Welcome
The Local Host Committee is pleased to welcome our colleagues to Spokane, Washington, the site of the 2022 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. The meeting will be in-person and will take place at the Spokane Convention Center with lodging available at the Davenport Grand Hotel. Both locations are adjacent to the Riverfront Park, which borders the Spokane River and provides excellent views of Spokane Falls. The revitalized Spokane downtown boasts a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, brew pubs, and quirky shops, all within easy walking distance of the meeting venue. We look forward to hosting outstanding plenary presentations, contributed papers and posters, and visiting with colleagues in-person. We have an impressive slate of symposia including: Applied, Theoretical, and Technological Advances in Elasmobranch Ecology; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Ichthyology and Herpetology; Biogeography and Diversification of Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest and California Floristic Province; Exemplary Practices in Herpetological Education; The Biology of Whiptail Lizards (Aspidoscelis); and The Utility of Museum Collections for Long-term Ecological Studies and Stable Isotope Analysis. There is something for everyone!
We invite you to join us in acknowledging that Spokane resides on the homelands of the Spokane Tribal People, the People of the River. We ask that you reflect on our presence on their traditional and sacred lands and waters, taken from them through colonization. Spokane and its surrounding regions hold their cultural DNA and spirit. Their descendants are here today and bring forth the power of this place. With this acknowledgment we recognize that further action is needed to honor contributions of Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples, not only from here, but from wherever you call home, as are efforts to promote reconciliation and justice in policy and practice.
As we all attempt to be more environmentally conscientious, we plan to keep our meeting as “green” as possible. We will not be providing meeting bags or a hard copy of the meeting program. We encourage participants to choose reusable options for totes and to access the program in its electronic format. There will be an opportunity for attendees to help impact the local environment. Your contribution will be donated to a local non-profit organization, Spokane River Keeper. More information can be found here.
We hope you like the logo for JMIH 2022! It was designed by Aysha Al-Hafian, Graphic Designer. She says “For this logo, Spokane is represented by both the sun and the river below it. Spokane means “Children of the Sun” in Salish, and the river flows through the heart of the city. I found it to be vital that both were represented in the logo. The diamond shape was inspired by the reflected fragments that the sun often creates on the water as it is rising or setting. In the water portion of this logo, you can see the Spotted Ratfish wrapping itself around the logo, adding a sense of dimension, while a Torrent Sculpin sits in front of the design. Moving to the top of the logo, there is a Cascade Torrent Salamander resting, with a Western Yellow Bellied Racer rising out behind it.”
If you or your traveling companions have the opportunity to explore the area surrounding Spokane, you will find a diverse array of attractions to visit. Within the city, Manito Park, Riverfront Park, and the Centennial Trail provide excellent opportunities for relaxing outdoor walks. There are many options for shopping in the downtown area including both large well-known department stores and smaller independent shops. The surrounding landscape is shaped by a relatively young geologic history. We boast large pristine lakes from glacial scour such as Lake Coeur d’Alene 30 minutes to our east and Lake Pend Oreille approximately an hour to the northeast. A short trip to the southwest brings you to the channeled scablands that are the result of a series of floods from Glacial Lake Missoula. Perhaps no single location exemplifies this landscape better than Palouse Falls, which is an easy two-hour drive from town. Additional information will be provided as part of the registration materials.
We look forward to seeing you in July and hope you make the time to enjoy eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest.
HOSTED BY:
Local Committee Co-Chairs
Nancy Staub, Gonzaga University
Paul Spruell, Eastern Washington University
Local committee members