Fellows 2022-23

Welcome to Iceland

You arrive in our country at the time of the year when winter is slowly coming ... and the happy Christmas season approaching.

This year, September 20^th was the day of the equinox, i.e., when daytime and night-time are of approximately equal duration all over the planet.

After that we have progressively longer night-time than daytime here in the north and we also start to experience colder weather and occasional storms.

In October the temperature usually ranges between 2-7 degrees Celsius. It can go below zero, especially during the night. For outdoor activities you would need a warm jumper, wind /waterproof outer shell, and good shoes.

Generally speaking, information about Iceland for visitors is readily available on the internet.

The No. 1 site for all travel information you’ll need during your trip is safetravel.is

On the official tourism website Visit Iceland you find a lot of practical information on the weather, what to wear, food, currency, safety issues etc.

Incoming fellows profile

The 2022-23 cohort includes 23 fellows from 14 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. This year females are one more than males, the ratio being 12 against 11. The biggest line of specialisation is the Fisheries Policy and Management line (9), then Aquatic Resource Assessment and Monitoring (6), Sustainable Aquaculture (4) and Quality Management (4). Additionally there is one special guest who does not belong to any of the four lines.

For individual fellows' profile see here.

This year´s  FTP staff

GRÓ-FTP team from the left, Stefán Úlfarsson, Warsha Sing, Agnes Eydal, Julie Ingham and Zaw Myo Win. Pictured outside the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute with the town of Hafnarfjörður in the background. Missing in the photo is Dr Tumi Tómasson, former director of the Fisheries Training Programme - he will be supporting the team this year, as a senior adviser.

More information here >

Fellowship information

General info

It is always challenging to settle into a new society. To help incoming fellows to orient themselves FTP has taken together a handbook with practical information on weather conditions, suitable clothing, accommodation, service hours, entertainment, transportation, important phone numbers … and last but not least about the fellowship’s responsibilities and benefits.

It is possible to upload a PDF version of the FTP General Handbook here>

Accomodation

The GRÓ House is the Reykjavík home of the GRÓ six-month fellows (GRÓ-FTP, GRÓ-GTP & GRÓ-LRT) and houses occasionally GRÓ MS/MSc and PhD scholarship recipients and visiting guest lecturers invited by the four GRÓ Programmes. The house is located on Grensásvegur 14, close to a major shopping and recreational area with convenient access to bus routes.

It is possible to upload a PDF version of the GRÓ House Handbook here>

The overall plan 2022-23

The overall plan below is presented as reference framework to help fellows organise their time in Iceland. However, as the programme is by nature quite fluid and relies on cooperation of many lecturers, specialists and companies it will likely need to be updated periodically.

It is possible to upload a PDF version of the Overall Plan here>

Week 1 (Oct 24 - Oct 30): Orientation

Below is a preliminary schedule for the first week in Iceland. Please be aware that it may be necessary to adjust it with little notice. Changes will be announced on a day-by-day basis.

Key: L = Lecture; F = Field trip; O = Orientation; S = Self work

Week 2 (Oct 31 - Nov 06): The aquatic resources

Below is a preliminary schedule for the second week in Iceland. Please be aware that it may be necessary to adjust it with little notice. Changes will be announced on a day-by-day basis.

Key: L = Lecture; F = Field trip; O = Orientation; S = Self work

Week 3 (Nov 07 - Nov 13): Environment, quality, innovation

Below is a preliminary schedule for the third week in Iceland. Please be aware that it may be necessary to adjust it with little notice. Changes will be announced on a day-by-day basis.

Key: L = Lecture; F = Field trip; O = Orientation; S = Self work

Week 4 (Nov 14 - Nov 20): Policy and management

Below is a preliminary schedule for the fourth week in Iceland. Please be aware that it may be necessary to adjust it with little notice. Changes will be announced on a day-by-day basis.

Key: L = Lecture; F = Field trip; O = Orientation; S = Self work

Week 5 (Nov 21 - Nov 23): The SDG goals

Below is a preliminary schedule for the fifth week in Iceland. Please be aware that it may be necessary to adjust it with little notice. Changes will be announced on a day-by-day basis.

