Donating to ICRS

The ICRS is thrilled to announce the introduction of a two new awards, the John Ogden President’s Awards, among which are the Membership Awards and the 2026 ICRS Meeting Attendance Award. They were established to honor the memory of the 1994-1998 ICRS President Dr John Ogden, who inspired many others. Membership Awards recipients will receive a one-year membership (renewable) in ICRS.  Meeting Attendance Award recipients will be provided with funds needed to attend the 2026 ICRS in New Zealand.

Dr. Ruth Gates was a dedicated and active ICRS President who passed away in 2018. She supported numerous initiatives that resulted in a new phase of development for the Society. In her honor, the Ruth Gates Fellowship was established to provide support to graduate students (MS/MSc or PhD) and early career post-doctoral researchers (i.e., less than 3 years post-PhD). The Ruth Gates Fellowship is made available annually, and consists of a grant of up to US $5,000, to be used for research and development in a subject area within which Ruth herself was active. This includes research focused on solution-orientated topics relevant to the coral reef crisis.

ICRS is committed to supporting the education of future coral reef scientists through student and early career travel assistance and fellowships. Contributions to the fund help support Graduate Student Research Fellowships and Travel Grants to allow students to attend the ICRS international symposia. Contributions also support early career researchers through our Science Communication Fellowships.

Every four years, the ICRS hosts an international coral reef symposium. This is considered the most important scientific meeting for coral researchers in the world. However, the costs of travel and registration can be a hardship for many of our members from developing countries and/or who are in the early stages of their careers. Contributions to this fund help to mitigate the registration cost of attending the quadrennial symposia. Generous donations to this fund will ensure that the ICRS symposia are as inclusive and equitable as possible.

The plight of coral reefs has never been greater. Contributions to this fund help support the Coral Reef Conservation Award and the World Reef Award. These awards recognize and support individuals who are making great strides in coral reef conservation.

The International Coral Reef Society is the international body that represents coral reef scientists, managers, and enthusiasts worldwide. It is a scientifically and culturally rich organization with the goal of promoting the production and dissemination of knowledge about coral reefs. While the plight of corals reefs has never been so dire, we have the opportunity to effect change, influence policy, and work to better understand and protect coral reefs.  The ICRS is an all-volunteer Society, and your donation will help support ICRS day-to-day operations, and meetings of ICRS and its chapter organizations.