwater organisms, biotic communities, physical processes that affect ecosystem function, linkages between freshwater ecosystems and surrounding landscapes, habitat and water quality assessment, conservation and restoration. SFS fosters the exchange of scientific information among its membership and with other professional societies, resource managers, policymakers, educators, and the public.