About ICRS Membership

Membership Benefits

ICRS membership is open to anyone interested in any aspect of coral reefs. While the Society‘s membership consists principally of researchers, managers, and students interested in the study of coral reefs and associated ecosystems, others with an interest in, or concern for, reefs of any type are most welcome. This includes those working on cold- or deep-water corals that do not build reefs. 

The benefits of membership include:

• Receipt of the Society’s scientific journal Coral Reefs
• Receipt of and the right to publish in the Society’s online news journal Reef Encounter
• Reduced registration fees for the International Coral Reef Symposium and other meetings sponsored by the Society
• The right to be nominated for one of the Society’s awards, including Society fellowships and conservation awards
• Access to the Society’s online resource, including the online Membership Directory
• Eligibility to stand for election as an Officer or Councilor
• The right to vote in elections of Officers and Councilors, and at General Meetings

if you have questions about ICRS membership, please contact us.

Membership Rates

A member's subscription rate depends on two main factors:

• The type of membership.
• The economic status of your primary country of residence (described in more detail below). Note that it is the mean income level of the country, not of the individual member, that is relevant.

Membership Types

The five main categories of membership are as follows:

• Full / Individual Membership
  Full membership provides access to all the benefits listed above.
• Student Membership
  The benefits are the same as for full/individual members, but the costs are greatly reduced. To qualify for student membership you must at the time of paying your annual subscription be registered as a full- or part-time student with a school, college, or university.
• Family Membership
  A reduced-rate family membership ($25 a year) is available to the second or additional members of a family who live at the same address as a member who has already paid for a full or sustaining membership. Each family member receives the standard benefits of membership.
• Sustaining Membership
  Sustaining membership is for those members who would like to contribute extra ($140-200 per year) to support the work of the Society. They receive additional minor benefits and their support is acknowledged online and in Society publications.
• John Ogden Membership                                                                                                                                                                           The John Ogden President’s Membership Award was established to honor the memory of the 1994-1998 ICRS President Dr. John Ogden, who inspired many others. To honor his legacy of inclusivity and collaboration, scientists, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, resource managers, or policy makers from a developing or low-income country who are involved in coral reef research and conservation may apply for a free one-year membership. 

Primary Country of Residence

As indicated above, the subscription rate for a member depends on the member’s Primary Country of Residence, and whether that country’s economy is classified by the World Bank as a high-income, upper-middle income, or lower-middle or low-income economy. Note that it is the mean income level of the country, not of the individual member, that is relevant. This system is used by many international societies, both for fairness and to encourage membership in developing nations, which is where the majority of coral reefs are located. Please see the current World Bank country classifications. This list is updated on an annual basis.

By "Primary Country of Residence," we mean the home country of the member, normally corresponding to their principal nationality. For example, a student from the Philippines studying in the USA would count the Philippines as their primary country of residence, while a scientist from the USA working in the Philippines would count the USA as their primary country of residence. However, a person from the Philippines who has immigrated into the USA should count the USA as their country of primary residence.

Membership Rates

Member rates are per person, per-year and are in U.S. dollars. Please see above for details on  John Ogden membership.

Discounts

1. If you are willing to pay your membership dues for three years ahead, then the Society offers a 10% discount.
2. Students or past-students, if they have NOT YET obtained employment (two-thirds time or more), may continue as (or newly join as) a student member, at the heavily discounted student rate. Such members may continue to pay student member rates for a maximum of 10 years from the time they first became a student, after which additional evidence will be required to substantiate their student or non-employed status.

If you have questions about member rates, please contact us.