Grants & Awards
The Challenger Society provides several prizes, awards and grants to members of the oceanographic community. Several of these are awarded at the Biennial Challenger Society meeting.
Fellowships
Awarded to early career scientists for their achievement or promise in a branch of marine science.
Honorary Membership
Recognises substantial contributions to the work of the Society and to the national and international development of marine science.
The Challenger Medal
The award is for a distinguished UK marine scientist or other person who has made a single major contribution, or a sustained contribution, to the development of marine science, or whose innovation has opened up new perspectives.
Meeting Prizes
Three Challenger Society Prizes are awarded at each biennial Marine Sciences meeting. These are:
The Norman Heaps Prize
For the best verbal presentation by a non-established researcher at the Challenger biennial meeting.
The Cath Allen Prize
For the best poster presentation at the Challenger biennial meeting.
The President's Photographic Competition
For the best Photograph on a designated theme.
Chris Daniels Early Career Grant
The Chris Daniels Early Career Grant aims to provide an opportunity for motivated early career researchers (ECR) to create or establish a forum to discuss specific challenges and resources relevant to ECRs in the field of marine science.
Stepping Stones Bursary
The Stepping Stone Research Bursary Scheme can allocate up to £1000 per grant to support research activities in marine science. Bursaries can be used for any research related activity, including but not limited to travel, collaborative visits, publication costs, laboratory or field work and conference participation. Bursaries are open to all career levels. Applications are particularly welcome from those seeking employment in a research environment post-qualification, and to active researchers between fixed term contracts.
Travel Awards
Open to assist graduate students to attend scientific conferences or participate in cruises and field work, several are offered annually.
Virtual Conference Award
The new award (2021) is made to assist with the registration and administration fees for delegates to get support from Challenger to attend Virtual Conferences.
Challenger Society for Marine Science Student Award
The Society offers an annual award for undergraduate students who have demonstrated excellence in oceanographic research through project research. Letters of invitation are sent to relevant University departments in the U. K. inviting them to submit suitable dissertations from final year undergraduate students, with deadlines set usually for early July. The prize has evolved from the former Tripartite Award and will be first awarded in 2018. The purpose of the Award is to raise the status of oceanographic education in the U. K., as well as to encourage oceanographic research among undergraduates in ocean sciences, geography, environmental sciences or related disciplines.
Students can only be entered by the Convenor of the final year dissertation module from universities located within the U. K. Only one submission will be accepted from each department and it should be of outstanding quality. Prizes are awarded after consideration by a panel drawn from the Challenger Society’s Council.
The winning student will receive a cheque for £500. In exceptional circumstances the Award may be shared. All winning students will receive one year's complimentary membership of the Society.
Latest News
The oceans, the blue economy and implications for climate change event
The oceans, the blue economy and implications for climate change
Date: 29 November 2023, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Speaker: Rupert Howes, Joanna Post, Dr John Siddorn, Dr Siva Thambisetty, Professor Elizabeth Robinson, Dr Darian McBain
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, Cheng Kin Ku Building, LSE Campus and online
Many conversations about sustainability and climate-change focus on activities on land – the green part of our planet. This misses a vital part of the puzzle, the role that our oceans play.
Ocean and Coastal Futures - Bursary
As part of our commitment to encouraging and supporting diversity, equity and inclusion, Ocean and Coastal Futures is launching its first Coastal Futures Bursary in partnership with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. This opportunity is open for young people aged 18 to 30 years old, who are currently underrepresented in the marine and coastal sector and face financial barriers to attending. Individuals do not have to be working or studying in the sector currently but must reside in the UK.
CLASS Modelling Workshop 2024
The CLASS Programme is hosting a Modelling Workshop in early 2024. This is aimed at UK participants only. Event details and criteria to sign up are available here.