New closing date: January 15th 2026

The Oceans Past Initiative connects scholars and practitioners interested in documenting and understanding changes in marine systems and human-ocean interactions in past decades, centuries and millennia. The 11th Oceans Past Conference will be held at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada from the 15-19 June 2026. We look forward to seeing you there. Registration will open in February 2026. Discounts will be available for OPI members, early career researchers and those from lower income countries.

Oceans Past XI themes

Select the one most closely related to your proposed topic:

• Trajectories of human influences on the seas: fisheries, pests, and pollution
• Indigenous ocean knowledges
• Connecting communities: blue memory, place, heritage, and justic
• Marine ecosystems past and future, from kelp forests to coral reefs
• Physical and biological change in marine systems
• Ocean stewardship and belonging
• The future past of marine paleobiology
• From collapse to recovery: Learning from our shared pasts to inform future policy and management

For more information, visit the conference website  or contact us at info@oceanspast.org with any questions.

Travel Support Requests

Are you a student, or have you completed your Master’s or PhD within the last 5 years?  You may be eligible for partial attendance support from the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES). If so, add a request to your abstract submission for ECR monetary support, describing how an award will aid your attendance and benefit your research trajectory (max. 200 words). You must present your work at the conference to be eligible for an award. Awards will be available on a competitive basis and based on demonstrated need and the value to the applicant of attendance.

Abstract and Funding Award Submission

To qualify for an oral or poster presentation provide the following information to this form by January 15th 2026:

• Title of presentation
• Full name(s) and affiliation of all author(s)
• Email address of lead author/primary contact
• Abstract (max 200 words)
• Preferred presentation type [oral or poster]
• Preferred theme [select one from list]
• Additional information (optional)
• Are you considering in-person or online attendance at this stage? [note this information is for planning only and will not affect submission outcomes]
• Travel support request (optional): for current students and ECRs within 5 years of completing MSc or PhD only
• Year of award of most advanced degree
• Demonstrated need and benefit of monetary support (max 200 words)
• Institution / Employer and country