A year full of collaborations by the MCAA Chapters - MCAA Magazine March 2024
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MCAA has members all over the world. Read what they organised, enjoyed and accomplished in 2023.
Introduction
The human being is not meant to live alone, but rather in communities to provide the necessary support for possible challenges. Local groups or Chapters are the main pillars of the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), where we can connect with researchers and create a supportive community to face issues or advocate for better actions. The MSCA fosters excellence in research and, together with the MCAA, bridges science, business, and policies, supports science communication and diversity, and helps with career development and research management.
The MCAA consists of 35 different Chapters all over the world, involving thousands of people from various research fields and career stages, holding positions in academia, research and industry. In 2023, the MCAA Chapters developed events aimed at career development, science policy, science communication, and many other topics. Below, inspect with us a summary of all the chapters and events of the last year.
Enhancing professional growth of MCAA members
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions scholars and alumni, spanning various career stages from students to established professionals, continually seek new skills and knowledge. To address this, the MCAA has introduced the Learning Programme, offering its members complimentary access to over 7000 courses at Coursera (Greco, 2023).
In addition to individual learning opportunities, MCAA Chapters worldwide actively organised and participated in diverse events, fostering new skills, knowledge sharing, and experiential learning.
The common question of “What’s next?” that plagues most members was addressed through specialised workshops and events hosted by different Chapters. For instance, the Brazil Chapter explored Career Planning using Design Thinking, while the Germany Chapter provided overview about Careers outside academia: insights from MCAA fellows. Past fellows, experts from different fields and a career coach shared their successful story of making the switch. Many Alumni also seek the path into business, therefore Researchers met Innovators in Belgium - A Life Sciences hub for Startups was held by the Benelux Chapter.
Bridging academia and industry was a networking event for creative minds held in Ireland in collaboration with the business school in Dublin City University. “This encounter aimed to increase the links between academia and industry by delivering impact doing research, as well as exploring career development opportunities in both sectors,” says Irene Castellano Pellicena, Ireland Chapter Chair and the main organiser.
Suggestions on staying in academia and advice on further grant applications were listened to by Irish scholars during an event: Funding opportunities for post-doctoral researchers and research fellows in Ireland. An analogous event was held in France: European fellowships after PhD - MSCA and ERC opportunities. Five speakers were invited on the stage to talk about their direct personal experiences with these European funds. “It was an excellent opportunity to discuss two types of European funds, the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship and the ERC Starting Grant,” say the organisers Giulia Rizzo, Chair of MCAA France Chapter, and Pradeep Eranti, a member of the Chapter.
Research Proposals Tips and Tricks were discussed during the MCAA Latin America (LATAM) Conference 2023: Scientific Cooperation in Latin America, the biggest event in LATAM co-organised by Andean-Caribbean Chapter. MCAA members offered valuable advice to the audience on grant writing and preparation of research proposals based on their broad experience with MSCA calls.
How to find your way into an academic position know now Mexican scholars who attended Career paths symposium Los caminos de la ciencia: Carreras en la Industria.The symposium included an informal lunch that served simultaneously as a ‘speed-dating’ exercise with students to discuss career choices in different fields.
Los caminos de la ciencia: Nephtalí Garrido
What do HR recruiters want from you: The art of writing a good CV was a topic of one of the career development workshops organised by Western Balkan Chapter. This event was followed by webinars Interview Process: The hiring mangers’ perspective and How to write an Effective Resume.
Interview Process: The hiring mangers’ perspective
How to write an Effective Resume
With a similar intention, Negotiation and Influence Skills Workshop was organised by the North America Chapter. “When facing a disagreement, what if you could identify areas of shared benefit, or even unexpected gains, as soon as conflict arises? What if you could persuade and influence instead of impose? What if you and the ones opposite to you could achieve your goals - and more - and feel part of a fair resolution process? What if you could always find a way for all to win?” asks Cristina Florea, Vice-Chair of the Chapter and the main organiser.
Another great topic that raised the curiosity of MCAA Fellows in 2023 was Artificial Intelligence (AI). The whole June 2023 special issue of the MCAA Newsletter was dedicated to AI under the title Beyond the hype: How will large language models (LLM) impact research practices? (Spînu & Riosa, 2023). A collaboration between Switzerland and Germany Chapters resulted in a seminar on Research Redefined: The AI Connect, exploring the transformative impact of AI on research methodologies. Speakers presented various types of AI tools and ways of using the LLM platforms to perform data analysis or to increase the efficiency and quality of research works. They pointed out the principal differences between functions of a human brain and an AI.
Science communication and sharing the knowledge
One of the professional development opportunities is also an engagement in science communications activities. Alumni from the Romanian chapter participated in the seminar Storytelling in Science. Science communication activities for the public were organised by the Western Balkan and Croatia Chapters as a game for children: “This educational-interactive STEM game is played on a surface printed on canvas, and instead of pawns, elementary school-aged children move on it. They draw a card with a question from the STEM field. After answering, they get some interesting information about the topic from the drawn card. The event took place in the centre of Split in the pedestrian area and more than 20 school-age children participated and there were more than 1000 spectators,” explains Samira Sajlović, creator of the game.of research works. They pointed out the principal differences between functions of a human brain and an AI.
