Seth White, an Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, recently obtained a Letter of Collaboration from officials at the Czech Academy of Science to partner on research related to climate change and fish distributions and ecological impacts of parasites in invasive fishes. This international collaboration allows the exchange of information and lessons learned between two cultures who are addressing similar challenges with unique solutions.
By sharing varied approaches, new ideas evolve more rapidly and concrete solutions can be more readily made available to wider audiences. The specific goal of this collaboration is to yield results that river basin managers can use to develop strategies for protection and recover of freshwater biodiversity, which has economic, cultural, and spiritual benefits to the public and stakeholder groups. The collaboration will also provide opportunities for exchange of researchers, students, and postdocs between Czech Academy of Sciences and Oregon State University.
The Czech Republic has a long history of aquaculture practice and innovation that will be helpful to issues in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. At the same time, the Oregon Hatchery Research Center (ODFW-OSU) is a leading research agency focused on fish hatchery science that can be helpful to Czech Republic. By learning together, both entities and their respective audiences can gain measurable value.
The Czech and Ukrainian flags flying side-by-side at the Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno.
Dr. Jan Zukal (IVB Director, left) and Dr. Pavel Jurajda (Head of Fish Ecology, right).