{
  "abstract": "Regions at the poles are warming at rates two to four times higher than the global average, driving profound environmental, societal, and geopolitical changes. As Polar Early Career Researchers with careers extending into and beyond the 5th International Polar Year in 2032–2033, we have a responsibility to shape research practices that are impactful, ethical, and sustainable. We argue that current definitions of research impact often prioritize narrow, quantifiable metrics, overlooking cultural, environmental, and long-term consequences. Building on interdisciplinary workshops held in 2025 at the Polar Early Career World Summit (USA) and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK), this paper redefines research impact for polar science and presents tangible action for integrating responsible practices ahead of the next IPY. We outline priorities across three levels: 1) individual researchers, who should practice reflexivity, promote interdisciplinarity, and implement environmentally responsible methods; 2) regional and national institutions, which must provide equitable funding, training, and inclusive protocols; 3) international IPY planning bodies, which should strengthen communication, publish guidelines, and implement regulations to prevent exploitative practices. Our call to action emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and improved impact evaluation frameworks to ensure that polar research delivers societal and environmental benefits while minimizing unintended consequences. This vision begins now and extends beyond the IPY, offering a roadmap for responsible polar science.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Geography and Natural Science, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom",
    "Training, U.K. Polar Network, Cambridge, United Kingdom",
    "Earth Observation, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Troms, Norway",
    "Leadership, APECS Argentina, San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, Argentina",
    "UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster, United Kingdom",
    "APECS RISE Working Group, APECS International, Tromsø, Troms, Norway",
    "Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany",
    "Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, Canada",
    "Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom",
    "Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland",
    "Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom"
  ],
  "article_type": "Essay",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Samuel G. Hartharn-Evans"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chloe Nunn"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Amy Macfarlane"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Natalia Banega"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Anna Belcher"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Radiance Calmer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Svenja Holste"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Louise Mercer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Ningning Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "M. A. J. van Soest"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Zoe Wright"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1q278zvgaxvw1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pclm.0001062",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0001062",
  "id": "1q278zvgaxvw1",
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  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
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  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1802|Research, Science, and Academia"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Environmental impacts"
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      "/Science policy/Research funding"
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      "/Science policy/Science and technology workforce/Careers in research"
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      "/Social sciences/Anthropology/Indigenous populations"
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      "/Social sciences/Economics/Labor economics/Employment/Careers"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/climate/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0001062&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1q278zvgaxvw1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pclm.0001062",
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      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0001062"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:medicine and health sciences",
      "subfield": "general"
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  ],
  "title": "From concept to action: Driving impact through responsible research practices in the International Polar Year 2032–2033 An early career perspective",
  "title_text": "From concept to action: Driving impact through responsible research practices in the International Polar Year 2032–2033 An early career perspective",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1q278zvgaxvw1",
  "venue": "PLOS Climate",
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}