Registration for the 9th International Graduate Student Forum 2026 | France

The IIES is pleased to co-host the 9th International Graduate Student Forum with the University of Toulon (France), scheduled for June 18-20, 2026. The forum, to be held on the island of Porquerolles, will allow graduate students from universities worldwide to meet and discuss environmental research from diverse perspectives. Greater emphasis will be placed on discussion groups and professional development sessions, rather than the research results of individual projects.

The forum will occur alongside the 10th Annual Science & Policy Workshop in Toulon, France, from June 14 to 17. Participants who wish to attend both events must register separately for the Workshop and Forum. Registration fees for both events will be covered for all participants from IIES-member institutions. Students who have received a travel grant for this trip must attend both the Science & Policy Workshop and the Graduate Student Forum.

Due to limited space on the island, this year’s Graduate Forum has a very limited capacity. Priority will be given to students from IIES-member institutions. We encourage the participation of faculty and non-student members. Nevertheless, we can not guarantee their accommodations and meals on the island. Faculty members interested in attending the Graduate Student Forum can contact Farah Noun () directly.

Organizing Committee

Co-Chairs

Professor Stephane Mounier | University of Toulon
Professor Margaret Graham | Co-Director, International Institute for Environmental Studies & Chair of Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh
Professor Huy Dang | Co-Director International Institute for Environmental Studies, Trent University

Scientific Committee

Professor Pushpa Arabindoo | University College London
Romain Bordenave | University of Toulon
Professor Douglas Evans | Founding Director, International Institute for Environmental Studies, Trent University
Professor Claude Fortin | Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Professor Yong Geng | Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Lena Helińska | Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Professor Hwong-wen Ma | National Taiwan University
Professor Abdelkrim Ouammou | Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez
Professor Caroline Regad-Riot | University of Toulon
Professor Cedric Riot | University of Toulon
Professor Craig Sheridan | University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Professor Neil Stuart | The University of Edinburgh
Professor Piotr Szwedo | Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Professor Hsing-Jui Wang | National Taiwan University
Farah Noun | Program Coordinator, International Institute for Environmental Studies

Important Dates

Registration Deadline: April 06, 2026
Science & Policy Workshop: June 14-17, 2026
Graduate Student Forum: June 18-20, 2026

The registration portal remains open until May 15. Room assignments for pre-booked hotel rooms will begin after the Early-Bird registration deadline of April 6 and continue until capacity is reached. We do not hold rooms for attendees registering after the early-bird registration deadline.

Professional Development Sessions

Planning is underway for this year’s Graduate Forum schedule.

Travel Grants & Financial Support:

Transportation:

While the IIES and the Université de Toulon have arranged bus transportation for different activities during the events, all participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the conference (flights, buses, trains). Toulon is easily accessible by train (TGV/TER at Toulon Railway Station), car via the A50/A57 highways, or flights to Toulon-Hyères Airport (25 mins away) or Marseille/Nice (1.5-2 hours).

A ferry has been booked for travel to and from the island of Porquerolles.

Travel Grants:

A limited number of travel grants are available to students from IIES member institutions; decisions have been communicated through acceptance letters. These grants are awarded based on a ranking established by the scientific committee, with consideration given to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as other barriers in science. Students receiving a travel grant must attend both the Science & Policy Workshop and the Graduate Student Forum; Please register separately for each event. If you have not received a confirmation e-mail, please check your junk folder. If you still cannot find this e-mail, please contact: .

In addition to the travel grants, the IIES covers accommodation, some meals, field trip activities, transportation costs during events, and the gala dinner for all student attendees from IIES member institutions. 

Accommodations & Meals :

Hotel rooms at the IGESA Village Club on the Ile de Porquerolles have been pre-booked for a limited number of rooms at no cost to participants from IIES member institutions. Please be aware that we do not guarantee rooms for all participants and will allocate them based on availability and necessity. Rooms will be allocated after registration.

Please note that all students will be paired up by gender in rooms of 2.

Rooms are reserved from June 14th through the morning of June 18th. If you wish to arrive earlier or extend your stay, please book your own accommodations.

All meals on the island are included with accommodation for participants staying in the IGESA Village Club.

If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please indicate this during registration.

For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you have any questions or require any further information please contact: