When biology professors Ginny and Reid Adams came to the University of Central Arkansas in 2003, they had already established an impressive network of partnerships with governmental, private and public agencies, laying the groundwork for what would be The Adams Fish Ecology Lab. These connections through the last two decades, in addition to grant funding, have changed the face of ecological research for UCA’s undergraduate and graduate environmental science majors through immersive experiential fieldwork and impressive collaborative data collection and lab work. All this combined continues to change the face of our campus and our state as these scientists and their future scientists learn how to preserve our streams, rivers and waterways to track and save precious fish populations.
Reid Adams, a Mississippi native, and Ginny Adams, an Arkansas native, met during their undergraduate studies at Ole Miss. Reid, spurred by his interest in nature, was a biology major specializing in environmental science. Inspired by scientists at Ole Miss, Reid continued to conduct research and later obtained his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University. As he continued his research and fieldwork, he made connections that are maintained today.
“I’ve had a lot of inspirations through the years,” he said, “Growing up in Greenville, Mississippi, hunting and fishing with my dad and brother and all of our buddies was a great inspiration for me. It was that social attachment associated with the river and oxbows; these things inspired me to be a biology major and go on to environmental science.”
“During my master’s degree at Ole Miss,” he continued, “I worked with a great scientist named Glenn Parsons. Then, I worked with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, with some amazing field scientists like Jack Kilgore, Jan Hoover and Stephen George. Then the Ph.D. involved work with more amazing scientists like Jim Garvey and Brooks Burr. So many people inspired me to continue to do heavily field-based research with direct applications to conservation and to give others opportunities to work in the field.”
Ginny Adams knew she wanted to work in biology but wasn’t sure which area she would choose. Her finances during her first year at Ole Miss played a crucial role in securing a passion and a lifetime career in changing the environment through education and hands-on learning experiences for her students. A freshman biology professor allowed her to do undergraduate research that changed her direction. She received a master’s from the University of Arkansas in cave research, furthering her drive for fieldwork, data collection and the challenge of proving herself in a male-dominated field.
“I started out pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-medical something,” said Ginny. “During my sophomore year, trying to make ends meet, I went to one of my professors I’d had for freshman biology, and I asked if he’d recommend me for tutoring because I needed the money. He offered me a lab and field position with students working with fish. The pivot point was the experience of seeing the fish, working with them and doing the lab work. Then, I could do undergraduate research, which wasn’t a thing back then, by asking for funding from the dean. With that, I could do a research project and publish it. That solidified that this was the field I wanted to be in – that this was my passion.”
“I had some great mentors along the way,” she continued, “There were not many women in the field, and that motivated me to keep doing fieldwork and getting those fellowships and grants. When I finished my master’s, Reid and I got married and went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and I also worked with the Army Corps of Engineers. Then we went to Southern Illinois University, and I funded myself and side projects that Reid and I would work on.”
Grant writing and building partnerships through their dissertations helped the couple on their arrival at UCA, in addition to founding their lab. Reid said, “We had to be able to write grants, and that’s the genesis of why we are so involved with grant writing and trying to get the resources we need to do the impactful research we do while impacting our students with hands-on learning out in the field.” Ginny agreed, “Both of our dissertation projects involved working with agencies and external partners. Then the joint project we did with the Missouri Department of Conservation/National Forest Service allowed us to network and work within that grant framework as well.”
The Adams Fish Ecology Lab, housed in the Lewis Science Center, boasts equipment, computers, specimens and more to assist students in conducting research and entering data from fieldwork. This lab experience proves integral for student learning in keeping accurate records and findings, while the fieldwork element gives them hands-on experience in often difficult surroundings. That field experience, Reid related, makes a world of difference in their students’ learning.
“It’s one thing to read about stream ecology or ideology or watch a YouTube video or Google search. But it’s another thing to be out in the field, in the stream, observing and studying it in person. My mentors impressed me with that, and it stuck with me. That’s why we must take our students into the streams. Our students get to build connections, work on problem-solving and critical thinking, and see the results in real time. They can see the process,” he said.
Ginny added, “They get to participate. We push them to give their opinions and brainstorm with us because that’s how we learn. Plus, since many of our grant sponsors or partners are in the field with us, our students get to interact directly, not just with us, but directly with biologists with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) or the Nature Conservancy.” This provides even more opportunities for professional development for students before graduation.
