The 3rd Early Career Researchers (ECR) Transport Forum 2023

The Early Career Researchers (ECR) Transport Forum offers a platform for individuals who are in their early years in the transport industry including both researchers and practitioners, to improve their skills, build networks, and gain access to mentoring opportunities. The researchers encompass a wide array of social identities, which include but are not limited to characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, indigeneity, disability, age, displacement, caste, gender, poverty, class, and socio-economic status.

During the forum, the concept of intersectional equity in transport was introduced. Workshops were conducted to acknowledge various personas using the pedestrian experience tool, highlighting the diverse users and their different needs. These workshops were facilitated by mentors and supported by ECR committee members. Emphasizing the intersectionality of factors such as gender, race, disability, and socio-economic status is important. Viewing transport and mobility as a one-size-fits-all could lead to the marginalization of individuals with limited capabilities.

The first day ended with a walking tour of Shah Alam. During this activity, participants not only visited prominent tourist attractions in the city but also observed the city's infrastructure, pedestrian amenities, and the challenges pedestrians face while navigating Shah Alam.

The second day of the forum was dedicated to further mentor-mentee group activities. It commenced with a reflection on the activities of the first day, followed by research workshops and discussions on career pathways. Mentors provided insights to assist young researchers in gaining a clearer understanding of their potential paths within the transportation industry.

The 3rd Early Career Researchers (ECR) Transport Forum is organized by the Women in Transport Leadership (WiTL) Knowledge Network in cooperation with the Eastern Asia Society for Transport Studies (EASTS), Transportation Science Society of Malaysia (TSSM) and the EASTS International Research Group Walkability transitions towards healthier and more active transport environments. It is funded by the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations. ECR forum is a 2-day event prior to the biennial EASTS Conference happening from 4-7 September 2023 at the Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) Convention Centre. The ECR forum comprised a total of 35 mentees and 12 mentors representing a diverse range of countries, including Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Australia, and Nigeria.

Written by:

Nor Izzah Binti Zainuddin, Ph.D
ECR / EASTS 2023 committee member
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia