APECS News

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference (OSC) 2024 “Antarctic Science: Crossroads for a New Hope” will be held in Pucón, Chile from 19-23 August 2024. The conference will feature a comprehensive programme of plenary lectures, mini-symposia, parallel sessions, panel discussions, and posters. APECS is linked to four workshops (additional information below) and a number of presentations at the conference. APECS President José Queirós will attend and will represent APECS at the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) program's Scientific Steering Group meeting. In addition, APECS provided a report for the XXXVIII SCAR Delegates meeting, which APECS Vice-President Hugo Guímaro will digitally attend as an observer. 

The APECS DEI Project Group (Leeger et al.) has a poster in session 48 - Is Antarctic science ready to help tackle urgent global issues? Perspectives on strengthening equitable science communities. This poster covers the group’s recent activities, specifically the workshop series jointly held by APECS, the SCAR EDI Action Group and Thrive Lifeline; the posted is entitled “The role of Early Career Scientists in Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): the APECS DEI Project Group as Example”.

The goal of this program is to connect early-career Arctic and European youth aged 18-35 with mentors across Arctic communities in the fields of Arctic policy development, advocacy, and communications. The aim is to provide youth with the experiences and tools they need to effectively advocate for policy changes on issues important to the livelihoods of youth in the Arctic and in Europe.

The Polar Early Career World Summit (PECWS) 2025 is collaboratively organized by the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO), and the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme (ECOP Programme). The PECWS 2025 Organizing Committee is seeking enthusiastic polar early career scientists to join the PECWS 2025 Planning Team to help plan and steer the summit’s activities.

Do you know anyone who has made a meaningful impact on scientific research and community collaboration in the North? Do you feel like this person’s dedication should be recognized?

The APECS Community Development, DEI, and Mental Health Project Groups are collaborating to host a virtual gathering on June 26th at 14:00 GMT.

APECS Canada is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Arctic Science to Art (AS2A) contest! Are you an early-career researcher, student or northern research assistant working in the Canadian Arctic?

Youth Together for Arctic Futures is a project that aims to bridge Arctic youth to their European peers. By fostering collaboration and mutual learning between Arctic and European youth, the project aims to provide Arctic and European youth with the necessary knowledge, skills, and opportunities to advocate for policy promoting a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic future.

A key part of the project is the establishment of an EU-Arctic Youth Dialogue, held alongside the EU Arctic Forum and the Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue. The first EU-Arctic Youth Dialogue was held on 15 May 2024, as the last day of a five-day Arctic Youth Dialogue (AYD) program (11-15 May 2024) held in Brussels, Belgium. 

Arctic Congress Bodø 2024 took place from 29 May to 3 June 2024 in Bodø, Norway, hosted by Nordland Research Institute and Nord University. The event brought three conferences together in the European Capital of Culture 2024: the International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS) XI, UArctic Congress 2024, and High North Dialogue 2024.

APECS, the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO) and the High North Dialogue Academy hosted an early career and youth networking event on 29 May in the foyer of the Stormen Concert Hall, before the overall conference ice breaker. There were approximately 150 attendees. The event provided a fun and informal way for people to meet each other and share ideas and interests before the rest of the conference program began. Each organization was briefly presented and attendees were engaged in brainstorming how (polar) early career organizations could best support their work.

Do you want to contribute to APECS and be a part of our Council? Applications for Council Leadership and Project Group Leader positions are now open! 

The 2024-2025 Council term is from 1 October 2024 through 30 September 2025. APECS Council members value the international networks they develop through the Council, as well as the recognition and accomplishments they gain through their work. 

Are you interested? Find out more about the different APECS Council roles and how to apply on the Apply for Council webpage.

The APECS International Directorate will be closed 24 June - 14 July 2024 due to summer holidays of its staff members.