Background
7th-11th September 2026: Challenger Society for Marine Science Conference
Bangor, UK
The Challenger Society’s biennial conference is returning to Bangor University for the fourth time, 42 years after the very first modern Challenger conference which was also held in the city.
The conference has become the UK’s largest gathering of marine scientists attracting around 300 leading UK marine scientists, science managers and early career scientists. It provides an excellent opportunity for networking as well as giving early career scientists the opportunity to present their work in a friendly environment.
Call for Abstracts
The conference has a broad remit, with interests stretching from the coastline to the deep ocean and spanning the globe, from pole to pole. The society is particularly keen to encourage students and early career marine scientists to showcase research. If you would like to give an oral presentation or to present a poster on your work, please submit your abstract here (deadline for submission is 28th May): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/nhpUKaQc4G?origin=lprLink
Sponsorship Opportunity
The biennial Challenger conference attracts around 300 leading UK marine scientists, science managers and early career scientists. As well as showcasing cutting edge marine science and technology, the conference is noted for its training of young scientists and networking events. Conference is a great place be if you are recruiting marine science graduates.
As usual, we will be hosting a mini-expo alongside the conference where sponsors can set up shop for three days between the 8th and 10th. There are several opportunities for sponsorship and we will be sending out flyers with more detail shortly.
For now, please save the date, but if you would like to pre-register your interest in supporting, please contact Terry Sloane.
Keynote Speakers
We are excited to announce our confirmed keynote speakers for the Challenger 2026 conference.
Emma McKinley (Cardiff University): “The Ocean Research we need for the Ocean we want: The role of ocean literacy beyond the UN Ocean Decade”
Dr Emma McKinley is a Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University. Her research focuses on understanding the complex relationships between society and the sea, taking account of diverse perceptions, attitudes and values held by different communities and audiences, and considers how this insight can be used to support effective ocean governance. Recent projects include the UKRI funded Transformative Action Research for Resilient Coastal Communities (TRACC) project, the Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub, as well as contributing to SMMR project, Integrating Diverse Values into UK Marine Management, leading work on ocean literacy. Emma is the Academic Lead of the Severn Estuary Partnership and is the founder of the Marine Social Science Network, a global, interdisciplinary community of marine social science researchers and practitioners. She sits on the UK’s National Decade Committee for the UN Ocean Decade, the International Science Advisory Group for MEOPAR and the IOC-UNESCO’s Global Group of Expert on Ocean Literacy. She is a member of the Wales Coasts and Seas Partnership and sits on the Steering Group for the Wales Ocean Literacy Coalition.
Gerard McCarthy (Maynooth University): “The Atlantic on the edge: Where is the AMOC going and where has it come from?”
Dr. Gerard McCarthy is a physical oceanographer and climate scientist. His research focuses on the changing Atlantic, in particular, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and sea level. He has been instrumental in studying the AMOC, the system of ocean currents that significantly affects Europe’s climate. His findings have raised awareness of its potential weakening due to climate change, which could lead to significant impacts on Europe and globally. He is an internationally recognised researcher, being appointed co-chair of the JPI Oceans and Climate AMOC in Focus report in 2025.
Kate Hendry (British Antarctic Survey): “Do you want ice with that? Biogeochemical changes in polar coastal oceans”
Kate Hendry is a chemical oceanographer and biogeochemist who was bitten early by the polar adventure bug, working in the Arctic and Antarctic since her graduate student days. Her research focuses on nutrient cycling in high-latitude environments, in particular the interfaces between land and sea, be it in the deep ocean or glaciated coasts. Kate’s favourite element is silicon, but she also tries to talk about other things every now and then. She has a long history of supporting the Challenger Society, including co-founding the Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity and Accessibility working group, and – currently – sitting on Council as Honorary Secretary. She is also very enthusiastic about communicating science to everyone who needs to hear about it, from parliamentary briefing notes, podcasts and radio broadcasts through to writing a children’s book.
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