Biennial Challenger Conference: Liverpool
Peter Sheehan
UEA
There is a fine line between inspiration and intimidation. When surrounded by so much that is excellent in marine science, it can be easy to slip into thinking that your own efforts will never quite match up. But those feelings last all of ten minutes. The atmosphere at the Challenger conference is so warm and inclusive, so much is it clear that everyone wants you to succeed, that imposter syndrome is quick to subside. I receive nothing but warm encouragement throughout the conference and, most encouragingly, genuine interest from the people I talk to. The inescapable conclusion is that marine science is collaborative, and all the better for it
The friendly atmosphere is not quit enough to allay my fears before I give my talk, however – the first talk that I have given at a meeting of this size. And it is the last talk of the last session, which has kept me on my toes since arriving in Liverpool four days previously. My mouth runs dry, and my footsteps on the walk down to the front of the lecture theatre seem to make an unnaturally loud thud. Of course, the talk is fine, the only hitch being my continued inability – despite the best efforts of all four of my supervisors – to get east and west the right way round. Anyone reading my thesis is advised to take my directions with a generous pinch of salt…
Of other people’s talks, I quickly learn that even the most un-related of topics can yield something useful: an interesting way of plotting data that I hadn’t thought of myself, or a methodological trick that would have made my life so much easier had I known it when I started my PhD. I am particularly excited by the talks on ocean gliders: a large part of my own research uses data from UEA’s Seaglider fleet, and insights into how others have analysed glider data is always welcome!
Then again, so much of Challenger happens after hours that I’d wager I got almost as much out of bar-side chats in pubs as I did from the conference proper. My understanding of the finer points of plankton ecology is somewhat limited but the language of beer is universal. It’s during these more intimate chats that I actually talk the most about my science – that I do the most useful networking. Sure, talking about yourself is easier after a drink or too but, particularly for the more inexperienced researcher, the informality of a bar-side chat is a much less daunting way of talking about your ideas.
I return home at the end of the conference in need of a couple of quiet days, but definitely on the right side of the inspiration/intimidation fence. I have my first major talk under my belt, a host of fresh ideas for my research, and new contacts from across the UK. I am grateful to the Challenger Society for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to coming back.
Profile:
I am in the third year of my PhD at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, where I do research on the long- and short-term variability of the Fair Isle Current, one of the most important inflows of Atlantic water into the North Sea. I use data from CTD profiles and from Seagliders, so interpolation onto a common grid has become a big part of my life. My project is jointly supervised by Marine Scotland, so trips to sunny Aberdeen have become a not-infrequent feature of my diary.
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Workshop on the contribution of UK Arctic Ocean science to the International Polar Year 32/33
12:00 11th June – 16:00 12th June 2025: NOC Southampton (In-person with online option): Registration deadline 16th May
REGISTER HERE
Pre-meeting questionnaire (open to all)
The purpose of this workshop is for the UK Ocean Science community to discuss and then draft a prospectus document outlining the priority Arctic research questions the community would like to address during the run up to, throughout and beyond the International Polar Year 32/33. Additionally, to identify what unique strengths and technologies the UK has to help fill these knowledge gaps.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to writing groups, one for each of the priority research questions identified - from both the pre-meeting questionnaire (HERE) and day one discussion. By the end of the meeting, each group will have produced draft text and sourced supporting figures for the prospectus.
Post meeting, the draft will be opened for comments and suggestions from everyone, regardless of whether they were able to attend the workshop or not. It will then be shared with UK funders (UKRI, FCDO, DSIT, ARIA) and potential international programmes with whom we would like to collaborate (e.g. Arctic 2050, Norway). It will form a basis from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities can be built, e.g. at the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September in Northumbria.
To ensure balanced community and ECR representation, and to ensure that the size of the writing groups is efficient and effective, if the number of registrations from individual institutes becomes overwhelming, we may contact individuals or teams and ask that each institute selects a smaller number of individuals to attend in-person. Please wait for confirmation of in-person attendance before finalising travel arrangements.
The workshop will be open to hybrid attendance and contributions on both days.
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