About the Forum
The EMCR networking event at Science at the Shine Dome 2024.
Who are members of the EMCR Forum?
To become a member of the EMCR Forum, sign up on the website. While the Forum Executive Committee advocates for all early- and mid-career researchers, we strongly encourage every EMCR to sign up. It’s a great way to stay informed, get involved and have your voice heard. The larger, more diverse and representative our membership is, the louder and more impactful the Forum and its Executive Committee can be.
Purpose
The Forum provides a mechanism for the Academy to engage with early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) from around Australia and to obtain advice on issues relevant to EMCRs. This informs the Academy’s policy recommendations to government and helps it to develop effective EMCR activities. The Forum provides a vital connection between Australia's most eminent scientists and tomorrow's future scientific leaders.
The EMCR Forum's mission is to serve as the voice of Australia's early- and mid-career researchers, championing improvement in the national research environment through advocacy. The focus of the Forum is on sustainable and transparent career structures, gender equity, stable funding policies, career development opportunities, and raising awareness of issues facing the future of science.
Structure
The EMCR Forum Executive Committee is a dedicated group of volunteers who work in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the Australian Academy of Science to amplify the voice of Australia’s EMCRs in STEM. The Executive Committee advocates on behalf of all EMCRs to decision-makers in government and relevant agencies, while also facilitating national initiatives that support the EMCR community. Serving as a direct link between the EMCR Forum and the Academy’s Council, the Executive Committee strives to be as inclusive, diverse and equitable as possible.
History
The Australian Academy of Science recognised the challenges faced by Australia’s emerging researchers and in 2011, established the Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Forum (EMCR Forum). The EMCR Forum’s creation was championed by then Secretary of Science Policy for the Academy, Professor Robert Williamson, and a group of passionate EMCRs. The Forum was established to serve as a unified voice for EMCRs.
The Forum was structured to have an executive of 10 members, with Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea (then at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute) serving as the Founding Chair. The Forum Executive Committee annually replaces a third of its membership, and has evolved to represent diversity in gender, discipline, sectors and geography. You can find details of past and current Forum Executive members on our Executive Committee members page.
The Forum has actively and successful advocated on behalf of EMCRs, with particular emphasis on diversity and career structures. This has been driven by interacting with decision makers in government and funding agencies, policy and consultation submissions, and best practice guides.