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!
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!
Visiting EucFACE during SIBS 2023 was unforgettable — the world’s only mature forest CO2 enrichment site! Our hosts from Western Sydney University showed how isotopes reveal how rising CO2 affects soils, plants, and microbes.
When I attended the first SIBS workshop in 2013, I did this mostly out of interest. It turned out that the workshop itself was not only much more fun than I could have imagined but the skills I learned also shaped my research direction over the following years. Once I got my hands dirty with working with isotopes, I started contributing to SIBS as an instructor. Now stable isotopes are a core technique we use in my lab to study mesophyll conductance in leaves - and it all started at SIBS!
by Florian Busch, Instructor
The SIBS 2026 Workshop was an outstanding and enriching experience. The combination of lectures, laboratory training, and field activities provided strong theoretical and practical foundations in stable isotope applications in environmental research. I especially valued the hands-on approach and the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring researchers and students. I would like to sincerely thank Dr Claudia Keitel for her exceptional organisation, kindness, and genuine care for all participants, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone intere
by Mauricio Leite, Attendee — SIBS 2026 Camden
Our Original SIBS Logo
Our very first SIBS logo, designed for the 2013 workshop in Camden – a symbol of more than a decade of passion and dedication to sharing the science and techniques of stable isotopes with students and professionals worldwide.
The workshop significantly enhanced my understanding of how isotope techniques can address complex scientific questions. It highlighted their versatility across disciplines, from ecosystem processes to biogeochemical cycles. The program was well organized, and the facilitators’ expertise made complex concepts accessible and applicable. This experience broadened my methodological perspective and strengthened my ability to integrate isotopes into research. I highly recommend the SIBS workshop to researchers aiming to advance their scientific approaches.
by Ephrem Ngendahimana, Attendee — SIBS 2026 Camden