Early Career Researcher Network
The Challenger Society’s Early Career Researcher Network is open to anyone who self identifies as an early career researcher in the marine sciences. We welcome undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and faculty members, as well as project managers and other commercial sector associates within the marine sciences.
The aims of the network are:
1. to link with fellow Early Career Researchers and share expertise, news and opportunities
2. to link with other networks in the UK and internationally
3. to benefit from the Challenger Society framework and events to foster collaboration among groups and with senior researchers
4. to foster and support diversity at all levels of marine science
The Challenger Society for Marine Sciences recognises that Early Career Researchers (ECRs) have a critical role in the advancement of ocean sciences and sponsors events and activities to support them. If you are interested in joining the network or for more information, do not hesitate to get in touch with the ECR Network Coordinator, Siddhi Joshi
Please see details of the Chris Daniels Early Career Grant for ECRs here.
Join our network today to stay tuned on the latest news and opportunities for ECRs, shaping the future of marine sciences in the UK.
To join the ECR Network mailing list and/or provide seminar topic ideas, please fill in the following online form: https://forms.office.com/r/3gimz639PA
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January 2022 Update
The Challenger society recognises that its Early Career members have a critical role in the advancement of ocean science and we are pleased to introduce in 2022 the Challenger Society Early Career Researcher Seminar Series. These are a series of practical marine science specific seminars to:
- Provide useful training in niche areas for marine science Early Career Researchers (ECRs) delivered by high level marine science specific guest speakers.
- Encourage collaboration and networking with ECRs to support each other through challenges of early careers.
Planned topics include seminars on Challenges of Doing Science at Sea, Data science using Python, Virtual Meet & Greets with the Challenger Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and many more!
The Challenger Society offers funding opportunities for Early Career Researchers such as the Stepping Stones Bursary and The Chris Daniels Early Career Grant. To improve the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility of the funding awards of the Challenger Society, we are looking for ECR members to join the nominations committee. The nominations committee will also be for Council positions/portfolios, as well as fellowships and awards. If you are a member of the Challenger Society and are interested in the possibility of joining a nominations committee for funding/grants awarded by the Challenger Society, please email us at siddhi@hotmail.co.uk.
Please feel free to distribute the survey to ECRs and your wider networks.
Latest News
October 2025 MEDIN Workshop: Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset
The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the next occurrence of our popular free online training workshop: ‘Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset’ on the 13th – 17th October 2025 on OceanTeacher Global Academy.
Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset
The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) and OceanWise are delighted to invite you to attend our popular free online training workshop: ‘Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset’ on the 19th – 23rd of May 2025.
Workshop on the contribution of UK Arctic Ocean science to the International Polar Year 32/33
12:00 11th June – 16:00 12th June 2025: NOC Southampton (In-person with online option): Registration deadline 16th May
REGISTER HERE
Pre-meeting questionnaire (open to all)
The purpose of this workshop is for the UK Ocean Science community to discuss and then draft a prospectus document outlining the priority Arctic research questions the community would like to address during the run up to, throughout and beyond the International Polar Year 32/33. Additionally, to identify what unique strengths and technologies the UK has to help fill these knowledge gaps.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to writing groups, one for each of the priority research questions identified - from both the pre-meeting questionnaire (HERE) and day one discussion. By the end of the meeting, each group will have produced draft text and sourced supporting figures for the prospectus.
Post meeting, the draft will be opened for comments and suggestions from everyone, regardless of whether they were able to attend the workshop or not. It will then be shared with UK funders (UKRI, FCDO, DSIT, ARIA) and potential international programmes with whom we would like to collaborate (e.g. Arctic 2050, Norway). It will form a basis from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities can be built, e.g. at the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September in Northumbria.
To ensure balanced community and ECR representation, and to ensure that the size of the writing groups is efficient and effective, if the number of registrations from individual institutes becomes overwhelming, we may contact individuals or teams and ask that each institute selects a smaller number of individuals to attend in-person. Please wait for confirmation of in-person attendance before finalising travel arrangements.
The workshop will be open to hybrid attendance and contributions on both days.