ASFB 50th: “I was warmly welcomed, enjoyed the camaraderie, and had lots of laughs.”
ASFB members reminisce about the society’s annual conferences.
Delegates mingle between talk sessions at the 2016 ASFB-OCS conference in Hobart, Tasmania. © Andrew Katsis
This year, the Australian Society for Fish Biology celebrates 50 years of supporting fish and fisheries research in the Australasian region. We invite ASFB members, past and present, to help fill the gaps in our history by sharing their memories.
There are three ways you can contribute:
Tell us your favourite ASFB memory
Send us your favourite photo from an ASFB event, or a photo of yourself in action undertaking some fishy work (send your photos, with a descriptive caption, to asfb50th@gmail.com)
Answer 10 quick questions about yourself
Here are some of the submissions we have received so far.
Favourite ASFB memory
The informality of Australians and their friendly approach to life and the world is certainly reflected in the Australian Society for Fish Biology. From my first attendance at an annual conference (Narrandera, early 1980s), I was warmly welcomed, enjoyed the camaraderie, and had lots of laughs. Behind the fun and ‘play hard’, however, was considerable hard work. Hard work from individual professional fish scientists, both within their institutions and in running ASFB. They provided great inspiration, role models and mentoring. ASFB was a vital platform through which a young scientist could engage with them and view their science. The annual conferences remain a key touch point for catching up with colleagues and the latest science. It is hard to pick a favourite conference (estimate I have attended 30+), as each has their own personality as they rotate around the country. Large or small, city or country, they always seem jam-packed with new science ideas and entertainment. In the past, they were probably wilder, with some wild personalities with some memorable, often crazy CH3CH2OH-fuelled antics amongst -hour festivities. High-quality conferences, workshops and symposia, often linked to international events with other organisations, allow interactions with Australia’s best fish scientists and the inspirational international keynote speakers, providing a world perspective for all. ASFB has provided me with lots of opportunities and connections, and also the opportunity ‘give back’ to the Society, especially helping younger members. The science and the friendships keep me coming back after nearly four decades!
John Koehn
ASFB in pictures
Geoff Collins samples fish during fieldwork in the lower Burdekin. Submitted by Geoff Collins.
10 questions
Peter Unmack
Are you a robot fish? No
First ASFB conference: Lorne, 1990.
Favourite fish: Galaxias fuscus, because they are really cool and were quite mysterious back before we knew much about them.
Main fish biology interests: conservation, genetics, biogeography
Memorable ASFB conference experience: My only interesting memory that comes to mind is from my first talk in 1992 at Victor Harbour, when I said ‘s**t’ in my talk, which kind of woke people up: "The sheep just wander through the springs and s**t in the water". I don't think many people swore in talks back in those days. It was a talk about Edgbaston and Red-fin Blue-eye. My mentor at the time (Bryan Pearce) suggested I refrain from saying ‘s**t’ until perhaps I'm a bit more senior, or something like that.
Memorable field experience: Discovering Red-fin Blue-eye in 1990 in western Queensland.
Which fish would you most like to be? I would rather be a bird; it would be cool to be able to fly.
Which fish would you least like to be? One that gets eaten!
Do you have any fishy aspirations? To try and prevent more of them disappearing.
Favourite reads: Fishes of Sahul, the journal of the Australia New Guinea Fishes Association.