Celebrating the Success of the 2025 MARiS Early Career Researcher Conference

On Friday, 12 September 2025, the UCT-MARiS community proudly hosted the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Conference, bringing together delegates, presenters, keynote speakers, and exhibitors from across South Africa and abroad. With the theme “Celebrating interdisciplinary science and engineering for ocean solutions,” the event created a vibrant platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and inspiration in marine and polar research.

The conference was not only attended by UCT researchers but also welcomed early career researchers from Wits University, Stellenbosch University, and several other institutions and organizations. This diverse representation highlighted the importance of building strong connections across institutions and disciplines.

Months of planning and preparation by the dedicated ECR Conference Committee culminated in a dynamic day filled with presentations, a lively panel discussion, and opportunities for networking.

Inspiring Keynote Speakers

We were honoured to host two keynote speakers who brought international and local perspectives:

**Dr Leigh McGaughey,** Ecosystems Ecologist at the River Institute in Canada, who leads the *Great River Rapport* project, translating ecosystem health into public knowledge. With experience spanning Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Europe, and Canada, her keynote underscored the global importance of ecological research and science communication.

**Dr Riesna R. Audh,** Polar Oceanographer and Research Coordinator of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) Polar Lab, who shared her journey from PhD research at UCT to leading efforts in advancing Antarctic sea ice studies. Her talk highlighted collaboration, inclusivity, and the power of inspiring the next generation of polar researchers.

Dr Leigh McGaughey and Dr Riesna Audh both received thank you gifts from ECR Rep, Ms Dayna Collins after their incredible and inpiring key note talks.

Dynamic Panel Discussion

The conference also featured a thought-provoking panel discussion:
“How inter- and trans-disciplinarity drives innovation and sustainable practices within marine and polar sciences.”

Moderated by Dr Louise Gammage, the all-woman panel included Dr Moagabo Ragoasha, Ms Maria Olivier, Ms Robyn Verrinder, and Prof Lynne Shannon. Together, they explored how working across disciplines helps break boundaries, spark collaboration, and share unique perspectives.

Community Reflections

Reflecting on the day, delegates of the ECR Conference Committee shared their highlights:

“Seeing all the different research ideas come together was inspiring – my highlight was the diversity of research and perspectives presented by ECRs across different disciplines.”

“I felt a sense of belonging with this research community. The small group of people and the relaxed atmosphere made the networking opportunities meaningful.”

“I enjoyed all the different aspects of the conference, I like the fact that it wasn't just oral presentations and posters but there were also keynote speakers and panel discussions. I also loved the small goodie bag for everyone and the food - I couldn't stop eating.”

“What stood out for me was the supportive atmosphere in the room. It reminded me why creating these kinds of safe and inclusive spaces for young researchers is so important.”

“This was my first time presenting outside of my department, and I felt welcomed and encouraged. I had a great opportunity to network with people who are ahead of me in terms of research experience. This is extremely useful to me as it allows me to discern which skills I can focus on growing. It’s really motivating to see how our research contributes to a bigger picture.”

Gratitude to Our Sponsors and Exhibitors

The success of the 2025 MARiS ECR Conference would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, funders, and exhibitors:

**Ria Olivier** representing the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa (ALSA)

**Leila Nefdt** and **Calley Chateau-Cyster** representing the NPO, #SeaTheBiggerPicture Ocean Initiative

**Tazneem Wentzel** representing the SImons Town Museum

Their contributions helped create an enriching space for young researchers to present and connect.

Prize Giving

The conference concluded with a prize-giving ceremony, celebrating excellence in research communication and creativity:

Oral Presentations

**1st place** – *Tristyn Ferreiro* (UCT Electrical Engineering)

**2nd place** – *Leischen Natus* (UCT Biological Sciences)

**3rd place** – *Magata Mangatane* (UCT Oceanography)

Poster Presentations

**1st place –** *Zaahid Khan* (University of the Witwatersrand)

**2nd place –** *Gregoire Maniel* (UCT Biological Sciences)

**3rd place –** *Ethan Smith* (UCT Oceanography)

Photo Competition

David SP_Best Photo 2025 — **Best submission –** *David Sephton-Poultney* (UCT Electrical Engineering)

These awards recognised the hard work, innovation, and creativity of our ECRs and added a celebratory note to an inspiring day.

Looking Ahead

The conference reaffirmed the importance of providing a safe, supportive space for early career researchers to share their science, build networks, and strengthen their role in shaping the future of marine and polar research.

On behalf of UCT-MARiS, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees, presenters, keynote speakers, panellists, sponsors, exhibitors, and those who shared photos and moments that captured the spirit of the day.

The 2025 MARiS ECR Conference has proven the power of community in driving innovation and collaboration. We encourage early career researchers to stay engaged, continue sharing their work, and find support within the growing MARiS ECR Community. Together, we can rise to the challenges of our oceans and polar regions with curiosity, courage, and collaboration.

The abstracts outlined in this MARiS ECR Conference Handbook represent the forefront of research and innovation from a diverse array of researchers, highlighting the contributions of early-career researchers. We hope to offer a glimpse into the diverse approaches and novel solutions being developed across these research fields.

~ Reflection from MARiS ECR Representatives, Dayna Collins and Hayley Swait

“We are so honoured to have spearheaded the Inaugural MARiS ECR conference, offering a deep dive into the diverse research from ECR’s in marine and polar spaces. The conference was a reflection of the collaborative spirit that drives research in these captivating environments. We hope that this event provided a safe harbour for ECR’s to connect, a wave of inspiration to carry into future research journeys and a current strong enough to carry these connections and ideas far beyond the conference.”

On behalf of the MARiS ECR community at the University of Cape Town, we would like to thank all contributors and participants of the conference. We also wish to thank the organisers, presenters, panellists and the members of the research committee for their invaluable efforts in making our inauguaral MARIS ECR Conference a huge success.