A Storm of Frosties Hits the ASLO–SIL Conference in Montréal
- FROST
- 11 juin
- 2 min de lecture
12-16 May 2026
While some were on fieldwork, FROST made a strong showing at the 2025 ASLO–SIL Joint Meeting, Aquatic Confluence: Science, People, and Knowledge, held in Montréal this past May.
PIs, students, and collaborators from across the FROST network gathered for the event, including participants from Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Université Laval (UL), INRS-ETE, University of Toronto (UofT), the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the University of Copenhagen (UofC). The conference provided a valuable opportunity to connect in person, strengthen collaborations, and celebrate the growing FROST community.
Workshop in winter limnology
Module 1 co-lead Sally MacIntyre (UCSB) organized a winter limnology workshop together with Milla Rautio (UQAC) and Ted Ozersky (University of Minnesota Duluth). The workshop brought together more than 50 professors, postdoctoral researchers, and students interested in strengthening the winter limnology community, identifying key knowledge gaps, and discussing future directions for advancing the field.
The FROST framework was highlighted throughout the conference.
In addition to Ted Ozersky’s presentation introducing three major winter limnology initiatives - the Winter Limnology Network (WLN), Thin Ice, and FROST - and a FROST poster presented by Milla Rautio, numerous presentations by FROST students and postdocs showcased ongoing work across the consortium. Topics ranged from under-ice oxygen dynamics and microbial communities to food-web nutritional quality, fish ecology, and the modelling of changing ice and snow conditions in Arctic lakes. Together, these contributions demonstrated the breadth of FROST research and the strong engagement of the consortium’s early-career researchers, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the project and its growing scientific impact.
Awards!
Among the highlights of the meeting, Mukund Gauthankar, a PhD student in Milla Rautio’s laboratory and contributor to FROST Module 1, received the Best Presentation Award for his talk, “Breathing Beneath the Ice: Drivers of Dissolved Oxygen Variability in a High Arctic Lake.” His presentation showcased new insights into the processes regulating oxygen dynamics under ice in Arctic lakes. Mukund was also recognized with a second award for his contributions to the student committee of the Interuniversity Research Group in Limnology (GRIL). Congratulations, Mukund!
Mukund Gauthankar during his talk at ASLO-SIL Joint Meeting.
The celebrations began even before ASLO–SIL. At the GRIL annual meeting, held immediately prior to the conference, two additional FROST students were recognized for their outstanding work. Thanuri Kasthuri Arachchi, a PhD student affiliated with FROST, received a Special Mention for her oral presentation. Cassia Abbott-Leduc, a Master's student with FROST, was awarded Best Poster Presentation for her research examining how permafrost thaw influences food quantity and quality in downstream Arctic freshwater ecosystems.
Cassia Abbot-Leduc (left) winning Best Poster Presentation at GRIL Conference. Photo : GRIL
These achievements highlight the excellence, dedication, and impact of FROST students and researchers. Congratulations to all award recipients, and thank you to everyone who contributed to making the conference such a success.
Let's keep the momentum going!
