Nominated by
- Stephanie C. Werner, fixed-term Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences, MN
Election platform
Are you temporarily employed and unsure of what the academic future will bring? Then you are not alone. I have been temporary since 2002 and know most of the advantages and disadvantages. If I'm selected as member of the University Board, I take with me these experiences. I will work to ensure that we are being heard - and that important matters concerning our future are discussed. I am particularly concerned about that the temporarily employed get opportunities to qualify for permanent positions, and that the coming generations of scientists are trained properly to become skilled research communicators, both to other peers and to the public.
1. To qualify for a permanent position
I want to make the unpredictable road to a permanent academic position easier. One of the problems I have experienced is that it can be difficult to get teaching experience. I work at a SFF center which is a bit sheltered from the rest of his life at the institute. I have time to do research, but am kept away from teaching (probably due to the four year rule and that non-permanent employees are not involved in designing course portfolios). Other researcher or postdocs may experience the opposite, that they teach too much and do not get time to do research. I will work for more predictable career paths and that those who want to teach, actually get the chance.
2. Outreach and how to become a better researcher
I have spent a lot of time making research results accessible to the public. It is not always easy to prioritize outreach over research, but I think it helps make me a better scientist. Dissemination is all about working with language, text and communication - and to find good angles and stories that engage the reader. Just like when writing a scientific paper. In a world where papers are poured out and the fight for citations is hard, a clear language and a good narrative makes it more likely that your scientific paper is read and cited.
Outreach at the university is done by profiled professionals, communication advisors, and a large number of researchers who are invited as expert commentators to the media every day. But what measures has the university made to ensure that students and temporary employees become skilled communicators? There are several local initiatives, but most are of short duration, such as courses in opinion article writing. The MN-faculty has its own undergraduate and graduate course, where I teach. Our experiences can be of value to other faculties too. I will lobby for an interdisciplinary outreach center as a gathering place for those who actually work with outreach at the University of Oslo today. There they can share experiences and develop courses. Outreach can then be made into something more than branding and recruitment activities. This is in line with UiO goals (Strategi2020) to strengthen its “international position as a leading research-intensive university through a close interaction across research, education, communication and innovation.”
Background
- Researcher at the Centre for Earth Evolution and Dynamics (CEED)
- Dr. Scient in geochemistry/geology, Univ. Oslo (2000)
- Postdoc UiO (2001-2005)
- Researcher UiO (2005-)
- Researcher 1183 (from 2009)
- Young outstanding researcher-grant from NFR (2007-2011), NFR/ERC-grant (2012-2016)
- >60 scientific papers, H-index: 26 (Google Scholar), >2800 citations
- The 2005 outreach award from the Norwegian geological society
- Popular science writer
- Lecturing in outreach
- Student supervision (Master/PhD)
Professional services
- Member of several committees in the Norwegian association for non-fictional writers (NFFO)
- Editorial board member of Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift (2016->)
- Columnist in Morgenbladet (2012->)
- Committee work for the Norwegian geological association (to arrange national conferences)
- Took part in two working groups at the MN Faculty where the aims were to (1) evaluate professional competence in education, and (2) to improve the outreach from the Faculty
- Part of a working group that started the first regular course in outreach at the MN Faculty (MNKOM3000/4000) (2012-2015)
- Jury member in the NFR committee that evaluates candidates for the NFR Outreach Award (2009-2011)