Annual Meetings

Each year, typically in mid to late September, OBFS holds an annual meeting for its membership. The meetings are held at a field station or marine lab that can accommodate approximately 100+ attendees in its housing and conference facilities. The meetings rotate around the US and to various FSML global locations.

If you want to be a host station in the future, please complete the application form. We have selected stations through 2027 and are looking for a 2028 location.

The majority of business for the organization is conducted at these meetings including a quorum vote on the next year’s budget and updates on the strategic plan and OBFS’ fiscal sustainability. Go to the membership document page for access to the minutes from past meetings. Meetings include field site visits, workshops, concurrent sessions on topics of interest to all members, an auction, poster session, speed talks, and many opportunities for networking and collaboration. The primary benefit of OBFS membership is attendance at these meetings where you will not only meet lifelong friends, you will also learn ways to improve your station’s fundraising, education, outreach, and research while finding new collaborators and colleagues. 

 

2025 Annual Meeting Info

The 2025 annual meeting will be held at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory located near Crested Butte, Colorado the week of September 15, 2025. Workshops will be held on Monday and Friday, Field Trips and the General Meeting will be held Tuesday through Thursday.

  • Registration info coming in May.
  • Submit your Concurrent Session proposals by 15-May. Info and submission here.
  • Call for lightning talks and posters
  • 2025's workshops include:
    • Field Station Public Engagement—SCRREE Framework
    • Expand Your FSML Horizons with The Virtual Field
    • Small Boat Safety Network
    • Ecoinclusive

 

Quick Links

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Listed below are the host member stations for OBFS’ yearly annual meeting with links to their websites and some agendas.

  • 2025 Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Colorado, USA
  • 2024 Clemson Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science & University of South Carolina Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences, South Carolina, USA (recorded presentations)
  • 2023 The OTS La Selva Research Station, Costa Rica
  • 2022 Central Michigan University Biological Station, Michigan, USA
  • 2021 Virtual Meeting Host (Flathead Lake Biological Station)
  • 2020 Virtual Meeting (Agenda & Presentations)
  • 2019 Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Brussels, Belgium
  • 2018 Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park Maine, USA
  • 2017 Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, Minnesota, USA
  • 2016 Sitka Sound Science Center, Alaska, USA
  • 2015 Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Colorado, USA
  • 2014 Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratories, Machachutes, USA (Joint Meeting with the National Association of Marine Laboratories)
  • 2013 Southwestern Research Station, Arizona, USA
  • 2012 Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA 
  • 2011 Bodega Marine Laboratory, California, USA
  • 2010 University of Michigan Biological Station, Michigan, USA
  • 2009 La Selva Biological Station, OTS, Costa Rica
  • 2008 Black Rock Forest, NY, Black Rock Forest Consortium.
  • 2007 Llano River Field Station, Texas Tech
  • 2006 Flathead Lake Biological Station, Univ of Montana 
  • 2005 Coweeta Hydrologic Lab, USFS & Highlands Biological Station, Univ. North Carolina
  • 2004 Shoals Marine Lab, Cornell Univ and Univ of New Hampshire 
  • 2003 Kananaskis Field Station, Calgary Univ
  • 2002 Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State Univ 
  • 2001 Univ of Oklahoma Biological Station, Univ of Oklahoma 
  • 2000 HJ Andrews Experimental Forest, USFS and Oregon State Univ.
  • 1999 Mountain Lake Biological Station, Univ of Virginia
  • 1998 Archbold Biological Station, FL,
  • 1997 Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Univ of Oregon
  • 1996 White Mountain Research Station, UC-Riverside
  • 1995 Treehaven, Univ of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
  • 1994 Flathead Lake Biological Station, Univ of Montana
  • 1993 Adirondack Ecological Center, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY
  • 1992 Malheur Field Station, OR, Malheur Station Consortium
  • 1991 La Selva Biological Station, OTS, Costa Rica
  • 1990 Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, Univ of Minnesota
  • 1989 Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, CO 
  • 1988 Hog Island, Maine, Audubon Soc 
  • 1987 Bodega Marine Laboratory, UC-Davis
  • 1986 Cedar Point Biological Station, Univ of Nebraska
  • 1985 Hancock Biological Station, KY, Murray State Univ 
  • 1984 Bamfield Marine Science Centre, Vancouver Is, BC 
  • 1983 Mountain Research Station, Univ of Colorado
  • 1982 Univ of Michigan Biological Station, Univ of Michigan
  • 1981 EN Hyuck Preserve and Biological Research Station, Rensselaerville, NY, Private
  • 1980 Southwestern Research Station, American Museum of Natural History, NY, NY
  • 1979 Archbold Biological Station, FL
  • 1978 Eagle Lake Biological Field Station, Chico State Univ, CA (now UC-Davis)
  • 1977 Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, Univ of Pittsburgh
  • 1976 Delta Marsh Field Station, Univ of Manitoba
  • 1975 Iowa Lakeside Lake, University of Iowa
  • 1974 Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State Univ
  • 1974 Univ of the Pacific Marine Station, Dillon Beach, CA (Feb 74)
  • 1973 EN Hyuck Preserve and Biological Research Station, Rensselaerville, NY, Private
  • 1972 Lake Itasca Biological Station (now Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories), University of Minnesota
  • 1971 Pingree Park, Colorado State University
  • 1970 Indiana University
  • 1969 Flathead Lake Biological Station, Univ of Montana
  • 1968 Stone Laboratory, Ohio State Univ 
  • 1967 Lake Texoma Biological Station (now Univ of OK Bio Sta), Univ of Oklahoma
  • 1966 Cedar Creek Natural History Area (now C.C. Ecosystem Science Reserve), Univ of Minnesota Program