New part-time employee at ITRC

For the next months, the ITRC will host Gyde Rudolph as a project assistant for the research project Citizen Science in Whale-Watching Tours: A Path to Enhanced Sustainability and Competitiveness?

Gyde is currently completing her Master's degree in Sea and Society at the University of Gothenburg with a focus on researching and optimizing existing marine systems and their protection. In particular, the studies enable her to understand human behavior as a central actor in the socio-ecological system of coast and sea. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Studies and Sustainable Development and has gained experience in marine research and the blue economy through internships at the Iceland Ocean Cluster and the Húsavík Research Centre. Her research focuses on human-ocean relationships, environmental education and marine conservation.

For her master’s thesis, she is exploring how whale-watching practices in Iceland and Norway contribute to conservation efforts, shape public perceptions of marine life, and foster collaboration between tourism and scientific research.

At ITRC, Gyde will work under the guidance of Ása Marta Sveinsdóttir, researcher at ITRC. Together, they will study the collaborative relationships between whale-watching companies and researchers, with a focus on citizen science. They will analyze the motivations, challenges, and benefits of such collaboration, with emphasis on its role in raising environmental awareness and promoting responsible tourism.