Stiig Markager: “My research and research communication have made a difference that will be visible for my grandchildren”

What are your motivations for being an expert commentator?

I enjoy communicating my knowledge, and it feels good to see my research being used and making a difference. I also say yes because society pays for my research and communicating it to a general audience is my way of giving back.

What do you consider before saying yes or no to an interview?

As a rule, I always say yes if it’s within my area of expertise, otherwise I refer them to a colleague. I say no if I don’t have time or if I think the format seems frivolous or if it’s an extremely confrontational debate programme. I feel at home on the P1 Morgen and P1 Orientering radio shows, but I’ve also appeared in satire and children’s programmes. The audiences for these programmes also have a right to research-based knowledge.

How do you prepare?

If I’m being interviewed on P1 Morgen, I get up early, make a cup of tea and warm up my voice. I’ll have asked to see the questions in advance, and I often write down my first answer so I know I’ll get off to a good start. I don’t spend much time preparing the scientific part, because I know the figures and data on nitrogen leaching and eutrophication inside out. If it’s about a local fjord for a regional media outlet, I spend a little time looking up the relevant data before I call the journalist back.

How do you balance the goal of communicating your knowledge in an accessible way with your commitment to scientific rigour?

Twenty-five years ago, the way I spoke was a lot more technical and nuanced. Now I skip the technical part, because to get people to understand the main message, you need to cut to the chase. I don’t find that my message is less scientifically accurate just because it’s short. My main focus is that as an expert in my field, I need to be able to frame my knowledge in a context that allows my audience to understand it.

How do you deal with the criticism or pushback that public intellectuals sometimes have to deal with?

Over time, I’ve developed a pretty thick skin, and I ignore most of it. I often encounter pushback, especially from special interests in the agricultural sector – whether it’s professional lobbyists who are paid to contradict me or people with strong financial interests at stake. I’m aware that the reason for this reaction is often that I question things that people’s life choices depend on, and that can make people angry. This doesn’t keep me from speaking out, but I’m always careful to be very precise in my wording. If the criticism is valid, or if I’ve made a mistake, I take it seriously and make corrections where I can.

What impact do you think your role as an expert has had – both for you and for the public debate?

I’ve helped document that the catastrophic state of our fjords and the eutrophication in all of our waters is due to nitrogen discharge from the Danish agricultural sector, and this is widely accepted as fact in political and scientific circles. If Denmark has 600,000 more hectares of nature and a correspondingly less intensive agricultural sector twenty years from now, I’ll be able to say that my research and research communication have made a large, significant difference. It will be visible for my grandchildren and coming generations, and will be a visible legacy when they drive through the Danish countryside.

Do you check people’s comments on social media after your media appearances?

Very rarely, and I rarely reply. I’m aware of the fact that there are groups on Facebook where people hate me outright, but I never seek that out. On the other hand, I get emails from people thanking me for my appearances on a daily basis, and I think I get ten times more friendly emails than negative ones. So I get a lot of support, including from people I don’t know.

How do you disconnect from the media treadmill?

I avoid my inbox completely and do something completely different – spend time with my grandchildren, sea kayaking, build a greenhouse, grow tomatoes or dive into literature about the Second World War. That’s a topic I’ve been fascinated by years – maybe because it’s something I can’t change, I can just let myself get absorbed in it.

What's your best advice for colleagues who are considering making public media appearances?

My honest advice: Don’t do it if you’re at the beginning of your career. If you do research on topics that are politically sensitive, it will have a negative effect on your ability to get grants, and your chances of  a research career are zero. If you’re an established researcher and you’re really passionate about sharing your knowledge so others can benefit from it, then make sure you arrange to do a quote check. But keep in mind that the three hours you spend on a journalist are three hours away from your research, so it has to be worth it.