The recently elected Chair of the Young Academy of Europe discusses his motivation for taking on the role and his priorities for the YAE.
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About Scott Bremer
Scott Bremer FYAE is a Research Professor at the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and Humanities at the University of Bergen, and a Research Associate at NORCE Climate. He is (co-) leading research projects worldwide on climate adaptation – particularly in Europe, the Pacific, and Africa – including the ERC-funded CALENDARS project, which studies how global environmental change is affecting the seasonal patterning of communities. Bremer joined the Young Academy of Europe in 2020 and the Board in 2021, where he served two years as Activities Chair and two years as Vice-Chair, before transitioning to Chair in August 2024.
Read the interview
Congratulations on being elected the new Chair of the Young Academy of Europe! Could you tell us what excites you most about stepping into this role?
“A few years ago, I was fortunate to receive an ERC Starting Grant, and that gave me the freedom to not only pursue my research, but also reflect on the conditions under which I was conducting research in Europe. This coincided with the pandemic, and a whole host of other life challenges that my research group faced – from chronic illness to divorce – that brought a lot of structural scientific issues into relief. So, I jumped at the chance to join the YAE and be ‘in the room’ with networks posing important questions that are significantly altering the direction of research in Europe. These include CoARA’s work on performance assessment, ISE’s work on job precarity, and YAE’s own initiatives, such as webinars on mental health and the intersection of science with the creative arts. The privilege of working with the YAE lies in its Members, who are incredibly intelligent, reflective, creative, and deeply engaged.”
YAE members are at the forefront of early-career research in Europe. What do you think are the most pressing challenges young researchers face today, and how can YAE help address them?
“I’m reflecting on these questions as I head to the World Science Forum in Budapest, where I will be speaking about science diplomacy. While my initial instinct was to consider how science mediates social relations across countries – across space – I began to think about how we, as scientists, can mediate debates across generations. Early and mid-career scientists are taking a lead in rebuilding some of the structures that are organising science in Europe. Some of these structures are no longer suited to fulfilling science’s social contract, or for addressing the conditions under which science is produced. We might rethink the concept of a research career, how we evaluate a researcher’s track record, improve job security, prioritise mental health, and foster skills development for innovation. I’m also considering how researchers can engage better with policymakers and other sectors of society through ‘extended’ modes of science, such as co-creation and open science. Finally, one of the YAE’s key concerns has been to integrate the excellent cadre of researchers in so-called ‘widening countries’ into Europe’s academic landscape, and in schemes like the ERC.”
Under your leadership, how will the YAE continue its engagement with European policy, particularly through science advice?
“Over the four years that I’ve served on the YAE Board, I’ve noticed a growing demand for our involvement in committee or policy work and advisory roles on research projects. Members, particularly those on the Board, now participate in weekly meetings to organise initiatives and maintain networks with other organisations. For example, Professor Mona Simion (University of Glasgow) led an ISE working group addressing job precarity, while former YAE Chair Katalin Solymosi tirelessly contributes to committee work, including developing the PEP-CV platform to promote narrative CVs. Of course, one of our most important contributions to European policy is serving as the host organisation for the Young Academy for Science Advice Structure (YASAS). This includes coordinating young academies to nominate researchers for working groups that provide evidence reviews to the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (under the Scientific Advice Mechanism). All this important work, however, comes at a cost. The YAE is an independent and entirely voluntary organisation, so Members need to fit these commitments around a full-time job, with many also navigating a stage in life where they have young families.”
Sustainability and climate action are becoming critical concerns globally. How can YAE take a leading role in addressing these issues within the scientific community and in collaboration with policymakers?
“This is a topic that I’m passionate about. My own research focuses on how communities adapt to global environmental pressures like climate change. Many Members of the YAE work on these pressing global challenges. In fact, we’ve hosted a seminar series where Members have shared their research on these issues, positioning the YAE as an extension of the networks of researchers and practitioners addressing these challenges across Europe. I am also part of a collaborative taskforce on environment, sustainability and climate between the YAE and Academia Europaea (along with the previous YAE Chair, Katalin Solymosi). Our work explores how science can be effectively mobilised for environmental governance, whether through intergovernmental organisations or small pilot studies. Recently, the Board has discussed creating a sustainable travel policy for Members travelling on YAE business. While research remains closely tied to air travel, there are steps we can take to prioritise more sustainable options, such as train or bus travel, where feasible.”
Promoting diversity and inclusion remains a key issue in academia. What new strategies or initiatives do you think the YAE can introduce to champion these values more effectively?
“There have been some important steps toward a more inclusive and diverse academy in Europe, and the YAE has been actively involved in these efforts. A few years ago, we led a COST action addressing gender equality in academia, and past Board members have co-authored commentary pieces on this critical topic. Over the past year, we’ve hosted a webinar series on mental health, while equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles are integrated into much of our committee work.
We have prioritised outreach to widening countries, and each year we hold a webinar – with several hundred attendees – to empower researchers in EU13 countries to submit high quality ERC proposals. The SAPEA project is developing its strategy to include early- and mid-career researchers in its work. Still, I believe there is more that academic organisations can do to rethink their policies, norms, and cultures, fostering greater appreciation and value for the diverse life experiences and career paths of researchers.”
Published 27th November 2024. For more information contact aecardiffhub@cardiff.ac.uk
