1.Final Report - Regional Graduate Student, Post-Doc, and Early Career Researcher Training III
Citation
Derek H. Rosendahl, 1.Final Report - Regional Graduate Student, Post-Doc, and Early Career Researcher Training III: .
Summary
Led by university members of the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (South Central CASC), this project developed and implemented a program for professional development of graduate students, post-docs, and early-career environmental professionals who were conducting climate-related research for the south-central U.S. The project built upon the successes and feedback from previous trainings conducted in 2014 and 2016. The one-week program of workforce development focused on the following: (1) introducing a new cohort of early-career researchers to the goals, structure, and unique research-related challenges of the South Central CASC and its place within the U.S. Department of the Interior’s CASC network, offering them insight [...]
Summary
Led by university members of the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (South Central CASC), this project developed and implemented a program for professional development of graduate students, post-docs, and early-career environmental professionals who were conducting climate-related research for the south-central U.S. The project built upon the successes and feedback from previous trainings conducted in 2014 and 2016. The one-week program of workforce development focused on the following: (1) introducing a new cohort of early-career researchers to the goals, structure, and unique research-related challenges of the South Central CASC and its place within the U.S. Department of the Interior’s CASC network, offering them insight into how their research fits into the broader CASC research priorities and its eventual applicability to end-user needs across the region; (2) facilitating interdisciplinary interactions between participants within the South Central CASC region in an effort to discuss research with, learn from, and foster collaborations with peers who have different methodological approaches; and (3) generating specific curricular materials including a syllabus, a “how to” guide for conducting similar trainings, and a real-world case study exercise that illustrates science-based policy or management decision making. A major outcome of the project was the development of a cohort of early-career professionals who can continue networking through their research pathways and who can understand and eventually lead outcome-oriented, interdisciplinary research. It is anticipated that this program will help remove some of the institutional barriers, or “silos,” of the participants at an influential time in their career development so they can better navigate multi-institutional and multi- or inter-disciplinary research. It is also expected that the project’s activities will contribute to the development of better communication and collaboration practices of the participants for the long-term benefit of the CASCs and their partners.