Pastor, AdaSanpera-Calbet, IsisCatalán, Núria2024-05-072024-05-072020Pastor A, Hernández-del Amo E, Giménez-Grau P, Fillol M, Pereda O, Flores L, et al. Early-career coordinated distributed experiments: empowerment through collaboration. Front Educ. 2020 Feb 18;5:13. DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2020.000132504-284Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10230/60031Coordinated distributed experiments (CDEs) enable the study of large-scale ecological patterns in geographically dispersed areas, while simultaneously providing broad academic and personal benefits for the participants. However, the effective involvement of early-career researchers (ECRs) presents major challenges. Here, we analyze the benefits and challenges of the first CDE exclusively led and conducted by ECRs (i.e. ECR-CDE), which sets a baseline for similar CDEs, and we provide recommendations for successful CDE execution. ECR-CDEs achieve most of the outcomes identified in conventional CDEs as well as extensive benefits for the young cohort of researchers, including: (i) receiving scientific credit, (ii) peer-training in new concepts and methods, (iii) developing leadership and communication skills, (iv) promoting a peer network among ECRs, and (v) building on individual engagement and independence. We also discuss the challenges of ECR-CDEs, which are mainly derived from the lack of independence and instability of the participants, and we suggest mechanisms to address them, such as resource re-allocation and communication strategies. We conclude that ECR-CDEs can be a relevant tool to empower ECRs across disciplines by fostering their training, networking and personal well-being.application/pdfeng© 2020 Pastor, Hernández-del Amo, Giménez-Grau, Fillol, Pereda, Flores, Sanpera-Calbet, Bravo, Martín, Poblador, Arroita, Rasines-Ladero, Ruiz, del Campo, Abril, Reyes, Casas-Ruiz, Fernández, de Castro-Català, Tornero, Palacin-Lizarbe, Arce, Mora-Gómez, Gómez-Gener, Monroy, Freixa, Lupon, María González-Ferreras, Estévez, Rodríguez-Lozano, Solagaistua, Rodríguez-Castillo, Aristi, Martínez and Catalán. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.00013Coordinated distributed experimentEarly-career researchersCollaborationPeer-learningNetworkinginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess