Early Career Scientists

The 11th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES XI) is fast approaching! Here is the latest news from the Steering Committee...

Firstly, as many of you already know, ISAES has awarded partial funding to over 40 early career scientists to enable them to attend the conference. We are still looking for additional funding sources and as soon as these become available, they will be allocated and you will be the first to know!

Secondly, we have an exciting line-up of events for early career scientists in association with the conference…

Early Career Evening

On Monday 11th July, there is an Early Career Evening consisting of an Expert Mentoring Panel on “Succeeding in Polar Science” with beverages and then continued informal networking in the conference centre bar. The Panel is made up of an impressive group of senior polar scientists with the expertise to give us the inspiration and advice to kick-start our careers in polar science! The Panel includes:

Professor Mahlon (Chuck) Kennicutt II, President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)

Professor Jane Francis, Chair of the UK National Committee for Antarctic Research

Dr. Gonalo Vieira, Co-chair of the SCAR Expert Group on Permafrost and Periglacial Environments

Dr. Gabriele Uenzelmann-Neben, Senior Researcher at Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Dr. Cliff Atkins, Lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington

This is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet influential senior scientists, ask questions we never get the opportunity to ask, seek career advice from those best equipped to give it and learn about how to succeed in polar science!

The Mentoring Panel will take place in the Prestonfield Room of the conference venue at 7.30pm, after the final Plenary on Monday evening. Refreshments will be provided for the Mentoring Panel session and the conference centre bar will be open afterwards for drinks and continued informal networking with senior scientists and other early career scientists.

Education and Outreach

We are also arranging three “Antarctic Open Days” at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s number one natural science centre (also the location of the ice-breaker event on Sunday evening). These open days are taking place on Tuesday 12th - Thursday 14th July from 11am until 4pm. We are looking for volunteers to help out and all delegates are invited!

We will be educating and engaging the public about the wonders of polar science using real-life Antarctic equipment, such as field tents, food boxes and polar clothing. Our Dynamic Earth is an amazing science centre boasting hundreds of excellent and interactive displays about the natural world as well as a polar gallery, complete with a real (almost!) iceberg!

This is a brilliant opportunity to gain vital experience in science education and outreach and inspire the next generation of polar scientists, explorers and their families, as well as getting the chance to work in one of the best natural science centres in the world!

These events run concurrently with the ISAES conference, so you can pick and choose when to volunteer at Our Dynamic Earth at times that don’t clash with your conference sessions. If you would like to take advantage of this great opportunity, email [email protected] and tell me when you would like to volunteer. Even if you don’t email me, feel free to find me at the conference or the Early Career Evening and you will all be very welcome to join in!

In addition to these official events organised for early career delegates, there will be lots more unofficial activities going on to make the ISAES week as productive and fun as possible!

We look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh in July!