Freshwater Science Workshops | Fall 2025
Hosted by Resource Institute & Penrose Environmental Consulting
Join us in Marshall, NC for two immersive events focused on freshwater ecology, professional networking, and hands-on learning in a beautiful mountain setting.
🐛 Aquatic Insect Ecology for Environmental Professionals
Dates: September 15 - 17, 2025
Cost: $885
Location: Laurel Community Center, Marshall, NC
Join aquatic biologists Dave Penrose and Jason York for a deep dive into aquatic insect ecology. This immersive workshop blends classroom instruction, guided fieldwork, and lab-based microscope ID sessions to strengthen your identification skills and ecological knowledge.
Perfect for environmental professionals, consultants, and agency staff looking to sharpen their expertise in benthic macroinvertebrates and stream assessment protocols.
🐟 Carolina Area Biologists Workshop (CABW)
Dates: September 22 - 24, 2025
Cost: $0 Students | $50 Professionals
Location: Laurel Community Center, Marshall, NC
CABW is a three-day regional event focused on freshwater resources in the Carolinas. Designed to foster connection and collaboration among biologists, environmental professionals, students, and community members, the workshop features:
Engaging presentations and discussions
Field-based demonstrations and site visits
Informal networking with experts and peers
Career-building opportunities for students and early-career professionals
👥 Meet the Instructors
Dave Penrose
Founder, Penrose Environmental Consulting
Dave retired from the Water Quality Group at North Carolina State University in 2008. Much of his work there involved assessing the ecological recovery of stream restoration projects in NC and was funded largely by grants from the Ecosystem Enhancement Program and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Before working with NCSU, Dave was with the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. He worked with the DWQ as an Environmental Biologist specializing in assessing streams and rivers using aquatic insects as indicators of water quality. He helped develop the metrics and assessment protocols needed to assign bioclassification criteria to streams and rivers. This information was frequently used as a tool to assess watershed health and/or trends in data following the implementation of management programs. He has also worked on developing protocols to determine the origins of perennial streams in North Carolina using biological indicators. Dave has given numerous workshops on the ecology and taxonomy of aquatic insects and intends to remain active in this field. He was elected president of the Society for Freshwater Science (formerly the North American Benthological Society) in 2012. The SFS has approximately 1800 active members from 41 countries. He also served as the Executive Board Chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents (CSSP), whose member societies number over 1.4 million scientists worldwide. Dave recently started a small consulting firm in Asheville where he specializes in aquatic insect surveys and educational programs about river ecology (www.penrose.consulting).
Jason York
Environmental Scientist, Michael Baker International
Jason York is an Environmental Scientist for Michael Baker Intl. (MBI) in Asheville, NC where he oversees MBI’s NC Certified Laboratory for Population Studies of Benthic Macroinvertebrates. His work is focused on pre and post construction biological monitoring of streams using aquatic insects as indicators of water quality. Jason has completed several large contracts throughout the mid-Atlantic region with MBI and Penrose Environmental Consulting assessing water quality using aquatic insects. He is a certified taxonomist for Eastern Mayflies, Stoneflies, Caddisflies, North American chironomids, and General Arthropods through the Society for Freshwater Science of which he is also a member. Jason has lived in Madison County, NC since 2006 where he enjoys his family, the rivers, the insects, and the people.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-york-326b05143/
🏞️ About the Venue
Laurel Community Center, Marshall, NC
Nestled in the scenic mountains of western North Carolina, the Laurel Community Center is a nonprofit space dedicated to fostering learning, arts, and community connection. The center provides a rustic yet functional setting, perfect for hands-on field learning and collaborative discussions.
🛏️ Lodging & Travel
Marshall is a rural community, and most workshop attendees will stay in nearby vacation rentals.
We recommend booking early, as availability is limited. Don't hesitate to get in touch with the organizers if you are interested in sharing a condo or house with another attendee.
🔗 Madison County Travel
Registration & Payment Policy:
Credit card information is required during registration to reserve a slot in all courses. Arrangements to pay by check can be made (payable to Resource Institute), although a credit card is still required to reserve a slot. WE DO NOT ACCEPT purchase orders, SF 182 forms, or electronic transfers.
The fees for each course include tuition and course materials; participants are responsible for their own food and lodging, unless noted otherwise.
Cancellation Policy:
Tuition is refundable (less a $ 25 fee) up to 30 days prior to the course start date. Within the thirty-day course window, tuition will not be refunded. Substitutions are encouraged. Although rare, Resource Institute reserves the right to cancel a class and refund all deposit and tuition payments received.