Building Identity and Community for Early Career Professionals in the Emerging Field of Astrobiology.
Astrobiology
; 24(7): 754-763, 2024 Jul.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39023354
ABSTRACT
To support training and foster retention in the emerging field of astrobiology, NASA has funded opportunities for graduate students and early career scientists to develop a community, foster interdisciplinarity, increase confidence, and showcase career options. The design of these opportunities builds on research on factors that increase retention, including feeling competent, having autonomy and a sense of purpose, having a sense of identity, and being connected to others in the field. Findings are reported from retrospective studies of two NASA career-building opportunities, the Astrobiology Graduate Conference and the International Astrobiology Summer School held in Santander, Spain. We present evidence that attendees gain confidence by presenting to, and working with, their peers, and feel competent to express their ideas and interests and build relationships in the field that continue after the experiences. Many say that they feel less isolated and go on to present or publish with colleagues they meet. Their career options also expand by meeting potential colleagues from different disciplines. Based on the findings, participating in either of these long-running programs shows clear positive impact on early career astrobiology professionals.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Selección de Profesión
/
Exobiología
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Astrobiology
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article