At the American Meteorological Society's 11th Conference on Polar Meteorology and Oceanography, APECS hosted a career panel for young scientists, where those early in their career could ask panelists who are further advanced questions related to job prospects, balancing family and career, and any other relevant inquiries. The panel was a overwhelming success, thanks to both the six panel members as well as the wide variety of questions asked by the audience. The six panel members - Dr. Jordan Powers, Dr. Nicole Lovenduski, Elizabeth Cassano, Dr. Ryan Fogt, Dr. Stephen Vavrus, and Patricia Phoebus - fielded audience questions related to the current job market, the appropriate timing to have children, whether stopping at a Masters degree or continuing for a PhD is most desirable, and how to best prepare now for later career paths.
After a lengthy discussion, the panel members joined the audience for a gathering at the nearby Beantown Pub, where the questions were more informal but the advice just as valuable.
