ASRS’s mission is to represent and serve a diverse international community of scientists, practitioners, private industry, technicians, educators, planners, and government regulators involved in mineral extraction and disturbed ecosystem reclamation.
ASRS promotes the advancement of basic and applied reclamation science through research and technology transfer in the Society’s annual meetings, workshops, published proceedings, newsletters, Reclamation Matters publication, Reclamati
501(c)(3) organization
Members access supporting materials while collaborating with like-minded colleagues who also are passionate about reclamation.
As a long standing member of the society and past president, ASRS is like no other organization with which I have been associated. From the many years of meetings and papers (yes, I’m part of the pre-2012 generation that had to submit a paper for review to present at a meeting), I have shared research and learned many new ideas and, just as importantly, participated in discussions on failures and ways to improve. While many organizations offer research presentations, what really sets ASRS apart for me is the intellect, mentorship and comradery of the members who attend our annual meetings. Whether it is the Wild Women of Reclamation breakfast, or the Early Career Professional gathering, or just an evening during the meetings, the welcoming nature of our members is a valuable attribute. And, of course, there are great field trips as well! Yellowstone and its surrounding reclamation will be hard to top, but other recent trips in the Midwest, PA, and WV have provided real opportunities to explore and discuss the reclamation efforts of the society members.
From my perspective, ASRS offers great value through its diverse network of working professionals, educators, and researchers. The ASRS annual meetings provide an invaluable opportunity to both share and learn about the techniques and practices that are currently being applied in a multitude of reclamation disciplines to better the environment. Being able to build working relationships and share knowledge with some of the best reclamation scientists in the business only serves to help advance and improve the quality of projects that are currently underway, and still to come.
I have been a member of the American Society of Reclamation Sciences (ASRS) since 2000 when I started working with the Wyoming Land Quality Division of the Department of Environmental Quality. Participation in ASRS conferences allowed me to learn and understand various reclamation methods of land impacted by coal mining not only in western states, but also in eastern USA. While at these conferences, I meet and discuss with various specialists recent technologies (e.g., erosion and sedimentation control methods, or how to enhance soil production, and the importance of seeding native plants, etc.) All these specialists presenting their findings are very enthusiastic and full of energy and ready to answer all my questions. Right now, as I am retired from the state of Wyoming, I still try to learn the most recent findings, technologies, and methods of reclamation to be able to pass this information to students and specialists in various countries such as China, Poland, and Norway. ASRS is a gateway to communicate with reclamation specialists carrying knowledge and experience of many years that is only available to the members through participation in conferences and reading the Reclamation Matters publication and Journal of the ASRS.
Suppose you want to be part of a tight-knit organization full of like-minded, experienced, and intelligent individuals within the broad land and water reclamation scientific discipline. In that case, the American Society of Reclamation Sciences (ASRS) is for you. Since my first in-person meeting in 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia, I have been a student member of ASRS. My initial excitement was exacerbated when I had the opportunity to meet some of the individuals I’d been citing throughout my academic career. The variety of individuals drawn to the conference sets ASRS apart because you receive comments and questions from industry and educational professionals uninitiated to your efforts. I found the feedback, comments, and questions I received to be highly beneficial to the overall quality of my research.
ASRS demonstrates unmatched support for its student members. Whether it be assistance in travel to the conference venue (Student Travel Grant), awarding students for outstanding research and presentation of their findings (Student Oral and Poster Awards), or recognizing exceptional students pursuing a career in reclamation-related work (Memorial Scholarship Awards). ASRS also provided me with the opportunity to review scientific articles for publication in the society’s journal. The level of professional development and networking I received by simply being a member of the organization was invaluable and contributed to acquiring a position with a consulting firm immediately after graduation.
I would be doing ASRS a disservice if I did not mention the field trips, tours, and events offered during the annual in-person conference. Whether you find yourself eating pizza and listening to your colleagues attempt karaoke, watching a baseball game from a rooftop with The Gateway Arch in view, or roaming around Yellowstone National Park while being serenaded with the park’s geologic history. There was never a dull moment, and ASRS ensures there is something for everyone at every meeting. I strongly urge anyone interested in any type of land or water reclamation to seek out the society, because you will gain lifetime friends and colleagues who only have your and the science’s best interest in mind.
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