Fairness and equality are the cornerstones of successful Svalbard and Arctic science and we will address these topics in a two-day workshop that will explore the intersection between diversity and data. It will bring together Svalbard early career researchers (ECRs) and ECRs from across the Arctic to promote cross-boundary, interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaborations with the aim of highlighting Svalbard as a gold standard region with regards to polar science inclusivity. We will also instigate the development of the SIOS ECR network and extend the workshop to reach ECRs in the APECS community that are not already engaged in Svalbard science. This will provide a discovery opportunity to draw future researchers to Svalbard and foster a wider, pan-Arctic collaborative network with Svalbard at the centre.
The workshop will have two parts over two days: (1) EDI in Arctic science, facilitated by ?the KUN Centre for Equality and Diversity and (2) the SIOS module “Data management as a tool for scientists”, tailored towards ECRs. This workshop will address the critical challenge of equipping ECRs with the necessary skills to both implement FAIR data principles and address equality and accessibility in other areas of Svalbard science. The SIOS data module will initiate the unification of Svalbard data from the APECS networks, identify redundancies in data and identify strategies for harmonisation that will benefit SIOS, Svalbard science and ECRs. APECS has a longstanding commitment to EDI through involvement in developing field codes of conduct, hosting workshops on inclusivity in field research and fostering international collaborations. Through the EDI workshop day, we will expand upon these insights and initiate important discussions about challenges in polar research and on Svalbard. This workshop is an important step in establishing specific FAIR data and EDI goals and actions to close accessibility gaps.