Awarded to early career scientists to recognise and honour their achievement or promise in a branch of marine science.
The Challenger Society for Marine Science awards two types of fellowships: ECR fellowships and a Woodward fellowship.
Challenger ECR Fellowships
The Challenger Society initiated the award to the members of the Society, of four Fellowships awarded biennially in 2000. The Fellowships are awarded to early career-stage marine scientists who are members of the Challenger Society, for their achievements and promise in a branch of marine sciences: marine biology, marine chemistry, marine geology and marine physics.
Nominations/Eligibility
1. Should be by email or letter explaining the reasons for nomination, quoting, where appropriate, relevant reference to scientific publications or other contributions.
2. A short curriculum vitae of the nominee is required.
3. The nomination should be submitted by a single proposer with support for the proposal provided in writing by one or two (preferably) other members. The letters of support should be included with the submission of the proposal.
4. Nominations should be submitted to the President of The Society or the Honorary Secretary before April 30th 2024.
5. Nominees should be members of the Society.
6. Nominations and applications will be considered by the Council of the Challenger Society.
7. Current Council members of the Society are ineligible for any award or prize.
8. The award of the Fellowship is traditionally made to recipients in person at the biannual conference.
9. The Challenger Society is working towards being a fully equitable and inclusive organisation (see our EDI statement here). The Society encourages you to consider nominating individuals from underrepresented and/or diverse backgrounds.
From 2017, it was agreed by the Council that upon their appointment, Fellows of the Society are entitled to apply for a bursary of up to £1000, to support the Society as ambassadors and help to deliver the Society’s goals. The Fellows should apply to the President within the 2 years following the award of their fellowship. Applications should be via email to the President and outline the purpose, the costs and the measurable outcomes of the proposed activity. The bursary should be spent and completed within the 2 year period, prior to the election of the next Fellows.
Woodward Fellowships
We are pleased to announce a new award of this Challenger Society Fellowship first awarded in 2018.
This was awarded for the first time at the biennial Challenger Society Meeting in Newcastle and will be awarded to an early career-stage marine scientist who is carrying out research in the field of Nutrients and Nutrient Cycling in the Oceans.
This £2000 Fellowship is made possible by a generous gift from Society Honorary Life Member, Malcolm Woodward. The Fellowship will be awarded on a biennial basis to an eligible scientist who is a member of the Challenger Society for their achievements and promise.
The bursary will provide support for the Fellow to attend conferences/workshops, travel for fieldwork, and carry out activities aligned to the objectives of the Society for a period of up to 2 years following award.
Nominations/Eligibility
- Nominations for the Fellowship are sought for outstanding early career researchers, quoting their contribution to the field and evidencing their potential as a future leader in marine science.
- Nominees should be early career researchers. The Challenger Society defines early career researchers as those who are:
· within eight years of their highest degree (BSc, MSc, PhD award), or equivalent professional training
· within six years of their first academic appointment (the first full or part time paid employment contract that lists research or teaching as the primary functions).
These periods exclude any career break, for example:
· family care
· health reasons
· reasons related to COVID-19 such as home schooling or increased teaching load. - The nomination should be submitted by a single proposer with support provided in writing by one or two (preferably) other members of the Society and/or other marine scientists of appropriate standing in the community. The letters of support should be included with the submission of the proposal along with a short CV of the nominee.
- Nominations should be submitted to the President of The Society or to the Honorary Secretary before April 30th 2024.
- Nominees should be members of the Society.
- Current Council members of the Society are ineligible for any award or prize.
- The Challenger Society is working towards being a fully equitable and inclusive organisation (see our EDI statement here). The Society encourages you to consider nominating individuals from underrepresented and/or diverse backgrounds.
The award of the Fellowship will be made to recipients in person at the biannual conference.
Awarded Challenger Fellowships
2024 Challenger Fellows
Dr Anna Katavouta (National Oceanography Centre)
Dr Tiago Segabinazzi Dotto (National Oceanography Centre)
Woodward Fellowship: Dr Alastair Lough (University of Leeds)
2022 Challenger Fellows
Dr Alice Marzocchi (National Oceanography Centre)
Dr Antony Birchill (Environment Agency)
Dr Emma Cavan (Imperial College London)
Woodward Fellow: Dr Felipe Sales de Freitas (University Libre De Bruxelles)
2021 Challenger Fellows
Dr Alex Brearley (British Antarctic Survey)
Dr Hugh Venables (British Antarctic Survey)
Dr Rob Hall (University of East Anglia)
Woodward Fellow: Dr Robyn Tuerena (Scottish Association for Marine Science)
2018 Challenger Fellows
Dr Zhai Xioming (University of East Anglia)
Dr Stephanie Henson (NOC Southampton)
Dr Philip Goodwin (University of Southampton)
Dr Sebastian Hennige (University of Edinburgh)
Woodward Fellowship: Dr Sian Henley (University of Edinburgh)
2016 Challenger Fellows
Dr Barbara Berx (Marine Scotland Science)
Dr Nick Higgs (Plymouth University)
Dr Alessandro Tagliabue (University of Liverpool)
2014 Challenger Fellows
Dr Mark Moore (National Oceanography Centre)
Dr Will Homoky (University of Oxford)
2012 Challenger Fellows
Dr Jenny Brown (National Oceanography Centre)
Dr Kate Hendry (Cardiff University)
Dr Daniel Mayor (University of Aberdeen)
Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop (SAHFOS)
2010 Challenger Fellows
Dr Claire Hughes (University of East Anglia)
Dr Dave Suggett (University of Essex)
Dr Alberto Naveira-Garabato (National Oceanography Centre)
Dr Laura Robinson (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
2008 Challenger Fellows
Dr Angela Hatton (Scottish Association for Marine Science)
Dr Maeve Lohan (University of Plymouth)
Dr Claire Mahaffey (University of Liverpool)
Dr Helen Johnson (University of Oxford)
2006 Challenger Fellows
Dr Sally Thorpe (British Antarctic Survey)
Dr Simon Ussher (University of Plymouth)
Dr Finlo Cottier (Scottish Association for Marine Science)
Dr Stephen Dye (CEFAS)
2004 Challenger Fellows
Dr John Allen (National Oceanography Centre)
2002 Challenger Fellows
Dr Chris Hughes (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)
Dr David Marshall (University of Reading)
Dr Carol Robinson (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)
Dr Toby Tyrrell (National Oceanography Centre)
2000 Challenger Fellows
Dr Karen Heywood (University of East Anglia)
Dr Chris German (National Oceanography Centre)