Stroud Scientists at WorkStroud Alum, Dave Arscott, Returns to Become its Assistant Director

Dave Arscott, who coordinated phase two of the vast New York drinking water project from 2003-2006, is coming back to the Stroud™ Water Research Center. After almost three years at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, Dave will return in February to serve as the Center’s assistant director.

“I am ecstatic about the return of Dave Arscott,” said Director Bern Sweeney. “He is a young, energetic, extremely bright scientist with a demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team setting. He has terrific scientific credentials and a broad background, which will enable him to work with Stroud scientists as both a collaborator and team leader.  Perhaps most importantly, he enjoys helping people, believes in our mission and, like the rest of us at the Center, is dedicated to understanding and conserving streams throughout the world.”

Dave will need all those attributes as he takes on the new position of assistant director, a position that requires a broad range of management, leadership and scientific skills. And “throughout the world” is an apt phrase for a man who got his Ph.D. at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology before professional stints here and in New Zealand.

We recently sat down (virtually) with Dave as he prepared to pack up his family for the 9,000-mile trip from Christchurch on the south island of New Zealand to Avondale, Pennsylvania and had this conversation with him.

WHAT WILL YOUR ROLE BE HERE?
I’ll assist Bern and the whole staff in the direction, coordination and oversight of scientific research projects and in the dissemination of our findings to the public through the Center's varied outreach programs. 

Specifically, I expect to spend half of my time working directly with Bern on issues ranging from coordinating research, education and public outreach programs, to meeting with members of our Board of Directors and overseeing operations at the Stroud Preserve and Maritza station in Costa Rica.

A significant portion of my time will be spent working with the scientific staff to prepare interdisciplinary projects, proposals and budgets, and in driving the external review of the Center's research programs that was mandated by the Center’s strategic plan. And, happily, I’ll devote the remaining time to pursuing my own research interests.

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE OF YOUR TIME AT THE STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER?
I didn’t need to go as far as New Zealand to realize what a special place the Stroud Water Research Center is — and how its incredible people have made it so special. During my three years at the Center, I coordinated the project on New York City's watersheds, which gave me the opportunity to interact at both scientific and personal levels with nearly all the Center’s staff. I’m still amazed at how smoothly the project operated — despite some major logistical and technical difficulties — and how well the collaborations worked among the different scientific disciplines.

AND WHAT OF YOUR OWN SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON OF LATE?
One of the things I loved about the Stroud Water Research Center was the central importance of collaborative work. So it’s exciting to me that several of my current projects are synergistic with the work of other Stroud scientists. In January 2008 I participated in an expedition to the McMurdo Ice Shelf in Antarctica to conduct field studies on the ecology and biogeochemistry of meltwater ponds as part of New Zealand's Antarctic Ecology Program. That was an incredible experience, and as part of that work, I collaborated with other scientists including Anthony Aufdenkampe from the Stroud Water Research Center, to quantify carbon dynamics during the freezing cycle in several ice shelf ponds. I look forward to continuing that work.

In addition, I’m working with researchers from New Zealand, France, Germany, and Italy, on projects in the field of ecohydrology — or quantifying relationships between hydrological processes and biotic dynamics at the watershed level. My primary interest lies in understanding the ecological impact on river corridors caused by human-induced changes to the hydrological cycle — an issue that was a critical part of our work in the New York watersheds. In New Zealand, however, most of the funding for that stems from the contentious issue of water allocation — or how we can apportion water for human use in ways that minimize the degradation of ecological, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values.

Finally, I have worked in “biosecurity,” New Zealand's invasive species ecology program, and in particular on the ecological effects of the invasive algae, Didymosphenia geminata. In New Zealand, this species achieves incredibly high biomass in certain rivers, which has resulted in significant ecological changes and a nationwide effort to control its distribution. Now the species is spreading across North America and has recently turned up in rivers in Virginia, Connecticut and New York. I plan to continue to study its impact while at the Center.

I hope to pursue all of these research themes, in addition to other collaborations envisioned by Stroud scientific staff, as my interests in stream ecology are broad and what I really enjoy most is working with others to achieve high-quality scientific outcomes.

YOU HAVE TRAVELED MORE THAN 18,000 MILES TO GO FROM THE STROUD WATER RESEARCH CENTER TO NEW ZEALAND’S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WATER AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND BACK. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK?
I have been really fortunate in my career so far — three great years at the Stroud Water Research Center followed by two-and-a-half fascinating years in New Zealand. And now my family and I are excited to return to Pennsylvania and to reconnect with the Stroud community.

We have had an extraordinary experience and made wonderful friends on the other side of the earth. New Zealand is a special place, and we will miss the proximity to so many amazingly different environments within a short drive of Christchurch. The kids, Lewis (6) and Alyssa (4), have loved being so close to the ocean beaches where boogie boards, kayaks, sand castles and sea creatures are integral parts of our summer play times. And Yeda and I will miss the evenings spent steaming green-lipped mussels and paua (abalone) in garlic, herbs, butter and Parmesan.

We look forward to sharing our adventures with the friends we left behind in Pennsylvania and to starting exciting new work with my colleagues at the Stroud Water Research Center. 

Links:
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand:
http://www.niwa.cri.nz/

New York City Watershed project:
http://www.stroudcenter.org/research/newyorkproject.htm

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