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Doctoral research fellow Johanna Bjånes Marcussen from UiA and the Institute of Marine Research clinched first place at this year's Researcher Grand Prix final in Oslo on Thursday evening, in intense competition against 10 fellows from five other universities.
"Absolutely fantastic. I was really nervous before my presentation. But it all went smoothly. Fortunately," says Johanna Bjånes Marcussen, who researches the impact of recreational fishermen on the lobster population in Norway.
The Researcher Grand Prix is a competition for doctoral fellows in Norway, organised by the Research Council of Norway. Participants have four minutes to present their research in a clear, entertaining and fun way and explain why they chose this particular topic. The winner is determined by who receives the most points from a panel of three judges and the audience in the venue.
Sea boots, oilskin trousers and a lobster trap
In front of a full house at Eldorado in Oslo on Thursday, Johanna was unmatched. Wearing sea boots, oilskin trousers, and carrying a lobster trap, she told the audience that recreational fishers catch as much as 90 per cent of the lobsters caught in Norway. Her presentation resonated with both the judges and the audience. This new research could form the basis for managing the lobster stock and regulating quotas for recreational fishers if the endangered population does not recover naturally.
Geir Christian Johannessen from UiA’s Department of Nordic and Media Studies also impressed on Thursday with his research on the national broadcaster NRK’s Supernytt – a news programme aimed at children, achieving triple fives in scores from the judges. Both Johanna and Geir Christian won at the Agder finals of Researcher Grand Prix held in Kristiansand last Wednesday.
This year’s judges were Mari Sundli Tveit, CEO of the Research Council, Andreas Wahl, physicist, science communicator and TV host, and Iren Reppen, actor, writer and artist.
A wide range of topics this year
The national final of Researcher Grand Prix showcased a broad range of topics. From the melting of the Folgefonna glacier and political decisions, new biomaterials for 3D printing bones, theatre as a method to assist homecare nurses manage medications, to the use of AI to improve outcomes in back surgery. We also learned about how news dissemination changes when tailored to children and how to improve geometry teaching in maths lessons.
Excellent research
"At the Research Council, we see Researcher Grand Prix as a wonderful opportunity for researchers to showcase their excellent research and be inspired to disseminate it," says CEO of the Research Council Mari Sundli Tveit.
"Additionally, as an audience, we have gained insight into many exciting research projects. Research communication is becoming increasingly important in society as trust in research faces challenges. Congratulations to Johanna Bjånes Marcussen and all the other skilled participants!"
Johanna Bjånes Marcussen will now also proceed to a European final in Bourgogne, France, in November, organised by the European research alliance FORTHEM.