APECS is delighted to announce the publication of a journal article in Polar Record. The article summarises APECS' development since its foundation during the last International Polar Year (IPY) and highlights the valuable role of APECS' education and outreach initiatives, such as Polar Weeks, in training the next generation of polar early career scientists in a wide variety of skills from leadership to communication.
The article is part of a special edition marking the 10th anniversary of the end of last international polar year (IPY) and was authored by Ruth Hindshaw, Heather Mariash, Trista Vick-Majors, Alex Thornton, Allen Pope, Yulia Zaika, Josefine Lenz, Hanne Nielsen and Gerlis Fugmann.
Abstract: The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) is an important legacy of the International Polar Year (IPY). APECS continues to foster engagement in education, outreach and communication (EOC) activities relating to the polar regions and provide training for early career researchers (ECRs). We highlight opportunities for training, leadership and skills development, such as the annual Polar Weeks and Antarctica Day celebrations. Participation and engagement in EOC activities actively contributes to career development by enabling ECRs to develop valuable soft skills such as networking, communication and interdisciplinary knowledge. A pilot survey on EOC engagement highlighted that those who organise events also gain leadership skills such as team management. We discuss several factors contributing to the success of APECS in training the next generation of polar leaders. These include the geographical rather than discipline-specific focus of the organisation, utilisation of online resources, including social media, and the strong links with partner organisations. These examples demonstrate how the EOC legacy of IPY has continued due to APECS’ targeted efforts to create EOC opportunities and provide skills and leadership training for ECRs.
Hindshaw RS, Mariash H, Vick-Majors TJ, Thornton AE, Pope A, Zaika Y, Lenz J, Nielsen H, and Fugmann G. (2019): A decade of shaping the futures of polar early career researchers: A legacy of the International Polar Year. Polar Record https://doi.org/10.1017/S0032247418000591
Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/polar-record/article/decade-of-shaping-the-futures-of-polar-early-career-researchers-a-legacy-of-the-international-polar-year/A727DB4125961620E5CEE57E4B673C55/core-reader
You can also read the article for free via this link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/polar-record/article/decade-of-shaping-the-futures-of-polar-early-career-researchers-a-legacy-of-the-international-polar-year/A727DB4125961620E5CEE57E4B673C55/share/b9384f38d7f82ca802f659fe7c53d461984da8fe . If someone would like a PDF version of the article, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
