Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network Newsletter

September 2022

Welcome to the latest Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network (IMECaN) newsletter issue.


If you are interested in providing ideas, contributing a story, or being featured in the newsletter, please contact us at imecan@dal.ca or @IMECaN4.


In this newsletter:

  • Call for IMECaN workshop at 5TH CSD Annual Conference on Sustainable Development, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 13-16 October 2022
  • IMECaN weekly Twitter poll results. 
  • ICES PICES Early Career Scientist Conference. 
  • Podcast Recommendations
  • Interesting readings
  • Upcoming events (conferences, workshops, and symposiums)
  • Job and career development opportunities

Call for IMECaN workshop: Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into interdisciplinary marine research.

   IMECaN is organizing the workshop Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into interdisciplinary marine research during the 5th CSD Annual Conference on Sustainable Development: Unpacking Sustainability, Resilience, and Equity, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between 13-16 October 2022. As ECRs are increasingly expected to work across various disciplines, and to have skills in several domains, to navigate ocean sustainability challenges.


     ECRs are well placed to innovate and champion new approaches to addressing critical research priorities. This workshop will focus on the following issues: (1) Do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) issues affect ECR participation in interdisciplinarity? (2) How interdisciplinary marine research is conceptualized, organized, and implemented across regions and cultures? (3) How can DEI issues be better considered in research practices? This workshop will provide input for IMECaN’s strategic planning for 2022/2023.


IMECaN weekly Twitter poll



       IMECaN launched an initiative to hear from our members in the Twitterverse (@IMECaN4) to better prepare for the future and meet Early Career Researchers' needs. We were intrigued about: 1) What IMECaN events would you like to see? 2) What type of skills would you like to train? 3) Which format of event or training would suit your needs? 

 

    As a result, networking events and transferable skills in a hybrid format were preferred and equally supported in the polls (both received 33.3% of the votes). More specifically, those interested in transferable skills training were primarily eager to acquire skills in leadership (both in groups and projects; 46.7% of the votes) through topic-specific workshops (81.3% of the votes). On the other hand, those intrigued by networking events were mainly interested in building strong scientific collaborations within ECRs and with senior academics (53.3% of the votes) through small ECRs groups (50% of the votes). 

 

    We appreciate your participation in the polls. Now it’s our turn to work towards future events guided by your preferences. 

 

    Thanks to all the IMECaN community!



ICES PICES Early Career Scientist Conference

        After two years of virtual meetings, the scientific community is starting to meet in person, and the Fourth ICES PICES Early Career Scientist Conference was, for some, the perfect (re)start. Organized by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)​ and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the conference provided a platform for Early Career Scientists (ECS) to recover their presenting and social skills. Despite the logistical setbacks of international flying brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, visa complications, delays, and rejections the Canadian government imposed on many internationals, the conference brought over 100 participants from over 20 countries to St. John's, Newfoundland.


    Motivated by the conference theme, Ocean sciences for the future we want, ECS demonstrated the important role they have in supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. For four days, participants presented, discussed, and networked around three main themes: i) ecosystem and oceans processes, ii) emerging technologies, and iii) techniques for ocean science​ and inclusive, interdisciplinary, and transparent ocean sciences. In addition to the rich program, the conference held integrative parallel sessions. The Early Career Ocean Professionals Canada (ECOP Canada) organized a workshop where participants identified the necessary actions to achieve the ocean we want. Networking was at the center of the event. Off the start, The Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction, and Response Network (MEOPAR) organized a Network Night where participants got to ask panelists about navigating the scientific world as an ERS while breaking the iceberg (pun intended!) over bingo, canapes, and soft drinks. During the four days, participants had several opportunities to network and exchange ideas and experiences.


Podcast Recommendations

       Nature Careers Podcast, Science in Africa series. Early career researchers in Africa are starting to reap the benefits of increased investment in science and growth in research collaborations and partnerships, says Ifeyinwa Aniebo, a molecular geneticist who researches malaria drug resistance in Nigeria. But the continent’s scientific growth could accelerate even faster if more domestic funding was available to support African scientists. She adds that this, alongside better infrastructure and a stronger commitment to getting more women into scientific careers, would help prevent future brain drains. This podcast series talks about science's past, present, and future in the vast African continent.

Interesting readings


Upcoming events

(conferences, workshops, and symposiums)

Job and career development opportunities





Share job opportunities with us by sending an e-mail to imecan@dal.ca or tweeting @IMECaN4

 imecan@dal.ca
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