Executive Committee Elections 2022-2023

The application period for the 2022-2023 APECS Executive Committee has closed and we are not accepting late applications. You can find all 9 applicants listed below (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Élise Devoie - Canada

  Bionote: Greetings from Canada! Born and raised in a small town where its almost normal to ski to the store in winter, it’s no surprise that I have a passion for all things cold regions. Like many, I started out in a different field – my choice was particle astrophysics? – but was driven by my love for the earth to study fragile and rapidly changing cold regions. I focus on hydrogeology (a.k.a. water moving below the ground) in places with permafrost. Because I’m bad at decisions, and I always want to know where numbers come from, I do both fieldwork and modelling. This means that I have the good fortune of travelling to some of the most remote and extreme places on earth, as well as experiencing the joy of compiling code to the wee hours of the night – all in the name of Science!!

  For me, the most important part of research is collaboration, and this is my main motivation for being part of APECS. Working together is the only way we will be able to face the challenges posed by climate change, and as I see it the first step in working together is to break down some barriers. Outside of my pure research work, I am an active advocate for overcoming epistemological barriers in the way we do research. Some of these include the barriers facing Indigenous communities whose lands are disproportionately affected by a warming climate, while others face field scientists from under-represented groups. My goal is to work to break down these barriers so we can hear all voices because the challenge we face will take all of us.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  Because you told me to! :)

  More seriously, I was hesitant to put forth my candidacy. This term I have dealt with burnout – in part because of teaching and supervising responsibilities on top of leadership roles and job interviews, but also because of war, climate change, and so many other challenges outside of my control. Some days it is very challenging to put my best food forward, but I know that others face this same struggle. Together, we can shape the future of polar research and take on the challenges I am not prepared to take on alone. This is something I want to be part of.

  I want the experience of being part of a strong group of motivated leaders and working together for positive change. I am excited about the prospect of helping APECS move forward and would be honoured to listen to APECS members and help steer us forward. I want to make sure that DEI issues, Indigenous voices, and climate and sustainability issues are well addressed by APECS, and that we are leaders in these areas. It is our responsibility to make sure that polar research is moving in the right direction.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I have worked with APECS interational for two years – both terms as the NC rep for Canada, as well as a member of the Indigenous Collaborations and DEI groups. In my first term, I helped to put together the DEI survey, and eventually began the ethics review process for this, though the survey has not been administered. In my second term, I founded to overcoming (Indigenous) language barriers group aimed at identifying and working to overcome some barriers disproportionately facing Indigenous ECRs. This term has been especially challenging for many of us because of war, continued pandemic, and severe climate-change driven weather patterns, and I have also struggled with these challenges. I am currently temporarily leading the Indigenous Collaborations group to try to ease the burden on others who are more strongly affected and hope to move forward some of the collaborations we began in the fall before the end of the term. Flexibility is my greatest asset in this context, and the humility to admit that I am human, and understand and communicate where my limitations lie.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  As an ExCom member, I hope to contribute reliable, well thought out, and purposeful engagement. I see my role as an ExCom member as threefold: listener, translator, and facilitator. Though I acknowledge that we face specific challenges in the field of Polar research (climate change, sustainability, DEI, Isolation …), and that APECS has some ground to cover to make sure we remain a strong role model, I must be honest that I have no idea of how to begin to overcome many of them. What I have learned so far in academia is to listen to what my peers think, because together we almost always have a solution! I hope to be engaged in meetings, listen critically, and translate the ideas presented into actionable items at the small scale and for APECS as a whole. Finally, I see my role as a facilitator to make sure APECS continues to run smoothly, but perhaps even more importantly, that people with similar ideas are introduced to each other so we can focus on collaboration in the face of the challenges of the future.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  My focus during my ExCom term would be aligned with the PGs I have worked with. I would:

  1) Work on the relationship between APECS and Pride in Polar Research, acknowledging the shortcomings we have had in the past and creating an action plan for how not only APCES, but the polar community as a whole, can be more welcoming to everyone.

  2) Make Indigeneity more of a priority for our polar community – allocate resources and seek a mentor for APECS on Indigenous issues to guide our path to better research approaches.

  3) Sustainable Academia: polar research is hugely resource intensive, and we see first-hand how environments are changing. I would like to see us put forward more documents (like this one) guiding researchers on how to conduct low-ecological impact science in the field, in the lab, at scientific meetings and in their home institutions.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  I founded the Overcoming Barriers project group and have led it this term (as well as the Indigenous Collaborations group as a stand-in for Stas until he has more ability to do so). I co-led the Survey activity of the DEI group last year, and as NC rep for Canada I help to coordinate between APECS International and the Canadian branch.

