News - Page 5

Nils Chr. Stenseth, Leif Andersson, and Hopi E. Hoekstra organized a special feature of PNAS. 

The four Norwegian participants in this year's International Biology Olympiad all made an honorable effort, but Ole Einar Dalen was a notch ahead of the others.

Rector Svein Stølen and Vice-Rector Åse Gornitzka specify two issues that have arisen as a result of the Research Council's request to postpone the progress of Research Council-funded projects.

Nathalie Frosthammer is studying at the Department for Biosciences, this summer she is one of 50 students participating in a research project with a scholarship from UiO:Life Science.

UiO:Life Science established in 2021 a support scheme for interdisciplinary life science courses. Departments and faculties at the University of Oslo are eligible to apply. The scheme has an no deadline, applications can be submitted at any time.

The UNESCO-report on the role of universities and higher education institutions for promoting the agenda 2030 and the UN sustainability goals was officially presented by CBA-leader Dag O. Hessen.

On 11 May 2022, the University Board decided to offer Johannes Falk Paulsen (57) the position of Deputy University Director at the University of Oslo.

Wednesday 20 April it was time to celebrate the new projects that have completed UiO:Life Science's innovation programme SPARK Norway. At the same time the Vaccibody Innovation Award was presented for the first time.

In 2017, something completely new happened at the University of Oslo, the first convergence environments were created under the auspices of UiO:Life Science. The six interdisciplinary research groups that were selected after a thorough application process were to solve major societal challenges in health and the environment. Wednesday 30 March was the closing event and time to share experience and results.

We invite you to a pleasant gathering for our first convergence environments on Wednesday 30 March in Sophus Lie's auditorium. There will be presentations, panel discussion, mingling and tapas. Everyone who is interested in interdisciplinary research and collaboration is welcome!

Fridtjof Nansen's award for young researchers in science and medicine for 2022 goes to Eivind A. B. Undheim, Associate Professor at Department of Biosciences. He receives the award for excellent research in evolutionary biology.

In February, a new climate and environmental strategy was adopted by the University Board. A draft action plan for implementing the strategy is now ready. We welcome students and staff to comment on the action plan via an online form and at an open debate meeting.

The negotiations with the two major publishing giants have resulted in new agreements following post-deal negotiations.

At the Sustainable Development Goal conference in Bergen yesterday, a CBA-led UNESCO report was launched, on the role of higher education institutions in reaching global sustainability.

The University of Oslo now has a new and comprehensive climate and environmental strategy that will put its mark on all of the university´s core activities – from education and research to dissemination, innovation, and operations.

It is with sadness that we were informed about the recent passing of our former colleague and Collaborative Partner Professor Jeffrey Hutchings of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. Professor Hutchings was 63 years of age.

Finally, CBA can start planning the actual research in the RCN-funded project BioGov, where we will uncover the biogeochemical processes governing boreal carbon cycling.

The government no longer requires a social distancing of 1 metre in connection with teaching, and so students at the University of Oslo can look forward to normal lectures and seminars again.   

Thursday 13 January, the government announced an easing of Covid-19 measures. This means it will be possible to offer more physical education to the students.

Are you a PhD student, postdoc or Master’s student in life sciences and interested in career opportunities beyond academia? Sign up for Young Talents on 15 February!

UiO:Life Science will fund 40 educational summer research projects for students between April and September 2022. Students currently enrolled in a bachelor, master or relevant professional degree program at the University of Oslo are eligible to apply. The registration will open Thursday 13 January at 8 am.

The Centre for Digital Life Norway encourages open science and FAIR data management. For the first time, they are highlighting and rewarding outstanding examples of life science researchers in Norway who have managed their data according to the FAIR principles.

MNSU has named Marianne Fyhn from IBV Lecturer of the Year 2021. She was nominated by the Biovitenskapelig Fagutvalg, for her work in making the courses exciting and useful for students.

Every year, IBV's own prizes are awarded. Three prizes were awarded during last year's last zoom general meeting on 18 December 2020. The remaining prizes were awarded at the Christmas party on 2 December 2021.

Rapid changes in the atmosphere and biosphere characterizes the Anthropocene, and cross disciplinary science is important. A new course and a series of lectures at UiO seeks to contribute, including several CBA researchers.