Interview

Gitte, how did you start as a researcher?

"It was probably a bit of a coincidence that I ended up as a researcher."

"While I was studying, one of my fellow students just returned from studying abroad .. where she had met some PhD students. She said: "Gitte, let's do a PhD. - If they can, so can we. And when I finished my master's degree - I could feel that I was still dedicated to write and read .. so it was very natural to continue on to my PhD."

"And I have researched ever since - and I enjoy it!"

What is your current research about?

"Right now I am involved in a research project with Montana State University, which in English is called" Population Dynamics in Greenland "- and our research takes place in the settlement of Kullorsuaq."

"Montana State does research in the fields of health, sexuality and the environment .. and my focus is on kinship, family formation and culture in Kullorsuaq. Very soon, I'm actually off again to the settlement to gather empirical data for my research. I'm looking very much forward to it."

"In many ways, it's similar to my PhD, which was about kinship in urban communities. So in that sense there is also a common thread in my research."

What motivates you about your research?

"There are always interesting and unanswered questions in my field of research - and constantly unexplored areas just waiting for you. It's very exciting!"

"And yes .. sometimes you also get a bit provoked .. for example, when people speak about something where there is absolutely no research behind. Then you get extra keen and motivated to illustrate the state of affairs."

Gitte - why is your research important?

"If we take my current research project - "Population Dynamics in Greenland" - and our research in Kullorsuaq .. here we involve the local population (and the Government of Greenland and the health services), and work with them on issues they would like to have examined. In this way, we both research the relevant social conditions in the settlement - and the settlement takes ownership of the project."

"In this way, the settlement and Greenland at large both benefit from our research. They use us researchers for something, they get something out of us as professionals .. and the results and recommendations on family formation, health, identity, etc., that we are going to present when the research project is completed in 2017 can be used both in relation to the settlement, but also generally to improve living conditions in Greenland."