The Ecological Society of America (ESA) — the nation’s largest organization of professional ecologists— held their annual meeting on August 4-9, 2024 where thousands of ecological scientists, educators, students, and practitioners gathered from around the world to share new research findings and discuss solutions to today’s ecological and environmental challenges.

Dedicated to advancing the science and practice of ecology and supporting ecologists throughout their careers, the ESA also recognized students who are making contributions to the study of ecology. Among the students who presented and were awarded at the ESA conference was Ria Ghosh, a doctoral student with the Anderson Lab in the University of California, Riverside Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology.

Ghosh’s research presentation on "Assessing the Spatial and Temporal Variation of Size-Spectra Distribution in Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities of the Urban Santa Ana River" offered insight into the productivity, trophic dynamics, energy flow, and population and community structure of benthic macroinvertebrate, supporting ecosystem conservation and management efforts.

Being a first time attendee, presenting at the ESA annual conference was made possible when Ghosh was honored with the ESA Student Section's Real Brown Travel Award which recognizes students with outstanding leadership, initiative, and contributions to ecology. This recognition not only supports participation in the conference but also encourages continued impact in ecology.

Ghosh also received the ESA Aquatic Ecology travel grant, which is awarded annually to only two students, in recognition to their emerging contributions as budding aquatic ecologists actively working in the field. In addition to supporting attendance at the ESA annual meeting, students awarded with the ESA Aquatic Ecology travel grant, must also be invited to present an oral or poster presentation at the conference.

To learn more about Ghosh’s work in the UCR Anderson Lab, visit www.kurteandersonecology.com.

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