WORKSHOPS
On this page find details of the four Workshops offered as part of SCAR 2020 Online.
Inclusive Collaborations in Antarctic Research
TUESDAY 4 AUGUST, 1500-1800 UTC
Speakers
Speakers 'Inclusion in Antarctic Research' Panel discussion:
Dr. Eoghan Griffin is the SCAR Executive Officer and plays an important role in SCAR's Capacity Building, Education and Training (CBET) Committee.
Prof. Dr. J. Otto Habeck is a Professor at the University of Hamburg whose work focuses on Gender relations and gender roles in the Arctic.
Morgan Seag is a PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge, whose work explores issues of gender equality in Antarctic Institutions.
Alexander Thornton is the co-founder of the Pride in Polar Research Network and former APECS Executive Committee member. He is dedicated to tackling issues of inequality in Polar Research and challenging polar institutions to improve upon their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Speakers 'Antarctic Leaders' Panel Discussion:
Dr. Kelly Falkner is the Deputy Director of the Office of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation in the United States.
Dr. Marcelo Leppe is the Director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Chilean Representative to SCAR.
Prof. M. Ravichandran is the SCAR Vice President for Capacity Building and the Director of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research in India.
Jane Rumble OBE is the Head of Polar Regions Department at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Co-Chairs
Dr. Renuka Badhe currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the European Polar Board, and is based in the Netherlands. Her background is in economics and public policy, and she holds a PhD on southern ocean phytoplankton physiology. Renuka has worked with a range of international organisations on various aspects of polar science, policy and/or strategy development. Her current responsibilities include serving as a Chair of EU-PolarNet project’s External Expert Advisory Board, and service on many national and international committees. She is particularly interested in promoting polar research to a wide audience using a variety of traditional and non-traditional communication tools, and projects looking at the interface between governance, science, and policy in the polar regions.
Iqra Choudhry is a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester, whose work focuses on the history of SCAR and its relationship to Antarctic Governance and policy-making. She also serves as part of the Rapporteur team to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. She is passionate about decolonising approaches to Antarctic humanities research and working towards making polar research a more inclusive and equitable field.
Morgan Seag is a PhD Candidate in Geography / Polar Studies at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the gendered histories of science, environment, and policy In Antarctica. She also serves as a rapporteur to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and has led or supported local and international projects toward diversity, inclusion, and equity in polar research.
Meredith Nash is an Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. Her research broadly explores gendered inequalities in everyday life. Her current projects examine leadership for women in STEMM and gendered experiences of Antarctic research and fieldwork.
Alex Thornton is the co-founder of the Pride in Polar Research Network and former APECS Executive Committee member. He is dedicated to tackling issues of inequality in Polar Research and challenging polar institutions to improve upon their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Donna Frater Donna Frater is an experienced 20 year geologist and a career long STEM Diversity Ambassador. Donna completed her MSc Gender, Development and Globalisation at London School of Economics to address the continuing issues with Diversity and Inclusion in STEM globally. Her current work at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) involves leading the UK's Diversity in Polar Science Initiative, a project jointly carried out by BAS and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Speakers 'Inclusion in Antarctic Research' Panel discussion:
Dr. Eoghan Griffin is the SCAR Executive Officer and plays an important role in SCAR's Capacity Building, Education and Training (CBET) Committee.
Prof. Dr. J. Otto Habeck is a Professor at the University of Hamburg whose work focuses on Gender relations and gender roles in the Arctic.
Morgan Seag is a PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge, whose work explores issues of gender equality in Antarctic Institutions.
Alexander Thornton is the co-founder of the Pride in Polar Research Network and former APECS Executive Committee member. He is dedicated to tackling issues of inequality in Polar Research and challenging polar institutions to improve upon their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Speakers 'Antarctic Leaders' Panel Discussion:
Dr. Kelly Falkner is the Deputy Director of the Office of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation in the United States.
Dr. Marcelo Leppe is the Director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Chilean Representative to SCAR.
Prof. M. Ravichandran is the SCAR Vice President for Capacity Building and the Director of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research in India.
Jane Rumble OBE is the Head of Polar Regions Department at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Co-Chairs
Dr. Renuka Badhe currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the European Polar Board, and is based in the Netherlands. Her background is in economics and public policy, and she holds a PhD on southern ocean phytoplankton physiology. Renuka has worked with a range of international organisations on various aspects of polar science, policy and/or strategy development. Her current responsibilities include serving as a Chair of EU-PolarNet project’s External Expert Advisory Board, and service on many national and international committees. She is particularly interested in promoting polar research to a wide audience using a variety of traditional and non-traditional communication tools, and projects looking at the interface between governance, science, and policy in the polar regions.
Iqra Choudhry is a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester, whose work focuses on the history of SCAR and its relationship to Antarctic Governance and policy-making. She also serves as part of the Rapporteur team to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. She is passionate about decolonising approaches to Antarctic humanities research and working towards making polar research a more inclusive and equitable field.
Morgan Seag is a PhD Candidate in Geography / Polar Studies at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the gendered histories of science, environment, and policy In Antarctica. She also serves as a rapporteur to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and has led or supported local and international projects toward diversity, inclusion, and equity in polar research.
Meredith Nash is an Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. Her research broadly explores gendered inequalities in everyday life. Her current projects examine leadership for women in STEMM and gendered experiences of Antarctic research and fieldwork.
