Early Career Researchers (ECRs) often play a crucial part in Research Projects. They are at the forefront of developing new methods, finding new insights, creating new solutions, and often are essential contributors in projects achieving their promised scientific output and deliverables. At the same time, research projects serve as an environment where ECRs can observe how projects are run, which might influence how these ECRs will then act as project leaders in the future. Yet, too few projects seem to address the fundamental importance of ECRs within a project and do not explicitly account for their needs or systematically offer opportunities that help them grow professionally.
This short course aims to provide an interactive platform for ECRs and project leaders to share, learn, and discuss best practices in engagement and empowerment within Research Projects. The course will offer a space for ECRs to reflect on their experiences, both positive or negative and to discuss means of structuring research projects that explicitly account for the needs and opportunities of ECRs, such as networking, discussion and dissemination of results, leadership, collaboration, scientific communication, creation of a community (especially in large and spread out consortiums).
The co-conveners of the session will first share some best practice examples of ECR empowerment in terms of 1) systematic involvement in project management, 2) organizing a peer-to-peer inter- and transdisciplinary academy program, and 3) facilitating an active ECR network at and across events. Afterwards there will be space for break-out discussions with the audience to reflect on the added value of such examples and allow participants to discuss and explore new ideas and approaches to improve ECR engagement and empowerment in future research projects.
The course invites ECRs, project leaders, and anyone involved in the management or participation of Research Projects, particularly those interested in improving ECR engagement and empowerment.