"It was great fun talking to so many people about my research. And, of course, it’s brilliant to win so that I can do more of it", says Ådne Ausland from the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education.
Together with Mathilde Elsa Christensen from the Department of Health and Nursing Science, they impressed with a strong performance at this year’s Forsker Grand Prix Agder on 16 September.
In a thrilling show in a packed auditorium at the Bare student centre in Kristiansand, Ausland and Christensen competed against five other PhD students from UiA. In four-minute presentations, they first outlined their research to an audience of 140 and three judges. Ausland took top spot, with Christensen a close second.
Ausland’s research project is developing and testing a new training programme for coaches who work with female athletes. Christensen is examining how young people experience it when a family member becomes critically ill and is admitted to an intensive care unit.
"It was so much fun to take part in this! Now I’m feeling a mixture of pride, relief and joy," says Christensen.
More about the participants here
Watch the recording of the show here
National final in Oslo
The regional competition forms part of Research Days, the aim of which is to strengthen the public communication of research and science in Norway. Five university regions are taking part in this year’s competition, which culminates in a national final in Oslo.
In the national final, Ausland and Christensen will face eight other candidates from the other regional finals.
On Thursday 24 September from 18:30 to 20:30, you can watch the live stream and help vote for them.
Improve your research communication skills
Ahead of the regional final, the participants have received individual coaching in presentation, stage presence and voice projection from three experienced professionals: communications adviser Arne Martin Larsen, graphic designer Thomas Eikeland Fiskå and Nils Harald Sødal, professor at the Department of Classical Music and Music Education at UiA. Together, they have closely supported the participants throughout the entire process right up to the final.
"Researcher Grand Prix is more than just a competition and a show. It is also a course in communication. Through group sessions and individual guidance, we have received professional training in communicating our research from a stage directly to the audience", says Christensen.
“It’s worth its weight in gold for my future research communication,” she says.
The participants agree that challenging and scrutinising each other’s presentations has been one of the most valuable aspects of taking part in the Researcher Grand Prix.
"It’s been great to receive constructive and honest feedback, both from the other participants and the mentors along the way, but also from the judges in the final," says Ausland.
International final
The Norwegian Researcher Grand Prix model and the University of Agder have also inspired the partner universities in the European FORTHEM university alliance, which spans nine European countries, to establish their own European Researcher Grand Prix competition. The final of this competition will be held for the third time this October in Opole, Poland. Ådne Ausland will be representing UiA there.