The Challenger Society Virtual Conference Award
With this new award (set up in 2021), the Challenger Society provides support to delegates attending virtual conferences and aims to cover the costs of registration and administration.
Virtual conference attendance awards (VCAAs) are available to assist postgraduate students, Masters Degree students in their 4th year, and early career researchers within their last 3 months of employment or currently unemployed in attending conferences or workshops virtually. Applicants need to be members of the Challenger Society and be based at a UK research institution. Priority is given to students/ECRs who have had a paper or poster accepted for a recognised conference. The Society cannot guarantee that an award will be made, and this should not be assumed in applying for funding elsewhere.
It is possible to apply for awards to the value of up to £250.
VCAAs cannot be made retrospectively, the application must be submitted prior to conference attendance.
During their period of study,
- Masters Degree students in their 4th year of study may apply for one award;
- MSc students may apply for one award;
- PhD students may apply for two awards.
- Early Career Researchers may apply for one award.
Please submit your application to one of the following deadlines: January 15th, April 15th, July 15th and October 15th. Each deadline will have a total budget of around £600. Monies can be rolled over if not fully used in anyone period. If you have any questions regarding the scheme, please contact Dr Sophie-Berenice Wilmes s.wilmes@bangor.ac.uk
Guidelines for applicants can be found here, and the Application form for the award is here
(page update 08-12-2021)
Latest News
Challenger Society Council Position Vacancy
The Challenger Society for Marine Science (CSMS) are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of ocean scientists and innovators. CSMS are looking for a new Council member to fill the Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones Portfolio. The successful applicant will administer the travel and research grants available for Early Career Researchers.
The role involves:
- Receiving applications for the two schemes and responding to applicant inquiries
- Soliciting and compiling input from the rest of the Council for assessing the applications
- Communicating with successful and unsuccessful applicants for the two schemes
- Working with the Honorary Treasurer on allocating funds to successful applicants
- Following up with award winners on their reporting requirements
- Attending Council meetings four times a year (in person or online) and contributing to discussions and decision making for CSMS
The usual term for Council members is three years.
For more information about the CSMS Council, please follow this link: https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/The_Council
For more information about our Early Career Researcher grants and awards, please follow this link:
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Stepping_Stones
and
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Travel_awards
If you are interested in applying or have any questions regarding the role, please contact kathen@bas.ac.uk
NOC Association (NOCA) AGM 2025
The 14th AGM of the NOC Association will be held on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May 2025. This free, on-line event will take place on Zoom, across two consecutive mornings, each starting at 10:00 and ending at 12:30. The agenda will focus on national capability (NC) science, ships, and autonomous vehicles, and how the community can engage. There will be an update on AtlantiS and on the new marine science scoping group. All are warmly welcome to join.
To participate, please complete your registration here.
For enquiries: Jackie Pearson, Secretary to NOCA: jfpea@noc.ac.uk
Townhall on UK Arctic Ocean contribution to International Polar Year 32/33
The Arctic is one of the most rapidly-changing regions on our planet, with impacts on global sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity and ecosystem services. With the international community rapidly mobilising towards the International Polar Year 32/33, and with new international programmes and initiatives now being shaped, it is timely for the UK Ocean Science community to come together and articulate what its unique offerings could be to Arctic research and technology.
This hybrid 2-day meeting, to be held at NOC Southampton, is intended to start this process. Recognising the Arctic Oceans role in global Earth and Human systems, anticipated outcomes include a high-level shaping of what the UK Arctic Ocean community would like to achieve over the course of the IPY, stimulation of new collaborations and proposals for grand Arctic challenges and a baseline from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities, both in the UK and overseas, can be built. Discussions will continue in diverse forums, including the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September and at Challenger 2026.
This action is supported by the UK Arctic Office and UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership
Further details and meeting registration link will be circulated in April together with a questionnaire to help shape the agenda and discussion
In the meantime…SAVE THE DATE