Tired of zoom meetings and home office in 2021, Becca applied to do the "Outreach" part of her Doctoral Research Fellow degree onboard Hurtigruten Expedition (external website). With support from RoCS - Rosseland Centre for Solar Physics, UiO she did altogether six 14-day trips: three from Hamburg to the North Cape and three from Dover to North Cape.
This autumn she went back as an Expedition Lecturer and took part in a 22-day trip from Dover to North Cape. On board the boat were approximately 130 passengers from countries such as Great Britain, Ireland and the USA.
The tours are long, but rewarding. It gives replenishment and energy to meet new people and teach the subject she is so fond of: the Sun.
Her lectures and workshops about the Sun and the Northern lights are part of the subject "Outreach" in the doctoral degree at the Department of Theoretical Astrophysics, The University of Oslo.
In a year's time, she hopes to have her doctorate and then she has decided: she will go back at sea.
Sun lessons adapted to each one
Becca gave lectures about the Sun and the Northern Lights and the passengers also had the chance of looking through RoCS's solar telescope.
She was at work every time she walked out of her cabin. The passengers who have questions will contact her. One does not log hours on board.
Some of the passengers have a natural science background and are well prepared for the trip. Others know nothing about the Sun or the Northern Lights. Becca must reach them all at their level to ensure they get the maximum benefit from the trip.
A big team on board
When there are no lectures, Becca helps out on excursions and other passenger related topics.
It is great fun. You get to try new things and you never quite know what the day will bring.
But is can also be tiring: It is common to get seasick. You will be ordered to rest, and others have to take over the work you were supposed to do, says Becca.
The crew becomes a tight-knit group and it makes for many new friendships. Becca tells about a flat organizational structure; they are all important pieces on board - from captain to waiters.
Outreach as part of the doctorate
Rebecca's boss at RoCS, professor Mats Carlsson, fully supports the communication job, and the center has purchased a solar telescope and expedition clothing for her excursions.
Becca has previously written articles and made videos about the Sun and the Northern lights for the science days promoted by The Research Council of Norway. Research communication makes up 1/4 of the doctoral degree and so she has also been busy on social media.
Becca likes to communicate in both Norwegian and English. She came to Norway in September 2019, and is now fluent in Norwegian. She will stay on in Norway and the start of her career path is clear to her now: After completing her doctorate in autumn 2023 (hopefully!) she will be back with the Hurtigruten Expedition team!