Friend of OBFS

Scientists working at field stations and marine laboratories strive to understand natural processes at every scale, from the molecular to the global, from milliseconds to eons. The mission of the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS) is to help member stations increase their effectiveness in supporting critical research, education, and outreach programs. We pursue this goal in a manner that maximizes diversity, inclusiveness, sustainability, and transparency. Biological field stations provide critical infrastructure and support for students and scientists to conduct research in field settings from underwater reefs to icy mountaintops.

For the past few years, the OBFS Board of Directors has presented the Friend of OBFS Award to an individual whose support and assistance have helped to further our scientific mission and educational goals in the US and worldwide. For 2017, OBFS has selected Mark Ruffalo for his work promoting scientific literacy and involvement on college campuses and in the national realm. Mr. Ruffalo has been a friend to OBFS, serving as a guest speaker for OBFS events and meetings in 2015 and 2016. OBFS President Paul Foster noted Mark presented an especially inspiring talk at our friend raising event in New York City last October. He urged the scientists and students present to feel uncomfortable and to become more active politically in environmental issues.

Mr. Ruffalo has won previous awards relative to the environment and science. In 2011, he co-founded the non-profit group Water Defense to raise awareness about the impact of energy extraction on water and public health. Ruffalo also co-founded The Solutions Project, which launched in 2012 as part of his mission to share the science of and demonstrate the feasibility of renewable energy. Ruffalo has received the Global Green Millennium Award for Environmental Leadership and the Meera Gandhi Giving Back Foundation Award. He also is the recent recipient of the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Humanitarian Award for his environmental work. His most recent award is the Sam Rose ’58 and Julie Walters Prize at Dickinson College for Global Environmental Activism.

Past Award Winners:

2016: Peter Connors

2015: Miles O'Brien &emdash; In 2015, OBFS recognized its first 'Friend of OBFS', Miles O’Brien. Miles is a wonderful advocate for science and for OBFS, was our guest of honor at our 2014 OBFS Development Event in Nantucket. For those of you who were able to join us at our OBFS Annual Meeting at Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in September 2015, Miles joined us via Skype and provided a wonderful overview of his passion and advocacy for field science and education.