  Outside of APECS, I’m a long-term field and camp coordinator, managing logistics, scientific programmes as well as safety and mental health in remote field environments. I have worked with my peers to organize events acknowledging the challenges to minority groups in remote field settings. I have sat on the board of directors of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies to represent the perspectives of ECRs on issues they face in polar research. All of this said, I think the main asset I have as a mentor is listening, and helping people solve their own problem through fostering a positive environment where creative thinking is encouraged, mistakes happen, and differences are celebrated so all feel welcome and supported.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  I believe not, though this may change depending on next the field schedule next summer, as well as logistics around moving for a new job.

• Anastasia Deyko - Peru

  Bionote: Visited more than 150 cities in about 50 countries, lived in 7 countries, educated in 2. That helped me to collect the international understanding of how cross culture collaboration works.
  From high school I was attracted to cultural processes related to sociology. During Master marketing studies, I continuously observed dynamics in media as an alternative appearance of modern humanity. To sharpen my marketing theories, I devoted future years of university studies to the most influenced by a media mixture of socio-culture and art, called fashion. As a summary, I achieved mixed ability: to see art of media through the prism of marketing and vice versa, to see marketing of media through the prism of art fundamentals. During the Fashion Design Master I cleaned up Swedish city Boras from video and audio tapes.
  Arctic changed my multicultural experience completely. Shortly, what I realized during art collaborations there is “So close, yet so far”.
  Researching socio-cultural activities in the North, I saw a lot of affordance in the direction to make the region relatively closer and achieve synergy effect together with government institutions, self and volunteer initiatives. Plus cross studies collaborations. EG my last research is cultural heritage of the Arctic region as a demonstrative explanation of satellite data.
  Since the start of pandemia, I invested my time to develop skills in remote marketing (certificate proven) and social networks communications (APECS Art group proven). Plus, the idea that travelling is very restricted and recent global warming related disasters, multiplied my passion to the Polar areas.
  Art was always a driving power, a tool to reflect social changes, to be aware. I follow this motto in my curatorship activities.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  I am not able to realize strategic development ideas for APECS as a project group leader.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  Project group leader, managing monthly webinars and representing APECS in international conferences and building database of Polar related artists, which I hope will reflect social and climate changes.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  1) Change to more intense social media networking and activities 2) Build tighter APECS internal net (eg group to group) of communications 3) Build APECS External net (group to government elements, education institutions)

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  Outside and inside networking: closer PG leaders collaborations, moral benefits for PG members and volunteers, material benefits (grant applications if acceptable)

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  Working few seasons on Mercedes Fashion Week for my thesis work is a top stress test, since that remote mentoring is cool and easy fo me. Later I switched to entrepreneurship in the area of art and design, where I collected experience of precise timing and aiming. Being APECS PG leader tough me to be able to communicate interdisciplinary, which is way harder than previous international experience. Summarizing, my mentoring and advising experience is to collaborate, communicate and contribute. None was a friend or enemy in the term of career for me, but everyone is a teacher.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  No