Key: L = Lecture; F = Field trip; O = Orientation; S = Self work

Weeks 5-6 (Nov 24 - Dec 4): The northern trip

Below is a preliminary schedule for the nine day Northern Trip at the end of the Introduction. Please be aware that it may be necessary to adjust it with little notice. Changes will be announced on a day-by-day basis.

Here you can also download:

• Northern trip - Intro
• Northern trip - Groups for meetings & dinner
• Northern trip - Practical

Key: L = Lecture; F = Field trip; O = Orientation; S = Self work

Weeks 7-14 (Dec 5 - Jan 29): Specialisation module

On completion of the introductory module, each fellow joins a specialist line according to his or her area of expertise.

During this time fellows are occupied by two major tasks. First, to follow the schedule of their respective specialisation line. Second, to develop ideas for a final project in collaboration with their supervisors and the FTP staff.

All specialisation lines start with a welcome /introduction from head of line at which time fellows will be given detailed schedules for the coming 6 weeks.

A schedule for activities common across all the specialisation lines is presented below.

Note: The schedule may occasionally be updated -- most recently updated information is highlighted in red.

Mon Dec-05

Start of specialisation lines

• Aquatic Resource Assessment and Monitoring (ARAM): Head of line Jónas Jónasson will meet you at 09:00 in the MFRI building in Hafnarfjörður. After introduction classes will commence same day.
• Fisheries Policy and Management (FPM): Head of line Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson will meet you at 10:30 in the MFRI building in Hafnarfjörður. After introduction classes will commence same day.
• Quality Management of Fish Handling and Processing (QM): Head of line Margeir Gissurarson will meet you at 10:00 in the MATÍS building in Reykjavík. After introduction classes will commence same day.
• Sustainable Aquaculture (SAq): Head of line David Benhaim will meet you at 09:00 in Verið in Sauðárkrókur. After introduction classes will commence same day.

Fri Dec-16 (09:00-16:00)
   /at MFRI's 1. floor big meeting room (on-line with SAq fellows)

First call on “proposal-status” (all lines except QM)

• Review of key points for proposal writing
• Example proposals – analysis and group work
• Fellows work on their own proposal drafts
• Optional one-on-one consultation interviews with FTP team
• Submission of an assignment given earlier in the day

Mon Dec-19 (13:00-16:00) /at MATIS

First call on “proposal-status” (only QM line)

• Review of key points for proposal writing
• Example proposals – analysis and group work
• Fellows work on their own proposal drafts 
• Optional one-on-one consultation interviews with FTP team
• Submission of an assignment given earlier in the day

Thu Dec-22 (09:00-16:00) /at MFRI

Optional meetings between fellows and FTP-staff to discuss proposal status – up to each fellow to book a meeting

Fri Dec-30

Second call on “proposal status”

Considering that most fellows have already made headway with their proposals they are not required to come into office December 30^th as originally planned.

Instead they are asked to hand in an updated skeleton proposal -- this time adding the following elements:

• Draft literature review (for guidelines see File Storage here).
• More detailed timeline, including the correct deadlines for proposal submission, proposal presentation and project progress meetings (see dates in the “Overall plan” tab further up on this web-page).
• Preliminary budget estimate, that is, if you think there will be any associated costs.

The deadline for handing in the updated skeleton proposal is end of day January 2^nd. 

Detailed agenda for dates below are updated under "Final project tab" ...

Mon Jan-09

Fellows submit project proposal  -- all fellows should have a supervisor by this time

Mon Jan-16

FTP staff have returned comments to fellows and supervisors

Tue Jan-24

Proposal presentations series

• Jan-24 QM
• Jan-25 ARAM
• Jan-26 SAq
• Jan-27 FPM

Sun Jan-29

End of specialisation module -- start of final project module

Weeks 15-27 (Jan 30 - Apr 30): Research module

By end of day Monday Jan 9 fellows are supposed to hand in a draft proposal for their project.

This draft should include clear goals, suggested methodology, detailed timelines, itemised budget, list of references and a rudimentary literature review.

Furthermore, it should be prepared according to a template and instructions fellows have received earlier in the programme.

