Supporting the next generation of conservation scientists: 3 years with SCCS
The Student Conference on Conservation Science (SCCS) returned to Cambridge in March 2026, with support from the Centre for Landscape Regeneration (CLR), bringing together early-career researchers from around the world to share ideas, present their work and build lasting connections.
For the third consecutive year, we have supported the conference as part of our ongoing commitment to improving inclusion and supporting early careers within conservation and environmental science.
About SCCS
Now in its 25th year, SCCS is a globally recognised conference series dedicated entirely to students, held in Cambridge, India, Europe and the US. Since its inception, SCCS- Cambridge has welcomed 4,057 student delegates from 144 different countries, providing a platform for emerging conservation scientists to develop skills, confidence and networks. This year alone, 97% of delegates rated the conference as excellent or good.
This year’s conference featured plenary talks from four SCCS alumni - researchers who first presented at the conference as students - along with student talks, posters, workshops and networking events. Presentations reflected the breadth of contemporary conservation challenges, from artificial intelligence applications in wildlife monitoring to community-led approaches and global biodiversity pressures.
"This conference has given me one of the best experiences I've ever had. The highlight was the chance to interact with the people working on a wide range of different subjects across the globe, and to make new connections in the world of conservation."
Student delegate, SCCS 2026
CLR’s commitment to inclusion
Supporting access to opportunities like SCCS is a key part of CLR’s mission to foster a more inclusive and representative environmental sector.
Attending conferences with an international audience can be transformative, but financial and structural barriers often limit who is able to take part. By supporting delegates to attend SCCS, CLR aims to help remove some of these barriers and ensure that a wider range of voices and perspectives are represented in vital conversations around conservation science.
This work aligns with CLR’s broader commitment to equity in research and practice—recognising that diverse perspectives are essential to addressing complex environmental challenges in the UK and globally.
CLR at SCCS 2026
This year, CLR supported 7 delegates to attend SCCS through bursaries with participants from 7 UK institutions
CLR Co-Investigators Andrew Balmford and Chris Sandbrook serve on the SCCS organising committee, and have been central to the conference's development over many years.
Education, Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager, Poppy Szaybo, led this year’s session on Diversity and Inclusion in Research. With nine participants from eight countries, the workshop demonstrated how integrating diverse professional backgrounds directly sharpens research outcomes. Beyond the discussion, participants gained new skills and approaches to developing more inclusive programmes in their institutions and/or workplace.
CLR researchers also contributed to the wider conference programme. Bill Sutherland and Vanessa Cutts led sessions on evidence-based conservation practice, and Jack Shutt, CLR Researcher, guided bursary holders on a visit to Sheep's Green and Coe Fen as part of the pre-conference programme.
Reflecting on the impact of this approach, Poppy noted:
"Listening to the participants share their diverse perspectives makes clear that inclusion is essential for quality research. When we are exposed to different viewpoints, we are essentially pressure-testing our ideas to ensure the final outcomes benefit the widest possible audience."