Scott Collins has resigned as Chair of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Science Council and Executive Board, and Peter Groffman, who as Chair-elect was scheduled to become Chair in May 2015, has assumed those duties, effective immediately. Dr. Groffman is a microbial ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and is associated with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and Hubbard Brook LTER sites. Dr. Collins served as Chair since May 2011.

The LTER Network extends its deepest appreciation to Collins for his many years of service to the Network in various capacities, as Chair, Principal Investigator, and Program Officer in charge of the LTER Program at the National Science Foundation.