Meeting of polar minds
28th October 2009
In a month when polar ice decline is headline news,
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) hosted the 2nd UK Polar
Network Career Skills workshop, which was well attended by
participants and scientific mentors from the UK, Uruguay, Norway,
Greece, France, Iceland and Canada.
The workshop focused on arctic marine science and was aimed at
early career researchers to offer support, networking and
collaborative opportunities and provide a knowledge exchange forum.
It also delivered a platform for discussing of the future of arctic
science in the UK.
Activities over the 2 days included scientific
presentations, round table discussions on career paths, seminars on
engaging the public plus a question session about international
collaboration, facilities and logistics, all geared to help and
inform scientists starting out in the field in polar research.
Presentations covered subjects such as climate
change and ecosystem collapse, the effects of ocean acidification
and warming on arctic marine organisms and processes, the declining
ice sheets and the use of satellites in observing phytoplankton
communities as well as the future of UK arctic science.
Participants reported on the success of the workshop,
highlighting the breadth of interesting science that had been
presented and the valuable information available on associated
subjects, such as public engagement and working with the
media.
Claudia Halsband-Lenk, PML Zooplankton Ecologist and workshop
co-ordinator, commented: “The workshop was a great success, not
least because of the enthusiasm and wide range of subjects covered
by the speakers and delegates.”
“We hope that this network will help early
career arctic scientists by introducing them to others in this
relatively small and sometimes isolated field of research and
encourage collaboration not only between individuals but also
science disciplines.”