Laura Navarro
Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Project Manager, Australian Academy of Science
After making the difficult decision to postpone the Science Pathways 2020 conference due to COVID-19 restrictions, the conference co-conveners put their planning caps on and started working on a COVID-proof plan that would allow them to host the event in 2021.
The new event plan adapted the format of the event to make sure as many EMCRs as possible could be included in the event activities, while being prepared to tackle any challenges brought by COVID.
Science Pathways 2021: Sustainable careers has been devised as an engaging hybrid event designed to facilitate thought-provoking and engaging discussions around what EMCRs need for their careers to be sustainable.
Conference activities will kickstart with two half-days of exciting and insightful talks with leaders from the STEMM sector, networking opportunities and professional development sessions. EMCRs have the option to join the event in person on 25 and 26 November 2021 at the University of Melbourne, or they can join online and follow the discussions taking place on 25 November. The launch event will be followed by three online-only events in early December designed for EMCRs to share experiences, network, get inspired, and gain skills from their preferred space.
On 7 and 17 June, Dr Yee Lian Chew was invited to two EMCR roundtables hosted by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. The organisations are exploring opportunities to create a group similar to the EMCR Forum that could represent EMCRs in the humanities and social sciences. Dr Chew joined these meetings to share insights on how the EMCR Forum effectively supports EMCRs in STEM, and how it has grown and worked to support diversity and inclusion in the sector.
Executive members Dr Mary McMillan and Dr Maithili Sashindranath joined the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – Health and Medical EMCRs virtual roundtable on 6 May 2021. The event was an opportunity for EMCRs to share insights on the drivers impacting their ability to remain within the health and medical research sector and identified actions that would support the careers of EMCRs.
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