The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body for assessing climate science, produces comprehensive assessment reports that guide global climate policy. Early-career researchers can contribute to this process through expert reviews of draft chapters. Apply here by Monday, 23 March 2026 (23:59 UTC-12) to participate in the early-career group review of the First Order Draft (FOD) of the Working Group I (WGI) contribution to the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), The Physical Science Basis.
The IPCC expert review period for the FOD runs from 10 August to 2 October 2026. Participation in the coordinated group review will begin earlier, with onboarding, chapter and section assignments, and training starting in late April to early May 2026.
This group review is coordinated by a consortium of early-career networks and is led by the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), in collaboration with International Continental Scientific Drilling Program Early Career Researchers (ICDP-ECR), International Glaciological Society Early-Career Glaciologists Group (IGS-EGG), Past Global Changes Early Career Network (PAGES ECN), Polar Impact, Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN), World Climate Research Programme Climate and Cryosphere (WCRP CliC), and Young Earth System Scientists (YESS). Building on successful initiatives during previous assessment cycles, this effort supports meaningful early-career engagement in the IPCC assessment process and provides practical experience in reviewing and strengthening policy-relevant scientific assessments.
We welcome applications from around the world and strongly encourage applications from individuals based in regions and communities underrepresented in research, as we aim to assemble a review group reflecting diversity in geography, discipline, gender, and career stage. Eligible applicants include advanced Master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career academics or professionals, generally within ten years of PhD completion. In special circumstances - e.g., parental leave, caregiving responsibilities, health-related interruptions, or other documented career breaks - this timeframe may be extended, and applicants are expected to briefly explain such circumstances in their application. Applicants should be familiar with the recent scientific literature in their field to be able to critically assess material relevant to WGI topics.
During the review, participants will be assigned to specific chapters or sections and asked to review approximately 10-30 pages. Based on previous cycles, reviewers should anticipate committing between 30-50 hours in total, including training and coordination activities as well as the review itself. Reviews submitted through the IPCC expert review process are not anonymous, as individuals will be recognized for their contribution, with their name, affiliation, and country of residence published in Annex X: Expert Reviewers of the assessment report.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their participation complies with all applicable institutional, funding, and governmental requirements.
For any questions regarding this initiative, please contact the project co-leaders, Hugo Guímaro (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Deniz Vural (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
