Merit awards formally recognize the best research presentations and posters and are presented at the closing ceremony of the Annual Science Conference. The Merit Awards Group (MAG), appointed by ICES Science Committee (SCICOM), selects the awardees.
Candidates should meet one or more of the following criteria:
Best presentation
Demonstration of scientific excellence, creativity, innovation, and leadership in addressing a particular science question in an objective, clear, and concise manner. The individual's ability to respond to questions concerning their presentation will also be considered. Two presentations are awarded.
Best poster
Creative, straightforward, and balanced, combining science and art. It should integrate the text and figures in a creative way and present them in a manner understandable by viewers with little previous knowledge of the scientific subject. The message of the poster should be readily visible and understandable. People should remember this poster as THE POSTER of the meeting.
Two presentations are awarded.
Prize
All merit award winners receive a framed certificate and a gift.
In addition, early career scientists receive a voucher to cover participation costs in an ICES-sponsored activity, i.e. a training course, EG meeting, symposium, or workshop. The voucher must be redeemed within 24 months of the award being received.
In all awards, ICES gives careful consideration to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms and manifestations, so that award winners reflect the broad range of diverse identities and research areas in the ICES community, including considerations of geographic location of researcher and their institute, research topic, gender balance, and career stage. Note that oral presentations not presented by the first author (who made the main contribution to the study) are excluded from the selection process.
All candidates shortlisted by the Merit Awards Group for the best oral and poster presentations will be mentioned (indicating whether they are ECS) during the awards ceremony for representation and appreciation.
