The Challenger Society for Marine Science

We are the foremost learned society representing the UK academic marine research community.

Nominations are still open for the Early-Career Scientist Keynote Speaker at the ICES Annual Science Conference 2026 (15–18 September 2026, Brest, France). If you know an outstanding early-career scientist whose research and vision could inspire the ICES community — or if you are one yourself — please consider submitting a nomination!

Deadline: 2 November 2025, midnight CET

Nomination link: ECS ASC 2026 Keynote Nomination Form

Let’s make sure the next generation of scientists has a chance to shine at ASC 2026!

Rationale

The Annual Science Conference (ASC) is an important event for ICES where the scientific community gathers to share the latest science developments. The ASC provides a platform for career building, networking and an opportunity to engage and recruit new people to the ICES community. ECSs provide important input and innovative perspectives into ICES and form a pivotal part of the community. By inviting an ECS keynote speaker, ICES acknowledges the contributions made by ECSs within the organisation and showcases the important and progressive perspectives ECSs have to offer the scientific community.

This year’s edition of this initiative brought us a captivating keynote by Llúcia Mascorda-Cabre, Researcher at the University of Plymouth, titled Ropes to Reefs: A multi-trophic level approach to inform management and policy. We aim to build upon this success, and are looking for a passionate ECS to present their effort and talent in their research area as a keynote speaker.

Keynote speech format and content

The selected candidate will be asked to give a 45-minute live speech on the topic of their research. Any topics which fall under the ICES science plan are welcomed. The keynote speakers should focus the main part (~40 minutes) of their presentation on showcasing their scientific work. They are also encouraged to share some brief insights on their career path (max. 5 minutes) as a means to increase ECS visibility in the community.

The keynote speaker also has the opportunity to get feedback from an ICES mentor through one or two meetings where the ECS speaker can workshop their presentation ideas and skills.

Nomination process

Anyone may nominate a speaker (please notify the nominee), and ECS are also invited to nominate themselves. A list of the nominee’s publications, presentations and outreach activities will be asked, along with a brief (1500 characters including spaces) letter highlighting the relevance of the nominee’s scientific topic to the ICES science plan, interdisciplinary aspects of the work and outreach, efforts.

Selection criteria

Nominees must be an ECS as defined by SIIECS (please refer to SIIECS resolution (page 4-5) and ideally be within 10 years of their degree conferral.

If a SIIECS ToR Leader or member is nominated or self-nominates for the keynote speech, then they will be excluded from the entire decision-making process in order to ensure impartiality.

Please see below for an opportunity for ECRs to apply for a keynote talk at ICES ASC 2026.

Nominations are still open for the Early-Career Scientist Keynote Speaker at the ICES Annual Science Conference 2026 (15–18 September 2026, Brest, France). If you know an outstanding early-career scientist whose research and vision could inspire the ICES community — or if you are one yourself — please consider submitting a nomination!

Deadline: 2 November 2025, midnight CET

Nomination link: ECS ASC 2026 Keynote Nomination Form

Let’s make sure the next generation of scientists has a chance to shine at ASC 2026!

Rationale

The Annual Science Conference (ASC) is an important event for ICES where the scientific community gathers to share the latest science developments. The ASC provides a platform for career building, networking and an opportunity to engage and recruit new people to the ICES community. ECSs provide important input and innovative perspectives into ICES and form a pivotal part of the community. By inviting an ECS keynote speaker, ICES acknowledges the contributions made by ECSs within the organisation and showcases the important and progressive perspectives ECSs have to offer the scientific community.

This year’s edition of this initiative brought us a captivating keynote by Llúcia Mascorda-Cabre, Researcher at the University of Plymouth, titled Ropes to Reefs: A multi-trophic level approach to inform management and policy. We aim to build upon this success, and are looking for a passionate ECS to present their effort and talent in their research area as a keynote speaker.

Keynote speech format and content

The selected candidate will be asked to give a 45-minute live speech on the topic of their research. Any topics which fall under the ICES science plan are welcomed. The keynote speakers should focus the main part (~40 minutes) of their presentation on showcasing their scientific work. They are also encouraged to share some brief insights on their career path (max. 5 minutes) as a means to increase ECS visibility in the community.

The keynote speaker also has the opportunity to get feedback from an ICES mentor through one or two meetings where the ECS speaker can workshop their presentation ideas and skills.

Nomination process

Anyone may nominate a speaker (please notify the nominee), and ECS are also invited to nominate themselves. A list of the nominee’s publications, presentations and outreach activities will be asked, along with a brief (1500 characters including spaces) letter highlighting the relevance of the nominee’s scientific topic to the ICES science plan, interdisciplinary aspects of the work and outreach, efforts.

Selection criteria

Nominees must be an ECS as defined by SIIECS (please refer to SIIECS resolution (page 4-5) and ideally be within 10 years of their degree conferral.

If a SIIECS ToR Leader or member is nominated or self-nominates for the keynote speech, then they will be excluded from the entire decision-making process in order to ensure impartiality.

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