The documents explaining the technical criteria for the paper (the proposal and the final thesis) are accessible in File Storage here>

On request, fellows will share these documents with their supervisors.

When fellows hand in the draft proposals, it can differ between them how much their supervisors have already become involved.

However, a week after the draft proposals have been handed in (Jan 16) fellows should have received a feedback from FTP staff, with supervisors and head of line in cc.

From that point on, we expect all fellows and supervisors to work hand in hand, preparing for the next deadline according to the schedule below.

Note: The schedule may occasionally be updated -- most recently updated information is highlighted in red.

***

Jan 24-27 > Proposal submission. Open presentations held at the location of each line of specialisation (15 minutes presentation + 5 minutes discussion per fellow). Confirmed order: QM Jan 24 /ARAM Jan 25 /SAq Jan 26 /FPM Jan 27. Exact timing and other logistics, see this downloadable document here> Written copy of proposal handed in same day as oral presentation (send to: stefan@groftp.is).

Jan 29 > End of specialisation module.

Jan 30 > Start of Final project module.

Jan 31-Feb 3 > Green light week. One week after proposal submission, fellows should have received a notification from FTP on whether their proposal has been accepted (a "green light" to start the final project work) or if there are still issues that need to be addressed. After they get a green light they will be informed how research cost (if any) may be reimbursed.

Feb 20-24 > First progress meetings. Usually organised as hybrid online/in-person meetings between a fellow, his /her supervisor(s) and FTP staff (20-30 minutes per fellow). Suggested order: QM Feb 20 /ARAM Feb 21 /SAq Feb 22 /FPM Feb 23). Exact timing and other logistics communicated later. Note: Fellows are usually asked to hand in their draft papers 5 working days before the progress meetings. This gives FTP staff some time to examine the papers and prepare for the meetings.

Mar 20-24 > Second progress meetings. Usually organised as hybrid online/in-person meetings between a fellow, his /her supervisor(s) and FTP staff (20-30 minutes per fellow). Suggested order: QM Mar 20 /ARAM Mar 21 /SAq Mar 22/ FPM Mar 23. Exact timing and other logistics communicated later. Note: Fellows are usually asked to hand in their draft papers 5 working days before the progress meetings. This gives FTP staff some time to examine the papers and prepare for the meetings.

Mar 20 (Mo) > Academic Poster Design, guidance available on line. Fellows are asked to design an academic poster presenting their research work. Guidance is made available on line here>

Mar 31 (Fr) > Academic Poster Design, optional consultation. This is for people who have specific questions about their poster content or design. The sessions will be optional. QM at 10:00 in the morning; ARAM at 11:00; then after lunch SAq at 14:00; and FPM at 15:00. Teams invitations will be sent out in due time.

Apr 4  (Tu) > Academic Poster Design, optional feedback. Only for those who have a first draft ready by April 4, the posters can be submitted for feedback and proofreading on that date. After Easter their drafts will be returned with comments by April 12.

Apr 6 (Th) - 10 (Mo) > Easter weekend.

Apr 14 (Fr) > Academic Poster Design, deadline for handing in. The final draft of your poster MUST be ready for submission on April 14. This is the weekend before your final project presentations. GRÓ FTP will then proofread and print the posters ready to be displayed at your graduation.

Apr 17 (Mo) - 21 (Fr) > Final project presentation. Open seminar held at the location of each line of specialisation (20 minutes presentation + 10 minutes discussion per fellow). Suggested order: ARAM Apr 17 /FPM Apr 18 /SAq Apr 19 from 10:30/ QM Apr 21). Exact timing and other logistics communicated later.

Apr 20 (Th) > First day of summer (public holiday).

Apr 22 (Sa) > FPM /SAq fellows move from Akureyri /Sauðárkrókur to Reykjavík.

Apr 24 (Mo) > Submit papers -- final date.

Apr 25 (Tu) > Focus group meetings at MFRI /2^nd floor for each line of specialisation, in order to receive feedback about the six-month training programme (ARAM at 09:00; FPM 10:00; SAq 11:00 and QM 13:00).

Apr 26 (We) > Graduation.