The PSECCO Conversation Series provides an informal 1-hour discussion space for a small group of early career scientists to explore a topic of interest with a more experienced researcher with considerable success in the topic area. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to steer the conversation by submitting topic-related questions with registration. The host will entertain questions related to the session, so come prepared to have an active discussion.
Please note that these events are designed to be intimate, small-group discussions. Showing up if you've taken a registration spot (which are limited in number) is important so that you're not taking the opportunity to attend away from someone else. If you register for the event and do not show up to it, you may be restricted from registering for a PSECCO Conversation Series event in the future. If you find out you can no longer attend, please email psecco@colorado.edu no later than 48 hours before the event.
| Topic | Host | Biography | Date | What to expect | Sign up link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal writing and interacting with funding agencies | Matthew Shupe | Matthew has been conducting Arctic research for 25 years, mostly focused on atmospheric clouds and radiation and their interactions with icy surfaces. Field work has taken him to northern Alaska and Canada, the top of the Greenland Ice Sheet, and all across the Arctic Ocean. He has had a great deal of success in writing proposals and getting them funded by NSF, DOE, NOAA, and NASA. He is a senior research scientist at the University of Colorado. https://psl.noaa.gov/people/matthew.shupe/ | April 13, 2023 at 1pm MT | Participants will discuss the general concept of interactions with funding agencies, most importantly through writing compelling, and fundable, proposals. | Register here! |
| Science communication with decision makers | Twila Moon | Twila’s work focuses primarily on Greenland and the Arctic, including data tool-building, science community organization, education research, and discovery science across Arctic coastal systems. She is a passionate expert in science communication, speaking with legislators, business leaders, and others to increase awareness and action related to cryosphere and climate. Examples include testifying for the US Congress, direct work with philanthropists and global business leaders via Active Philanthropy and consulting, and extensive media experience across print, radio, and video. She is Deputy Lead Scientist and Science Communication Liaison at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. https://changingice.com/ | May 23, 2023 at 11am MT | Participants will have an opportunity for direct conversation and Q&A. Twila will also share experiences and tips to improve scicomm skills, make connections, and find your path to scicomm action. | Register here! |
| Demystifying federal research science | Caitlyn Florentine | Caitlyn is a research scientist who has worked for the U.S. Geological Survey since 2016. She focuses on the cryosphere, using an approach that integrates in situ data collected in the field, remotely sensed data, and simple numerical models. Her main research interest is in quantitative glaciology, especially regarding the physics of glacier flow and glacier-climate relationships. She is the current Principal Investigator for the Benchmark Glacier Project, which has conducted field-based research on key North American glaciers for 50+ years. https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/caitlyn-florentine/ | June 13, 2023 at 1pm MT | Participants will converse about science in the public sector of civil service. Caitlyn will prompt discussion and answer questions informed by her research perspective as an employee of the executive branch of the United States federal government. | Register here! |
| Education, outreach, and exploring broader impacts | Anne Gold | Anne focuses on science education for educators, students, communities and the public around climate, water, polar regions and geosciences in general. She is interested in understanding and studying effective ways of teaching and learning and is dedicated to grounding her education work in solid research and evaluation. She is passionate about building local partnerships with diverse communities. Anne has led dozens of NSF, NOAA and NASA-funded education projects and leads a vibrant group of 24 outreach and education professionals in developing engaging and meaningful educational opportunities for all learners. https://cires.colorado.edu/outreach/people/anne-u-g | July 19, 2023 at 10am MT | Participants will discuss how to broaden the impact of their science, identify effective education and outreach activities that are aligned with the science and participants interest, talk about the broader impacts review criterion from NSF and strategies on how to develop a strong broader impacts plan and develop a draft for their own work. | Register here! |
| Scientific careers in research and academia | Sinéad Farrell | Sinéad is an Earth Scientist with technical expertise in remote sensing of Earth’s polar oceans. She studies the geophysical processes controlling the seasonal and inter-annual variability of Earth’s sea ice. Her work includes fieldwork deployments to the polar regions to calibrate and validate satellite sensor measurements. Dr. Farrell is a principal investigator on the NASA ICESat-2 and the NASA/NOAA Ocean Surface Topography Science Teams, and she is a member of the Mission Advisory Group for the Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter (CRISTAL). Sinéad was a research scientist for over 12 years before she was appointed to the tenured faculty at the University of Maryland as Associate Professor. | August 23, 2023 at 1pm ET | 11am MT | Participants will discuss the differences and similarities between working as a professional track research scientist versus as a tenure-track/tenured faculty member. Sinéad will share her reflections on working in a variety of research and academic positions over the last 15 years. Participants will have the opportunity for Q&A and will converse about their career interests, aspirations and the potential concerns they may have as they chart their own path in science. | Register here! |
| Opportunities for engaging in US & international scientific coordination groups for early career researchers | Gijs de Boer | Gijs has been conducting Arctic research for 20 years. This has included work with surface- and spaceborn observational tools, numerical models across a variety of scales, and the development and execution of field campaigns and new sensor systems. His work has largely focused on the physics of the lower atmosphere, including cloud and precipitation properties, lower atmospheric dynamics and turbulence, aerosol properties, and the surface energy budget. In addition to his research activities, he has taken on numerous leadership positions in US and international bodies focused on Arctic research. Most recently this includes roles as chair of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Atmosphere Working Group, co-lead of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) Atmosphere Community of Practice, and co-chair of the US Department of Energy Atmospheric System Research High Latitude Processes Working Group. He is a senior research scientist at the University of Colorado. https://cires.colorado.edu/researcher/gijs-de-boer | September 13, 2023 at 12 noon MT | Participants will have an opportunity for direct conversation and Q&A on the topic of engagement with scientific coordination bodies. This conversation can include general information on the types of coordination bodies and their importance, how to get involved, upcoming events, and the role that these different bodies play in the execution of Arctic science. | Register here! |
| Identifying and building your support network | Christine Wiedinmyer | Christine is the CIRES Associate Director for Science and Research Faculty in Mechanical Engineering at CU Boulder. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Earth Science Women’s Network (ESWN) for which she has organized, led or participated in a variety of professional development workshops and activities. One of these is a Workshop on Mentorship and networking, designed in part by ESWN and National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, which she has led many times in the past few years. | October 30, 2023 at 2 pm MT | Participants will gain an understanding of how to explore ways to be supported professionally and personally, from seeking out traditional mentors to pursuing personal accountability. | Register here! |