Why did you choose the service/institution you chose?

There are a few reasons why I chose this institution. Firstly, the people at IMR have previously conducted experiments on larval Ammodytes marinus. They are the only facility I know of that has caught adult specimens and transported them back to the laboratory, where they were later able to spawn. This made IMR the clear choice. In addition, I was fortunate enough to have met the scientists conducting this research at conferences. As a result, we already had a good rapport, so I knew that working with them would be relatively seamless.

How did this access experience support your research?

The experiment conducted at IMR will actually form part of one of the chapters of my PhD dissertation. Without access to the necessary resources, this experiment would not have been possible. Furthermore, the central question of my dissertation is to compare the response of different Ammodytes species to climate change. Without the data I collected in Norway, the conclusions I draw in my dissertation would be less robust.

How does your project benefit society, industry, or policy?

This project is particularly important given the ongoing changes to our climate. Ammodytes spp. play significant roles in a variety of ecosystems across the northern hemisphere, linking planktonic food webs with higher trophic levels. One species of this fish, the long-snouted goby (Ammodytes dubius), has been shown to be particularly susceptible to ocean acidification during the embryonic stage.

Therefore, it is important for society, policy and industry to know if other Ammodytes species are similarly vulnerable. In Norway, for example, A. marinus is an important species in both the fishery and as a forage fish. Understanding how they might respond to climate change will impact the output of the fishing industry and the management of this fishery, as well as potentially other fisheries that depend on this species.

How did this experience mark your scientific career?

My scientific field is the common carp health monitoring, its production technology development and evaluation of the quality of its meat. This research is directly related to my expertise and will significantly impact my scientific career through the additional experience I have gained, and the publication of scientific results that have emerged from the project.

Please share some words of encouragement to future users.

I think I would say, just be open. This experience was great for my scientific career because of the data and experience I was able to get, but even more so, I was able to meet some amazing new people who I know will be in my corner for the rest of my career.