Name: Craig Diamond
Time connected to the CFW: 1981-1985
How did the CFW shape your career path?
The CFW provided much of the foundation for a career in environmental science, research, public policy and teaching. I’ve continued to rely on then-fellow students and faculty as advisors, collaborators and — more importantly — as friends. There have been numerous instances where simply have been associated with CFW opened doors of acceptance in the corporate world, in state agencies & the legislature, in academe, and in conservation (i.e., the non-profit sector).
Why do you think the CFW is important?
The CFW has served as a model for several ‘imitators’ — in the most respectful sense; in fact, the founders of such institutes (Day, Mitsch, others) were students of H.T. Odum and launched their own visions of wetlands research from their new geographies and the issues and opportunities attached to these locations. CFW served as a key bridge across otherwise diverse aspects of wetland science, especially where practical applications where evolving, beyond just the basic sciences and descriptions of species, communities, hydrology and function.