• Susana Hancock - USA

  Bionote: Susana Hancock (Masters’x2, DPhil) is a multidisciplinary researcher engaged in Arctic climate geopolitics and environmental anthropology. She began her academic career as a 14-year-old astrophysicist at the University of Southern Maine. However, feeling adrift due to political apathy over climate, Susana refocused on Earth. She has completed fieldwork in a variety of places including in Iceland with the British Antarctic Survey looking at glacial retreat and in Norway looking at identity politics in Sápmi. PhD research in the Middle East on intractable conflict and some projects in China have also spurred her interest in the role of rights holders in the Arctic community. Susana is now focused on Arctic geopolitics and is particularly interested in international climate action. This involves working on several reports for the IPCC, the UN Ocean Decade and a new project looking at the socio-geopolitical impacts of climate change through Arctic oceanography. Susana routinely speaks internationally, including TED events, UN climate symposia and the World Economic Forum. She is currently on an unsupported Arctic climate research trek, where she is retracing a 150 year-old North Pole attempt and conducting climate investigations. She has been associated with the Arctic Institute and has written policy briefers on a variety of subjects related to climate in the Arctic. Trained in both natural and social sciences, and with extensive non-profit and political experience throughout the world, Susana works to have a global impact on Arctic environmental policy and the climate crisis through multi-sector collaboration. Susana has previously been affiliated with UiT—The Arctic University of Norway and the University of Oxford. In her other life, she is an elite rower who has competed around the world and qualified for Olympic and world championship trials. In lieu of annual holidays, she works on an organic wild blueberry farm.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  I have had a fantastic time this past year on ExCom. As the only member applying for another term, I would like to contribute to the continuity of leadership over the next year. This past term, the big goals have been to transition from Josefine to Sarah as executive director and to resettle the Directorate in Tromsø. Additionally, I have focused on improving internal communications and supporting the national committees and their coordination, and I have also taken over the running of some project groups. Now with experience in both ExCom and as a National Committee Coordinator, I have a much better understanding of the inherent challenges, the fixing of which is one goal for next year. Another goal is working on inclusion and equity within APECS. I have helped several organizations with increasing their diversity, equity and inclusion, and so next term I want this as a goal for APECS as well. I have started linking us up with Polar Impact and other organizations that seek to ensure that everyone sees a home within the polar community. I have always wrestled with my Indigenous identity and felt as though I've spent most of my life pretending to be whom I'm not. As someone who finished my PhD during COVID, it has been tough professionally, but I have been with a fantastic cohort of people that have inspired me. I want everyone to feel this way.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  My past experience with APECS has included a year as National Committee Coordinator during which I brought on 7 new committees. This past year, I have been on ExCom and overtook the co-organizing of Arctic Science Summit Week. I am also the APECS representative for ECR-NoN.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  One of my biggest contributions would be as the only returning member of ExCom. This past term, only two of us were new--and one had already been an interim member. I feel that continuity is especially necessary this year given that we have a new Executive Director and will be hiring a new assistant for her. This means that there is no institutional memory beyond our Ex-Officios and documentation.

  Outside of the priorities I have listed elsewhere, I am also excited to build the global ECR community. I am the APECS representative for the ECR Network of Networks. My background is also a combination of both natural and social sciences. My personal history is in astrophysics (involvement with the research in Antarctica) but then my PhD is in anthropology. I also currently bridge academia, with much of my work being conducted with intergovernmental agencies, which has increased my interest in developing non-academic career options.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  My first priority is to do anything needed to ensure the continuity of institutional knowledge with Sarah in Tromsø. I used to live in Tromsø, and I have experience with all of the Directorate hosts--the FRAM Center, UiT and Norwegian Polar Institute. My second priority is to use my experience as both a former National Committee Coordinator and ExCom member to reconstruct the NCC role, as there are several specific challenges with this position, making it not as effective as it can be for at least the past several years. Other priorities include developing a strong DEI base--currently this is subsumed into the membership PG, but it needs injections of support to be able to stand alone. As part of ExCom, I have started working with DEI organizations to do this, but the scale and thoughtfulness of the project means it is not really going to start until next term. The last goal I will include here is the reworking of the handbook. Now one year into the new handbook and new Council structure, we know what is working well, and we also know where there are specific challenges. With this having been a learning year, I know where we need to make some changes to ensure APECS is as effective as possible.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  Regarding APECS leadership, I successfully completed one year as National Committee Coordinator and one as APECS ExCom Vice President. Additionally, I have been a sub-chair for the IPCC project group, co-chaired the ASSW workshops, have been an original member of the Science and Diplomacy group with which I organized--and continue to organize--several events per year. I also worked with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, IASC and SCAR to coordinate the ECR involvement in the Polar Initiative in Monaco this past year.

  Outside of APECS, I have been an Arctic co-chair for the Ocean Decade, run a speakers bureau, coordinate a national-wide education program, serve on the advisory panel for an IPCC arctic climate project, and I serve on national and international climate tables.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  No.

• Meghan Helmberger - USA

  Bionote: Originally from San Francisco, CA, I’m a PhD candidate in the Geography department at the University of Colorado Boulder. My research focuses on the evaluation of patterns in the surface energy budget across the Arctic Ocean and how those patterns relate to the changing sea ice concentration. I use atmospheric reanalysis and satellite data with some in situ data for model validation. I previously received my Masters from Clark University in Environmental Science and Policy. This track was important in my work because I believe that in order to improve the working relationship between scientists and policy-makers each party needs to know a bit about the other side. Through conference and international school attendance, I have further learned the importance of cross institute and country communication and collaboration. I've held multiple roles over the 4 years I've been in APECS and recently passed off a co-chair position for my university's grad association. I’m extremely interested in mentoring, advocacy and communication. Outside of academia, I enjoy hiking, baking, photography, and hanging out with my dog.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  Over the last 4 year in the APECS, I have really enjoyed getting to know the organization and the intricacies of how the events and projects are organized and run throughout the term. Collaborating across time zones has been one of the largest challenges, especially as a project leader and past ExCom member but this is a great skill to learn since the polar community is global. Working with council and ExCom members, the Director, members, and the advisory committee over this time has helped me grow and learn about leadership and collaboration. I would love the opportunity to continue that education. I am also interested in continuing working with APECS as an ExCom member because I want to continue in aiding the development and growth of the APECS community across the globe. s an Excom member I am looking forward to helping multiple project groups move their events and activities forward throughout the term. Continuing to build a community with many differing backgrounds and disciplines that interacts through one organization is a main reason I am interested in staying involved in APECS.
  
  I am eager to plan any type of event that will aid in the development of community, skills, and collaboration. Our generation of scientists is in a unique position to easily build this impressive international community; we do not have to be in the same place in order to participate in events, collaborate, or teach each other. As the polar community continues to grow across the globe, and technology continues to improve, the current generation and future generations of polar scientists will only benefit from the connections that we make and build through APECS. I would love the opportunity to continue to play a part in building APECS and its global reach.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I'm currently a council member, project group leader, and ExCom ex-efficio. I have helped contact and organize the DEI specific mentors for APECS' database, put together the August 2019 DEI webinar showing a previous panel on bias in professional relationships from a CU Boulder graduate group I co-chair and I was the project lead for the September Polar Week project group. I was also the project group leader for the APECS art group. Additionally I've held a temporary ExCom position as while as a regular term ExCom role last term.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I would like to bring my organization, motivation, and historical knowledge to APECS as an ExCom member. I am very passionate about this group and will use that passion to aid in furthering project plans. In the coming term (if elected), I hope to recruit more individuals that can help the APECS agenda move forward. As a past co-chair for a university based organization that is based on professional development and community building, I have the benefit of past experience running an organization and brainstorming events that would support the community and grow ECRs' skills. At time with that role, I was acting alone, which allowed me to develop a number of skills that I think will come in very handy on the ExCom.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  I would like to continue working on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion project group. This is area is a very important topic to me and I would like to continue spreading awareness. Additionally, I would like to focus on any improvements that need to be to the organizational structure of impacts, especially those surrounding inclusion and mentorship.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  I have experience mentoring and advising committees from my previous year on ExCom. I've also peer mentored through my university for 4 years now.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  I will be defending my dissertation in September 2022 so there will be a couple weeks throughout the term that I will either have lower availability or no availability for APECS work or meetings; but those are not set in stone at this time.

• Doğaç Baybars Işıler - Turkey

  Bionote: Greetings from İstanbul, Turkey! I am a Captain who graduated from the Maritime Faculty of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and worked in vessels for more than 2 years. I am also a multidisciplinary researcher since my interests are basically focused on organizing systems and finding practical solutions as optimum. I have been working in the Polar Research area since 2015 when the first corporate structure was founded in Turkey. Since then, I have been involved in annually organized National Polar Expeditions of Turkey as a member and land support team by means of logistics and law. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student at ITU Maritime Transportation Engineering where I also graduated and got a Master's degree from. I am working at Polar Research Institute (PRI), Turkey.

  I had the opportunity to meet with Polar Researches thanks to Prof. Dr. Burcu ÖZSOY who is also the founder of PRI. Since then, I am not only focused on the operations that we have been conducting in the Arctic and Antarctic, but also on education & outreach activities, since it is just as important to spread the acquired knowledge to future generations as it is to work at the Polar Regions. Based on this idea, I took on the leading role in the establishment of the Turkish Students’ Polar Research Team (PolSTeam). PolSTeam consists of university students and raises awareness of teachers first and then students within the framework of the curricula created based on age groups. Nowadays, I am on the advisory committee of the PolSTeam as an ex-chairperson.

  I have given numberless speeches on education & outreach, safety issues at sea, and Polar Regions, have contributed to a book called the National Polar Expeditions Training Book as a chapter writer, and have been involved in the organization committee of Polar Science Workshops and Polar Festivals as a part of my professional life. On the other hand, I enjoy doing skate, joining acting classes and watching theater, and still reading the newspaper :)

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  I have been actively involving in education and outreach activities since 2015. We have reached more than 150 thousand learners, with more than 100 organizations and more than 1000 presentations till today. Our mission is not only to organize training in schools and science centers, but also to contribute to reaching more and more people every day by organizing Polar festivals, exhibitions, street interviews, and holding joint workshops with both APECS and other national committees of APECS. We publish all these works in both Turkish and English with documentaries at regular intervals for the whole society to see, both on television and on our social media accounts.