Citizen Science is another way of public engagement and how to involve society into research was discussed during the MCAA LATAM Conference 2023. The speakers presented different experiences and tried to answer: “What is the outlook for citizen science? How to increase society’s engagement in science projects? And what are the biggest challenges and pitfalls?”
Many alumni shared their experiences with their fellowships and writing of a grant application, typically MSCA or ERC. Several panel discussions on such topics were co-organised by the China Chapter. Among others, their members talked about MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Global Talent event, at Overseas Scholars Lecture, in the International Exchange Sharing Session at Southwest University in China, or at events in collaboration with EURAXESS China and CESEES (Chinese-European Society for Environment, Ecology & Sustainability).
“In order to help everyone become familiar with the application process and assist in applying for the Marie Curie Fund, MCAA China, together with EURAXESS and CESEES societies, launched a series of activities called “Marie Curie Postdoctoral Application Experience Sharing Sessions”, inviting several successful applicants to share their topic selection and apply for experience,” say the organisers of a seminar with 6600+ online viewers.
In a similar way, dissemination of information about MCAA was held in Bengaluru, India during the European Research Day co-organised by Euraxess India. Attendees were provided first hand information on funding opportunities for collaborative research and innovation projects, as well as Doctoral and Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities for pursuing research careers in Europe.
Likewise, members of the Africa Chapter presented in MCAA around the world Webinar: Participation rules in HE Pillar 2 projects and Grant writing.
Science policies improve the world around us
Some people say the year 2024 will be the most challenging year for diplomacy, with regional conflicts influencing world decisions. Given the universal character of science, diplomatic issues also have high potential to modulate scientific collaborations or reduce scientific budgets for countries to conquer geopolitical goals. Bringing researchers together to discuss science diplomacy and make better policies helps the world tackle global challenges and even address regional and cross-border interests.
A great example of how a research community makes a difference in the implementation of policies happened in Romania. When the Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digitalization of Romania launched for public debate the draft law regarding the statute of research and development personnel, aiming to merge two separate laws, the chapter took action to improve the document, including the ethical guidelines and the criteria for research assessment. “Currently, the MCAA Romanian Chapter believes that adopting the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA) as the official national code for the research community in Romania would serve as a valuable initiative to support and enhance the R&I system in the country,” explains Andrada Lazea-Stoyanova, former MCAA Romania Chapter Chair.
2023 was a year to reflect on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030. The SpainPortugal and North America Chapter is an example. The MCAA Spain-Portugal Chapter dedicated the 13th episode of the MCAA Around the World Webinar Series to SDGs of Agenda 2030. The event was a great initiative to also discuss social engagement and the role of citizen science in that matter.
MCAA Around the World Webinar Series #13 - Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda 2030
The Mexico and North America Chapters collaborated for a second time to organise a forum on Alliances for the Sustainable Development Goals. This forum, which brought together organisations from academia, government, and civic sectors, emphasised the MCAA’s role as a unifying force. The event, held at CEMEFI in Mexico City and transmitted online, provided a comprehensive platform for discussing progress towards the SDGs and exploring collaboration possibilities.
Focused on tackling the biggest issue of our decades, climate change, the China Chapter co-organised with the German Chapter the 3rd Edition of the Sino-German Sustainable Development Forum, held in Berlin. The event also gathered fellows from other prestigious European fellowships, like the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation and the German Academic Exchange Service.
Discussing climate change and governance, digital technology and sustainability, and global health and well-being, researchers were able to raise collaborations and open doors for solid partnerships between the German and Chinese chapters.
Ensuring healthy lives is the goal of most SDGs, and the MCAA Southeast chapter was not left behind in discussing a planetary health in the multilateral space and opportunities in the science and diplomacy area. The ISC Global Knowledge Dialogue Asia Pacific was organised by the International Science Council (ISC) together with the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific through the Australian Academy of Science and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia on October 6, 2023. The meeting was beneficial for establishing new connections and discussing reforms to improve the functioning of the Chapter itself.
Collaboration towards common aims
The collaborative endeavours within the MCAA have not only strengthened the global network of members but have also fostered impactful events and initiatives. In this regard, we make an overview into the significant achievements across the annual meetings of Chapters, networking events, and regional engagements, with a special focus on the Latin American (LATAM) region.
The MCAA China Chapter set an exemplary precedent by hosting its First Annual Conference and the China-Europe S&T Talent Forum. The innovative Global Live Broadcast + online format not only facilitated global participation (more than 6,500 online viewers across 20 countries) but also showcased the adaptability of the association to the evolving digital landscape. Esteemed guests added academic gravitas to the event, encouraging a collaborative spirit among Marie Curie scholars. Furthermore, the involvement of over 10 renowned industry experts highlighted the intersection between academia and industry, fostering discussions on impactful contributions to Sino-European scientific and technological innovation.
