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APECS Workshop for students and early career polar researchers announced, Monday 30th June 2008, University of Otago
Career Paths in NZ Polar Research: from student to PI
As part of the Antarctica New Zealand’s Annual Conference, a morning workshop is being held for students and early career polar researchers to provide an informal venue for this group to network. The workshop will take the form of a panel discussion, drawing on the experience of Antarctic scientists at various stages in their careers to talk openly about the challenges and rewards of career paths in polar research. The focus will be on the transition from student to PI and how this process is supported in New Zealand. This is a great opportunity to make contacts with other students as well as established polar experts, and to share and form new ideas about how to continue our careers in the Polar Regions.
Registration for the workshop will begin in May as part of the registration process for Antarctica New Zealand’s Annual Conference. All welcome from students to established scientists. For more information about the workshop, please contact Mélianie Raymond.
In association with APECS, Antarctica New Zealand, and the University of Otago Polar Environments Research Theme.
Celebrate the International Polar Year on March 12th 2008!
The next IPY Day, focussing on our Changing Earth, will occur on March 12th, 2008. Full details, contacts, activities, events, and resources can be found on the Changing Earth page on the IPY website. This page includes flyers and summary sheets in multiple languages and details of four live events that will connect students to polar scientists in time-zones around the world. Download the flyer here. Let's get involved and put NZ on the IPY map!
We've joined the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)!
The NZ YSC is now the New Zealand national branch of APECS. We are very excited to be part of this large and dynamic association. APECS is an international and interdisciplinary organization for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, early faculty members and educators with interests in polar regions and the cryosphere. By providing networking and career development opportunities, APECS activities aim to raise the profile of polar research, develop effective leaders in education and outreach, and stimulate interdisciplinary and international research collaborations. APECS builds on extensive national and disciplinary networks to develop integrated research directions, meet career development needs, and communicate the urgencies of polar science to a worldwide audience. Join APECS here!
Congratulations to Charlotte Taylor (first prize) and Carina Donald (second prize) winners of the 2007 Polar Contests!
The 1st March this year was the start of the International Polar Year (IPY), an initiative involving over 60 countries and thousands of scientists focusing their research efforts on the Arctic and Antarctic. In order to share their enthusiasm for the IPY with other young people, the NZ YSC ran a contest for secondary schools this year. Students were asked to design digital interactive educational materials that can be used to communicate the international importance of the Polar Regions to other people of their age group.
Photo: Carina Donald (left) and Charlotte Taylor (right). Photo courtesey of Eve Welch.
The winners were officially announced last week at a ceremony held at Gateway Antarctica at Canterbury University. Second prize was awarded to Carina Donald from Middleton Grange School in Christchurch who received a $1000 scholarship for first-year Antarctic Studies courses at Canterbury University. Her creative entry was in two parts: a powerpoint presentation on "Climate Change and the Poles", and a board game to learn about the topic in a fun way called "Poles Apart". It made good comparisons between the Poles and was judge to have "high impact".
The ultimate prize for any young person fascinated by the Polar Regions has to be the chance to visit these unique environments in person. The first prize for the contest was a place on an expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula with Students on Ice, an award-winning organisation offering unique learning expeditions to the Antarctic and Arctic. First prize was awarded to Charlotte Taylor from St Cuthberts School, Auckland, for her entry "Ice Base". This interactive presentation leads the viewer through the decision making process involved in establishing a base in Antarctica. Her entry displayed exceptional knowledge and understanding of the political and environmental concerns, as well as the practicalities of running an Antarctic research base. Charlotte is delighted to be able to join the expedition this December, where she will meet the winners of similar contests that were held for the IPY in Portugal and Canada. The expedition will be blogging to the Students on Ice website where we will be able to follow Charlotte's adventure along the Antarctic Peninsula through images, stories and videos.
This contest has been made possible thanks to generous support from the University of Otago Polar Environments Research Theme, Gateway Antarctica at Canterbury University and Antarctica New Zealand.
Get involved in IPY
We are looking for secondary school students, students currently involved in polar research, and teachers to join our online forum.
Older News
Participation Guidelines for the Polar Contests available now!
These outline everything you need to know to participate in the Polar Contests.
Updates to the Polar Contests!
There have been exciting changes to the programme for the 2007 Polar Contests - including a new prize. Registration has been extended to 31st May 07 so sign up to the forum ASAP!
Click here to download the latest newsletter including an important announcement about the prize for the Polar Contests.
Frozen Five Expedition has started!
Kim and the team are currently skiing across Svalbard in the Arctic and sending updates to their site
