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Your voluntary contribution helps us advance coastal and estuarine science, and management. Consider donating to either of these funds by clicking the Donate Now button below or when you renew or apply for membership with the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
 

The CERF Enhancement Fund

History
At its meeting in October of 1990, the CERF Governing Board approved the establishment of the Estuarine Research Federation's Endowment Fund to be directed toward financing non-routine Federation projects. The establishment of the fund was announced in the 1990 issue of the Federation's Newsletter. The name of this fund was changed to CERF Enhancement Fund at the April 2010 Governing Board meeting.

Purpose
The purpose of the Fund is to provide sustained income to cover the costs of such activities as:

• sponsorship of educational workshops to address the nature and importance of estuaries;
• purchase of subscriptions of the journal Estuaries and Coasts for distribution to third world libraries;
• transport and other expenses of distinguished foreign scientists to conferences associated with CERF;
• publication of materials other than in the Journal;
• support of blue-ribbon CERF committees to review reports, proposals, and policies for federal agencies and other entities
• support of unpredicted but highly desirable activities or purchases.

The William E. Odum Memorial Fund for Student Activities

History
With the death of William E. Odum on April 3, 1991, the field of estuarine science and education lost a valuable leader, scientist, and dedicated teacher. As a member of the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Virginia, Bill focused on the study of marsh ecology, but he most valued his reputation as an approachable and exceptional teacher. At the time of his death, Bill was a member of the Governing Board of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, and in his capacity as Member-at-Large he was working on a spectrum of problems faced by graduate students that the Federation could help solve.

To pay tribute to Bill, the CERF Governing Board approved the establishment of the William E. Odum Memorial Fund at its meeting in May of 1991. This Fund is specifically directed toward the financing of Federation projects directly related to students. The Governing Board was particularly interested in establishing this fund in order to generate income to provide student scholarships and travel to the Federation's biennial meetings.

Purpose
The income generated from this fund will be used to provide support for student activities such as travel funds for student attendance at the Federation's Biennial Research Conferences and, possibly, small annual research grants to worthy students.

The Donald W. Pritchard Fund

History of the Pritchard Award and Pritchard Fund
At its November 2001 meeting, the Governing Board of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation created the Donald W Pritchard Award. The Award may be given to the author(s) of the best physical oceanography paper published in Estuaries and Coasts within the two-year interval between CERF conferences. The Award winners will collectively be presented with an honorarium of $1,000 and a certificate. The first recipient(s) may be recognized at the 2003 ERF biennial conference in Seattle. The Pritchard Fund supports this Award, and may also support other activities that will honor the memory of Don Pritchard's research work.

Purpose of the Award
In addition to honoring the memory of Don Pritchard's contributions to estuarine research, the Pritchard Award will foster the participation of physical oceanographers in the Federation and its journal, Estuaries and Coasts. Dr. Pritchard was once asked by one of his students, "Why are there not more physical oceanographers at CERF meetings?" His response was simple, "Because they don't submit good papers." While that situation has improved over the years, the Donald W. Pritchard Award will further recognize and encourage increased attention to physical oceanography topics within the field of estuarine and coastal research.

Purpose of the Fund
The Pritchard Fund supports the Pritchard Award and other activities that may be developed to honor the memory of Don Pritchard's work and further enhance his estuarine research ideas.