The Andrews Forest has been an active member of the Organization of Biological Field Station (OBFS) for decades. The 186 OBFS sites, spanning six continents, are crucial in environmental education and research. The OBFS network facilitates collaboration on site operations, and in the U.S., serves as a channel for communications with the National Science Foundation. Art McKee, a key OBFS leader throughout much of his career, and a previous Andrews Forest Director (from 1977-2002), just received the OBFS 2021 Inaugural Distinguished Service Award for being “a tireless champion of field science and OBFS.” The citation goes on: Art “widely promoted the value of field stations” to a “variety of (sometimes unwilling) audiences.” The citation writer states, “There is no one I would rather go on OBFS field trip with.” Field station directors across the organization identified Art as a key influence in their careers as mentor and colleague. We congratulate Art on his award and continue to support the OBFS and its promotion of field stations as critical hubs of discovery.
(photo courtesy of Flathead Lake Bio Station)