ASFB 50th: “Wearing waders and sinking like a stone…”
What ASFB conference memorabilia is lurking in your wardrobes?
ASFB memorabilia for sale at the 2017 ASFB conference in Albany, Western Australia. © 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:
ASFB in pictures
At our 2018 conference in Melbourne, we managed to assemble seven former Presidents, photographed with the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a backdrop. From left to right: Harry Balcombe (President 2017-19), Chris Fulton (2015-17), Gary Jackson (2013-15), Bronwyn Gillanders (2012-13), Mark Lintermans (2005-07), John Koehn (2001-03) and Andrew Sanger (1999-2001). © Andrew Katsis
Our President, Alison King, unearthed this treasure-trove of ASFB memorabilia, stretching all the way back to our 1991 conference in Hobart, Tasmania. Submitted by Alison King.
10 questions
Maggie Watson
Are you a robot fish? No
First ASFB conference: Albany, 2017
Favourite fish: Farlowella catfish. My husband has a Rio Negro biome tank, and the twig catfish are the best!
Main fish biology interests: Freshwater crayfish, immune function and ectoparasites.
Memorable ASFB conference experience: Getting to go to the MCG for the 2018 conference and watching the groundskeepers drop in the pitch!
Memorable field experience: Losing a large round crayfish net in a snag in the Murray River and watching my student jump into the water to rescue it, wearing waders and sinking like a stone. He was fine, if very wet, and saved the net.
Which fish would you most like to be? An eagle ray, flying through the water...
Which fish would you least like to be? A carp. Yuck.
Do you have any fishy aspirations? Playing with alpine crayfish.
Favourite reads: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison