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Convergence, continuity, and community: a framework for enabling emerging leaders to build climate solutions in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture

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Abstract

Many early career researchers (ECRs) have the capacity and drive to contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation solutions. Strategic investments in training and support, especially in broad-based efforts that span traditional disciplinary boundaries, can help ECRs meet this potential and become emerging leaders equipped to address pressing climate-related challenges throughout their careers. In 2018, the inaugural USDA Northeast Climate Hub’s Graduate Climate Adaptation Partners (GradCAP) Program was launched to provide professional development opportunities and a platform for collaboration to graduate students studying climate resilience in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. This essay represents the unified voice of this consortium of emerging leaders. Here we offer perspectives, experiences, and recommendations for building capacity among ECRs, specifically with regard to interdisciplinary research, long-term research, and community engagement. We discuss these three tenants, which we term Convergence, Continuity, and Community, as essential elements in the development of successful leaders prepared for the complex challenges ahead. We encourage institutions, particularly universities and government agencies, to commit resources and pursue structural changes to provide support for mentorship and training that span these focal areas. As a result, more ECRs will have the capacity to engage in meaningful solution-oriented research and make lasting societal contributions toward the sustainable production of food and other natural resources in a changing climate.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Dr. Ivan Fernandez for Intrepid leadership in developing and co-coordinating the GradCAP program. This project would never have occurred without the vision and support of Erin Lane and other USDA Northeast Climate Hub personnel including Karrah Kwasnik and Dr. David Hollinger. To the advisers, mentors, home departments, and institutions that have supported each of these authors, thank you.

Funding

This study was funded was provided by the USDA Northeast Climate Hub and the University of Maine Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program – Correll and Green Lake funds.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    S. K. Birthisel & R. S. Clements

  2. School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    S. K. Birthisel & A. R. Soucy

  3. Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA

    B. A. Eastman

  4. College Park Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    M. Paul

  5. School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    R. S. Clements

  6. Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    A. White

  7. Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University, Port Norris, NJ, 08349, USA

    M. P. Acquafredda

  8. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    M. P. Acquafredda & M. C. Allen

  9. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    W. Errickson

  10. Aquaculture Research Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    L-H. Zhu

  11. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    L-H. Zhu

  12. Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA

    S. A. Mills

  13. Wildlife and Fisheries Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA

    G. Dimmig

  14. Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    K. M. Dittmer

Authors
  1. S. K. Birthisel
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  2. B. A. Eastman
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  3. A. R. Soucy
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  4. M. Paul
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  5. R. S. Clements
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  6. A. White
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  7. M. P. Acquafredda
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  8. W. Errickson
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  9. L-H. Zhu
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  10. M. C. Allen
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  11. S. A. Mills
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  12. G. Dimmig
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  13. K. M. Dittmer
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Contributions

All authors collaborated on the manuscript outline through a process facilitated by Birthisel and White. Clements drafted the abstract. Soucy and Errickson drafted the introduction. Coordinated by Birthisel, sections related to the Convergence theme were drafted by Errickson, Paul, and Birthisel. Coordinated by Eastman, the Continuity sections were drafted by Allen, Dimmig, Birthisel, Paul, and Eastman. Coordinated by White, the Community sections were drafted by Zhu, Acquafredda, Soucy, Clements, and White. Figures 1, 2, and 3 were drafted by Mills, Paul, and Clements, respectively. Online Resource 1 was drafted by Acquafredda and Eastman. Revisions were primarily undertaken by Acquafredda, Eastman, Soucy, Clements, Errickson, Birthisel, Zhu, and Paul, with key input from all authors. Birthisel co-coordinated the GradCAP program as a whole.

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Correspondence to S. K. Birthisel.

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Birthisel, S.K., Eastman, B.A., Soucy, A.R. et al. Convergence, continuity, and community: a framework for enabling emerging leaders to build climate solutions in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. Climatic Change 162, 2181–2195 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-020-02844-w

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