Remote and Rural ECR Network Focus Group by

Thinking about your journey as an early career / budding researcher within this organisation, what are some of the key opportunities or positive experiences you've encountered so far?"

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:43:09 UTC

What has been particularly helpful? What support have you found useful?

What are some of the main challenges or difficulties you currently face as an ECR within our organisation? Are there any specific gaps in support or resources that you've identified?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:44:08 UTC

What keeps you up at night? What do you wish you had more of? Are there specific types of support you feel are missing? (e.g., mentoring, funding advice, interdisciplinary connections, work-life balance).

How do you currently connect with other early career researchers, both within and outside your immediate directorate/department/team?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:44:43 UTC

Is it easy to find others? Are there informal networks already in place? What are the limitations of current networking opportunities?

Let's imagine an ideal 'Remote and Rural Early Career Researchers Network' within our organisation. What are the first things that come to mind when you think about what it could offer or achieve?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:45:47 UTC

What's the 'dream' network? What would be its primary purpose?

Thinking more specifically, what practical activities, events, or resources do you believe an ECR Network should provide?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:46:50 UTC

E.g.: mentorship / peer support, training and development, networking and collaboration, advocacy & representation, social & community building, information sharing.

What would be the main benefits or outcomes for you personally, if a successful ECR Network were established?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:47:16 UTC

How would it help your career progression? Your well-being? Your research?

Who do you think should be involved in leading or organising this network? Should it be ECR-led, or a mix with staff support?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:47:50 UTC

Would you be interested in contributing to its organisation? What level of commitment would you be able to offer?

How should the network communicate with its members? What are the best ways to reach ECRs across the organisation?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:48:12 UTC

E.g.: email lists, dedicated website/intranet, social media, regular newsletters, in-person meetings?

Is there anything else you'd like to add or any other thoughts you have about an ECR Network that we haven't covered?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:49:03 UTC

If you had to pick one or two things that are absolutely essential for an ECR Network to offer, what would they be?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 09:49:15 UTC

Welcome everyone, and thank you for taking the time to engage with this Padlet!

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 10:25:20 UTC

I'm Dr Carrie Walton, and I'm a Senior Specialist Lead in the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care. Thanks for taking the time to join this discussion of the potential for an 'Early Career Researchers Network' within the National Centre's Remote and Rural Researchers Network.

To start, could everyone briefly introduce themselves – your research area, and what stage you're at in a research journey?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 10:26:19 UTC

Posts within this discussion are anonymous so please do not share any personally identifiable or sensitive information.

What are the most significant challenges you face as an ECR working in a remote or rural area, particularly when it comes to career development, networking, and accessing resources?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 11:35:46 UTC

E.g.: Isolation? Limited access to specialised equipment/facilities? Fewer opportunities for in-person collaboration? Slower internet/connectivity issues? Travel time and cost? Difficulty finding mentors in specific niche areas? Limited access to professional development opportunities (courses, workshops, conferences) locally?

Are there specific topics, training, or support needs that are unique or more pronounced for ECRs working on remote or rural research, or in remote/rural settings, that the network should address?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 11:36:43 UTC

E.g.: Funding for remote fieldwork? Ethical considerations in rural communities? Community engagement strategies? Data collection in dispersed populations? Policy impact in rural areas? Managing isolation/well-being?

Would it be beneficial to have 'local champions' or smaller, regional 'nodes' of the ECR Network to help foster connections in specific remote/rural areas?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 11:37:04 UTC

Who could lead these? What kind of activities would they facilitate?

How important is it for the ECR Network to specifically advocate for the needs and interests of remote and rural researchers to the wider organisation?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 11:37:51 UTC

What specific issues should be raised? (e.g., equitable resource allocation, recognition of remote work, support for travel costs).

How can the network create a sense of belonging and community for those who are geographically dispersed?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 11:38:19 UTC

E.g.: Regular check-ins, informal online social spaces, buddy systems, collaborative projects.

What are the main barriers that might prevent you, as a remote/rural ECR, from actively participating in or benefiting from this network?

carriewalton — 2025-07-15 11:38:47 UTC

E.g.: Time away from research/family, travel burden, lack of local peer group, feeling disconnected, technology limitations, cost of participation.