Editors’ welcome

Dr Mary McMillan, Dr Raffaella Demichelis and Dr Maithili Sashindranath
EMCR Pathways Co-editors and EMCR Forum Executive Members

@accidental_sci @raffademichelis   @dr_maithili   @EMCRForum

Hello again EMCRs, and welcome to our November newsletter. Like many of you we’re wondering how it can already be November, with the end of another year just around the corner. Having said that, perhaps many of us won’t be too sad to bid farewell to this year…

In this jam-packed issue we’re exploring the idea of sustainable careers – which also happens to be the theme for our upcoming Science Pathways meeting! In recent years the career landscape for EMCRs has changed drastically. We have changing technology, changes to funding systems, changing ways of working … not to mention a globally disruptive pandemic to contend with. In amongst all this uncertainty it’s starting to become clear that the ‘old’ ways of doing things aren’t going to cut it – and crafting a sustainable career is becoming essential for long-term career success. In this newsletter we dive a bit deeper into what it means to have a sustainable career, and how we can build one. We talk to James McCoy about making a career transition from academia to science policy, and speak with inspiring EMCR Alyce Mayfosh, who’s also been grappling with the question of future careers.

In this issue we also meet the Women’s Research Engineers Network (WREN) to talk about the need to have women's voices heard in male-dominated fields, and go on the job with conservation biologist Kaya Klop-Toker. Sticking with the theme of sustainable careers, Vanessa Moss shares her thoughts on how the way we meet, collaborate and work as researchers is changing – and the need for us all to keep up! Our Agony Aunt has also returned from a much-needed break and is here to address something many EMCRs are considering: how to follow your passion and make a successful career transition. We also get the opportunity to learn more about the IMNIS program, and Katie Hillyer tells us about her experience as a CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellow.

Remember to get in touch if you would like to contribute to any of these sections, have an EMCR group or event you would like to see featured, or have a question for our Agony Aunt. And of course, don’t forget to register for our upcoming Science Pathways meeting, where we’ll continue the sustainable careers discussion.

If you have a story, please get in touch with us at emcr@science.org.au