Global Young Academy releases report on challenges facing young scholars

A new organization representing young scholars around the world has released a baseline report that seeks to quantify the challenges facing early-career researchers once they receive their PhDs. Produced by the Global Young Academy (GYA), the report assesses the global knowledge on the state of young researchers in developed and developing nations and makes recommendations on ways to improve their working environments and opportunities for career advancement.

Entitled The Global State of Young Scientists (GloSYS), the 66-page report was released in Berlin in January and makes six recommendations addressing issues such as lack of resources and improving life-work balance to ensuring academic freedom and developing a culture of mentoring (see chart). The report is illuminating both for the commonalities and stark contrasts it finds across jurisdictions, particularly between North American and European nations and those of Africa, Asia and parts of the Middle East and Latin America.

"This is our first high-profile effort. It's a precursor study and the starting point is to quantify and start the conversation at all levels by looking at the best ways to support early-career researchers as they move toward independence," says Dr Reese Kassen, GYA's co-chair and a professor of experimental evolution at the Univ of Ottawa. "The next phase will be to dig deeper into regional issues. For example, the motivation for young researchers in the developed world is doing the research and creating ideas whereas in Africa it tends to be giving back to the country and society."

Since its inception in 2010 in Berlin, GYA has grown to its maximum membership of 200, representing 64 countries in all regions of the world. The GloSYS report was funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with contributions from the Inter Academy Panel and the Volkswagen Foundation. Young scholars are defined as researchers within 10 years of obtaining their PhDs and typically 30-40 years of age. Their academic career point (from a North American perspective) is between assistant and associate professor status.

Kassen notes that the strong idealistic notions of young researchers are often not supported in the most effective ways. Most spend many hours on teaching and administrative duties, squeezing their time available for research. Long hours also cut into private life, particularly those trying to raise young families.

"We're experiencing profound changes in the nature of families and the challenges are very real but they often aren't recognized by senior people in our profession," says Kassen. "There are also regional disparities. Many African nations tend to be very old school in attitudes towards women in the workplace and gender diversity."

Disparities abound in other areas as well. In Germany, 80% of young scholars are concerned about finding permanent employment while in many countries of the Middle East, top-of-mind concerns are often political instability and war.

The report identified mentorship is another key challenge. While it varies widely from country to country, all recognize that it's hard to manage. It also examines gender disparity and mobility — a key touchstone as technology increases the ease with which researchers can work and collaborate with colleagues regardless of location.

GYA membership is currently overwhelmingly academic but efforts are being made to expand into other areas to support career aspirations in industry, government and elsewhere.

In Canada, the recent creation of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists may provide a forum for addressing the challenges of young researchers. A branch of the Royal Society of Canada, the college's first cohort of members will be in place later this year (R$, December 18/13) and Kassen says it could be a valuable tool for achieving the objectives of the GYA.

FMI: www.globalyoungacademy.net

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