“Because of these interactions, not at a conference or a symposium, but out in a stream, professionals get to know and interact with our students. That eases conversations, and that’s how our students can go out and get internships and jobs because of those interactions in the field,” Reid said.
When out in the field, the tasks include sampling fish and habitats, hauling equipment to and from the sites, collecting and recording data, solving any issues that may arise. These are carried out while adverse conditions present themselves. They must climb over logs, fight insects, work in the dark, work in the rain, work in the heat and concentrate on observations and data collection to “do it right,” said Reid.
The Adams Fish Ecology Lab currently employs four full-time employees, four graduate students and eleven undergraduates. While previous experiences with Ginny and Reid further the partnerships, the lab continues to garner a solid reputation for excellence because of its work ethic and the research it produces.
As the popularity of this innovative teaching and conservation effort continues to grow in UCA’s biology department, the Adamses added that there’s a personal side to the lab they created. They have fun. They teach. They “do it right” even when conditions aren’t ideal. The bedrock of this foundation is respect for each other and learning.
“It’s the intangibles,” Ginny stated. “We have a diverse group of people in the field, and there are times when there are eight to ten of us together. Managing those long days can be challenging, but we have amazing students. We are truly blessed.”
Reid said, “We all treat each other with respect and teach the value of teamwork. By experiencing these things, our students come out ready to be leaders, and Chance Garrett is a great example of one of ours who did well after the program.”
Chance Garrett ’18 ’23, a fish ecologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Aquatic Conservation Section, participated in a research study as an undergraduate while assisting graduate students with the lab, and the experience changed his life. “Ginny and Reid are extremely knowledgeable, and working with them opened my eyes to the waterways and the diversity of fish species we have in Arkansas. I learned a lot about science and conservation from watching them. They make sure to connect their students with their network. So, aside from getting fieldwork and research experience, students also get to work with professionals in the field. I still see these professionals in meetings. I still work with them. They’re not strangers to me, so I’m ready to jump in, and we’re ready to work together. Working with the Adamses helped me set up a network to facilitate my work being more productive today,” he said.
Current students also see the value of the experiences the Adams Fish Ecology Lab offers. Senior environmental science major Peyton Manry stated that the lab has taught her many things while opening opportunities to explore more. “I have learned to be a better team player and communicate efficiently and effectively. The collaborative element has helped me think over situations in new ways and has aided my critical thinking skills. Doing undergraduate research gives you the best chance to find your passion,” she said.
Tavis Taylor, a senior majoring in environmental science, agreed, “The brainstorming and collaborative sessions in the field have improved my learning and helped me work better with a team. You have to be able to see each other’s ideas and work together to see what will work best for the team. Even if you are not the most knowledgeable about a specific topic, you can still help and give a different perspective that could help. You can’t get this kind of learning in the classroom.”
Most recently, the Adamses were invited to attend an event to announce a $3.9 million grant to AGFC from the Department of the Interior through their America the Beautiful Challenge grant. The project includes the removal of a dam and three other barriers to aquatic passage. It represents one of the most significant stream restoration projects undertaken in Arkansas. Conservation of our resources in the Natural State includes training the next generation of conservationists and scientists, and the Adamses do just that.
The lab’s motto is “Play for keeps.” Playing for keeps in this respect means fieldwork, research, data collection and products that potentially save fish species that are being considered for listing on the endangered species list. It means respecting their students and serving as examples of professionalism in the field.
“The interactions and camaraderie with all the students and partners we’ve worked with over the years add a real joy to what we do. The science matters, and the students inspire us to carry on the legacy of continuing to inspire others and doing good science,” Reid said.
“We’ve had some amazing students through the years,” Ginny said. “They drive us. The groups we’ve been lucky enough to have kept us going, keep us motivated. It’s providing pathways for our students. It’s changing the trajectory of a student who didn’t know their passion.”
“We have trained and continue to train a diverse set of students, and then they’re going to go on and change the face of natural resource conservation through their careers and by being role models,” said Reid.
The Adams Fish Ecology Lab is genuinely playing for keeps as this dynamic pair continues building partnerships with agencies, individuals, students and other conservationists to save waterways and fish species in our state and beyond and change our awareness of the environment.