For the third consecutive time, the DFG Priority Programme Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs (SPP 2299) successfully hosted its Early Career Researcher Meeting at MARUM, University of Bremen, this past week. From the 10th to the 13th of March 2025, ten researchers from across Germany gathered to refine their skills in scientific writing and grant proposal preparation and to further solidify collaborations across the SPP 2299 programme.
This year the meeting was titled ‘Enhancing Academic Writing and Grant Applications Skills for Early-Career Researchers’ with daily workshops designed to provide the participants with essential competencies for their academic careers, preparing them to navigate competitive environments, highlight their strengths, and tackle their tasks with confidence. This meeting was designed with the help of the Gender & Diversity Consulting of the University of Bremen, in line with the DFG diversity dimensions and funded by the equality funding from the SPP 2299 programme (Gleichstellungspauschale). We had two major workshops from external trainers, Dr. Karin Bodewits and Professor Inger Mewburn, and a third day delivered by Dr. Jessica Hargreaves.
Guest speaker Karin Bodewits from NaturalScience.Careers travelled to Bremen to highlight the importance of scholarships, travel grants, and fellowships. She explained that these not only provide academic support but are also key to success in various sectors, including academia, industry and non-governmental organizations. This session was focused on building confidence for PhD candidates and postdocs when applying for grants regardless of the size.
In addition to this in-person session the meeting was treated to an online workshop from Professor Inger Mewburn at the Australian National University on How to Write Logically Coherent Sentences. Inger showed our ECR participants how to structure their research findings to enhance clarity and readability, and emphasized the importance of precise language and logical transitions in scientific communication to ensure engagement and comprehension.
While the workshops encouraged in-depth discussions on complex topics, they also provided opportunities for informal exchange and networking. In the evenings, participants gathered in further debate over provocative statements, such as „Citations and journal impact factors are meaningless—real academic success should be measured by public engagement and policy influence“ and “The best academics are not necessarily the smartest—they are just the most persistent“. These discussions promoted critical reflection in a supportive setting.
To learn more about the activities of the DFG-Priority Programme Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs, follow us on social media. On Instagram (@climatereefs), we provide insights into workshops, meetings, and expeditions and explain various topics about climate and corals. For a closer look at what an Early Career Researchers Meeting looks like, visit our website (https://www.spp2299.tropicalclimatecorals.de/) and stay engaged with our latest updates.
Written by Larissa Roy and Jessica Hargreaves.