So you want to start a National Committee?

You want to start a National Committee but have no idea where to start - we are here to help! Below is a list with some questions and answers and you can also contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Also have a look in the APECS Handbook and see some guidelines for National Committees provided in there.

• How do I find members and keep them connected?

  A mailing list under the APECS umbrella can be a great first step. The APECS International Directorate can make one for you and update this list for you once a month. It is a lot easier to stay connected this way. And it is free of course. You can also find new APECS members by contacting institutions, departments, professors or the secretary to get in touch with their graduate students, postdocs etc. and ask those that are interested to register for APECS on the APECS website and list your country as "country of residence". 

• Do we need a website?

  Your NC's contact info will be added on the APECS website on our National Committees page.

  In addition, a lot of our National Committees have a Facebook page or group. Others are creating a website using e.g. Wordpress, Blogger and Google Sites. Or you could set up a page on the APECS website under the National Committees pages (see. e.g. the APECS Canada pages). If you do want to build a website, brainstorm about who will maintain it and what will be on it. In general, starting simple is always the best idea!

• What can a National Committee do?

  National Committees can do lots of things. Some examples:
  - workshop for writing/presentation skills
  - webinar on funding resources in your country
  - education & outreach activities in schools (e.g. as part of the International Polar Weeks or Antarctica Days)
  - seminar series with early career and senior researchers
  - APECS panel at a conference

• Do I need high level support from administrators, etc?

  Senior mentors are highly valuable for all of us. You can contact the APECS Executive Committee if you need any advice on this (excom(at)apecs.is). In some countries, there is a 'top down' mentality, where senior scientists are more in control. Then there is a huge difference between supportive and proactive mentors and 'old school', very busy senior scientists not interested in what you are doing with APECS. Contact the Excom or Director if the latter is the case, an 'official' letter from the Director of APECS can help push things a bit.

• Does the national committee need an official 'structure'?

  This depends on what you really want and how your group works. You need a small group of active people leading things. It is up to you if you want to put names on that (president, chair etc.). Find people at different levels in their studies so that not all of you will be leaving in a year. Think about replacement for the longer term. Also look for people in different institutions and cities.

• Do we need to be a registered organization?

  This is something you can do at a later stage and is not necessary. How you do it depends on the country you live in. It is best that you find someone who has formed a registered organization before and ask some advice.

• How do we link our national committee to APECS international?

  A National Committee has a minimum of one representative in the Council to form the link between the national and international part of APECS. In addition up to 3 representatives of each National Committees are added to a special National Committees Representatives emails list to help with the communication between the international and national levels in APECS. That way, we stay in touch, learn from each other and can inform our members. The APECS Council also has two National Committee Coordinators who will regularly stay in touch with all National Committees. And of course the APECS International Directorate is also regularly communicating with and assisting the National Committees.  

• That's a lot of info - what do I do first?

  Starting a National Committee takes thought and planning but shouldn't be a soul-crushing experience. Just remember that it's all about having fun in connecting with other polar researchers in your area! Here's a quick summary of the important first steps to take in founding your own national committee:
  - Create a mailing list - with help from the APECS International Directorate
  - Recruit members and get people involved
  - Ask the APECS Director to create a contact page for you on the website and add you to our National Committee representatives mailing list (and decide if some of you want to apply for the APECS Council)
  - Have some concrete goals for people to focus on
  - Always think of the future of the committee!
  And contact the Executive Committee or Director if you need any more help!

• Use of the APECS logo

  The APECS logo should be used on all websites and social media accounts. The goal is to keep the APECS community web presence unified through the use of the logo. The full APECS logo with the text and snowflake should be used in addition to any national logos on websites, publications, and social media.

  For social media accounts, the APECS logo is not necessary in the profile picture (the main image that is associated with every post), but should be included in the background or banner picture. This can be accomplished by editing the image used for the background image to include the APECS and optionally the NC logos. NC websites should feature the APECS logo somewhere where it is visible on the landing page.

  The APECS logo is available in various resolutions here.

  Website example
  Twitter example
  Facebook example