  APECS is one of the best associations where we can carry out joint studies with researchers from all over the world and can pursue education & outreach studies to transfer information to future generations by sharing all this information. Since collaborations and networks are the basis of raising awareness about the Polar Regions and Global Climate Change and encouraging the new generation, we carry out all our activities under the name of APECS Turkey.

  I would love to make a contribution to the work of APECS by combining the experiences I have gained from the events, exhibitions, workshops, festivals, and National Polar Scientific Expeditions that we have held with numerous researchers from many disciplines over the years. It will be wonderful to use these gained experiences to contribute to new research areas outside the national border in the scope of APECS while gaining precious experiences and information from other researchers who are competent in the field of international cooperation and management.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I have been a National Committee representative (NC rep) of APECS Turkey during the seasons of 2018-2019, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022. As an NC rep, I found a chance to get knowledge about other countries' studies, and also to be a participant in the project groups. Art, and Science & Diplomacy Project Groups where I have been involved in.

  Each year, we organize an art competition in Turkey along with National Polar Scientific Expeditions. There are approximately 400students sending their art works and the chosen ones (it is always all of them since we do not want to discourage the young generation :) are carried to the White Continent. Also, the winners got gifts unlike from rest of the participants. With this motivation, we both promote all students’ contributions and award them to encourage.

  During the 2021-2022 season, I am working at Science & Diplomacy Project Group. We organized APECS Workshop Session with help of Nicholas Parlato and Susana Hancock in Arctic Science Summit Week 2022. I also had a very precious chance to make a presentation during the session.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I would like to share my knowledge with other members of APECS ExCom members while learning about their experiences in both Polar Research and studies.

  It is going to be wonderful to have close relationships with other Polar-related international committees that I gained experience on.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  Also, having a close relationship with Polar-focused international organizations would be effective.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  I have experience as an NC rep for three years including with a Letter of Endorsement (LoE). Also, I have experience in Polar Research for almost 8 years including logistics, purchasing, budget, organizations, law, training, safety issues, and education & outreach.
  In the light of the expertise mentioned, I joined 7 National Polar Scientific Expeditions as both an organizing committee and member, 5 National Polar Science Workshop, 2 Polar Festivals, 3 seasons of APECS NC rep, and founding president and current advisor of PolSTeam.

  Besides my official job, I voluntarily worked as an assistant at the Social Cultural Center in Istanbul Technical University, which was established to facilitate the adaptation of students who came from other provinces to a huge city like Istanbul, until graduated. We contributed to the adaptation of students by organizing theater events, museum and exhibition tours, tournaments, and dance and hobby courses.

  Also, during my university years, I took part as a supervisor in meetings, concerts, and events with thousands of participants for 5 years.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  Based on the duty sharing in our Institute, there might be field work on the 7th Turkish Antarctic Expedition (TAE – VII) for 4 weeks between January – February 2023, and the 2nd Turkish Arctic Scientific Expedition for 2 weeks between June – July 2023.

• Vivek Kumar - India

  Bionote: Explore, dream and discover because there are many things eagerly waiting to be unfolded.

  Greetings from Shillong in India! Myself is Vivek Kumar, a passionate researcher working with full enthusiasm to serve nature and living beings. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D. in the area of stable isotope hydro-geochemistry at Dept. of Environmental Studies, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong (India). I was curiously pulled towards science since my childhood. As I moved ahead, I became interestingly passionate about water. During my master’s, I worked on elucidating the turquoise to sky-blue appearance of Lukha River flowing in the Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya (India). I worked on developing devices for monitoring ambient air quality. My interest in glacial and polar environment grew as I was trying to identify least/undisturbed (anthropogenic) water bodies and study its characteristic features/interactions. Since then, I read more on why polar environment is important and how it supports/benefits our planet. I have visited glacial regions in India and am excited to soon visit Antarctica.

  I have been actively involved with many scientific associations (like EGU, ISCA, WEF, etc) which helped me expand my scientific network, allowed me to experience the importance and advantages of collaborations in scientific research, enriching my learning experiences. I am also a greenpreneur, promoting Saindur Enviro Pvt. Ltd. as co-founder & Director. I am also actively involved in environment & community service through Rotary and Rotary’s environmental action group, ESRAG. I have been actively associated with APECS since a few years and contributing as a member of IOC 2022 PG and Communication PG. I am also currently servicing as Vice-President of IPRN (APECS India). I wish to work for the polar cause and continue to serve APECS and make it shine on the international scene of polar associations.

