Here is a wonderful opportunity to take part in the APECS’ project entitled “Bridging Polar Early Career Researchers and Indigenous Peoples in Nordic Countries” funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Arctic Co-operation Programme in 2013/2014.
This project aims at facilitating efficient and meaningful interactions and work between polar early career researchers and Northern Indigenous peoples (with a specific focus on Sami people). The long-term goal of the project would be to improve knowledge on Arctic environments as a base for future sustainable development strategies in the region.
Between June 2013 and May 2014, the project will include a number of activities such as: development of an APECS Nordic network, a series of thematic online webinars and surveys for polar early career researchers and indigenous youths aiming at identifying the communication gaps between researchers and indigenous people. The final and major activity of the project will be a 2-day workshop entitled “Connecting early career researchers and community driven research in the north” in conjunction with the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), to be organized by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) in Helsinki, in April 2014.
As you can see, there are a number of tasks to work on and that is where we need your help! To move forward with this project we are looking for several coordinators (including a main project coordinator):
1. One main Project Coordinator
Main responsibilities: to oversee the whole progress of the project, to communicate with different groups, to communicate with existing project partners and seeking new ones, to help drive fundraising for the workshop in 2014, to evaluate the project, to prepare a report at the end of the project. The Project Coordinator will work closely with the APECS Executive Committee and the APECS Director and will have to support the project for its entire duration (June 2013 – May 2014).
2. One (additional) coordinator for 6 thematic webinars
Main responsibility: to co-organize a series of 6 webinars identifying current challenges in communication between researchers and Northern communities from a perspective of ECRs and youth Indigenous. The webinars will take place in Fall 2013. We already have one coordinator, but we are looking for a second person to support the webinar planning.
3. Three survey coordinators
Main responsibility: to prepare, design and run a survey (in a team) for ECRs and Indigenous Peoples in different languages aiming at identifying communication gaps between researchers and Indigenous peoples. Essentially, we expect to cover Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Russian and Sami languages. The surveys have to be completed before April 2014.
4. One developer of an online database and corresponding web-site developments
Main responsibility: to develop an online database on the APECS website where ECRs and Indigenous youth can enter their contact information and research interests and search for research projects that will benefit Northern communities. We hope that the database can be set up in summer 2013. The volunteer has the option to help with other web-site work for the project afterwards.
5. Three (additional) members of the Workshop 2014 Organizing Committee
Main responsibility: to plan and organize a two days in-person workshop entitled “Connecting early career researchers and community driven research in the north” to be held in conjunction with the ASSW 2014, Helsinki, Finland. We already have one volunteer in place but are looking for three more people to help with the workshop planning. The workshop organizing committee would have to start their work as soon as possible and the workshop will be on 7 – 8 April 2014.
APECS has some funds to compensate the work of the coordinators. Financial conditions will be discussed individually with the coordinators.
If you are interested in joining the project team, please send the following documents to the APECS Directorate at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.by June 22nd 2013 (Saturday):
- Statement of Interests (incl. which of the above positions / tasks you would like to work on, your previous experience and why you want to take on this task)
- Short CV
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Look forward to hearing from you,
APECS Executive Committee
