Authors
Mariama C. Dryák-Vallies (CIRES), Anne U. Gold (CIRES), Bradley Markle (INSTAAR), Madison Payne (CIRES)

Abstract

Since April 2022, the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO) has been offering programming and funding programs to empower, elevate and give agency to the early career polar scientists who are leading the charge to make the polar sciences more welcoming, and accessible. Over the past three years PSECCO has hosted 50 community career development events since its launch, engaging over 4,400 people. At these events the office has focused on fostering community among polar early career researchers (ECRs), listening to their needs, and working to fill gaps in support. PSECCO has distributed over $42,295 in funding through travel, administrative and community support grants to the polar early career community. We have built partnerships with more than 30 polar early career and adjacent organizations doing incredible work aligned with the PSECCO mission. Engagement with the office has been very high, with over 1200 subscribers to our monthly newsletter, over 650 ECRs on our PSECCO Community Slack, and more than 3700 subscribers on Bluesky. PSECCO is excited to continue to grow our community, support leadership development, and to share opportunities, funding, and resources with the polar community. We aim to do so while working towards a more welcoming and accessible polar science environment and we welcome you to join us!