Abstract
The polar regions provide valuable insights into the functioning of the Earth’s regulating systems. Conducting field research in such harsh and remote environments requires strong international cooperation, extended planning horizons, sizable budgets and long-term investment. Consequently, polar research is particularly vulnerable to societal and economic pressures during periods of austerity. The global financial crisis of 2008, and the ensuing decade of economic slowdown, have already adversely affected polar research, and the current COVID-19 pandemic has added further pressure. In this article we present the outcomes of a community survey that aimed to assess the main barriers and success factors identified by academic researchers at all career stages in response to these global crises. The survey results indicate that the primary barriers faced by polar early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) act at institutional level, while mitigating factors are developed at individual and group levels. Later career scientists report pressure toward taking early retirement as a means of institutions saving money, reducing both academic leadership and the often unrecognized but vital mentor roles that many play. Gender and social inequalities are also perceived as important barriers. Reorganization of institutional operations and more effective strategies for long-term capacity building and retaining of talent, along with reduction in non-research duties shouldered by EMCRs, would make important contributions toward ensuring continued vitality and innovation in the polar research community.
Highlights
The polar regions are unique in multiple contexts
Polar research serves both as a sentinel for the challenges ahead and in identifying the coping mechanisms required to safeguard natural science careers as we tentatively take the first steps of moving into the post-pandemic world (Petrov et al, 2020)
This study examines the vulnerabilities of polar research career pathways and identifies viable means of responding to the challenges faced, in order to secure the careers of future generations of polar scientists and the research they undertake
Summary
The polar regions are unique in multiple contexts They hold some of the longest cryospheric global climate records in their ice sheets and, make a significant contribution toward our knowledge of global biotic and abiotic regulating systems and changes. The careers that underpin it, need to develop greater resilience in order to prosper over the longer term and to ensure the maintenance of long-term data series and the careers of researchers and field support staff that are at risk of being discontinued Polar research serves both as a sentinel for the challenges ahead and in identifying the coping mechanisms required to safeguard natural science careers as we tentatively take the first steps of moving into the post-pandemic world (Petrov et al, 2020)
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