2026 Student Conference on Conservation Science

SCCS 2026 will take place between 31 March – 2 April 2026. We welcome applications from postgraduate students and early-career researchers working in university departments, conservation organisations and resource management agencies worldwide. Delegates cover a broad range of disciplines including ecology, genetics, geography, economics, social sciences and psychology.

What’s on?

The three-day event consists of 4 plenary talks from leading practitioners and academics, around 30 short talks from delegates and around 70 posters. Prizes are awarded for outstanding talks and posters.

We offer a dynamic programme of workshops to help delegates hone or learn new skills. Evening social events provide opportunities for networking and making friends.

Conference costs

The in-person conference fee is £125.

For those who can’t attend in-person, we will be offering free live-streaming of all the talks.

Accommodation at St Catharine’s College has been reserved for delegates and can be booked through SCCS. Further details, including costs, will be sent to successful applicants. 

Bursaries

There are a limited number of bursaries for which students can apply (in Round 1 only) to cover the cost of visas, travel, accommodation, meals and conference fees.

Map showing where SCCS 2024 attendees came from. Kindly produced by Emily Wenban-Smith.

To celebrate 25 years, all plenary speakers are SCCS Alumni:

Divya Karnad
Ashoka University

Charles Meshack
Tanzania Forest Conservation Group

Jos Barlow
Lancaster University

Rebecca Senior
Durham University

Application rounds

Round 1 will close on Friday, 5 September at 23:59 (BST). During this round, applications can be made to present a talk, a poster, or to attend without a presentation. Bursaries can also be applied for.

Round 1 – Closed

Round 2 will open Monday, 15 December 2025 and close on Friday, 16 January 2026 at 23:59 (GMT). During this round, applications will be accepted for attendance only. Places will be limited and there will not be an opportunity to apply for a presentation or bursary in this round.

Round 2 – Opens December

24
years

33
student talks

62
posters

23
exhibitors

14
workshops

230
online Zoom places taken up

45
countries represented in person

The Student Conference on Conservation Science series in Bengaluru, Europe and New York is the only international series of conservation conferences aimed entirely at students.

SCCS helps early career conservation scientists gain experience, learn new ideas and make contacts that will be valuable for their future careers.

Over the past 24 years, SCCS Cambridge has hosted some 4,000 delegates from 136 countries worldwide.

“You cannot have a healthy human society on an unhealthy planet”

Yolanda Kakabadse (Former Minister of Environment, Ecuador) speaking at SCCS 2022

The SCCS family

The SCCS family is growing fast! In addition to the flagship event in Cambridge, there are now SCCS events in Hungary, India, Sweden and the USA, with some possible additions in the next few years.

Our Sponsors and Supporters

SCCS depends on a large team of professionals and volunteers who freely give their time and energy to ensure the success of each event. The organisers of SCCS Cambridge are immensely grateful for the ongoing support from our sponsors and prize givers. Click on the buttons to find out more.

More About our Sponsors
More About our Prize Givers

Thanks to our sponsors…

…and Prize givers

SCCS Organisers

Andrew Balmford (University of Cambridge)

Rob Fletcher (University of Cambridge)

Rosie Trevelyan (Tropical Biology Association)

SCCS Advisory Committee

Guy Cowlishaw (Zoological Society of London)

Rhys Green (University of Cambridge)

Julia Jones (Bangor University)

Chris Sandbrook (University of Cambridge)

Bob Smith (University of Kent)

Ruth Swetnam (The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts)

Juliet Vickery (BTO)

Kalsum Mohd Yusah (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew)