The Netherlands Polar Programme, part of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), funds scientific research into and in the polar regions. On behalf of the Netherlands, the programme wants to contribute to solutions for fundamental scientific and socio-political issues, such as the consequences of climate change. For an overview of the ongoing projects, follow this link.

The Veni grant, part of the NWO Talent Programme, is tailored to researchers who have recently graduated. It is aimed at researchers with academic qualities that clearly exceed what is customary, and is intended to finance academically innovative research and to give these researchers the opportunity to develop themselves as independent researchers. The maximum grant is 320,000 euros (as of February 2026).

The NWO Rubicon programme allows scientists and academicians who recently obtained their PhD to gain experience at a foreign knowledge institute. This is an important step towards a career in academia. Each year, Rubicon has three funding rounds with deadlines around 1 April, 1 September and 1 December.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are the European Union’s flagship funding programme, and fund excellent research and innovation and equip researchers at all stages of their career with new knowledge and skills.

The Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award, organized by the University of the Arctic (UArctic), serves to promote and raise awareness of promising ideas which address climate change through concrete actions and plans. This award is intended to bring together potential concepts preventing, mitigating, adapting, and reversing Arctic climate change. Check out all funding calls of UArctic here.

Polar fieldwork in the 21st century: Early Career Researchers considerations regarding safety and sustainability (review)

The COMET Guidelines for Safe, Inclusive and Equitable Research Fieldwork (comprehensive guidelines, also includes webinar series)

Broadening inclusivity at sea (focus on broad inclusivity on sea-going research expeditions, with a list of practical recommendations for inclusivity during overnight expeditions at sea. Many of these recommendations are also relevant for other forms of fieldwork.)

Ten Steps to Protect BIPOC Scholars in the Field (BIPOC: Black, Indigenous and People of Color)

Mental health in the field (article)

Reducing the Environmental Impacts of Arctic Fieldwork [download]: INTERACT (DK) Practical Field Guide

The NL Polar Day is the premier polar meetup opportunity in the Netherlands. Every year, the Netherlands Polar Programme organizes it with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and us, APECS NL – we look forward to seeing you there next time!

The SCAR Open Science Conference, organised by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) brings together polar researchers in all disciplines from around the world to present their work, network, and participate in SCAR’s scientific activities. It is is held every two years.

The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) is organised annually by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to provide opportunities for coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the various scientific organisations involved in Arctic research. It was initiated by the IASC in 1999 and has evolved into the most important annual gathering of the Arctic research organisation.

The Polar Early Career World Summit (PECWS), organized by APECS and the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO), occurs every 5 years or so. Additionally, PSECCO offers an extensive list of career resources, including tools for Early Career Researchers, polar education materials and ideas for polar careers outside of academia.