The APN Secretariat is pleased to announce its Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW) for the Temperate East Asia region to be held from 2-6 June 2025, in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The TEA-PDTW will advance APN’s strategic research interests and mission to address global change, with a spotlight on the sustainable management of marine and freshwater ecosystems amid rising plastic pollution and climate challenges, which falls under one of the Temperate East Asia subregional priority topics as outlined in the APN Call for Proposals. Through a combination of presentations, group discussions and practical exercises, participants will gain a critical understanding of the field’s complex challenges and opportunities. They will learn how to identify research gaps, develop research questions, design methodologies and create compelling narratives for their proposals.

Coinciding with Jeju Island’s hosting of World Environment Day (WED) 2025 —the first in Korea since 1997— the TEA-PDTW aligns with global efforts to end plastic pollution, bolstered by Jeju’s pioneering ‘2040 Plastic Zero Island’ vision and disposable cup deposit system. Early career participants at the TEA-PDTW will have the opportunity to join the official World Environment Day 2025 events taking place in Jeju in June 2025, with the APN Secretariat team.

Considering limited financial resources and the numbers that can be accommodated for an effective workshop, participants will be selected on a “first come, first served” basis. For this reason, we encourage those interested in submitting their application before the extended deadline of Sunday, 6 April (midnight JST).

A. MAIN THEME

The main theme of the workshop is Innovative Knowledge and Climate-Resilient Solutions for Sustainable Resource Management and Plastic Pollution Mitigation in Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 

This theme emphasises the integration of scientific innovation, adaptive strategies, and governance frameworks to address plastic pollution and ensure the sustainable management of marine and freshwater ecosystems. It aligns with global commitments under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UNDOS), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering collaboration, advancing technology, and promoting climate adaptation strategies to enhance ecosystem resilience and responsible resource use.

The following sub-themes will be addressed in the proposal development activities:

1. Plastic and Microplastic Pollution: Impacts and Solutions for Aquatic Ecosystems
   Examples for proposal development include:
   
   1. Assessing the ecological and human health risks of plastic and microplastic pollution
   2. Circular economy approaches for reducing plastic waste in marine and freshwater systems
   3. Policy innovations and governance strategies for controlling plastic pollution
   4. Community-led initiatives and behavioural change strategies to reduce plastic leakage into aquatic environments
2. Climate Adaptation and Plastic Pollution Mitigation in Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
   Examples for proposal development include:
   1. Understanding the compounding effects of climate change and plastic pollution on water resources
   2. Strengthening ecosystem resilience against climate-induced water stress and pollution
   3. Adaptive management approaches for conserving marine biodiversity and freshwater habitats
   4. Key strategies for mitigating plastic pollution through improved waste management, policy enforcement, and behavioural shifts
   5. Integrating indigenous, traditional and local knowledge (ITLK) in climate-resilient and plastic-free water resource management
   6. Case studies of successful climate adaptation and plastic pollution mitigation strategies in riverine, coastal, and marine ecosystems

B. STRUCTURE OF THE WORKSHOP

The training workshop and other networking activities will take place over five full days, with the tentative schedule outlined in the table below.

Timetable 

C. PARTICIPATION

The PDTW is open to early career professionals from Temperate East Asia and working in the areas related to the workshop’s main theme. For this reason, applicants requiring funding support will ONLY be accepted from early career professionals who are from, living, and working in APN Temperate East Asia member countries: China, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation.

D. ELIGIBILITY and PROCEDURES

1. Applicants must be early career scientists/practitioners of 40 years of age and under as of the application deadline. Applicants must be one of the following:
   1. An undergraduate degree holder with five years of related working experience;
   2. A postgraduate student working towards a PhD or Master’s degree (final year);
   3. A Master’s degree holder with three years of related work experience;
   4. A PhD degree holder with at least one year of working experience, or received their highest postgraduate degree within the previous ten years.
2. Applicants should be working in areas of, or have academic experience related to, the workshop’s main theme.
3. Applicants must have a good working knowledge of the English language.
4. Successful applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
5. Applicants seeking funding support will only be accepted from early career professionals who are from, residing in, or working in the APN Temperate East Asia member countries. Limited funds are available for participants from APN TEA member countries that are considered as developed: Japan and Republic of Korea.
6. Applicants applying on a self-funded basis may be from within or outside the subregion, but their area of work must be related to the theme of the workshop, and their project activities must be conducted within the Temperate East Asia region. The applicant must also be from one of APN’s member or approved countries.

E. APPLICATION PROCESS 

Interested persons should complete the mandatory four steps outlined below.

1. Complete and submit the application form provided with this announcement for the TEA PDTW on the Asia-Pacific Network Information System (APNIS).
2. Submit resume/CV (maximum 2 pages) with minimum details: Full name, Nationality Date of Birth, Gender, Current Affiliation, Education/Employment History.
3. Submit a short motivation essay (300-400 words). The best essay will address the following questions in a narrative style: 
   • How will this training workshop be important in your career development and what are the expected impacts?
   • What is your research interest(s)?
   • What is your motivation for undertaking regional-based Global Change research?
   • Indicate which of the 2 sub-themes you are interested in (place in order of preference).
4. Submit a letter of recommendation from your supervisor indicating:
   • Endorsement to attend the workshop. 
   • How will the training workshop benefit the trainee’s research career?
   • Commitment and consent as the supervisor of the trainee to encourage the trainee to submit regional-based proposals (to APN or other funding bodies) and/or become engaged in regional-based Global Change research. 

F. SPONSORSHIP

1. A maximum of 15 early career professionals will be selected for the training workshop. Financial support for sponsorship is available from APN, contingent on funding availability.
2. From each sub-regional member country, a minimum of two early-career professionals will be selected as recipients of APN financial support. 
3. Sponsorship for successful applicants will cover the cost of an economy-class air ticket, accommodation, meals and local transportation.  
4. There is no registration fee to participate in this workshop.

G. APPLICATION DEADLINE

Submit your application by the extended Sunday, 6 April 2025 (midnight JST) deadline, using the APN Information System (APNIS) interface.

Additional information 

• Participants of the workshop will be provided with breakfast and lunch during the event. 
• Participants who have previously attended APN PDTWs are ineligible to apply for this training workshop.
• Participants are required to commit to attending the full five days of events to gain the maximum benefit from the programme.

For additional queries, please contact the APN Secretariat via email to Dr Nafesa Ismail ([email protected]) and Ms Naomi Young ([email protected]).