IGC IGEP Fellow, Sam Silknetter, tells us about his trip to Brisbane, Australia to attend the Freshwater Sciences 2023 Conference in June.

Sam presenting his research on genetic structure in freshwater invertebrates at Freshwater Sciences 2023 Conference in Brisbane, Australia.
Sam presenting his research on genetic structure in freshwater invertebrates at Freshwater Sciences 2023 Conference in Brisbane, Australia.

In June I traveled to Brisbane, Australia to attend the Freshwater Sciences 2023 Conference. While there I presented my research on patterns of genetic structure in aquatic invertebrates to a large group of international scientists. One of my meeting highlights was listening to a keynote address on the role of traditional ecological knowledge (mātauranga Māori) in managing New Zealand’s native kōura (freshwater crayfish). I also enjoyed running a 5K along the scenic Brisbane River and spotting a laughing kookaburra while hiking Mount Coot-Tha. 

Photos of Sam in Australia
1. Sam spending time with the "locals" at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. 2. Sam exploring a rainforest in Australia. 3. A shameless selfie overlooking the Scenic Rim from Mount French. The traditional custodians of this territory are the Aboriginal Jagera people. 4. One of many beautiful streams in the Daintree National Forest. A quick snorkel revealed the native fishes mangrove jack and jungle perch.

After attending the conference, I extended my stay and had the chance to explore with my wife, Allison. First, we saw a croc show with Robert Irwin at the Australia Zoo, then feasted on local cuisine from the Scenic Rim region. After a quick flight north, we then toured the Atherton Tablelands and Daintree National Forest, and spent a day snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. It was truly a trip of a lifetime!" -- Sam Silknetter


Sam Silknetter is an Interfaces of Global Change fellow working with Dr. Mims in Virginia Tech’s Department of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on the relationships between species traits and population genetic structure within the framework of hydrologically variable stream networks.