Hege Stein Helland, a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism (DIPA), is currently on a research stay at the School of Applied Social Studies, and School of Law, University College Cork, Ireland. The stay, which runs from September 25 to October 10, 2024, offers a unique opportunity for Hege to broaden her research in child protection and children’s rights while fostering international collaboration between DIPA and UCC.
During her time at UCC, Hege will collaborate with leading researchers, including Dr. Kenneth Burns, and Dr. Conor O’Mahony, who have been long-time DIPA collaborators. Together with Dr. Burns, Hege will deliver a lecture focusing on Decision-Making Bias in Professional Practice, sharing insights from the Norwegian context. Hege will also present her own research to the academic community in Cork at the School of Law, and engage in creative discussions with PhD students and fellow researchers.
Reflecting on the significance of the stay, Hege expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity:
– This stay will allow me to connect with leading experts in the field and gain deeper insight into the international research on children’s rights, as well as the more specific child protection practices in Ireland. I am excited to engage with other researchers, exchange ideas, and bring new perspectives back to my work at DIPA, states Hege.
In addition to her lectures and meetings with fellow researchers, Hege looks forward to gaining fresh insights for her research.
– I am sure that this stay at UCC will also inspire new ideas and provide fresh motivation for my ongoing work, she concludes.
The research stay promises to further strengthen the ties between DIPA and international partners while enriching Hege’s own work in the critical field of child protection and child rights.