Wrap-up of the 2023-24 UK Chapter Year!

Dear UK Chapter Members and Friends,

A year has passed since I was elected Chair of our Chapter, and while time has flown by, we have achieved much together. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and invite you to help shape our objectives and activities for the coming year.

Objectives Set for the Previous Year

Last year, we identified two key challenges: raising awareness among eligible individuals and enhancing engagement within our Chapter. Our strategy focused on improving communication, fostering social connections, and establishing local contact points to support newcomers. We also planned to launch a bi-monthly newsletter to disseminate better information about MCAA’s missions, resources, and events. By prioritising high-impact, low-cost initiatives, we aimed to build a strong community, repeat successful events, and encourage member-driven activities. This approach was designed to cultivate a sense of community, support networking, and better inform members, ultimately fostering meaningful participation and growth within the Chapter.

Accomplishments Over the Past Year

I am pleased to share that we have made significant progress. The monthly newsletter, launched as planned, now has ten issues and over 120 subscribers, greatly enhancing engagement within the Chapter. To support our community, especially those frequently relocating, we developed the City Ambassador program, which now has seven ambassadors across six cities. We also organised social meetings in Glasgow and London, strengthening our community bonds.

We also forged partnerships with external organisations, such as UKRO and EURAXESS UK, and participated in events to communicate with and reach potential members. Notably, we collaborated with the UKRI team responsible for the Guarantee funding scheme, welcoming Guarantee-funded fellows as Friends of our Chapter, enriching our community.

The last achievement was the inaugural “ECR Summer Day” at Brunel University London, which drew over 65 attendees. This event offered a valuable opportunity for networking and training, featuring innovative sessions on artificial intelligence tools, professional speed dating, public speaking, and workshops on AI in research. We also hosted a panel of experts who provided insights on career paths after a PhD or post-doc. The feedback has been very positive, and I am thrilled with the success of this event!

While we have reached and even exceeded many of our objectives, challenges remain. Proportionally, of the more than 780 members of our Chapter, the number of active team members is still limited, and technical issues with our website have hindered member outreach. I invite you to check your notification settings on the MCAA website. You will not receive any emails if they are down. Also, one of the good ways to stay informed on the Chapter activity is to sign up for our newsletter. You will find it, with our other resources, on our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mcaauk

Objectives for the Coming Year

As we close one chapter and begin another, it is time to gather your feedback and set new goals for the year ahead. Please share your feedback and suggestions through this form https://forms.gle/pAKJmGemnrTXxNoG8 by the 10th of September. The results will be shared in mid-September.

As the Chair, I believe there is still a lot of potential and opportunities to leverage. However, I will coordinate the new Artificial Intelligence General Interest Group for the coming year. Therefore, I am always looking for members ready to engage in activities and projects for the benefit of our community. This allows you to expand your network, develop leadership skills, and prepare for next year’s Chair position. If you are interested, let me know!

Remember, our Chapter’s strength lies in its active members! So, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who actively participated in our chapter’s activities, either by co-organising or attending activities. You are the best, and I look forward to meeting you again this year!

On this, I wish you a lovely end of Summer.

With my warmest regards,

Quentin Loisel

MCAA UK Chapter Chair