Established 2 October 2025

About Paleo ECR India

A collaborative platform connecting early-career researchers of Indian origin in paleosciences across the globe.

Our purpose

Connecting people who study the past.

We share research updates and opportunities, encourage collaboration, and organise seminars, talks, workshops, and academic networking activities.

The network is led by Founding President Dr. Arvind Shukla, with advice from mentors and day-to-day work shared by a rotating working team.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, professionalism, and academic integrity guide the community’s work. Participation is open to Indian ECRs working in paleosciences, wherever they are based.

Join the network

Founding President

Provides overall leadership, vision, and direction. The supplied structure identifies Dr. Arvind Shukla as Founding President.

Our mentors

Senior colleagues provide scientific advice and guidance to the network.

Meet our mentors

Working members

Coordinate talks, speakers, communication, minutes, outreach, and technical logistics. The structure specifies rotating terms of 6–12 months.

Research across archives

The paleosciences we connect

Paleoceanography

Past ocean circulation, chemistry, and productivity.

Paleoclimatology

Climate variability recorded in natural archives.

Paleogeography

The changing geography of Earth through time.

Paleoecology

Past ecosystems and their environmental relationships.

Paleoenvironment

Ancient landscapes and depositional settings.

Paleotectonics

Past plate movements, deformation, and basin evolution.

Paleobiology

Life in the past and its evolution through time.

Membership & governance

Who can join?

The bylaws define an early-career researcher as someone within 10 years of completing their highest degree (Master’s or PhD), or under the age of 40. This includes current PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-stage faculty and scientists.

How the community works

Regular online meetings are described as bi-monthly in the bylaws, with shared agendas and minutes and decisions made collectively, preferably by consensus. Talk formats typically include a 30-minute presentation, approximately five minutes of welcome and announcements, and ten minutes for questions or discussion.

Speakers may be nominated or self-nominated. Selection prioritises inclusivity and disciplinary balance. Recordings and materials are shared with the speaker’s explicit permission.

Respect and inclusion

Harassment, discrimination, and disruptive behaviour are not tolerated. Concerns can be brought to the core committee and are addressed confidentially. The group aims to accommodate different time zones and accessibility needs.

Funding, collaboration, and amendments

Future sponsorship may support activities; funding sources must be transparently acknowledged and must not compromise the group’s independence, integrity, or mission. Collaboration with other networks can include joint sessions and events while retaining Paleo ECR India’s identity.

Grievances are addressed by the founding and working committees under the leadership of the Founding President. Bylaws can be updated through collective feedback and agreement in meetings.

Bylaws updated 19 October 2025. Organisational structure dated 11 October 2025. Full originals remain available in the document library.

Looking ahead · 2026–27

Strengthening the next year

The network plans to expand its outreach across India and increase visibility for members’ research, achievements, and opportunities.

Alongside ECR and expert research talks, planned instrumental, analytical, technical, and methodological sessions will support researchers in their day-to-day scientific work.

Members are invited to contribute ideas, share expertise, volunteer, and help shape new initiatives.

First-year milestones

2 October 2025
Paleo ECR India founded.
27 December 2025
First Saturday Talk Series session.
April 2026
Community crossed 500 members and featured in Quaternary Chronicles.
September 2026
Working Team 2026–27 announced.
10 October 2026
First Annual Day scheduled in the report.

Source: Annual Report 2025–26, covering October 2025 to October 2026. Figures are reported snapshots, not live counts. Read the final annual report

Original material