Opportunities and challenges in knowledge mobilization for early-career aquatic scientists in Canada

Scientifically informed decision-making for environmental management requires scientists to present research clearly and translate knowledge to a diversity of audiences. Yet, many scientists do not receive formal communication training and early-career researchers (ECR) rarely gain structured experience in communication outside of typical peer-reviewed research articles and conference presentations. Considering that a large proportion of Canada’s research is publicly funded, many scientists have a responsibility to communicate their results to decision-makers and or the public (i.e., non-specialists). As early-career aquatic scientists in Canada who took part in the Consortium of Aquatic Science Society’s first cohort of the SP 2 ARK (Scientists Promoting Policy, Access, Research, and Knowledge) fellowship, we highlight three challenges in accessing and navigating communication training for ECR and present a set of solutions. Challenges include: navigating public trust and communication, training program capacity and design, and valuing participant time as a resource. Solutions include: knowing target audiences, being ready to have challenging conversations, accessing media training, building training cohorts that are knowledge diverse, training ECR in policy engagement, and rewiring research impact assessment mechanisms to reward ECR who engage in communication activities and training. Ultimately, by improving access to and quality of knowledge translation training for ECR, return on investments in science and research in Canada will increase.