The Florida Society of Environmental Analyses (FSEA) was chartered in 1979 as a means to promote professionalism and technical excellence and to foster communication among the community of scientists engaged in sample collection, analysis and the interpretation of environmental data. That mission is still the focus of FSEA today. In addition to carrying out those goals, the society also acts as a liaison between environmental regulatory programs and the membership.

FSEA is geographically divided into six Regions and its membership includes laboratory managers, chemists, biologists, facility operators, field samplers and quality assurance officers from public and private sector institutions. The current membership is approximately 500 active members. FSEA also sponsors a college mentorship program which allows promising students the opportunity to attend FSEA spring and fall meeting events where they can meet with environmental professionals, view the latest analytical tools and attend technical presentations.

Each year, FSEA convenes spring and fall meetings designed to communicate pertinent changes in technology, regulations and methodologies and to provide informative, professional training opportunities for attendees. The meetings typically include Training Workshops, Technical Presentations, a Regulatory Forum and Laboratory Vendor Displays. Vendor and meeting attendance has been steadily growing each year, with most presentations seating more than 100 attendees.

In addition to the annual spring and fall meeting events, Regional training workshops are regularly offered. Those workshops focus on topics of current interest, such as guidance for the implementation of laboratory ethics programs and training in specific analytical methodologies.

FSEA’s overarching goals are to promote the exchange of knowledge, information and ideas relevant to environmental professionals. To realize those goals, FSEA relies on active participation and involvement of its members. Through the dedicated efforts of its membership, FSEA has steadily gained recognition as a respected organization that provides a real service to the environmental community