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New Report From FASEB Outlines How Societies Can Support Early-Career Scientists
Tuesday, June 6, 2023FASEB recently published a report that outlines how scientific societies can support early-career scientists and encourage their involvement within the societies. Titled Early Career Representative Engagement Task Force: Final Report and Recommendations, the report summarizes findings demonstrating that societies can act as important spaces to find community and support.
In 2022, FASEB convened the Early Career Representative Engagement Task Force and charged it with identifying early-career scientists’ needs that can be addressed by scientific societies and ways to keep early-career scientists actively engaged as society members throughout their career. The report is a culmination of task force deliberation, survey responses of hundreds of early-career scientists, and virtual focus group sessions.
The report evolves around best practices within five themes:
- Networks and Mentors—Connect scientists beyond local geography and home institution to expand early-career scientists’ networks and mentors.
- Career Exploration and Career Transition Readiness—Offer programming and awards to combat negative stereotypes associated with pursuing careers other than academic tenure track research positions and support members preparing for career transition.
- Safe and Inclusive Environments—Create programming and awards to promote inclusive environments and strive to diversify leadership, committees, task forces, and similar bodies, as well as staff.
- Support for International Students in the U.S.—Target programming and awards to support international scientists.
- Society Structure and Governance—Include a designated early-career representative on the highest body of governance with voting rights and codified in bylaws.