Early-career scientists (ECSs), including students, postdoctoral researchers, and other scientists at the beginning stages of their careers are an integral part of the Earth and space sciences community. ECSs actively participate in both research to advance their respective scientific fields, and public engagement to generate solutions for some of the most challenging societal issues, including activities like science communication, science and technology policy, and science-technology-engineering-math education (STEM). ECSs account for nearly one-third of the AGU’s membership and play important roles in many AGU key initiatives. Supporting a diverse, transdisciplinary ECS community within AGU will ensure the integration of cutting-edge Earth and space science research as we address grand challenges within our society.      

Our proposed innovative session aims to host a one-day event within the 2020 AGU Fall Meeting. This event will facilitate ECS collaboration between the AGU sections and neighborhoods by cultivating inclusive, transdisciplinary fellowship through research, networking, and mentoring opportunities. We aim to address three themes: fundamental research, public engagement, and pressing issues for ECSs (e.g., recruitment and retention, building collaborations). The event will include a mix of panel discussions, eLightening presentations, virtual posters, mentoring opportunities, and networking events. Although this event focuses on ECSs, most of the events will be open to all members of the AGU community in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) or virtual format. Select science communication sessions will be open to the general public. Mentoring and networking events will be limited to registered ECSs and other invited AGU community members. 

This event will be co-organized by a group of ECSs and international ECS networks spanning multiple identities and disciplines to ensure diverse and inclusive perspectives during event planning and community engagement. To further the inclusive nature of this event, we propose a hybrid format with virtual participation options that may lower barriers to AGU Fall Meeting participation. This may be especially important for underrepresented ECSs in the AGU community who cannot attend the in-person Fall Meeting but are seeking mentorship and fellowship. The hybrid event may also reduce travel and promote a reduced 2020 AGU Fall Meeting carbon footprint.

To facilitate engagement and participation, the event will be preceded with webinars and engagement activities that will begin prior to the Fall Meeting and follow-up events will continue beyond the 2020 AGU Fall Meeting via virtual platforms. By doing this, we hope to support ECS networking and to foster broader AGU member participation in collaboration with other AGU programs, including Talent Pool, Sharing Science, and Thriving Earth Exchange.