Early-career scientists, including students, are the most diverse group within the Earth and space sciences community. Early-career scientists are integral leaders in research to advance their respective scientific fields, as well as in public engagement (e.g., science communication, policy, outreach, education) to generate solutions for societal challenges. Additionally, early-career scientists account for nearly one-third of American Geophysical Union (AGU) membership and play important roles in many AGU key initiatives. Thus, supporting early-career scientists is crucial to shaping the future of Earth and space sciences and addressing grand challenges for the new centennial.

In this session, we will highlight the diverse voices, experiences, achievements, and challenges of early-career scientists as scholars, educators, artists, communicators, and members of society. Traditional section- or neighborhood-based AGU meeting programming makes it challenging to foster a robust network, especially for early-career scientists working at the nexus of multiple disciplines. Moreover, the high cost of attending the in-person AGU meetings can prevent early-career scientists from expanding their network, particularly for those from underrepresented and marginalized groups and developing countries.

This one-day hybrid event will include hybrid, in-person and virtual events, including a mix of panel discussion, lightning talks, science & art events, mentoring, and networking activities, to engage with AGU early-career scientists from all backgrounds while highlighting two key themes:

1. Cultivating a supportive and inclusive culture for early-career scientists. A supportive and inclusive culture is essential for early-career scientists to thrive as they navigate their career paths. Many recent studies have highlighted the need to change the current culture within the Earth and space science community. We will share diverse perspectives from early-career scientists and allies on current culture and envision a future where early-career scientists can fully explore their potential. Specifically, we will focus on the role of early-career scientists and how we can empower each other as change makers.
2. Fostering collaboration by transcending traditional boundaries. It is important for early-career scientists to develop collaborations as they progress through their career. However, boundaries (e.g., geographical, socioeconomic, and disciplinary boundaries) can limit collaboration. Therefore, we will highlight challenges faced by early-career scientists pursuing collaborations and conducting research, as well as discuss innovative ways to overcome these challenges.

This special session builds on the success of #AGU20's virtual innovative session (INV15 – Moving Beyond the Standard) organized by early-career scientists, which attracted more than hundred early-career scientists and allies to discuss topics that are important for the community. Although this event focuses on early-career scientists, we welcome all members of the AGU community to join the event and engage with early-career scientists. Lastly, this event will be accompanied by online webinars and activities, co-hosted in partnership with the AGU Career Center, Sharing Science, and Thriving Earth Exchange initiatives, before and after the AGU 2021 Fall Meeting to increase early-career scientist engagement throughout the year.