Number of Awards Given: 2/year
Established in memory of Gail E. Butterfield, PhD, RD, FACSM, this award assists doctoral students (one US resident and one non-US resident) with travel expenses to present their nutrition research at the ACSM Annual Meeting.
Dr. Butterfield was a valued member of ACSM, serving as a founding member of the Nutrition Special Interest Group, an active member of five committees (pronouncements, program, awards and tributes, liaisons ad hoc, and public information), and as a trustee of ACSM. She held faculty and research positions at the University of California – Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital.
Eligibility:
Award Requirements:
Please contact the ACSM Foundation with questions regarding this award.
This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts.
