Graduate Student Information
Graduate Student Presentations
The CWSS-SCM Local Arrangements Committee is soliciting titles for oral presentations to be presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Presenters will be allotted ten to fifteen (15) minutes each, depending on the number of presenters. Presentation length will be communicated in advance of the event. Topics may include any aspect of weed science including biology, ecology and management. To be considered for the student paper presentation session, a paper title must be submitted no later than September 15, 2026. The title submission page will be available online.
Note: All presentations must be made using Microsoft PowerPoint.
An abstract or written summary of your presentation (maximum of 1 page) will be required by October 15, 2026.
We encourage you to take this opportunity to update the weed science community on your research.
The LAC contact for the Graduate Student Presentation (if you have any questions or concerns) is Christian Willenborg chris.willenborg@usask.ca
The Graduate Student Representative on the Board of Directors is Jacob Weedmark Jacob.Weedmark@inspection.gc.ca
Graduate Student Awards
Bayer CropScience Best Graduate Student Presentation Award
This $500 award is given in recognition of the best student oral presentation at the CWSS-SCM annual meeting. All CWSS-SCM student members giving an oral presentation will be automatically considered for this award. The winning presentation will be selected by a panel of judges appointed by the Local Arrangements Committee.
Graduate Student Scholarships
The objectives of the Graduate Student Scholarships are:
- to recognize academic and research excellence amongst weed science graduate students in Canada.
- to raise the profile of the CWSS/SCM at Canadian and international universities.
- to enhance the annual conference by encouraging graduate student participation.
- to encourage graduate student membership in the CWSS/SCM.
Eligibility requirements:
Graduate students attending a Canadian university who are student members of the CWSS/SCM will be considered. Canadian citizens enrolled in a graduate program in weed science at an international university, and who are student members of the CWSS/SCM may also be considered.
Graduate students may apply and be considered for the same award every year that they meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of whether or not they received the award in previous years.
The thesis project must be on weed management, biocontrol, herbicide chemistry, physiology, efficacy or environmental fate, application technology, weed biology or weed ecology.
Assessment Criteria: Academic performance at the graduate and undergraduate levels, demonstrated aptitude and experience in conducting graduate level research, publications, presentations, communication skills and related extension experience will be considered.
Applications for all graduate student scholarships are to include the following:
- a recent photograph
- a brief biography of the candidate
- Cover letter.
- All university transcripts.
- Curriculum vitae, which includes education, work experience, extra-curricular activities, publications and other scholarships or awards received.
- Research project outline (2 pages maximum) including an introduction, objectives, preliminary results, conclusions, and significance to weed science and agriculture.
- Two letters of reference (one must be from the project supervisor) focused on leadership quality and ability to do research.
Winners of the PhD and MSc graduate student scholarships will be required to give a presentation on their research project during the Graduate Student Presentations session at the CWSS/SCM annual meeting.
Winners of the PhD and MSc graduate student scholarships may be asked to assist at the registration desk for the annual meeting.
Award recipients and presenters are to be notified 3 weeks in advance of the Annual Meeting.
Application Deadline: September 15, 2026.
Documentation must be compiled into a single PDF document and submitted to Cody Chytyk, Chair, Scholarships & Awards via email at cwss.scm.assistant@gmail.com
Conference Activities
On the opening day of the conference, Monday, November 23, 2026, there will be a preconference mixer for the graduate students ahead of the meet and greet with the board and the general society opening reception.
