Borrowing from the metaphor ‘the world is your oyster,’ the ICAIS Oyster Program Bursaries provide financial support to enable participation in the conference, and with that, the opportunity to advance careers in the field of aquatic invasive species through networking and collaboration.
In keeping with our goal of increasing diversity among ICAIS participants, this year’s Oyster Program will again provide a limited number of travel bursaries to applicants from countries where financial burden is an obstacle to participation, as well as to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Colour (BIPOC) who demonstrate a strong financial need.
Eligible applicants must be either:
- Citizens of countries that are classified by the World Bank as Upper Middle Income, Lower Middle Income, or Low Income, where resources to support attendance at international conferences are inadequate or non-existent.
- Citizens from higher-income countries who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, persons of colour) who demonstrate a strong financial need.
Applicants must also be currently completing a master’s or PhD, or have completed one within three (3) years.
Applicants must also:
- Be attending the conference (conference fees covered by bursary) as a poster or oral presenter.
- Demonstrate a background and forward career path in aquatic invasive species.
- Must not have attended past ICAIS events in-person.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Demonstrate future benefit from participation in the conference.
The number of bursaries, and the amounts granted, are dependent upon available funds and the number of applications received. The budget currently plans for distribution of two (2) bursaries of up to £1,700 each. The bursary is intended to cover some travel, accommodation, food, and other related needs. ICAIS 2026 conference fees will also be covered.
The application period for Oyster Bursaries is now closed. Thank you to all who applied.
