Within the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI), early career scientists are referred to as Early Career Researchers (ECRs), a term that reflects the broad range of roles and career paths within our community. ECRs represent 45.2% of the association’s membership, making them not only a significant part of the community, but also the generation that will carry it forward.
The strong presence of ECRs in IAVCEI is reflected in the activity of the Early Career Researchers Network (ECR-Net, https://ecrnet.iavceivolcano.org/). Created during the 2013 IAVCEI Scientific Assembly in Kagoshima (Japan), the network was born from a simple idea: to connect early career volcanologists and support their development.
Since then, ECR-Net has grown into an active global community. It provides opportunities for career development through workshops and mentoring, creates spaces to share resources and opportunities, and encourages ECRs to take part in the life of the association, from conference sessions to commissions.
More than just a structure, ECR-Net has become a space where early career researchers can find both practical support and a sense of belonging.
The impact of ECRs becomes especially visible during IAVCEI’s major meetings. At the IAVCEI Scientific Assembly 2025 in Geneva, ECRs made up 56% of participants, bringing energy, ideas, and initiative to the event.
Throughout the week, ECR-Net organised activities that combined professional development with community building. A mentoring event brought together more than 100 ECRs and senior scientists for open conversations on career paths and research impact. In the “Future of Volcanology” session, ECRs presented innovative work, through plenary-style talks, highlighting the creativity and leadership of the next generation. And, in a more informal setting, a scavenger hunt turned networking into a shared, fun and memorable experience.
Together, these activities showed that ECRs in IAVCEI are not just participants, but active contributors shaping the community.
Beyond conferences, communication plays a key role in strengthening the ECR community. IAVCEI publishes a quarterly newsletter, where each issue features an Early Career Researcher. These profiles highlight research, career journeys, and personal perspectives, creating a simple but powerful way to connect people across the global volcanology community.
If you want to know more and connect with IAVCEI and the ECR network, check out the following channels:
IAVCEI:
Website: https://www.iavceivolcano.org/
Newsletter archive: https://www.iavceivolcano.org/newsletter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAVCEI/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iavcei/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/IAVCEI_official
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/iavcei.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iavceivolcano
LinkedIn: IAVCEI – Int. Assoc. of Volcanology & Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior
IAVCEI’s ECR-Network:
ECS page: https://ecrnet.iavceivolcano.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/428158950646397
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iavceiecrnet/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/IAVCEI_ECRNet
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/iavceiecrnet.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iavceiecr-net6526
LinkedIn: IAVCEI ECR-Net
IAVCEI’s ECR community is inherently global, spanning a wide range of geographic regions and research environments. To reflect this diversity, the following section introduces seven Early Career Researchers from around the world, who share their experiences and challenges as part of the IAVCEI and IUGG.
Learn about the experiences, opportunities, and challenges faced by IAVCEI early-career scientists – and discover how they navigate research, international collaboration, and scientific life in volcanology and volcanic hazard studies.
Author: Joali Paredes-Mariño
ECR Representative at IAVCEI Executive Committee
