Young Scientists Meeting - PAGES Shanghai 2025

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Young Scientists Meeting

Timetable

Registration will start at 14:00 local time. It will also be possible to set up posters from 14:00 local time.

	Sunday, 18 May	Monday, 19 May	Tuesday, 20 May
9:00-9:30		Welcome Words and Practicalities	Flash Talks
9:30-10:00		Flash Talks	Flash Talks
10:00-10:30		Flash Talks	Poster Session
10:30-11:00		Coffee/tea Break	Coffee/tea Break
11:00-11:30		Poster Session	Breakout Group
11:30-12:00		Invited Talk	Breakout Group
12:00-12:30		Lunch
12:30-13:00		Lunch
13:00-13:30		Breakout Group	Panel Discussion
13:30-14:00		Breakout Group	Panel Discussion
14:00-14:30	Registration(Lobby of Radisson RED Hotel)	Panel Discussion	Breakout Group
14:30-15:00		Panel Discussion	Breakout Group
15:00-15:30		Breakout Group	Poster Session
15:30-16:00		Breakout Group	Coffee/tea Break
16:00-16:30		Poster Session	Poster Session
16:30-17:00		Coffee/tea Break	Closing
17:00-17:30		Poster Session	Transfer to OSM
18:00-18:30	Icebreaker Bingo (Radisson RED Hotel 15F)	Dinner
18:30-19:00	Icebreaker Bingo (Radisson RED Hotel 15F)	Social Event	OSM Icebreaker
19:00-19:30	Icebreaker/Social Event incl. dinner(Radisson RED Hotel 15F)
19:00-19:30
19:30-20:00
20:00-20:30

Please note that this is a working draft of the YSM 2025 program and is subject to change as the event approaches. The PAGES 2025 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the PAGES International Project Office (IPO) reserve the right to make necessary updates and revisions to the program until the final version is released. The latest version of the scientific program is now available.[Click here to download.] There may still be updates and adjustments in the future. Please refer to the most recent version.

The YSM 2025 abstract book is now available. Click here to access and download. Please ensure proper citation when referencing any content.

Invited Talk

Speaker: Yassine Ait-Brahim

Short Bio: Yassine Ait-Brahim obtained his PhD in 2016 from University Ibn Zohr (Morocco) in collaboration with IRD (France) and the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). He joined the International Water Research Institute (IWRI) of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in November 2021, after five years of international postdoctoral research experience in China, Switzerland, and Canada. Yassine specializes in isotope geochemistry, hydrogeology, and paleoclimate, with a focus on speleothem records from North Africa. He has been heavily involved in PAGES' SISAL (Speleothem Isotope Synthesis and Analysis) working group.

Title: Delving into North Africa's past: Speleothem-Paleoclimate Research (and the Role of PAGES)
Mini Abstract:
North Africa is an interesting region for paleoclimate research due to its sensitivity to climate change, rich natural archives like speleothems, and its influence on human civilization. The region offers insights into global climate dynamics, Sahara desertification, and past marine conditions, making it a crucial area for understanding Earth's climate history and addressing current climate challenges. I will review the paleoclimate studies that have been carried out in North Africa, with a focus on speleothem records, on multiple timescales and discuss how PAGES (through its network, working groups, and financial support) helped to achieve some of our key results.

Panel Discussions

Forging a career – Academic and non-academic examples, including CV building, social media and other online tools
Panelists: Prof Xu Zhang (invited), Keely Mills, Yassine Ait-Brahim

XU ZHANG

Short Bio:

Xu Zhang is a senior scientist at the British Antarctic Survey. He joined BAS in 2024, having previously been a tenured full professor in China since 2018, following a postdoctoral position at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany. He obtained a PhD in Environmental Physics from the University of Bremen in 2014, after completing his MSc (2010) and BSc (2007) studies at Ocean University of China. His research focuses on the mechanisms driving past climate changes across millennial to orbital timescales, using a hierarchy of numerical models. He is actively involved in several PAGES working groups (e.g. CVAS, QUIGS).

https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/xuang/

The art of Persuasion – Mastering scientific communication. How to advocate for the relevance and importance of paleoresearch to a funding agency or a policy maker

Panelists: Dr. Asfawossen Asrat Kassaye (invited), Christine Omuombo, Eugenia Ferrero

ASFAWOSSEN ASRAT KASSAYE

Short Bio:

Asfawossen Asrat is Professor of Geology at the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology in Botswana and the School of Earth Sciences of the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He received his PhD from the University of Nancy in France, and he is a geochemist and petrologist by training. His main research focus is Quaternary paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate reconstruction of eastern Africa. He worked on various archives, particularly on lake sediments and speleothems, using geochemical and stable isotope proxies. He has been leading and participating in several successful lake drilling projects in Ethiopia during the last two decades, including leading the ICDP-sponsored Chew Bahir Drilling Project in southern Ethiopia, as part of the Hominid Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) in eastern Africa. His research aims at understanding the impact of climate variability on human evolution, expansion and innovation.

