William J. Mitsch is Distinguished Professor of Environment and Natural Resources and Director, Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, The Ohio State University.? He was the winner in 2004, with Sven Jørgensen of Denmark, of the Stockholm Water Prize and, in 2007, the Society of Wetland Scientists Lifetime Achievement Award.

James G. Gosselink is Professor Emeritus at the Center for Coast and Environment at Louisiana State University.He was awarded the Society of Wetland Scientists Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998.