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 UK, and circulated around associated networks, inviting submission of suitable dissertations from final year undergraduate students, with deadlines set usually for late July. The prize has evolved from the former Tripartite Award and was first awarded in 2019. The purpose of the Award is to raise the status of oceanographic education in the UK, 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 UK. 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.