Breakout groups

#	Title	Moderator(s)	Description
1	Navigating Interdisciplinary Research Challenges	Asfawossen Asrat Kassaye	Solving complex problems facing our world often requires recourse to interdisciplinary research. Interdisciplinary research involves integrating knowledge and methods from two or more disciplines. It comes with challenges and benefits. Amongst these challenges are communication barriers, resource allocation, evaluation and recognition, integration of diverse perspectives, and risk of superficiality. In this breakout group we will discuss the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary research in past climate and environment reconstruction. We will also have room to share experiences about collaborating with researchers from different disciplines and how it enhances the overall understanding of Earth system changes.
2	Mentorship and Networking Opportunities	Christine Omuombo;Keely Mills	How can early-career paleoscientists access effective mentorship and valuable networking opportunities? Join us to explore effective strategies for establishing strong mentorship programs and utilizing professional networking to foster collaboration and support career growth. Discover resources to connect with experienced researchers and peers. Let's brainstorm actionable solutions together to empower the next generation of paleoscientists.
3	Exploring Opportunities: Funding Strategies and Career Advancement in Paleoenvironmental Research	Eugenia Ferrero	Researchers spend precious time writing grant proposals, and not all of them get approved. In particular, researchers in the early stages of their career might find it more challenging to secure research grants. In this group we will explore different strategies to improve the odds of securing funding (from writing to identify alternative sources of funding).
4	Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building Confidence	Juliana Nogueira	Imposter syndrome describes the ongoing sense of inferiority in the face of accomplishments and competence. Many early-career scientists, despite their hard work and efforts, often feel that they know less, and that they are not capable enough. But in fact, over the years, they have acquired enough skills to contribute further to their development. In this breakout group, we will discuss this matter and exchange experiences on how to overcome imposter syndrome. By the end, participants will be equipped with effective strategies to gain confidence in their academic journey.
5	Adapting to Remote and Collaborative Work Environments	Andriantsilavo Razafimanantsoa	The COVID-19 crisis strongly disrupted our work habits. Nowadays, many researchers continue to work, at least partly, from home. This breakout group will explore how these new habits impact research. Amongst the many challenges, we will look at communication with peers, colleagues, advisor(s), and/or with other researchers; difficulty of organizing and prioritizing work; lack of support to avoid difficulties in research; and technological issues. Efficient adjustment to these challenges may also come with benefits. Given the changing landscape of work environments, we will discuss strategies for effective remote collaboration, virtual conferences, and maintaining work-life balance.
6	The Scientific Publication. What is its Future and how did it all start?	Haowen Dang	In this breakout group, we will explore the history of academic publication and what will come in the future. We will explore important topics such as challenges and changes with the peer review process, Open Access, and financial assistance for researchers in developing countries.
7	Manuscript Preparation and Submission Strategies	PAGES IPO	Preparing your first (or even second!) first-author publication can be a daunting prospect. How do you go about turning your data and/or results into a journal article? How do you decide where to submit your work? Who should be on the author list? We will discuss strategies for the best ways to present your work, as well as tips for the manuscript planning, writing, and preparation process. We will also discuss what happens after submission: what are the best ways to approach paper rejection, and how to most efficiently address reviewer comments.
8	Community Engagement and Indigenous Perspectives in Paleoenvironmental Research	Andriantsilavo Razafimanantsoa	This session will explore the vital role of engaging with local communities and incorporating Indigenous knowledge in paleoenvironmental research. Participants will discuss effective methods for community collaboration, communication, and the respectful integration of Indigenous perspectives to enhance the richness and relevance of research outcomes. The aim is to foster collaborative approaches that acknowledge and value diverse community insights in the study of past environments.
9	The Future of Research. What do you need? What do you expect from PAGES?	Shiling Yang	This breakout session focuses on exploring the key requirements and anticipated outcomes that young paleoscientists seek from PAGES. These may include the need for improved data-sharing, funding opportunities, networking events, and collaboration with experts in the field, the expectation for the development of innovative research methodologies, the promotion of diversity and inclusivity in the scientific community, and the dissemination of research findings to policymakers and the broader public. Participants in this discussion may also express challenges they encounter, and their hopes for PAGES.
10	Promoting Diversity and Inclusion	Keely Mills	PAGES’ geoscientists will play key roles in addressing the grand challenges of the twenty-first century, but this requires our field to address its past when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Geosciences, along with many other physical sciences, are amongst the worst in terms of diversity. The geosciences are often cited as a ‘hostile’ environment for people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people who have disabilities, and those from the LGBTQ+ community. Reasons cited include the lack of role models, with the persistence of the stereotype of a geoscientist as a ‘white man with a beard’, accessibility to the natural environment, and the colonial history of the geosciences. PAGES is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse community. In this session we will explore these topics and develop actions to break down the barriers to historically under-represented groups.

Poster Sessions

It is compulsory for every YSM participant to present a poster of their research.
This poster can be, but does not have to be, the same poster that is presented at the Open Science Meeting (OSM).
Participants will be expected to assess a few (number to be determined) peer posters and provide feedback on these posters.
There will be a poster prize at the end of the YSM.
Particpants could incorporate or add corresponding images (below) to the posters if they would like to mark whether it is allowed to be shared or not.

* Poster boards are in portrait format, and authors can make use of the full dimensions of 841 mm width × 1183 mm height.

Flash Talks (white in table above)

Flash Talks are where participants are expected to present their poster in 2 minutes to the audience. There is no Q&A session during, or directly after, these talks. Questions can be asked and answered during the poster sessions.

It is voluntary to give a Flash Talk, but compulsory to attend.