EPB Executive Secretary Dr. Renuka Badhe is the 2017 recipient of the 2017 Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) International Mentorship Award in the “Member Category”. In the Member Category, APECS members are encouraged to nominate someone who has been an outstanding personal mentor to them in their career.

Dr. Badhe was nominated by several individuals who said that “as far as mentors go, Renuka belongs in the ‘rockstar’ category.” Renuka has been a strong supporter of several APECS national committees, and early career researchers and professionals from around the world have benefitted from her generous donation of time and sharing of her expertise. She is also a masterful creator of networks, not only amongst APECS members but the entire global polar community. Furthermore, not only is she a high-profile woman in polar science, but Renuka has also been open about the challenges she has faced throughout her career while remaining an outspoken advocate for members of underrepresented communities.

The nomination letters emphasized that she “never hesitates to provide support whether it is through her professional position or personal engagement”. Her “mentorship has been anything but passive. She has consistently gone out of her way to ensure that my voice is heard in professional settings as well as become a true friend - one of the few people I know that I can call upon at any hour, with any professional or academic concern, and she'll be there with a compassionate ear and thoughtful advice". The nominators also highlighted Renuka`s “talent for identifying someone’s research interests and priorities, and introducing them to leaders in the field, with a suggestion of how they may be able to mutually assist one another”. She is “a strong advocate for early career researchers, [who] helps to push our work to the forefront even when we might lack the confidence to do so”.

Dr. Hugues Lantuit of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany, received the award in the “APECS Category”.

More information can be found at http://apecs.is/news/apecs-news/1868-2017-apecs-international-mentorship-award-recipients-dr-hugues-lantuit-and-dr-renuka-badhe.html

Congratulations to both Renuka and Hugues.