Guest Lecturers 2026

As part of the Six-Month Training at GRÓ GTP, internationally renowned Guest Lecturers are invited to give lectures and to have discussions with the current six-month fellows or specific specialists are invited to hold workshops or presentations on specific relevant topics.  Many lectures of previous Guest Lecturers have been published by GTP and are available for download under publications.

This year, two visiting specialists Susan Muska, award winning documentary director and producer, and Julia Wummel, Affiliated Researcher at University of Cologne, were invited to share their knowledge and experience with our fellows through workshop and lectures.  Susan Muska gave our fellows a 3-day workshop on media training, covering the valuable topic of how to effectively present and communicate their research projects.  Dr. Julia Wummel will be giving an open lecture on Gender and Geothermal Energy.  

October 15th at 15:00 - Zoom link to lecture

• Speaker: Julia Wummel, PhD (Affiliated Researcher - University of Cologne)
• Topic: "Gender and Geothermal Energy"

  Gender equality is a shared responsibility. Science and technology do not exist in isolation from society. They are shaped by the cultures, values, and social structures in which they operate. The energy sector is no exception. Achieving gender equality in this field is therefore not simply about increasing the number of women in science, engineering, and leadership. It is also about transforming the culture of the sector itself. A more inclusive energy sector requires greater openness, diverse perspectives, and a willingness to question established norms about who belongs, who leads, and whose voices are heard.  Gender must become a consideration in decision-making at every level, regardless of the gender of those making the decisions. Gender equality is not a women's problem. It is a shared human responsibility. Meaningful change cannot happen if women alone are expected to challenge existing structures and drive progress. Men and women must be active participants in reshaping workplace cultures, questioning traditional gender roles, and creating more equal opportunities. Importantly, this transformation cannot stop at the workplace. Gender roles in our professional and private lives are deeply connected. Expectations around caregiving, family responsibilities, leadership, and career ambitions influence who has the freedom and opportunity to participate and succeed in the energy sector. By engaging people of all genders in these conversations, we can move beyond simply including women in existing systems and begin building systems that are more equitable, open, and supportive of everyone. The goal is not only to change who participates in the energy transition, but also to change the culture in which that transition takes place.

• About the Speaker: 

  Julia Wummel's research focuses on potential energy futures, travelling knowledges, and inequalities within transnational communities and epistemic cultures. In 2026, she defended her doctoral dissertation in the Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology at the University of Cologne, Germany. Her PhD project is based on long-term, multi-sited ethnographic research in Iceland and in Kenya, exploring how engineers and scientists co-produce knowledge and create "green" energy futures across the boundaries of gender, nationality, and discipline. She has collaborated with scholars from various disciplinary backgrounds in Europe and East Africa. Julia has lived in five countries on three continents, speaks German, English, Spanish and Danish, and is learning Swahili. She also holds an MSc in Market Anthropology from the University of Southern Denmark, where she graduated in the top 1%.

  Location:
  The lectures will take place at GRÓ GTP office at Urðarhvarf 8B (3rd floor), 203 Kópavogur

  The lectures are open for everyone and free of charge and we encourage everyone who is interested in geothermal research and development to attend on this opportunity

  The lecture will also be available online:
  Zoom link to lecture 

September 28-30th, 09:00-15:00

Speaker: Susan Muska (Bless Bless production)
Topics: "Presenting your research project. How to turn your research paper and project into a compelling pitch!"

• • What makes a good presentation?
  • Elements of an effective presentation and technical tips
  • How to develop a communicative skillset that will banish fears and procrastination about presenting: "Speaking to be heard"
  • How to organize your information for your talk
  • How is a presentation different than a research paper?
  • What to include and what to exclude
  • Methods, and practice
  • How to connect with your audience
  • How to create simple, impactful slides 
  • How to answer questions after your talk

  • Tips and message development for media

• About the Speaker: 

  Susan Muska is an award winning documentary director and producer living in New York City and Reykjavik, Iceland. Susan studied documentary filmmaking and communication arts. She has a Master's Degree in English Language Communications. She works as a filmmaker, media and communications coach/instructor, and teaches both film narrative and communications in New York and Iceland. She specializes in working with individuals to develop effective and professional presentations in English. Her research interests include social and civil rights, and human relationships with other species in the natural world.

  Her works include: 

• Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement, winner of 24 Audience and Jury awards for Best Documentary at international and domestic film festivals. The love story behind the historic Supreme Court case that overturned DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act. Co-production with the Sundance Channel.

• The Brandon Teena Story - nominated for an EMMY Award for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. Awards include: Teddy Award and the Audience Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Broadcast on HBO, The Sundance Channel, Channel 4 and many more stations around the world.

• Women, The Forgotten Face of War, about women refugees, and Through the Lens, about Sigrid Zoega and August Sander. For more info on my work go to my website.

• Co-Producer of La Chana, a beautiful Spanish documentary, winner of audience award at IDFA 2016, Nominated for European Film Award, Best Documentary 2017.