ARA-supported regional dialogue for early-career researchers in Southeast Asia: Strengthening adaptation research engagement with the IPCC AR7 Cycle

The Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), in partnership with the IPCC Working Group II Technical Support Unit, will host a regional outreach and engagement event for Early-Career Researchers (ECRs) from Asia on 29 March 2026 in Bangkok.

Overview

The Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), in partnership with the IPCC Working Group II Technical Support Unit, has invited 15 Early-Career Researchers (ECRs) from Asia for a full-day regional outreach and engagement event in Bangkok.

This event is designed to support the next generation of climate researchers in Asia. It offers the selected researchers a unique opportunity to engage directly with the leadership of the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Cycle (AR7).

The event will culminate in an exclusive town hall session with the IPCC Working Group (WG) II Co-Chairs, Prof. Bart van den Hurk and Prof. Winston Chow, alongside other distinguished IPCC authors.

The primary goal is to equip ECRs with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the IPCC process and to strengthen the quality and relevance of adaptation scholarship emerging from Southeast Asia.

Outcomes for participants

The selected participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the IPCC functions and how they can navigate the assessment cycle. The dialogue is specifically crafted to:

• Amplify regional voices: Address the unique challenges and opportunities for adaptation research in Asia, with a specific focus on elevating scholarship from Southeast Asia to ensure it is robust, policy-relevant, and reflects regional priorities.
• Demystify the IPCC process: Learn how assessments are developed, how authors are selected, and how scientific evidence is evaluated and synthesized.
• Provide practical guidance: Receive direct advice from Co-Chairs and authors on how Early-Career Researchers can effectively engage with the IPCC, from contributing to future assessments to participating in the broader scientific community.

Agenda highlights

The event is structured in two main parts:

• Full-Day Regional Outreach (9.30am – 5pm): The IPCC’s regional event will provide foundational knowledge on the IPCC AR7 cycle, network-building opportunities with peers, and preparation for the town hall dialogue.
• Town Hall Session (5.15 – 6.15pm): An open dialogue between the selected ECRs and the IPCC WG II Co-Chairs. This session will be an open conversation focused on strengthening the bridge between early-career scholarship and the IPCC.

Who is attending

ARA has selected around 15 Early-Career Researchers (broadly defined as PhD students, post-docs, and scholars within 10 years of their last degree) whose work focuses on climate change adaptation, resilience, and related fields from the following countries: Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Viet Nam.

More details regarding the timings of the activities will be announced closer to the event date.

About the organizers

Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA)

The Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) is a global coalition responding to the urgent challenges faced by vulnerable communities from climate change. Our membership is made up of researchers, funders, policymakers, development bodies, and community-based organisations committed to action for adaptation that supports climate resilient futures.

The ARA Secretariat is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute (CUSRI) in Bangkok, Thailand.

IPCC Working Group II Technical Support Unit

WG II assesses the impacts of climate change, the vulnerability of human and natural systems, and the options for adapting to them. The Technical Support Unit (TSU) provides scientific, technical, and organizational support to the WG II Co-Chairs and the author team throughout the assessment cycle.