Oban up to the challenge as conference host
West Highland hospitality and world class marine science came together in Oban as SAMS welcomed 267 delegates to the biennial Challenger Society Conference.
Last held in Oban in 2006, the conference is one of the largest gatherings of marine scientists in the UK and tackled issues from climate change and biodiversity loss to diversity and ocean education.
While Oban offered a range of activities throughout the week (2nd – 6th September) that demonstrated the area’s rich culture and stunning location, organisers also praised the quality of science discussion in the Corran Halls venue.
Prof Michael Meredith, President of the Challenger Society, said:
“It has been a hugely successful conference, which people have enjoyed tremendously.
“Oban is a beautiful place and we are thrilled to have brought the conference here. Many people have taken holidays before or after the conference to enjoy the Highlands and Islands and travel to other parts of Scotland. People can’t wait to come back!
“The science has been terrific. A lot of these delegates are coming to an oceanographic conference for the first time and they have brought with them new energy and ideas, creating a wonderfully collegiate atmosphere.
“I’ve loved hearing about new ideas to approaching science, with new tools and digital techniques and how our science has evolved in just a few decades. Challenger conferecnes are a time to celebrate our oceanographic heritage but we must also look forward to the research we are doing in the future.”
The prestigious Challenger Medal was awarded to Prof Penny Holliday, chief scientist at the National Oceanography Centre, who used her medal lecture to highlight the ocean observations made the Ellett Array in the Rockall Trough. Started in 1975 by SAMS scientist Dave Ellett, this array has changed our understanding of how the ocean works.
During the talk she also spoke of the changing culture in research and the importance of diversity in science.
Challenger Fellowships were awarded to Anna Katavouta and Tiago Dotto and the Challenger-Woodward Fellowship went to Alastair Lough. The Norman Heaps prize for best talk went to Molly Phillips, with Lucy Goodwin as runner-up and the The Cath Allen prize for best poster was won by Ruth Hawley, ahead of Viktoria Nikolaus. The president’s art prize went to Colin Pelton.
The Challenger Society takes its name from the HMS Challenger, the ship that embarked on the first oceanographic cruise of its type in 1872. Among the scientists on board was John Murray (later Sir John Murray) who would go on to establish the Scottish Marine Station, the precursor to SAMS.
Sir John’s great-grandson, Alex Murray, was a special guest during the week and remarked on how the expedition’s legacy remains evident. He said: “The Oban conference was a fascinating tour of the latest thinking on a range of oceanographic topics, delivered by expert and highly distinguished speakers from many fields of marine science.
“As a non-scientist, I was delighted to see how the significance of the pioneering Challenger expedition and its subsequent 50-volume report seems to be greater than ever – it remains a unique reference point against which many current issues in oceanography and climate change research can be measured."
SAMS Director Prof Nick Owens, who along with Argyll and Bute Council chief executive Pippa Milne, gave the welcome to the conference, praised the local organising committee for ensuring Oban put on a Challenger Society Conference that delegates will remember with great fondness.