The association was led by Elizabeth Gierlowski-Kordesch from its formation until her death in May 2016, and the solid foundation that Beth began is being continued by the current Board of Directors. As Beth stated, lake basins are dynamic systems that respond to environmental interactions that are recorded in the basin sediments. This is the guiding theme of the IAL. A tribute to Beth and her great work can be found here. 

The IAL introduced the Elizabeth Gierlowski-Kordesch Award for Early Career Excellence in 2025 to honor innovative early-career researchers advancing limnogeology. The award is named after Beth who passionately supported young scientists and this award continues her legacy of fostering success and community within the field. For further details please see the Awards page.

Our friend and colleague Michael Rosen, Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Limnogeology (IAL), passed away on April 27, 2021 from complications after surgery related to pancreatic cancer.  He was a steady captain of the IAL since its foundation. A geologist enamored of lakes, a musician, and a knowledgeable birder, he was always ready to help the lake community stay connected and move forward together. We will be celebrating his life and his science during the next IAL-IPA conference in Aix-les-Bains, France.

The Michael R. Rosen Research Award in Limnogeology has been set up to support graduate student research in the field of limnogeology. If you would like to donate, please visit the fund’s GSA Foundation page.