  Let’s work together for the polar cause, because polar regions matter.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  To contribute to the polar cause, enhancing my skills and experience on through this dynamic committee and contribute towards growing APECS and make it shine on the international scene of polar associations.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I have been actively involved in the IOC 2022-PG of APECS and also as a member in the 'Communication of Climate Change impacts in the Arctic- PG' as a member.
  I am also currently serving as vice-president of IPRN (APECS India).

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  To work together to spread awareness on polar region importance through APECS, to motivate young academicians to join the polar cause through APECS, to expand reach of APECS through collaboration to grow APECS and make it shine on the international scene of polar associations.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  I would like to primarily focus on three areas during my term on the ExCom,
  a) Outreach activities.
  b) projects focused on enhancing the research skills of current ECS in the polar research.
  c) Projects/activities focused on communicating science & diplomacy.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  I am actively contributing as vice-president of IPRN (APECS India) discharging various administrative responsibilities assigned to me, and also heading the Outreach PG of IPRN as Chair. Our PG recently organised a webinar establishing collaboration with five reputed organization and witnessed 100+ participation. Soon we are coming with another webinar to reach the unreached section of academia and inform them about importance of polar regions.
  Beside IPRN & APECS, I have recently completed my tenure as Secretary at Rotary Club of Orchid City Shillong and currently serving as a club director.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  No.

• Lina Madaj - the Netherlands

  Bionote: I am originally from Bremen, northern Germany, where I did my PhD on past-ice dynamics in western Greenland. I analysed radiogenic isotopes in marine sediments in order to trace detrital sediment fluxes through meltwater discharge from the Greenland Ice Sheet into Baffin Bay. I recently transitioned from inorganic to organic geochemistry, now doing a postdoc at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam where I am working on the fate and transport of organic carbon into the ocean from thawing permafrost in the Canadian Arctic.

  I already fell in love with the Arctic during a research cruise that I attended during my master studies and ever since did not only want to contribute my part to researching this unique and sensible area but also share the science about it. During the past years I have been involved in several outreach and science communication projects, including blog writing and editing and scientific storytelling and social media. For the past two years I have also been involved in the social media team of APECS - because communicating the science is, to me, as important as the science itself.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  I have been involved in APECS for three years now and really appreciate and enjoy the work within APECS and with its members as well as the value of this broad network of motivated early career scientists. During my work as a social media coordinator I got some insights into the more internal work of APECS as I was allowed to join parts of the leadership meetings. Shaping the organisation one is actively contributing to is a great opportunity that I would like to take by applying to the APECS ExCom. I really enjoy working in a team of motivated young researchers and feel like I could learn even more and improve the leadership skills I already gained from my previous work at APECS. It also feels like giving back something to the organisation that somehow already did a lot for me by giving me all these opportunities to learn more about myself and the skills I actually have. So I would like to take my APECS "career" one step further and be part of the ExCom to contribute my part with all the experience I gained during the past years.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I have been the PGL for the Polar Week September in 2019 and am now the PGL for Mental Health Resources. I have further been one of the social media coordinators for the past two years - this term even the only one that was on the team the year before and therefore took over the role of introducing the new team to the tasks (and challenges) of a social media coordinator. This term I have been frequently joining project group leader meetings as well as the leadership meeting with ExCom to report on PG and social media updates, respectively.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I have experience of both being a PG member and a PGL and know how the structure works and what the challenges are. The same accounts for the insights into the social media work, demands and challenges in communication with PGs etc. Especially the social media work gave me a lot of insights into the internal structure of APECS that will be of advantage for the position of an ExCom member.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  During the past terms I especially noted the challenges of communicating with PGs and PG members, that in some occasions seems a bit like a one way street and also noticed the problem of PGs loosing members throughout the term and workload gets too much for the remaining members. This is something I would really like to tackle and find out if it could be improved somehow and how members can be motivated to stay in their PG throughout the term.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  I have been an APECS PGL for two different PGs. I have also earlier been the PhD representative of my graduate school, attending monthly board meetings as well as the yearly advising committee meeting.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  no, not yet.

• José Queirós - Portugal

  Bionote: I’m a PhD student at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) and I focus my research in the Southern Ocean deep-sea, being interested in the ecological interactions (mainly predator-prey), species auto ecology and resources management. For my PhD, I’m studying the deep-sea food webs related with the Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish fisheries in the Southern Ocean, to understand how these are structured and how climate and anthropogenic stressors can affect it. My primarily work in polar ecosystems was during my degree when I studied the habitat and trophic ecology of Antarctic squids. It was during my master that I turned my research to Southern Ocean fisheries and studied the diet and trace elements concentrations in Antarctic toothfish from the Ross Sea region. During all these periods I had the luck to spend several months in the Southern Ocean, as by collecting samples for my research onboard fishing vessels, as by spending some time in scientific stations analysing them. Besides my academic research, I’m interested in Education and Outreach activities, given talks in schools and museums, but also participating in science fairs and other events. Conferences, coffee breaks and engage with friends after work are among my favourite things to do.

  I became an APECS member in 2014 as a member of the Executive Committee of the Portuguese National Committee which I chaired during the 2018 term. In 2016 I joined the APECS Council and since then I participated in several different project groups and had the chance of being a temporary ExCom member and council co-chairs during two terms.

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  APECS is part of my career as an early career researcher because it gave me the opportunity over these past years to meet other enthusiastic ECR and closely work with them increasing my network, both in Portugal and abroad. During this period, I also learn skills that have being highly useful for me as a scientist but also as a person. After being part of APECS leadership for such a long time I believe that I have the skills and knowledge to be part of the ExCom. Being part of the ExCom will allow me to be part of the discussions that will shape the future of APECS and also work closely with new, and older, members to help them when needed and for them to enjoy and gain as much as possible from APECS as it happened with me.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  I joined APECS in 2014. Between 2014 and 2019 I’ve been an ExCom member of the Portuguese National Committee. In the 2018 term, I was the chair/president of the Portuguese National Committee. Since 2016, I’m a member of the APECS Council. In the council I was the Project Group Leader of the Mentor Award in the 2017/18 term and of the APECS Development Program in the 2018/19 term. In both 2020/21 and 2021/22 (current term) I was one of the three council co-chairs. Besides these positions, in the 2019/20 term I had a temporary ExCom position for 2 to 3 months.

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  As an ExCom member I expect to contribute to the daily needs of APECS but also contribute with new ideas or new goals for APECS. For example, from a personal perspective I would like to see a higher engagement of countries from underrepresented areas of the world. Furthermore, using experiences from previous years to help new PGL/council chairs/national committees to solve any issue that appear and/or any other help they need.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  During the next ExCom term I would like to focus on the recruitment and engagement of new members, especially from underrepresented areas of the world in APECS. Furthermore, I would like that APECS members that are not in the council could engage with council activities through social meetings, project groups open presentations. This also applies to social virtual gatherings that improve the network among council members and project group members. Besides that, I would like to help project group leaders in running their groups smoothly by helping them solve any issue they might find during the term, and act as a direct bridge between them, and their problems, and the ExCom.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  Besides the activities related with APECS council, I was in the organization of several workshops, activities and events during my time in the university, I mentored degree students, lead working groups in some international conferences and was part of committees to develop strategic plans.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  No.

• Sergio Raez-Villanueva - Canada

  Bionote: I am a 2nd year MSc student in Medical Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Having done my BSc in Biology and Physiology there as well, I have published scientific articles while working for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department under the supervision of Dr. Alison Holloway. Past projects involved determining potential health outcomes of e-cigarette use on placental function and development, and more recently my investigations focus on finding potential reproductive impairments from mining sites affecting indigenous communities and wildlife populations. Back in 2014, I was part of the Students on Ice (SOI) Arctic Expedition, where I visited and explored indigenous communities and national parks as well as developed a deeper understanding of florae and faunae in Northern Canada and Greenland. I took part in several lectures including climate change, glaciers, biology, and social impact in the Arctic while forming a global community with students, entrepreneurs, explorers, musicians, and university professors from around the world. While my most current projects have not necessarily taken me back to the Arctic Regions, my interest has persisted in trying to learn more about the Arctic and its diversity through courses about indigenous relations and the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge as we try to learn more about this wonderful ecosystem. Having been a leader in one of the project groups (T-MOSAiC Vlogs) for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 in APECS, I have collaborated with other council and ExCom members. I look forward for ways to stay connected and to learn and share more about the Arctic now and in the future! Lastly, I am a long-distance runner/athlete who has represented Team Canada at a couple international competitions both in Cross-Country and Track & Field – my passion for exercise and sport is the same one that has allowed me to forge great relationships and a solid work-ethic in my personal and professional life!

  Why are you interested in APECS and joining our Executive Committee?

  I have been a member within APECS for two years now, leading the T-MOSAiC Vlogs project group and developing it from the ground up. When I first joined this group, I didn't know what to expect and it took a lot of learning, collaboration, reaching out, asking questions, and repeating the process over and over again. I didn't realize that I would be leading a group as a first-time member in the council back in 2020, but I believe it is my leadership, commitment, and desire for collaboration that propelled me forward to develop this project further. APECS has been integral in supporting Early Career Researchers, and the experiences I have attained thanks to this organization have been valuable ad eye-opening. As such, I want to continue further and join the Executive Committee to aid and support decisions to lead this organization and continue helping its members and working as a community to bring the best to the table for all. If selected as an Executive Committee member, I look forward to voice concerns from council members and support project group leaders (new or experienced) to continue advancing their projects and goals.

