Training objectives

DEEPICE training program is a balanced mix between specialized research and technical core skills involving strong links with non-academic partners, additional methodological skills provided by the networking events and training schools as well as soft skills for the early-stage researchers’ (ESR) future career academic and non-academic fields.

The principal training objectives are:

• to give ESRs core skills through in-depth expertise of their own research project and tools (instrumentation, data acquisition, modeling) and through local training (state-of-the-art theories, concepts and techniques in climate science).
• to provide the ESRs additional skills using four directions: (1) team working through the different network events and the structure of the ITN project, (2) basic techniques and instrumentations in ice core and snow science, (3) statistics and modelling applied to climate science, (4) outreach and  communication to society through media, education, policymakers.
• to assist the ESRs in shaping their careers in academia or industry by providing them the needed soft skills (e.g. organisational, team-building, networking, management skills) as well as an experience of the private sector and solid professional connections.

Credit: UKRI-BAS

Training activities

To develop core skills and additional skills, DEEPICE early-stage researchers will benefit from a complete network-wide training program and also from local training opportunities at their host institution.

Through their individual research project, each Early Stage Researcher (ESR) will acquire basic scientific skills (e.g. formulating research questions, developing research projects) and knowledge of climate change in polar regions.

Besides, the network-wide training activities will include:

Training schools

3 thematic schools will be organised for DEEPICE students, including systematically theoretical courses and practical and field work.

General courses

The early-stage researchers will also follow two common courses on data archiving and management and on environmental mitigation strategies and the regulations of the Antarctic treaty environment protocol.

Secondments

Each early-stage researcher will have two to four secondment periods in the academic sector and the non-academic sector during the PhD project. The secondments will be held at DEEPICE partners’ premises. This will allow the students to receive intersectoral and interdisciplinary training. Secondment periods usually lasts from 2 weeks to 3 months.

International conferences

The students will be supported to present their findings through oral and poster presentations at 2 major scientific conferences at least.

This will enable them to present and discuss their current research, forging and strengthening collaborations within and outside the network and gaining experience in science communication and argumentation, which are essential soft skills to learn for any future careers.