The European Aquaculture Society (EAS) introduced the Student Spotlight Award in 2019 at the Aquaculture Europe 2019 event in Berlin, Germany. This initiative was designed to recognize and support outstanding student contributions to aquaculture research by awarding the best student abstracts submitted as oral presentations or e-posters for the event.

Selection Process
All submitted abstracts are carefully reviewed by the EAS Board Members, who select a shortlist of the most promising contributions. The final evaluation is conducted by the Programme Chairs and the Local Organising Committee, who determine the three finalists. Each finalist receives a 300 EUR award, with the ultimate winner receiving an additional 300 EUR award, totaling 600 EUR for his/her exceptional achievement.

Presentation at the Event
The three finalists are invited to showcase their research during a three-minute pitch presentation at the Opening Ceremony of either the Aquaculture Europe or AQUA event. This high-profile platform allows students to present their work to an international audience of researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers.|

Mariana Ferreira, Student Representative at EAS Board of Directors 2022-2024, AQUA 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark

To make the process more engaging, the audience actively participates in selecting the winner by voting live through a QR code provided during the event. This interactive approach highlights the importance of audience engagement and showcases the collaborative spirit of the aquaculture community.

Why the Student Spotlight Award Matters
The Student Spotlight Award goes beyond just recognizing academic excellence. It aims to shine a light on the future leaders of aquaculture by providing them with the visibility and encouragement they deserve. By fostering a culture of innovation and recognition, EAS ensures that the next generation of aquaculture professionals receives the support and motivation to drive the sector forward.

Broader Impact
This award is a part of EAS's broader commitment to supporting student development. Alongside initiatives like the EAS Student Group, which provides networking opportunities and mentorship, the Student Spotlight Award plays a crucial role in connecting students with the wider aquaculture community. By celebrating their achievements on a prestigious stage, EAS helps bridge the gap between academia and industry, empowering young professionals to make meaningful contributions to the field.

Get Involved
If you’re a student and want to compete for the Student Spotlight Award, be sure to submit your abstract before the event deadline. Stay updated on submission timelines and requirements through the EAS website and our social media channels. We look forward to seeing your innovative ideas and welcoming you to the EAS family!

Through initiatives like the Student Spotlight Award, EAS continues to uphold its mission of advancing sustainable aquaculture by recognizing the brightest minds shaping its future.

 Finalists:

AQUA 2024, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Valentina Romboli - 'Nature's arsenal unlocked: next-generation screening of aquaculture-derived bacteria to prevent oyster diseases'
- Nataly Gómez Gómez - 'Influence of macroalgae inclusion in the feed on the growth performance and gut microbiome of Litopenaeus vannamei'
- Victoria Becker - 'Assessing the role of heart morphology in determining cardiac functionality in atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.' - winner 

Aquaculture Europe 2023, Vienna, Austria
- Ricardo Domingo Bréton - 'Gilthead sea bream microbiota shifts associated with thermal stress and dietary intervention during a record heat summer' - winner
- Marina Pampín Iglesias - 'Identification and validation of genetic markers associated with Marteilia cochillia resilience in the common cockle (Cerastoderma edule)'
- Daniela Resende - 'Dietary inclusion of sardine cooking waters: impact on appetite regulation, growth and sensory properties of European seabass'

Aquaculture Europe 2022, Rimini, Italy
- Santiago Pintos - 'Effect of a probiotic mix on fish welfare and stress response: influence of the time of day of administration' - winner
- Niklas Warwas - 'Marine yeast Candida sake cultured on herring brine waste as protein and omega-3 source for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss'
- Fernando Naya-Català 'Interaction of diet, host genetics and gut microbiota during the production cycle of gilthead sea bream'

Aquaculture Europe 2021, Funchal, Madeira
- Dean Porter - 'Galt leucocytes as a health screen for functional feeds in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss'
- Rafaela A. Santos - 'Quorum-quenching Bacillus spp. protect fish from Edwardsiella tarda infection and modulate the immune system of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)' - winner
- Sandra Ramos-Júdez - 'Implementation of recombinant gonadotropin therapies to control maturation from early gametogenesis through to spawning of commercially valid numbers of viable larvae of flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus'

Aquaculture Europe 2020, online 
- Joshua Superio - 'The spawning kinetics and parentage contribution of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax broodstocks and influence of GnRH-induced spawning'
- Daniel Scicchitano - 'Interaction between dietary lipid level and' seasonal temperature changes in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata: effects on performance, digestive condition and gut microbiome'
- Maoxiao Peng - 'Insights into chitin regulation and shell formation in the mantle of bivalves important for aquaculture'

Aquaculture Europe 2019, Berlin, Germany:
- Hanlin Xu - 'Improved use of low fm and low fo diets in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles obtained by combined broodstock selection and nutritional programing'
- Renata Goncalves - 'Nutritional requirements of European lobster (Homarus gammarus, l.): effect of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate diet content on metabolic postprandial response'
- Frank Thomas Mlingi - 'Gonad development and plasma levels of sex steroids in farmed lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus under different photoperiod and temperature regimes' - winner

Summary videos of the Student Spotlight Awards created by our media partner, Mispeces: