Robert Hecky, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, presents the Chandler-Misener award to Dr. Nate Bosch, left, associate professor of environmental science and director of the Kosciusko Lakes and Streams research center at Grace College. (Photo provided)

Dr. Nate Bosch, associate professor of environmental science and director of the Kosciusko Lakes and Streams research center at Grace College, received an exciting award at the 56th annual International Association of Great Lakes Research conference held June 2-6, 2013 at Purdue University.

The Chandler-Misener award, a rare honor that many lake researchers strive their whole career to attain, signifies the most notable paper published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research each year. Bosch received the award along with coauthors Haejin Han and J. David Allan for their paper entitled “Historical pattern of phosphorus loading to Lake Erie watersheds” which appeared in the journal in 2012.

Bosch was asked to join the president of the International Association of Great Lakes Research and Robert Hecky, editor of the journal, on stage in front of about 730 lake scientists during the awards banquet on Tuesday, June 4.

“Dr. Bosch is extraordinarily talented and passionate about his research,” said Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace. “He is also an excellent teacher –a winning combination. We are proud of his achievement in receiving the Chandler-Misener award and that he is a part of our faculty.”

According to Bosch, the paper has applicability to all Midwestern agricultural watersheds, including the drainage areas around our lakes in Kosciusko County.  The research showed that while fertilizer usage peaked in the 1970s and has declined since, a greater proportion of that fertilizer is being exported by streams into lakes since the 1990s.  Bosch and others are currently trying to figure out why that is the case since extra phosphorus in our lakes causes many problems related to excess weed and algae growth.

“Receiving the award was very encouraging,” said Bosch. “It gave me an opportunity to tell lots of people about Grace College and why I love being part of the faculty here.”

To view the award-winning article, visit www.elsevier.com/locate/jglr.