Alex Thornton is the co-founder of the Pride in Polar Research Network and former APECS Executive Committee member. He is dedicated to tackling issues of inequality in Polar Research and challenging polar institutions to improve upon their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Donna Frater Donna Frater is an experienced 20 year geologist and a career long STEM Diversity Ambassador. Donna completed her MSc Gender, Development and Globalisation at London School of Economics to address the continuing issues with Diversity and Inclusion in STEM globally. Her current work at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) involves leading the UK's Diversity in Polar Science Initiative, a project jointly carried out by BAS and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Overview
Ensuring diversity in experience and skills in a team enhances the quality of research. Collaborations have always played a large part in polar research in general, but Antarctic research in particular due to its remoteness and the harsh work environment. While a preconceived image of a polar researcher still exists, the polar research community has recognised the need for inclusive collaboration, and the recognition and dismantling of socially and culturally enmeshed barriers to participation in polar research. Improving awareness and equity within our own community is an excellent way to prepare researchers to meet the challenges posed by the complexities of the much-needed interdisciplinary work, and the paradigmatic shift towards knowledge co-production in the polar regions.
This workshop includes oral presentations from those working towards more inclusive collaborations in the field, a panel discussion on challenges to inclusive collaboration, a breakout discussion and a second panel which brings together decision makers in Antarctic institutions to discuss how we can improve diversity, equality and inclusion going forwards.
Schedule
15:00-15:05 - Introduction
15:05-15:30 - Oral and poster presentations
15:30-16:00 - 'Inclusion in Antarctic Research' Panel discussion
16:00-16:10 - Comfort Break
16:10-16:40 - Breakout Discussion 1 - Embracing Diversity and the Importance of Interdisciplinary Collaborations
16:40-17:10 - Breakout Discussion 2 - Diversity and Inclusion in the Field and at Professional Events
17:10-17:20 - Comfort Break
17:20-17:50 - 'Antarctic Leaders' Panel Discussion
17:50-18:00 - Closing Remarks
Improving the FAIRness of Antarctic Data: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions
TUESDAY 4 AUGUST, 1130-1400 UTC
Chairs
Dr. Johnathan Kool
Panel Speakers
Ria Olivier
V.S. Samy
Dr. Pip Bricher
Dr. Anton van de Putte
Dr. Frank Nitsche
Overview
As the volume and variety of Antarctic information continues to increase, new strategies are needed in order to keep pace. A key consideration is to ensure that data are FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Fortunately, a broad range of technologies and innovations are being developed to support data management and delivery. In this session, representatives from National Antarctic Data Centres and the SCAR community will discuss some of these emerging trends, including: web tools and services, metadata management, and advances in the use of AI and Big Data approaches. The talks are intended to be suitable for both technical and non-technical audiences, providing a window into the latest trends in delivering Antarctic information.
SCAR capacity building workshop
THURSDAY 6 AUGUST, 1500-1700 UTC
Chairs
Prof. M. Ravichandran - SCAR Vice President for Capacity Building
Speakers
Dr. Eoghan Griffin - SCAR Executive Officer
Dr Mahesh Badanal - National Centre For Polar And Ocean Research
Bruno Fusaro - Instituto Antártico Argentino
Dr. Ravichandran Muthalagu - National Centre For Polar And Ocean Resesearch
Dr Lavenia Ratnarajah - University Of Liverpool
Ms Sophie Weeks - PEI
Overview
This session will present details of the 2020 SCAR Fellowship and Visiting Scholar schemes, including eligibility, applications and the adjustments made to reflect the impact of Covid19. There will be opportunity to ask questions live, along with testimony from Fellows and Scholars and details of other resources available for advice.
We will also discuss how SCAR can address issues of diversity and inclusion, and the work the SCAR Capacity Building Education and Training (CBET) Committee undertakes in partnership with other organisations.
- Introduction by Dr. Ravichandran Muthalagu
- Presentation – Fellowships by Dr. Eoghan Griffin
- Fellowship personal testimony by Dr Lavenia Ratnarajah
- Fellowship personal testimony by Bruno Fusaro
- Presentation – Visiting Scholarships byDr. Eoghan Griffin
- Visiting Scholarship personal testimony by Dr Mahesh Badanal
- SCAR Medals by Dr. Eoghan Griffin
- Diversity and Inclusion in SCAR Dr. Eoghan Griffin
- Introduction to Introduction to Polar
Educators International; Polar Resource book project by Polar Educators
- General Q&A for all speakers
Accessing the Biogeochemical Argo network for Southern Ocean research
FRIDAY 7 AUGUST, 0600-0800 UTC
Convenor
Kimberlee Baldry
Overview
Over the better part of four years, the Biogeochemical Argo (BGC-Argo) program has used the framework of the core Argo program to collect biogeochemical measurements over a global scale. In the Southern Ocean, the pilot program is proving to be particularly useful in the historically under sampled region. The subsurface sampling capabilities of the autonomous drifters have extending our understanding of basin-scale Southern Ocean biogeochemistry from the superficial view of satellites. Additionally, floats continue to collect data in winter, a season which is grossly under sampled due to rough oceanographic conditions.
This session will equip participants with the skills and knowledge to apply the BGC-Argo network to Southern Ocean research. An overview of the BGC-Argo program and future directions will be given, particularly focusing on the biogeochemical variables which are measured within the program and their applications to Southern Ocean research. Following this, a hands-on tutorial will allow users to access the data via the Global Data Acquisition Centres (GDACs) and subsidiary data distributers (eg. SOCCOM). Data quality control procedures will then be discussed, giving participants access to the relevant handbooks and literature required to make good decisions when applying the data to research. Finally, a short activity on manipulating the data for biogeochemical applications will be undertaken. It is hoped that this workshop will allow both beginners and existing users of the BGC-Argo network to become more confident with data handling, increasing data uptake of the pilot program.