1293 / 2024-09-20 23:01:40

The role of the Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network (IMECaN) in supporting capacity building, ocean literacy, and collaborative leadership of early career researchers

ECR,Network,EDI,collaboration,Multidisciplinary

In 2016 the Scientific Steering Committee of the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) endorsed the establishment of a network for early career researchers. The Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network (IMECaN), thus, was created by early career researchers participating in the IMBeR summer school. The objective of this talk is to socialize the IMECaN network while summarizing eight years of work and discuss the next phase and future collaborations. IMECaN works on topics related to the IMBeR Grand Challenges with a governance structure comprised of two co-chairs and nine members spread throughout the world, from the Americas, to Africa, to Europe, Asia and Oceania. Its main objectives are i) providing a networking platform for early career marine researchers to develop collaborations, ii) providing training and development in areas not traditionally provided through formal education and training programmes, iii) providing leadership opportunities for early career marine researchers, particularly from developing nations. IMECaN has 1,243 members from 101 countries distributed in all continents (except Antarctica), with China (n = 135), The United States (n = 120), Canada (n = 81), India (n = 63), and Australia (n = 61), representing the top 5 countries in terms of membership (37%). At least 25% of the members identified themselves as students at all levels, with the rest spreading on a wide spectrum from postdoctoral researchers, to professors, to entrepreneurs, to members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While the primary topics of Biodiversity, Systematics and Evolution, Fisheries, Marine Ecology, and Climate Change are the main focus areas, they collectively represent only 12% of IMECaN members. This indicates that IMECaN boasts a diverse range of research interests among its members. Members of IMECaN organize and engage in a variety of events related to IMBeR. Since 2016, members of the network have participated and/or organized two summer schools, four early career workshops, and organized a special issue on Solving Complex Ocean Challenges Through Interdisciplinary Research: Advances from Early Career Marine Scientists, among other events. Since 2024, IMBeR’s main responsible office has transferred from Canada to China, marking a new era for both projects. In the incoming years, IMECaN looks to increase its members while engaging with other networks to coordinate efforts towards training and development of skills targeted at early career researchers.