External opportunities

If you are looking for Graduate School activities, see our Upcoming Events.

SUPER retains centrally-held funds to cover costs for PGRs to take advantage of external opportunities which would benefit their studies or future career. Read more in our Finance Information document.

Recurring

  • Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources Network (SMMR-Net) Webinar Series
    • Various dates and times.
    • The SMMR programme is addressing critical marine research gaps spaning a variety of disciplines, from natural capital to ocean literacy and systems-based management. SMMR is working to break down barriers between science and policy and integrate disciplines, in order to form new marine research teams and build a strong research base to support decision-making within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone.

June 2025

  • Structures in the Marine Environment Conference
    • Monday 23 to Tuesday 24 June.
    • Edinburgh.
    • From £33.
    • Day 1 is centred around the Value of Marine Artificial Structures, and on Day 2 meet science/policy experts for talks, panel discussions and a workshop about sustainable management of Marine Artificial Structures, considering the value of biodiversity and nature associated with the structures, as well as the pressing issues relating to their future decommissioning…and beyond.
    • The abstract deadline is Monday 28 April.
  • Advances in Marine Biogeochemistry Conference
    • Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 June.
    • Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.
    • From £45.
    • The conference provides a technical forum for students, educators, researchers and governmental and industrial partners with shared interests in marine biogeochemistry.
    • The abstract and registration deadline is Monday 2 June.
  • Revolution VI: Quantitative ecology and spatial prediction of species distribution, a CCMAR Training Course
    • Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 June.
    • Portugal.
    • 180€ (~£156).
    • Main topics include basic R programming and automating tasks, preparing statistical reports, analysis of vector and raster cartography, connecting with GRASS and QGIS, diversity and multivariate analysis, ordination and gradient analyses, Ecological Niche Factor Analysis, habitat suitability maps, metapopulation simulations, construction, optimization and evaluation of linear models, representation and spatial interpretation, and construction, optimization and evaluation of non-linear models.
  • Macroecology in R: Exploring Biodiversity Patterns at Large Scales, a Transmitting Science Online Training Course
    • Monday 23 to Friday 27 June.
    • Early bird pricing of 426€ (~£358) until Saturday 31 May, 520€ (~£438) thereafter.
    • Students will learn to manipulate large geographic databases in R, grid-map biodiversity in various forms, conduct analyses of biogeographic regionalization incorporating evolutionary history, and estimate phylogenetic turnover and historical dispersal in geographic space. The practical sessions also cover common metrics in community phylogenetics and diversification, focusing on large geographic scales.
  • Scotland’s New National Islands Plan, a Scottish Government Online Event
    • Tuesday 24 June, 11.00 am-12.00 pm.
    • Free!
    • This session offers a chance to explore the results of the public consultation to inform a review of the first ever National Islands Plan and understand how they are guiding the development of the document. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about the proposed priorities and themes for the new Plan, allowing you to share your thoughts and shape its content.
  • 3rd Emerging Bioacousticians’ Day
    • Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 June.
    • Normandy, France.
    • 20€ (~£17).
    • This event represents a unique opportunity to bring together students, PhD students and researchers at the start of their careers in the field of bioacoustics.
    • The abstract deadline is Sunday 6 April.
  • The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life Conference
    • Sunday 29 June to Friday 4 July.
    • Prague, Czech Republic.
    • CZK 8,300 (~£277).
    • This international conference promises to be a dynamic forum where scientists, regulators, and representatives from industry and environmental groups from around the world will converge to see formal presentations on the effects of anthropogenic sounds on aquatic life. 
    • The abstract deadline is Friday 28 February
  • The LifeWatch ERIC Biodiversity & Ecosystem eScience Conference
    • Monday 30 June to Thursday 3 July.
    • Crete, Greece.
    • Free!
    • The Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and experts to tackle the Triple Planetary Crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) through eScience and European Research Infrastructures.
  • Statistical analyses with R, a Transmitting Science Online Training Course
    • Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July.
    • 470€ (~£389) early bird pricing until Monday 31 March, 540€ (~£477) thereafter.
    • The course is given in four modules covering exploratory data analysis, univariate and multivariate statistical techniques and a final discussion session where students will work and discuss their projects.

July 2025

  • 12th PRIMaRE Conference
    • Monday 2 to Tuesday 3 July.
    • University of Bristol.
    • Free!
    • The annual PRIMaRE conference provides a forum for exchanging the latest research and development and fostering collaborations in Marine Renewable Energy.
    • Abstract deadline is Sunday 30 March.
  • European Marine Biology Symposium
    • Sunday 6 to Wednesday 9 July.
    • Bodø, Norway.
    • 300€ (~£251) early bird pricing until Monday 31 March, 350€ (~£293) thereafter.
    • This is the 58th annual EMBS, continuing an tradition since the 1960s to bring early career and experienced researchers together in a relaxed environment to share knowledge, know-how and thinking about marine biology and related sciences.
    • Abstract deadline is Friday 28 February.
  • ReMeMaRe Conference
    • Wednesday 9 to Thursday 10 July.
    • Scarborough and online.
    • From £45.
    • The conference will bring together restoration practitioners, government bodies, environmental non-governmental organisations, industry and businesses, with a shared vision to restore our estuarine, coastal and marine environment. 
  • International Conference on Marine Protected Areas in Marine Spatial Planning
    • Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 July.
    • Bodø, Norway.
    • 120€ (~£100) early bird pricing until Thursday 3 April, 180€ (~£151) thereafter.
    • Explore the latest updates and scientific advances in marine biodiversity conservation at the MPA in MSP Conference. The conference will cover topics such as MPA planning, climate change effects on marine biodiversity, blue carbon science, and spatial planning benefits. Immediately before the conference the organisers are hosting the 58th European Marine Biology Symposium.
    • Abstract deadline is Monday 3 February.
  • Graphs with R’s ggplot, a Transmitting Science Online Training Course
    • Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 July.
    • 277€ (~£234) early bird pricing until Wednesday 30 April, 350€ (~£295) thereafter.
    • This course will teach the core elements (data, aesthetics, and geometries) as well as more advanced topics of information communication and styling (annotation, themes, and facets). Class exercises will cover common visualisation tasks such as rescaling axes, managing legends, reordering categories, and highlighting data elements of special interest.

