The side event How to Make Academic Careers Attractive and Sustainable at the WSF2024 was organized by three partners of SECURE project—ICORSA, EURODOC, and MCAA.
In Hungary’s capital, from November 20 to 23, the 11th World Science Forum (WSF2024) took place under the slogan “The Science and Policy Interface at the Time of Global Transformations.” The World Science Forum brought together over 1,200 participants from 122 countries in Budapest, including researchers, policymakers, representatives of civil society, and members and leaders of numerous international and national organizations.
Over the course of four days, they engaged in a series of panels, roundtables, and thematic sessions, addressing science policies, global challenges, and emerging trends shaping the future—not only of science but of humanity as a whole. The host of WSF2024 was the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
In addition to the main events, the Forum offered a rich program of side events. Among the most engaging was the side event How to Make Academic Careers Attractive and Sustainable, held on November 20 in the Ceremonial Hall of Pesti Vigadó. It was organized by three partners of the SECURE project—the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (EURODOC), the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), and the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICORSA)—along with the Young Academy of Europe (YAE).
The event addressed the challenges many early to mid-career researchers face, including uncertain job prospects, precarious positions, limited funding, and intense competition for grants. During the panel, members of researcher organizations representing early career and senior researchers discussed ways to make academic careers more attractive and sustainable.
The event began with five keynote statements followed by breakout sessions, where participants engaged in detailed discussions with panelists in a roundtable format. The conclusions of each session were shared in a plenary, providing concrete takeaways for the audience.
On the final day, the program moved to the impressive Hungarian Parliament building, where the World Science Forum 2024 Declaration was adopted. The declaration calls for creativity and strengthening of trust in science in a rapidly changing world.
The next Forum will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2026 under the theme “Science for Global Resilience and Equality.” That will be the first time the event is held in Asia.
For more information on the program, speakers, and the history of the World Science Forum, visit the organization’s website.