Introducing the 14th SETAC Young Environmental Scientist (YES) Meeting: “Uniting Students through Connections”
Bonnie Ertel (Program Committee Co-Chair), Katie Irhin (Program Committee Co-Chair), Lola Renauer (Local Organizing Committee Chair), Mara Walters (Scientific Committee Chair)
The SETAC North America Student Advisory Council (NASAC) is excited to announce that the SETAC 14th YES Meeting will be hosted at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, South Carolina, USA, from 4–7 August 2026. The theme of this YES meeting is “Uniting Students through Connections!”
The YES meeting is an annual event put on by students for students and early career scientists. YES meetings were initiated in Europe by the Student Advisory Council (SAC) in 2011 and have been attended by more than 1,200 of SETAC’s young scientists since then. The goal of these meetings is to provide young scientists with an opportunity to present their research in a welcoming, professional environment and to network with international peers.
Our meeting theme of “Uniting Students through Connections” captures the notion that networking and building connections amongst young scientists is critical to the continued success of quality environmental management, given the difficult changes that global science is currently facing. We hope that this meeting can provide a space to create collaborative and resilient support networks amongst the future generation of SETAC scientists.
This meeting will be held in Columbia, South Carolina. There are numerous hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the meeting venue as well as many exciting attractions. Columbia is a vibrant city that is home to both modern and historical landmarks as it has served as the state capital since it was founded in 1786. Downtown Columbia is full of natural beauty, situated at the confluence of the Broad, Saluda and Congaree Rivers. Visitors to the downtown area can stroll through historical districts, explore museums and enjoy local cuisine, making Columbia an enriching southern destination. Aside from the downtown area itself, within a 10-mile radius of Columbia, there are many other attractions, including the Riverbanks Zoo, Congaree National Park and Lake Murray.
Located in the heart of Downtown Columbia, USC is a top-tier research institution and home to the Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH). As the host institution, the USC ASPH provides not only state-of-the-art facilities but also a dynamic academic community committed to advancing science locally and globally.
Over our four days in Columbia, SETAC students and recent graduates, who completed their degrees within the past three years, will build connections around shared interests in environmental research. The meeting will not have a registration fee, but all attendees are expected to present either a platform or poster presentation. In addition to several exciting scientific sessions, the meeting will include a community outreach event, a career panel and training courses hosted by experts in their field. Throughout the meeting, participants will hone their networking skills and foster connections amongst their peers in a low-stakes and welcoming environment.
If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring this meeting, please email us at [email protected]. In the meantime, save the date and watch for news as we’ll be sharing exciting updates as the meeting comes together.