Dear Members and Friends of the Oceans Past Initiative,

We are delighted to announce the dates for our next conference, which will be hosted at the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada.

Oceans Past XI: Ocean-connected communities: Historical perspectives inform modern relationships.

15 – 19 June 2026, University of Victoria.

Our hosts will be Professors Jason Colby, Loren McClenachan and Iain McKechnie.

Abstract submissions will open in early Autumn 2025, with decisions expected in January 2026. Further details will be made available on our website (https://oceanspast.org/2026-opi-xi/) and social media channels (see below) from September.

Thanks to support from the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES), we can partially subsidise the travel of a select number of participating early career researchers. Awardees will be chosen on a competitive basis and demonstrated need. Applications for support will open alongside abstract submissions in September.

We are currently searching for additional funders to support early career and Indigenous participation, please get in touch at info@oceanspast.org if you know of funding opportunities or if you can support us in this endeavour.

With kind regards,

Ruth Thurstan, Chair of the Oceans Past Initiative.

Keep up to date with the activities of Oceans Past via our website, Oceans Past News (subscribe by emailing info@oceanspast.org or using our website), BlueSky and Instagram.