We are delighted to announce the launch of a new working group: Fresh Eyes on CMIP. This working group will diversify the voices influence the design of CMIP in current and future phases.
Researchers, scientists, and practitioners early in their career provide a unique insight into climate science and have the potential to offer a fresh perspective on CMIP and have historically been underrepresented in the CMIP governance teams. ECRs* regularly undertake the, often time consuming, task of generating, downloading, processing, and analysing data from CMIP and have a unique, working insight into the successes and flaws of CMIP phases.
Fresh Eyes on CMIP will be a new working group comprised of scientists, researchers, and practitioners in the early stages of their careers to sit alongside the CMIP7 task teams. Fresh Eyes on CMIP will also work to significantly increase collaborations with scientists working in the global south.
CMIP Panel co-chair Helene Hewitt launched the group at the European Geosciences Union’s General Assembly last week,
“We see this group as providing invaluable insight into the generation, access, and analysis of CMIP data. We want to improve our ways of working by promoting inclusivity and diversity and ensuring greater representation of ECR voices in the future CMIP. It’s so important when we’re looking to solve big problems in climate science that we have everyone’s voice at the table.”
Helene Hewitt, CMIP Panel Co-chair
ECR Definition
Whilst many different definitions of ECRs exist, we want to emphasise that identification of career stage differs greatly across different people’s careers. Therefore, our definition of early career researchers (ECRs) are master and PhD students, researchers, and practitioners are simply those who are in the early stages of their career. Typical definitions of ECRs suggest this period is within seven years of obtaining their highest degree (excluding career breaks). We will not impose this strict time definition but include it for reference. Application is open to all scientists, researchers, and practitioners in the early stages of their career. Practitioners are those working at the interface of society, policy, practice, and research.
Objectives of the group
Whilst the individual proposal topics from Fresh Eyes on CMIP will be led by the group members once in place, the overarching aims of the group are to
- Integrate the voices of scientists early in the career into CMIP to provide an invaluable working insight into the generation, access, and analysis of CMIP data,
- Engage ECRs in the broader scientific and research community intersecting academia, NGOs, private sector, and Governmental institutions,
- Work with the CMIP International Project Office (IPO) on identifying avenues for reducing the carbon footprint of CMIP.,
- Act as liaison contacts for the CMIP7 Task Teams, CMIP Panel, and WGCM Infrastructure Panel (WIP) and submit proposals to the panels when suitable
How to apply
Application to the Fresh Eyes on CMIP group opened on 2nd May 2023 and will remain open for one month until 2nd June 2023. Application requires filling in a short form which asks for a statement of experience and statement of motivation.
From the membership applications received, we will also be searching for two co-leads for the group. Please indicate if you are particularly interested in being a co-lead.
We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Solving problems as difficult as those in climate science requires having representation of all voices at the table. We therefore encourage applications from all who are interested, regardless of background, gender, nationality, or seniority. We also encourage applications from all who are interested, no amount of experience with CMIP is too small!
Access the full call text by following this link.
Access the application form on the Fresh Eyes on CMIP webpage.
