The SIBS 2026 workshop will be an exciting week of scientific discovery and hands-on learning at the Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, University of Sydney, in Camden! Participants will delve into the world of stable isotopes and their applications in agriculture, ecology, and environmental research. Through lectures, lab sessions, and fieldwork, attendees will gain practical skills in isotope analysis and apply them to their own research projects.
Overview & Details — SIBS 2026 Camden
Workshop details
- Registration fee: AUD 1600.00
- Starting day: 30 January 2026
- Final day: 6 February 2026
- Main organiser and contact: Claudia Keitel (claudia.keitel@sydney.edu.au)
Location map
Workshop payment
Payment portal for the workshop: https://pay.sydney.edu.au/SIBS2026. As part of the payment portal, you will be asked for a T-shirt size and for dietary requirements.
We will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs. T-shirt size guide can be found here: https://www.bizcollection.com.au/size-guide
Please note that we can only guarantee a T-shirt for participants who paid using the above portal before mid-January 2026.
Workshop logistics
Overview
The workshop will take place at the Centre for Carbon, Water and Food (CCWF), The University of Sydney, 380 Werombi Road, Brownlow Hill, NSW 2570 (see Campus map above). The building has free parking, opens at 8 am and closes at 6 pm.
What to bring
Please bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen) and some closed/sturdy shoes for walking outside the building / field site and for your work in the labs. Long pants might be beneficial for outside walking (snakes can be around). Please also bring a lab coat.
Food
Food will be provided during your stay. Please let us know your breakfast preferences and we will try our best to accommodate your wishes. Lunch and morning/afternoon teas will be served at the CCWF.
Transport
If you need to use public transport and are not from Sydney, you can use your bank key card to tap on and tap off the public transport system (called Opal). Alternatively, you can buy single tickets. Campbelltown is the closest train station.
Accommodation
Please pick up the keys to your room from Claudia at the CCWF when you arrive. Please aim to get to CCWF before 5 pm on Friday the 30th January.
You will stay at the Nepean lodges and will be provided with 2 pillows, 2 pillowcases and one flat sheet which you should use to cover your mattress. The beds are king single, so if you have a king single fitted sheet at home, you are welcome to bring it along. You will also be given an additional single sheet, but we only have a limited number of blankets, so please bring a sleeping bag or blanket with you. The lodges have a stove, fridge, ironing board, vacuum cleaner, washing machine. You will be given basic cutlery and crockery for your stay.
Wireless internet
There will be a wireless guest account for the duration of SIBS 2026.
Get Involved
Passionate about Stable Isotopes?
Testimonials
Attending SIBS 2018 in Hawkesbury as a student was a turning point for me. I learned techniques I still use today and connected with an inspiring community of isotope enthusiasts. Since then, isotopes have become a core part of my research, and I’ve had the privilege of returning to other SIBS events as a lecturer and mentor. Looking back, I’m grateful for both experiences, learning and later giving back.
by Diego Márquez, Mentor
We have run this course since 2013 and every time it is a lot of fun delving deep into the world of stable isotopes. The presentations on the last day are always very impressive and a testimony of how much can be achieved in a week!
by Claudia Keitel, Organiser
We've been running these workshops for more than a decade and although they've changed over time and depending on the venue, they've all been a real success. People have enjoyed them, learnt a fair bit about isotopes and learned to incorporate stable isotopes in their work. I keep meeting researchers who have attended these teaching workshops and stayed in the field. By imprisoning a tight group of students and teachers together for a week, the maximum amount of knowledge has diffused between them, as well as them all having a fair bit of fun.
by Hilary Stuart-Williams, Organiser
Delta Team
In this photo from the 2020 SIBS workshop in Canberra, students and mentors teamed up to form the iconic delta symbol – the classic mark of isotopic ratios. A perfect snapshot of the creativity and camaraderie that define SIBS!
Chasing the Storm
During SIBS 2020, a surprise hailstorm hit Canberra with golf ball–sized hail. Instead of running for cover, we grabbed our vials! Soon we were sampling hailstones to analyse how isotope ratios vary from surface to core — pure scientific curiosity in action!