"What really stays with you are the encounters with talented colleagues and researchers, masses of tips and tricks, and not least the growing confidence in communicating your own research. Research communication has become even more enjoyable with more tools in the box", says Johanna Bjånes Marcussen, who took part in last year's Researchers Grand Prix.
In her day-to-day work, she is a doctoral research fellow at the Department of Natural Sciences at UiA and the Institute of Marine Research, where she researches lobster fishing and recreational fishing. Together with Geir Christian Johannessen, they topped last year's regional competition before travelling to Oslo to take part in the national final. Marcussen also won the national final — the first person from UiA to do so.
"It is actually quite difficult to communicate three years of research in four minutes. But through participating, we were pushed to articulate the research in a way that would both create understanding and engage people", says Johannessen, who is ordinarily a doctoral research fellow at UiA's Department of Nordic and Media Studies.
See coverage and photos from last year's FGP Agder.
Programme
28 April — Application deadline
Approx. 6 May — Selection of participants
2 June — First group session
12–17 June — Individual guidance by appointment
25 August — Second group session
28 August – 2 September — Individual guidance by appointment
3 September — Third group session
16 September — Regional competition day, FGP show at BARE student house in Kristiansand
24 September — National final in Oslo
Attendance at the course days and individual training sessions is compulsory.
The unofficial Norwegian championship
Researchers Grand Prix is an unofficial Norwegian championship in research communication. The competition is part of the Researchers' Days, which is held across Norway in September.
Up to ten participants are selected to take part in this year's regional competition. The group will consist of PhD research fellows from various academic fields at UiA. PhD research fellows from other research institutions in Agder are also invited to take part.
Applicants must be well underway with their doctoral degree but must not yet have defended their thesis.
An intensive course in communication
Participants receive individual coaching in presentation, stage performance, and voice use from three experienced professionals: communications adviser Arne Martin Larsen, graphic designer Thomas Eikeland Fiskå, and Ida Fugli, Associate Professor at the Department of Visual Arts and Drama at UiA. Together, they follow the participants closely throughout the entire process, right through to the final.
"Researchers' Grand Prix is more than a competition and a show. It is also a course in communication. Through group sessions and individual guidance, participants receive professional training in communicating their research from a stage directly to an audience", says Larsen.
The regional competition takes place on 16 September at BARE student union in Kristiansand. By that point, participants will have prepared a four-minute presentation about their own research project.
The winner is determined by a combination of audience votes and points from a judging panel.
The two best performers from the regional final will go on to the national final in Oslo on 24 September.
European Researchers' Grand Prix in Poland
Through the FORTHEM alliance, the top-placing participant affiliated with UiA is also invited to a corresponding communication competition among several other European universities in Opole, Poland, on 21–22 October.
Contact