  Please describe in more detail how you have been previously involved in the APECS leadership (e.g. Executive Committee, Council, NC leadership)?

  As a council member in APECS since 2020, I was the Sub-Chair for the group review of the Second Order Draft (SOD) of the Working Group II (WGII) contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6): Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (October 2020 – January 2021). I am also the project group leader for the T-MOSAiC Vlogs project group, involved in developing vlogs to highlight environmental research in the North (https://www.apecs.is/research/vlogs.html). Currently, I am also collaborating and assisting a current Executive Member in preparing a manuscript summarizing the main outcomes and patterns observed from the IPCC Group Review. Overall, I am a very collaborative individual that is keen on supporting others and working together to achieve our goals!

  What do you hope to contribute to APECS as an Executive Committee member?

  I want to be able to provide my experiences as a council member and project group leader and voice that of other APECS members to the Executive Committee. By no means do I encompass the opinion of every council member, but I am passionate to be an approachable member able to have discussions with other members via polls, surveys, open discussions, social gatherings, etc. It is my hope that I can represent my fellow council members efficiently, and work together with the Executive Committee to bring the best to others through actionable items. This includes having discussions about inclusivity within our policies, how to better orient and welcome newer council members and project leaders, and how to create more collaborative opportunities (and areas to discuss) between council members and national committees.

  What priorities (e.g. projects, activities) would you focus on during your term on the ExCom?

  To create spaces of discussions and collaboration between project groups and national committees, there needs to be a social aspect, sense of community, and easiness of communication beyond formal online meetings. I have found that as a council member it is difficult to really get to know my other fellow council members on a more personal level. Even sometimes at a professional level it is difficult to gauge members’ skills and abilities, as well as personality. This can take away from a project as sometimes we don’t realize that a colleague has certain abilities that simply did not get brought up because there were no conversations or opportunities to bring them up. As such, if elected to ExCom, I really want to develop a more social aspect within APECS that extends beyond online meetings. Although the nature of APECS is indeed online, there are other avenues to explore to make some meetings more casual and fun, extending beyond tasks and formalities (e.g., Discord groups, online games, Trivia Games, Gather Town, etc.). In addition, while ExCom members have the challenge of directing our organization and making some administrative decisions, it is also important to extend an invitation for opinions for council members to pitch in their thoughts on the matter. For instance, when creating policies revolving around inclusivity, there should be avenues to work together with council members and some project groups to make informed decisions that represent not only the opinions of ExCom but also that of the council. I want to also prioritize this idea of collaboration and approachability to ExCom. This is done well by currently assigning members of ExCom to project groups, but further initiatives could be done like “meet and greet” events with fellow ExCom members (and council members), once again re-emphasizing the concept of community mentioned earlier.

  What experience do you have mentoring and advising other committees, project groups or activities?

  I have mentored a group of early-career STEM researchers at McMaster University and helped them design, execute, and publish a study related to COVID-19 diagnostic tests (https://doi.org/10.17975/sfj-2022-006). As a council member in APECS since 2020, I was the Sub-Chair for the group review of the Second Order Draft (SOD) of the Working Group II (WGII) contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6): Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (October 2020 – January 2021). I am also the project group leader for the T-MOSAiC Vlogs project group, involved in developing vlogs to highlight environmental research in the North (https://www.apecs.is/research/vlogs.html). Furthermore, I have been heavily involved in a large knowledge translation project (with stakeholders in government, academia, industry, and Indigenous land users) to develop a web portal for all stakeholders to access wildlife monitoring data from the Alberta Oil Sands region (https://www.kotawanportal.ca/). Finally, since May 2020, I have also served as the Chair for the Athletics Ontario (AO) Athlete Advisory Committee (https://athleticsontario.ca/about/athlete-advisory-committee/), evaluating programs and providing recommendations on matters that relate to AO championships and other provincial sanctioned competition and events to improve experiences for athletes, spectators, and officials throughout competitions. All in all, I believe I have a vast array of experiences in mentoring and advising committees not only in academia, but also in sports, and as such I believe I am qualified to be an Executive Member for APECS.

  Are you expecting any longer away periods (3+ weeks e.g. for intense study periods, fieldwork) during the 2022 - 2023 term?

  No