ARCTIC FRONTIERS Logo new 2013For the Arctic Frontiers 2014 conference in Tromsø, Norway (19 – 26 January), four APECS members were selected to serve as early career researcher representatives on the Science Committees of the conference: Marney Paradis was member of the Live, Work, and Stay Healthy in the Arctic session, and her graduate studies on leadership within Indigenous education played a role in establishing strong professional connections with other session members. Dr. Frigga Kruse was chosen as member to the Health and Environment session, and her arctic archaeologicall knowledge base provided important historical context to the committee. Mia Bennett drew upon her familiarity with arctic geopolitics to assist in the abstract review and selection in the Shipping and Offshore committee. Piotr Graczyk assisted as member of the Arctic Search and Rescue committee, in which he utilized his studies of international relations and arctic cooperation in the selection criteria.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the Arctic Frontiers and APECS committees. Serving as Science Committee members and as Early Career Research Representatives has been tremendously enriching and highly rewarding. Assisting in this process was a welcomed task, as it provided us all the opportunity to liaise with committee chairs and immerse ourselves into the world of international science management. Further, the auspicious role of helping shape the messages and delivery of the conference itself is a learned task that will doubtlessly benefit us in the future.

Serving as an APECS representative is a process we would recommend to all. Bridging early career polar researchers with established and highly knowledgeable arctic authorities is certainly a worthwhile objective, and is one in which the Arctic Frontiers Conference is known to provide. Networking, exchanging ideas, and strategizing developed into tangible plans of action. In other words, seemingly informal interactions transformed into professional international relationships. As APECS representatives, we have secured rapport amongst our circumpolar colleagues, and this is something that we are truly grateful for. Again, a huge thank you to both the Arctic Frontiers and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists. You have helped us in many ways, and we have nothing but gratitude for this!

Marney Paradis, Frigga Kruse, Mia Bennett, Piotr Graczyk