These opportunities highlight the strength and breadth of the Operational Research community, from recognising outstanding doctoral research and real-world impact to supporting early-career development and widening participation through education and outreach. Whether you are nominating a candidate, sharing your work, developing your skills, or inspiring future practitioners, each invitation below contributes to advancing OR in practice and in society.
Doctoral Award – 31 March 2026
Did one of your students defend an outstanding PhD thesis in OR last year? Why not nominate them for our Doctoral Award? This award recognises the most distinguished body of research leading to the award of a Doctorate in the field of OR.
Lyn Thomas Impact Medal – 31 March 2026
If you have conducted impactful research in the last ten years, with demonstrable results within the past three years, submit your entry. Why not take the opportunity to be acknowledged for your exceptional work and its positive influence? This award honours impactful research that demonstrates novelty and real-world significance.
OR Society ECR Network Workshop – 7 September 2026
The ECR Network of the OR Society is holding a pre-conference one-day workshop at OR68, University of Nottingham. We will split the day into two halves, each focussing in depth on core parts of an ECR’s role for professional development such as publishing research and grant applications. Both will be done in a hands-on way to help you see how it can improve your research skills.
All ECRs, from late-stage PhD students to early-stage lecturers, are eligible to apply to attend. Fill out this form to apply for a spot.
OR in Education
Read about the impact of our OR in Education (ORiE) outreach programme – with a 34% rise in events and more than 3,000 students reached in 2025. Our volunteers are inspiring students and educators across schools and universities to explore OR and its career opportunities.
Read the full Impact Report here. If you’d like to get involved, email
[email protected].