How to Apply
AERC has two types of memberships: Institutional Membership and Individual Membership. Any individual or institution actively engaged in ecosystem research or training is eligible for nomination and election to membership.
The section of our by-laws that describes criteria for membership is in Article III.
The section of our by-laws that describes criteria for membership is in Article III.
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
AERC has historically been focused on Institutional Members, whose dues help defray costs of our annual business meeting, an annual congressional briefing, workshops and training for ecosystem scientists, and other benefits provided to our member organizations.
Benefits
The benefits of institutional membership are many and include:
- Assignment of one individual representative from the Institutional Member Organization as a voting member of AERC on corporate matters and eligible to serve on the AERC Board of Directors,
- Free attendance for the Institutional Member Representative and up to three additional employees of the Institutional Member Organization to the annual AERC Meeting and associated functions (communications training, funding agency panel discussions, congressional staffer visits, and similar opportunities). Travel costs to the annual AERC Meeting for Institutional Member Representatives are the responsibility of the Institutional Member Organization but reduced lodging rates negotiated by AERC are available,
- Monthly policy updates from the American Institute of Biological Sciences Policy Office (AERC is a voting member of AIBS), and
- Access to information and opportunities provided in the quarterly AERC Newsletter and on the AERC website, as well as permission to post research news and job opportunities to these outlets for distribution to other AERC Members.
Eligibility
Any institution actively engaged in ecosystem research or training is eligible for nomination and election to institutional membership. To remain in good standing, an Institutional Member must adhere to the purposes and policies of the AERC, and pay the $500 annual Institutional Membership dues. "Member Institutions” are defined as institutions (e.g., centers, institutes, named laboratories) established and operated for scientific purposes and having a commitment to ecosystem programs broadly defined.
Requests for Institutional Membership shall be directed to the Secretary who shall transmit the application to the Board.
Requests for Institutional Membership shall be directed to the Secretary who shall transmit the application to the Board.
Application
Application for Institutional Membership should include:
Approval for Institutional Membership shall be by a simple majority vote of the Board and payment of the $500 annual Institutional Membership dues. Each Institutional Member shall designate a representative and an alternate representative to the AERC.
- The mission statement of the candidate organization
- A brief summary of the organization's activities and capabilities in the area of ecosystem training or research
Approval for Institutional Membership shall be by a simple majority vote of the Board and payment of the $500 annual Institutional Membership dues. Each Institutional Member shall designate a representative and an alternate representative to the AERC.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
The AERC also accepts Individual Memberships. Individual Memberships to AERC are intended to allow individuals interested in supporting ecosystem science with a mechanism to affiliate with AERC as a non-voting member and take advantage of certain AERC sponsored events, many of which specifically target opportunities for early career faculty, graduate students, and postdocs
Benefits
The benefits of Individual Membership are many and include:
- Access to annual funding agency panel discussion via restricted webinar invitation,
- Access to training opportunities, e.g., communication with media and/or policy makers,
- Monthly policy updates from the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AERC is a voting member of AIBS),
- Access to information and opportunities provided in the quarterly AERC Newsletter and on the AERC website as well as permission to post research news and job opportunities to these outlets for distribution to other AERC Members, and
- For an additional registration fee ($100.00), Individual Members may register and physically attend the annual AERC Meeting and associated functions (communications training, program officer panels, congressional staffer visits, and similar opportunities). Travel costs to the annual AERC Meeting for Individual Members are the responsibility of the Individual Member but reduced lodging rates negotiated by AERC are available.
Eligibility
Individuals interested in supporting ecosystem science and wishing to take advantage of the benefits of Individual Membership (listed above) can join AERC. To remain in good standing, an Individual Member must adhere to the purposes and policies of the AERC, and pay the $30 annual Individual Membership dues. However, Individual Members do not have the power to serve on the Board of AERC, vote as a member representative on the election of directors nor to participate in a binding member representative vote on any corporate matters.
Requests for Individual Membership shall be directed to the Secretary who shall transmit the application to the Board.
Requests for Individual Membership shall be directed to the Secretary who shall transmit the application to the Board.
Application
Application for Individual Membership should include:
Approval for Individual Membership shall be by a simple majority vote of the Board and payment of the $30 annual Individual Membership dues.
- A brief summary of the individual’s interest in the area of ecosystem training or research
Approval for Individual Membership shall be by a simple majority vote of the Board and payment of the $30 annual Individual Membership dues.