MARiS Early Career Researchers Conference 2025

We are pleased to invite participants to attend the inaugural Marine and Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation and Sustainability (MARiS) Early Career Researchers (ECR) Conference, bringing together a diverse community of researchers to share boundary breaking knowledge and innovation. MARiS is a trans-, inter- and multi-disciplinary research centre that promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing within and around the marine and polar disciplines.

Date: Friday, 12 September 2025

Time: 08:30am – 17:00pm

Venue: Snape Building, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch

The call for abstracts and participant attendace is now closed and presenters have been notified. For those who submitted an abstract and have not heard back from us yet please check your junk mailbox or email us at: ecr.maris@uct.ac.za.

Presenters are required to adhere to the following guidelines for their sessions.

Oral presentations should be no longer than 15 minutes. The time for the presentation and questions (if you would like the opportunity to answer questions) is up to each presenter. Presenters are requested to provide their presentation on a USB to an organising committee member before the session in which they present.
Poster presentations should be printed in A0 (841 x 1189 mm), portrait orientation. Posters are requested to be displayed on their poster boards by 9AM on the day of the conference. (Velcro to stick posters up will be provided.) All poster presenters are expected to be available at their posters during the first poster session.
Photo competition submissions can be submitted here. Submit a high-quality image (JPEG or PNG) related to your research that will be electronically exhibited at the conference. You will need to provide a brief description of your image and make sure that is labelled as instructed in the submission form. Participants are invited to submit their photographs by no later than Sunday, 31 August 2025.

MARiS ECR Conference Programme

The schedule is currently being collated and will be posted on the website by the 27^th August 2025.

We are delighted to announce our guest speakers for the event are:

Dr Leigh McGaughey, Ecosystems Ecologist, River Institute, Canada.

Dr. Leigh McGaughey is an ecologist leading the Great River Rapport, a project that communicates ecosystem health of the Upper St. Lawrence River to the public. With a career spanning Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Europe, and Canada, she brings a global perspective in ecological research and policy to her work in eastern Ontario.

Dr Riesna R. Audh, SAPRI Polar Lab Research Coordinator

Dr. Riesna Audh is a polar oceanographer who recently completed her PhD at UCT, alongside the MARiS team in advancing Antarctic sea ice research and contributing to South Africa’s polar science capacity. Now the research coordinator of SAPRI’s Polar Lab, she is passionate about collaboration, inclusivity, and inspiring the next generation of polar researchers.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our generous sponsors and funders who have contributed to the success of the MARiS ECR Conference:

Save Our Seas Foundation
CapeRADD
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (through Yameen Badrodien)
UCT URC Hosting a Conference Grant

Call for Questions for Panel Discussion

We’re hosting a dynamic panel on how working across disciplines in marine and polar spaces helps us break boundaries, spark collaboration, and share unique experiences. We’d love to bring your voice into the conversation! Submit the questions or themes you’d like our panelists to explore by filling in this short form below. Your input will help shape a more engaging and relevant discussion. Submit Your Questions Here

We look forward to hosting you at the University of Cape Town!

The MARiS Early Career Researchers Conference Organising Committee

For more information, please contact the MARiS Early Career Researchers Conference Organising Committee via email at ecr.maris@uct.ac.za.