Navigating the Data Galaxy: Empowering Early Career Researchers through the WDS Network

The World Data System Early Career Researcher (WDS-ECR) Network is dedicated to nurturing, advancing, and strengthening the capacities of early career scientists within data-centric fields. Through the cultivation of connections between communities and across disciplines, the WDS-ECR Network encourages cooperative projects and proactive participation. This vision of an inclusive environment is oriented towards innovation and advancement in research data stewardship. Currently, the WDS-ECR membership extends globally, encompassing a wide range of academic fields from Social Sciences to Genomics. This poster showcases some of the resources offered by the network, including recognition through the WDS Data Stewardship Award, guidance via mentorship programs, skill-building through specialized webinars, and opportunities for worldwide collaboration during networking events. The main goal of the poster is to illuminate the benefits of membership by highlighting how affiliation with the WDS-ECR Network can empower researchers at their career inception. WDS endeavors to build a dynamic community of early career researchers that upholds the highest standards in data management and fervently supports open science principles. This poster was presented at the 2024 July ESIP Meeting in Asheville, NC (July 22-26, 2024).