The Germany Chapter’s Biannual meeting in Frankfurt proved instrumental in aligning its members with the vision and mission of MCAA. The incorporation of poll results during the event provided valuable insights into the concerns of present fellows and members, guiding the Chapter’s future initiatives. Such participatory approaches contribute to a dynamic and engaged community, ensuring that the association remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members.
The MCAA’s commitment to fostering collaboration among chapters was also exemplified by the Mexico Chapter’s inaugural meeting at the EU Delegation in Mexico City in June. This significant event marked the culmination of a year since the Chapter’s creation and was hosted by the EU Delegation. The meeting drew participation not only from the Mexico Chapter but also from representatives of other European Embassies, including those from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden.
The MCAA Switzerland Chapter’s collaboration with the Germany Chapter resulted in the MCAA Around the World Webinar on the Open access science policies and new research assessment practices for sustainable research careers. This collaborative effort not only enriched the knowledge base of participants but also highlighted the global impact of MCAA initiatives.
The joint webinar organised by the UK and Spanish chapters on Careers after the MSCA Fellowship - alternative careers beyond academia & industry exemplified the synergistic power of collaboration. The pooling of resources and expertise demonstrated the capacity of Chapters to work collectively towards a common goal, offering valuable insights to postdoctoral researchers.
Via networking to social well-being
Networking lies at the heart of MCAA’s mission, and this is evident in the efforts of various Chapters. The China Chapter, for instance, boasts a robust network comprising over 400 Chinese scholars. This network not only facilitates professional connections but also enhances the visibility and impact of Marie Curie alumni in the broader scientific community.
The Ireland Chapter’s focus on bridging academia and industry through networking events showcased a strategic approach to talent development. By connecting early career researchers and innovators with industries and research institutes, the chapter facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas and opportunities.
The MCAA LATAM Conference 2023, held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, stands out as a pivotal event, demonstrating the power of collaboration among the Marie Curie Alumni Association LATAM Chapters, EURAXESS LAC, MSCA Colombia NCPs Network, and Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge Association. Spanning October 26th to 28th, the conference provided an invaluable platform for current and former Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions fellows from Latin America. Organised in partnership with the Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar and hosted in the vibrant city of Cartagena, the event aimed to facilitate networking and collaboration.
With 77 on-site participants representing MCAA members, internationalisation and research managers, MSCA NCPs representatives, and local and regional actors, the event fostered a rich exchange of ideas. Additionally, the virtual audience, tuning in via YouTube, exceeded 200 views on both days, broadening the impact of discussions on Scientific Cooperation in Latin America. The event served as a catalyst for promoting scientific cooperation and addressing regional and global challenges within the Latin American research landscape.
Conclusions
The MCAA members and alumni are a very active part of the society. Not only do they want to be better themselves by participating in self-development activities, they are also always eager to share their knowledge or to improve the science policies locally and worldwide, or to engage the public into science. Various MCAA Chapters are keen on collaborations on common topics among themselves as well as with other bodies in the public area, such as EURAXESS or International Science Council.
By investing in the development of the soft skills and technical expertise of its members through these workshops, webinars, and panel discussions, the MCAA chapters contribute to the sustainability of research careers and research as an enterprise. The working groups of MCAA, are the backbone of these activities, supporting not only the organisation of these events but also acting as a bridge across different chapters.
New year brings new challenges and opportunities. The themes of the future are mental health or diversity and inclusiveness in academia. How to approach such complicated topics already delineated the North American Chapter.
We hope to share more and more events from the MCAA Chapters in the next issues of the MCAA Newsletter and Irradium. Last but not least, we thank chapter chairs for sharing their achievements.
References
Greco, G. M. (2023). The value of continuous learning: Insights from the MCAA Learning Programme. The MCAA Newsletter, 35, 9-11.
https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/newsletters/35th-mcaa-newsletter/news-mcaa-value-continuous-learning-insights-mcaa-learning
Spînu, N., & Riosa, R. (Eds). (2023). Beyond the hype: How will large language models impact research practices? The MCAA Newsletter, 35, June 2023.
https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/sites/default/files/2023-06/MCAA-Newsletter-June-2023.pdf
Ana Paula Mendonça
IRRADIUM magazine, Editorial Board Member
Università degli Studi di Padova
Twitter @ana_paulamm2
ORCID 0000-0001-9091-249X
Sandra María Fernández Moya
IRRADIUM magazine, Editorial Board Member
Institut de Investigació Biomedica de Bellvitge, Spain
ORCID 0000-0002-5894-4296
Eliška Koňaříková
IRRADIUM magazine, Editorial Board Member
ORCID 0000-0001-7365-5006