The IPBES Fellowship Programme: enhancing the role of early career researchers in science-policy processes towards global sustainability

FARINACI, JULIANA; NIAMIR, AIDIN; GHAZI, HOUDA; PALOMO, IGNACIO; LIM, MICHELLE; VALLE TOBAR, MIREIA; SELOMANE, ODIRILWE; PLISCOFF, PATRICIO; BASHER, ZEENATUL; DA SILVA HYLDMO, HÅKON; THI TRAN, HONG; LASMANA, FELICIA; COSCIEME, LUCA; SITAS, NADIA; JAUREGUIBERRY, PEDRO; STORRØ, INGUNN

Campinas

Conferencia; Ecosystem Services Partnership Regional Conference Latin America 2018; 2018

Ecosystem Services Partnership

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services -IPBES- launched its Fellowship Programme in 2015 to involve early-career experts in its ongoing assessments on the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services for enhancing human wellbeing. The Programme provides an opportunity for early-career individuals from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines working on biodiversity and ecosystem services to fully participate in IPBES assessments through writing and reviewing documents and attending specific workshops and author meetings. This effort fosters the development of intergenerational, interdisciplinary and transnational partnerships. Creating such an atmosphere serves the larger goal of facilitating sustainability transformations by empowering and embracing diversity in skills, leadership styles, and values.In addition to working on the assessments, fellows benefit from the mentorship programme in which they are paired with senior experts working in the assessment. The mentorship involves knowledge exchange and mutual learning through the established intergenerational partnerships between fellows and senior experts. Although the fellowship finishes once the assessment is approved, fellows can choose to continue being involved through the newly established IPBES Fellows & Alumni network run by former and current fellows. For example, fellows have published scientific articles together, and currently multiple publications are under preparation. Additionally, alumni potentially serve as a pool of experts for upcoming assessments, mentors and resource persons for new cohorts of fellows, and those involved can act as ambassadors for IPBES in their local institutions, countries and regions. Besides presenting the Fellowship Programme, the poster will highlight the main lessons learned through practice and reflection about the role and relevance of the programme.