Bjerck is a PhD external/independent student at CBS and employed as a research fellow at the National Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO). Her PhD project is developed within an ongoing innovation project called; ”Uni-Form; arbeidsklær for kvinner i mannsdominerte yrker” which is financially supported through the Norwegian research council’s programme User-driven Research based Innovation (BIA), the Norwegian work wear (and sports) manufacturer Helly Hansen and the Norwegian armed forces logistics organisation (FLO). The PhD project seeks a qualitative and empirical understanding of material culture in practice through extensive fieldwork at a selection of male dominated work spheres in Norway. It has an obvious gender focus as it seeks to find out what socio-cultural and material practices are embedded in the use and perception of obligatory work clothes for women in male dominated professions. The study will also look into how the global structures in the clothing industry are related to the local practices in the work contexts. Here the collaboration with Helly Hansen (as project leader) will be used as an important first hand insight into the clothing industry.

Professional reports:
Skuland, Silje, Ingun Grimstad Klepp and Mari Bjerck (2010): Fritidsbåter og miljø: En studie av båtliv, forbruksvekst og miljøansvar, Professional report no. 3-2010 Oslo: SIFO

Bjerck, Mari (2009): Dream homes. Norwegian vacationers’ establishments of

second homes in Brazil. Professional report no. 1-2010 Oslo: SIFO

http://www.sifo.no/files/file75806_fagrapport_1-2009-web.pdf

Schjøll, Alexander, Mari Bjerck, Eivind Jacobsen and Siv Elin Ånestad (2009): The Nordic Market for Sports Nutrition Products: a Market Analysis using Norway as a Case. TemaNord 2009: 530, Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers

http://www.sifo.no/files/file75940_markedsrapport.pdf

Ånestad, Siv Elin, Benedicte Hauge, Mari Bjerck and Alexander Schjøll (2009): Sports Nutrition Products: A Nordic Consumer Study. TemaNord 2009: 531, Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers

http://www.sifo.no/files/file75941_forbrukerrapport.pdf

Articles:
Mari Bjerck, Ingun Grimstad Klepp and Gunnar Vittersø: ”Fritidsforbruk, frihet og miljøansvar”, in Kristin Asdal and Eivind Jacobsen (eds.) Forbrukerens ansvar, pp.: 223-251, Oslo: Cappelen Akademiske Forlag

Klepp, Ingun Grimstad, Mari Bjerck and Harald Throne-Holst (2009): ”Stoff for sport” in Personae, 2 (1) pp.: 136-139, Oslo: Vidarforlaget

Conference papers:
Mari Bjerck and Ingun Grimstad Klepp: Å fange materialiteten i metoden: Garderobestudie og klærnes materie. Paper presented at Byggstenar – The 31st Nordic Ethnology and Folklore conference, Helsinki, August 19, 2009

Mari Bjerck and Ingun Grimstad Klepp: Klær og utstyr til enhver aktivitet. Friluftsliv og spesialisering. Paper presented at Friluftslivets fellesorganisasjon (FRIFO) annual conference Forskning I friluft, Oslo, 14-15 november, 2009

Ingun Grimstad Klepp and Mari Bjerck: The Role of Clothes and Equipment in Outdoor Recreation. Paper presented at the Research Workshop at Centre for Fashion Studies, Stockholm University, May 15, 2008

Mari Bjerck and Ingun Grimstad Klepp (2008): Wardrobe Studies in Norway. Paper presented at Copenhagen Business School, NOS-HS Explorative workshop: Wardrobe studies, Copenhagen, November 27, 2008

Other talks:
Mari Bjerck and Ingun Grimstad Klepp: Uniform; Arbeidsklær for kvinner i mannsdominerte yrker. Kvinner og klær i arbeidslivet under lupen. Speech held at a dialogue meeting and press conference at Helly Hansen, Moss, 07. October, 2009