That is what PhD research fellows Johanna Bjånes Marcussen and Geir Christian Johannessen said after impressing with their solid performances at this year's Researcher Grand Prix Agder on Wednesday.
In a terrific show at the packed auditorium in the student house BARE in Kristiansand, the two competed against seven other research fellows from Agder. In just four minutes each, they first presented their research to roughly 150 audience members and three judges. Johanna took the top spot followed closely by Geir Christian.
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“An experience of a lifetime”
“It has been great to take part. It has been tiring at times after signing up, but I’ve learned so much and met many talented colleagues and researchers,” says Johanna Bjånes Marcussen.
“It has also been a lot of fun and has made me much more confident in presenting my own research,” she said before going on stage and winning the competition with her study on how recreational fishing affects lobster fishing in Norway.
She conducts her research as a PhD research fellow at the Department of Natural Sciences at UiA and the Institute of Marine Research.
Geir Christian Johannessen, currently affiliated with the Department of Nordic and Media Studies at UiA, is also pleased to have participated in this year's Researcher Grand Prix Agder.
“It’s been nice and quite an experience to take part, without a doubt. I agree with the other participants: It has made me more confident in sharing my research, something I hope will benefit me throughout my research career,” he says.
Focusing on public research dissemination
The regional competition is part of the National Science Week, where the goal is to strengthen the public dissemination of research and science in Norway. Five university regions are participating in this year's competition, which will culminate in a grand show in Oslo on 25 September. Johanna and Geir Christian will join there alongside 10 other doctoral research fellows from the other regions.
The Norwegian Researcher Grand Prix model and the University of Agder have inspired partner universities within the European university alliance FORTHEM, which comprises nine European countries, to establish their own European Researcher Grand Prix competition. The final of this competition will be held for the second time in November this year in Burgundy, France, with Johanna Bjånes Marcussen from UiA and the Institute of Marine Research participating.
