Early careers on ecohydraulics: Challenges, opportunities and future directions

Early career researchers (ECRs) play a critical role in our increasingly knowledge-based society, yet they are the most vulnerable group in the scientific community. As a relatively young, interdisciplinary science, ecohydraulics is particularly reliant on ECRs for future progress. In 2014, the Early Careers on Ecohydraulics Network (ECoENet) was created in order to help the development of young researchers working in this field. In this paper, we synthesiD1ze the outcomes of a workshop for ECRs organiD2zed by ECoENet in February 2016. We aim to show how the potential of ECRs can be maximiD3zed in order to drive progress in ecohydraulics. According to the most recent entrants to the field, major challenges in ecohydraulics lie in becoming more integrated as a discipline, developing a common vocabulary and a collective vision, engaging effectively with policyD4-makers, and encouraging public participation. To address these challenges in the future, ECRs need to develop their careers on an international scale in a way that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, including the social sciences, and allows them time to work at fundamental levels rather than focusing solely on individual applications. Herein, we propose a strategy to facilitate this by providing: a platform for disseminating research; an international support network; and a set of international services for enhancing ECR training and experience.