1
© The Author(s) 2018
S. Jungblut et al. (eds.), YOUMARES 8 – Oceans Across Boundaries: Learning from each other,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93284-2_1
YOUMARES – A Conference from and for
YOUng MARine RESearchers
Viola Liebich, Maya Bode, and Simon Jungblut
Abstract
YOUMARES is an annual early-career scientist conference series. It is an initiative of the German Society for
Marine Research (DGM) and takes place in changing cities of northern Germany. The conference series is organized in a bottom-up structure: from and for YOUng
MARine RESearchers. In this chapter, we describe the
concept of YOUMARES together with its historical
development from a single-person initiative to a conference venue of about 200 participants. Furthermore, the
three authors added some personals experiences and
insights, what YOUMARES means to them.
Concept and Structure of YOUMARES
Education is the central key component for the progression
of societies. As such, it is the basis to cope with the challenges of globalization. At the same time, the oceans are the
biggest and most important ecosystem, securing the survival
capabilities of mankind on earth. It is, therefore, of pivotal
interest that young researchers commit themselves to shape
the future of this ecosystem in a sustainable way. To jointly
develop the most important future topics, a vibrant and interdisciplinary network of research, economy, and society is
necessary. As such, YOUMARES is much more than a regular annual research conference. It is a platform which aims to
establish a network especially for early career scientists
(Einsporn 2011). It thereby promotes the research and communication activities of High School, Bachelor, Master, and
PhD students. Similar to regular conferences, the participants have the possibility to present their research in oral or
poster presentations. Additionally, different kinds of workshops, plenary discussions and social events enable the participants to extensively exchange with each other at eye
level. Providing an exchange platform should ultimately lead
to a young researcher network and to the enhancement of
individual and collective competence (Fig. 1).
YOUMARES is an initiative of the working group
“Studies and Education” of the German Society for Marine
Research (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Meeresforschung e.V. –
DGM). Right from the beginning in 2010 on, an essential
part of the idea was to drive the organization of the conference bottom-up (Einsporn 2011). The whole conference is
organized by early career scientists. In each winter a core
organization team publishes a “Call for Sessions”, which
encourages young marine researchers from all kinds of scientific fields to apply alone or in pairs for hosting one of the
scientific sessions at the upcoming conference. The applications contain the CVs, a motivation letter and most importantly a “Call for Abstracts” for the proposed session. If two
or more applicant groups propose similar sessions, the core
organization team brings them into contact and encourages
them to organize a joint session. Once the applications are
reviewed and the sessions are being set, the different “Calls
for Abstracts” are published. The session hosts have several
responsibilities. They handle the abstracts of their sessions
and organize, structure, and moderate their session at the
actual conference. Additionally, they are asked to write a literature review of the field of research (or one aspect of it)
V. Liebich (*)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Meeresforschung (DGM) e.V.,
Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, Germany
e-mail: enviomaritime@gmail.com
M. Bode
BreMarE – Bremen Marine Ecology, Marine Zoology, University
of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Meeresforschung (DGM) e.V.,
Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, Germany
e-mail: mabode@uni-bremen.de
S. Jungblut
BreMarE – Bremen Marine Ecology, Marine Zoology, University
of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine
Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
e-mail: jungblut@uni-bremen.de
© The Author(s) 2018
S. Jungblut et al. (eds.), YOUMARES 8 – Oceans Across Boundaries: Learning from each other,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93284-2_1
YOUMARES – A Conference from and for
YOUng MARine RESearchers
Viola Liebich, Maya Bode, and Simon Jungblut
Abstract
YOUMARES is an annual early-career scientist conference series. It is an initiative of the German Society for
Marine Research (DGM) and takes place in changing cities of northern Germany. The conference series is organized in a bottom-up structure: from and for YOUng
MARine RESearchers. In this chapter, we describe the
concept of YOUMARES together with its historical
development from a single-person initiative to a conference venue of about 200 participants. Furthermore, the
three authors added some personals experiences and
insights, what YOUMARES means to them.
Concept and Structure of YOUMARES
Education is the central key component for the progression
of societies. As such, it is the basis to cope with the challenges of globalization. At the same time, the oceans are the
biggest and most important ecosystem, securing the survival
capabilities of mankind on earth. It is, therefore, of pivotal
interest that young researchers commit themselves to shape
the future of this ecosystem in a sustainable way. To jointly
develop the most important future topics, a vibrant and interdisciplinary network of research, economy, and society is
necessary. As such, YOUMARES is much more than a regular annual research conference. It is a platform which aims to
establish a network especially for early career scientists
(Einsporn 2011). It thereby promotes the research and communication activities of High School, Bachelor, Master, and
PhD students. Similar to regular conferences, the participants have the possibility to present their research in oral or
poster presentations. Additionally, different kinds of workshops, plenary discussions and social events enable the participants to extensively exchange with each other at eye
level. Providing an exchange platform should ultimately lead
to a young researcher network and to the enhancement of
individual and collective competence (Fig. 1).
YOUMARES is an initiative of the working group
“Studies and Education” of the German Society for Marine
Research (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Meeresforschung e.V. –
DGM). Right from the beginning in 2010 on, an essential
part of the idea was to drive the organization of the conference bottom-up (Einsporn 2011). The whole conference is
organized by early career scientists. In each winter a core
organization team publishes a “Call for Sessions”, which
encourages young marine researchers from all kinds of scientific fields to apply alone or in pairs for hosting one of the
scientific sessions at the upcoming conference. The applications contain the CVs, a motivation letter and most importantly a “Call for Abstracts” for the proposed session. If two
or more applicant groups propose similar sessions, the core
organization team brings them into contact and encourages
them to organize a joint session. Once the applications are
reviewed and the sessions are being set, the different “Calls
for Abstracts” are published. The session hosts have several
responsibilities. They handle the abstracts of their sessions
and organize, structure, and moderate their session at the
actual conference. Additionally, they are asked to write a literature review of the field of research (or one aspect of it)
V. Liebich (*)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Meeresforschung (DGM) e.V.,
Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, Germany
e-mail: enviomaritime@gmail.com
M. Bode
BreMarE – Bremen Marine Ecology, Marine Zoology, University
of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Meeresforschung (DGM) e.V.,
Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, Germany
e-mail: mabode@uni-bremen.de
S. Jungblut
BreMarE – Bremen Marine Ecology, Marine Zoology, University
of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine
Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
e-mail: jungblut@uni-bremen.de