The Europlanet Early Career (EPEC) network is the official entity representing early careers in the Europlanet Society. Early Careers from all over the world are encouraged to participate in the EPEC assembly organized during the EPSC! At this assembly there will be an introduction to how EPEC is organized, an update on the past year's activities, and the latest news. By joining our community, you can get the chance of improving your teamwork skills and be involved in a variety of activities in a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive environment. EPEC is the place where your ideas matter and your voice is heard!

Communicating science has become immensely more difficult in the age of Covid. Talking to a black zoom window without any grasp of the audience is a daunting task that can frustrate even the most enthusiastic communicator. In this short workshop, João Retrê will talk about the challenges of online communication, and on how to overcome them. The best practices to engage a virtual audience will be discussed and a small hands-on exercise will help improve your overall communication!

The course is limited in the number of participants so apply now to secure your spot at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdN3fO8iok2PMGAiN1YBTNBNJERIGS5-QA1y-r_dIe7LeDO6A/viewform

By Dan Bower, senior research associate at the University of Bern.

Proposal writing is a fundamental component of modern-day science, in which a researcher proposes a line of research to a funding agency (or within a company) with the goal of securing the necessary resources to pursue the research. A successful proposal enables an individual researcher to direct and manage their own research and can provide additional benefits such as freedom to choose the institution where they conduct the research. Proposal writing occurs at all levels of academia and industry, from writing a travel grant application to applying for jobs or asking funding agencies to support your projects. Whilst the format and emphasis of a proposal can vary depending on the field and objectives, there are nevertheless basic rules that can be followed to enhance the prospects of success. In this short workshop Dan Bower (CSH, University of Bern) will present an overview of how to approach your first proposal.

By Alan Percy, head of counselling services at Oxford University.

Keeping work and leisure time in a healthy balance can be difficult, during PhD as well as afterwards. Alan Percy, head of counselling services at Oxford University, will talk about the importance of mental health, and give hands-on tips and advice on how to manage work mania and recovery times. He will also talk us through tips and needs that help our mental health and motivation during this "new normal".