August 2025

  • SETAC 13th Young Environmental Scientists Meeting
    • Monday 11 to Thursday 14 August.
    • York.
    • Pricing TBD.
    • The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry is dedicated to advancing environmental science and science-informed decision-making. This year’s YES meeting theme “Between Grinding Gears – Students and Early Career Scientists under Pressure,” emphasises the increasing pressures faced by ECRs in today’s rapidly changing world.
    • Abstract and grant deadline is Tuesday 22 April.

September 2025

  • Benthic Invertebrate Taxonomic Experts, a NMBAQC Scheme Workshop
    • Monday 1 to Friday 5 September.
    • Galway, Ireland.
    • £975.
    • The workshop aims to improve the quality of benthic invertebrate identification, educate benthic biologists in the accurate identification of tanaids and Thyasiridae, and provide a venue for taxonomic discussion with experts in their fields.
    • Expression of interest is due by Friday 18 July.
  • ICYMARE 2025
    • Monday 8 to Friday 12 September.
    • Bremerhaven, Germany.
    • Price TBD.
    • The International Conference for YOUNG Marine Researchers (ICYMARE) is a bottom-up initiative entirely driven by passionate volunteers. It provides a dynamic and inspiring international platform, offering a valuable networking opportunity and a unique introduction to conference participation early in your career.
    • Abstract deadline is Thursday 15 May.
  • #EGG2025: On scales of time, a British Ecological Society Conference
    • Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 September.
    • National Museum Cardiff and online.
    • From £15. In-person ticket sales close on Thursday 31 July at 5.00 pm.
    • Join the Ecological Genetics SIG for their Annual Meeting focusing on the impacts of time on organisms and processes.
    • Abstract deadline is Saturday 31 May.
  • Mastering environmental data with R: From basics to efficiency, a UKCEH Training Course
    • Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 September.
    • Edinburgh or online.
    • Early bird pricing of £479 until Wednesday 30 April, £549 thereafter.
    • This interactive course will equip you with essential skills to efficiently transform and manage environmental data using R. Whether you’re new to R or have some experience, you’ll learn how to streamline workflows, save time, and minimize the risk of human error. 
  • WildFish Research Conference
    • Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 September.
    • Cambridge.
    • Free!
    • The WildFish Research Conference provides a unique platform for early-career researchers to share innovative ideas, foster collaboration, and inspire action to safeguard our freshwater ecosystems for future generations.

October 2025

  • 2025 CIEEM Scotland Conference: Source to Sea: Working Across Landscapes
    • Thursday 2 October.
    • Stirling.
    • Pricing TBD.
    • This conference will explore the interconnectedness of lochs, rivers, oceans and their contributing watersheds/catchments, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to managing these ecosystems holistically. 
    • The abstract deadline is Thursday 8 May.
  • Machine Learning for Environmental Science, a UKCEH Online Training Course
    • Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 October.
    • Early bird pricing of £449 until Sunday 1 June, additional £70 thereafter.
    • This interactive course will empower you with critical machine learning knowledge and skills. It will give a strong foundation in random forests and support vector machines. You will join hands-on coding sessions in Python, using real-world environmental datasets. You will learn how to explore and answer relevant environmental questions.
  • Practise your pr​esentation skills​, a SIIECS Seminar Series
    • Tuesday 14 October, 12.00 pm BST.
    • Free!
    • The ​online seminar series provides an informal and supportive forum for especially ECRs to practise giving presentations. During the session, presenters receive constructive feedback while using the opportunity to get rid of nerves before their actual presentation. ​​
  • SULSA Conference: IndAc
    • Tuesday 28 to Wednesday 29 October
    • Technology and Innovation Centre, Glasgow.
    • Save the dates!

November 2025

December 2025

  • Practise your pr​esentation skills​, a SIIECS Seminar Series
    • Tuesday 9 December, 12.00 pm BST.
    • Free!
    • The ​online seminar series provides an informal and supportive forum for especially ECRs to practise giving presentations. During the session, presenters receive constructive feedback while using the opportunity to get rid of nerves before their actual presentation. ​​

February 2026

  • Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026
    • Sunday 22 to Friday 27 February.
    • Glasgow.
    • Pricing TBD.
    • The Ocean Sciences Meeting is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and the larger ocean-connected community. 
    • Submit a proposal by Wednesday 28 May.

March 2026