Younger generations in the forefront
One of the fundamental aims of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS) and its member societies is to nurture the next generation of hydrographic professionals.
With that in mind, the IFHS Executive Committee agreed that all Hydro conferences from 2012 onwards will include the following sessions:
- Education & Training addressing topical themes relating to hydrographic education and training,
- Student Presentations offering students the opportunity to present their work to a global hydrographic audience and gain valuable presentation experience.
In parallel with this, two accolades for students have been settled by the federation: the IFHS Student Award and the prize for the HYDRO’s Best Student Presentation Prize.
IFHS Student Award
To be eligible, a candidate must have been a full-time student on a relevant undergraduate or post-graduate level course at some point during the 12 months preceding the closing date for nominations.
All nominees must declare that, if successful, they are willing and able to present a paper during the Student Presentation Session at the next Hydro conference. The prize is usually awarded during the Conference Dinner.
Once the call for nominations is issued and all nominees applications have been received, the IFHS Executive Committee selects and notify the winner.
Each IFHS-member society is entitled to nominate one candidate per year for the IFHS Student Award (ISA). It is entirely up to the individual societies to decide how they select their own nominees.
The IFHS Student Award winner will receive:
- Personal cheque for £1,500 and framed certificate,
- Free full delegate registration at the next Hydro conference (including a ticket for the Conference Dinner),
- Up to £1,000 towards travel and subsistence to attend the next Hydro conference.
Hereafter is the ISA Award winners list:
| Award | First name | Nominated by | Academic Institution | Degree |
| 2014 | Oliver Kümpel | DHyG | HafenCity University | MSc |
| 2015 | Neeltje Van Der Laan | HSB | Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz | BSc |
| 2016 | Géraud Naankeu Wati | AFHy | ENSTA Bretagne | MEng |
| 2017 | William Dann | THS UK | University of Plymouth | BSc |
| 2018 | Hamza Mazih | AFHy | ENSTA Bretagne | MSc |
| 2019 | Christopher Haddon | THS UK | University of Plymouth | BSc |
| 2020* | Hannes Nübel Arne Deruyck Adam Howell | DHyG HSB THS UK | University of Stuttgart HOGENT University Cardiff University | BSc BSc BSc |
| 2021 | Thomas Gould | THS UK | University of Plymouth | BSc |
| 2022 | Tymea Perret | AFHy | ENSTA Bretagne | MSc |
| 2023 | Manuela Ammann | DHyG | Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz | MSc |
*Due to the Pandemic situation that struck in 2020, and the even deeper effect it had on our student community, the IFHS Executive Committee agreed to award all Candidates nominated this year as ISA 2020 Winners.
Best Student Presentation Prize
As each Hydro Conference includes a Student Presentation session, all speakers of that session are eligible for the Best Student Presentation Prize as judged by the delegates. The prize is usually awarded during the Conference Dinner or Closing Ceremony of the event.
To be eligible, an author/presenter must have been a full-time student on a relevant undergraduate or post-graduate level course at some point during the 12 months preceding the start of the conference.
Like all other Hydro conference sessions, Student Presentations session speakers are selected by the Hydro Organizing Committee, based on the abstracts received in response to the call for papers.
The Best Student Presentation Prize Winner will receive a personal cheque for £500 and framed certificate.