APECS News

The 6th China Polar Youth Forum was successfully convened by APECS-China from January 28 to 30, 2026, at Sun Yat-sen University’s Zhuhai Campus. Under the theme “Gathering Youth Wisdom, Shaping the Polar Future,” the event gathered over 300 early-career scientists and graduated students from more than 100 universities and research institutions across China, creating a dynamic platform for exchange, collaboration, and inspiration in the field of polar science.

The 6th China Polar Youth Forum

APECS is seeking an additional Council Chair and a Social Media Coordinator to join the Council leadership team from March to the end of the term (September 2026). 

On the 15th of November, the XVI APECS Portugal Workshop was held at Centro Universitário de Lisboa, Lusófona University, under the theme "Mission Polar: What’s Hot in Polar Science". This workshop was held in conjunction with the Portuguese Polar Conference, which was on the 14th of November.

Picture by Lucas Bastos

Ikaarvik receives 2025 APECS Canada-ASA Mentor Award!

In recognition of their significant contributions to connecting local Indigenous communities and southern early career researchers, Ikaarvik has been awarded the 2025 APECS Canada-ASA Mentor Award at the 2025 ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting.

Picture by Shelly Elverum

We are deeply grateful to the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) for hosting the APECS International Directorate and subsequently an APECS Project Office over nine years, and for AWI's invaluable support shaping global activities with, by and for early career researchers (ECRs). 

The final EU project in which the APECS Project Office at AWI/in Potsdam was involved was Arctic PASSION (July 2021-December 2025). Among the project's highlights were the APECS & Arctic PASSION Sharing Circle event for early career professionals and Arctic youth, the coordination of ECR engagement within the project, and various activities for external ECRs, such as the Online Seminar & Dialogue Series. 

The APECS International Directorate will be closed 15 December 2025 through 11 January 2026 due to winter holidays of its staff members. 

“Polar Times”, the APECS Podcast, released two episodes in November. Give them a listen!

Are you doing research in Antarctica and traveling through Punta Arenas or Ushuaia this campaign season? 

APECS Spain would like to create a contact network that allows young researchers (as well as senior researchers or base/vessel personnel) participating in the various Antarctic campaigns to, quite literally, break the ice and get to know each other during their transit trip.

Following the success of our first SCAR Connect webinar about the Antarctic Treaty System, we’re excited to announce the next session in the SCAR Connect Online Training Series. If you missed the first webinar, the recording is now available online.