2018/2019 Research and education at THE UiB MAGAZINE. the University of Bergen

HUNTING MYSTERY LIGHTNING FROM SPACE page 15

ALSO READ ABOUT... STUDYING IN MEDIA CITY BERGEN page 21 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS page 26 THE LEGACY OF THE PLASTIC WHALE page 46 ...AND MUCH MORE contents 2018/2019 words from the rector

RESEARCH IN FRONT 4 Island nations could disappear ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE IS 6 Machine Vision Potential Parkinson's breakthrough DECISIVE FOR THE FUTURE 8 THE UiB MAGAZINE 2018/2019 Knowledge that shapes society is the vision of our university’s strategy. With A new view of evolution Annual research and education magazine 10 this in mind, it is not without reason that we have taken the role as Norway’s from the University of Bergen (UiB) leading university on the Sustainable Development Goals. The goals are Small shocks give healthier brains EDITORIAL 12 ­descriptive of our globes most important challenges, and academic knowledge Publisher: Mathilde Holm is a crucial component in dealing with them. Editors: Cleaning spray may harm lung function As an international university, UiB aims to strategize for a long-term per- 14 Ole M. Kvamme, spective. We seek to reach our goals and ensure the best education and research. [email protected] Therefore we have just recently launched an action plan on our collaboration Olaf E. Gundersen, with China. With the plan we will strengthen our education and research team- [email protected] CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE work with the Chinese on many areas. Especially when it comes to sustainable development and climate research, but also in regards of cultural exchange. Writers: UiB at the International Space Station One of our most protruding strategic projects is the development and re- Kim E. Andreassen 15 Margareth Barndon alization of knowledge clusters. In the knowledge clusters, we will develop Ida Bergstrøm Fighting child mortality in Uganda education programmes for the future, rooted in and closely connected to out- 18 Sverre Ole Drønen standing research environments. Last year we officially opened Media City Janne-Beate Buanes Duke Bergen, along with our partners in the cluster. It is with great pride we see 19 Centres of Excellence at UiB Ingrid Endal students working in closer relations to Norway’s big media houses, and also Britt Kristin Ese major international media-technology developers. The progress on our other Olaf Erlend Gundersen knowledge clusters is positive as well. Our marine cluster will come to charac- Hilde K. Kvalvaag Surrounded by digital data terize Bergen’s reputation as Norway’s ocean city, and we recently named our Ole M. Kvamme 20 health cluster; Alrek – health cluster. Solfrid Langeland Last year, the story of the “Plastic whale” that stranded at Sotra on the west Studying in Media City Bergen Jens Helleland Ådnanes 21 coast of Norway got a lot of attention. When scientists at the University Museum­ TRANSLATION of Bergen opened the stomach of the stranded whale, they found over 40 large Art and political crisis Amesto Translations AS 24 pieces of plastic. As a consequence of the widespread coverage of the whale, the Norwegian populace has certainly become a lot more aware of the envi- DESIGN, LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Sustainable development goals 26 ronmental issues of using plastic. I think this in turn will make people even Margareth Haugen (Design), more alert and prepared to respond towards challenges posed by climate Lars O. Haaheim (Magazine template), Communication Division, UiB 28 The UiB interview: Bruce Kapferer change. Dissemination of knowledge can change the world! Front page: Margareth Haugen In the magazine, you will therefore also meet some of our most esteemed 32 World Wide UiB researchers, like Bruce Kapferer who lead an ERC Advanced Grant project CONTACT DETAILS named Egalitarianism. But also researchers like Jill Walker Rettberg Postal address: Communication Division, who leads an ERC project on visual technology, and Edvard Hviding University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, with his “Toppforsk” granted project on the consequences of rising 5020 Bergen, Norway Telephone: (+47) 55 58 00 00 Excellence in education sea levels for the maritime sovereignties in the Pacific. One can also 34 read more about our international, or should I say intergalactic, E-mail: [email protected] Website: uib.no/en Arctic shipping, law and climate change reach with the launch of the "SpaceX ASIM-rocket" which had UiB 36 technology on board. CIRCULATION 4,000 The PhD interview: Marianne Frøystad Walderhaug The magazine will give you an insight in our broad activity, and Print: Bodoni AS 38 into our goal of delivering world leading research and education that ISSN 1894-8405 (print edition) forms the society. An important part of our job is also to disseminate ISSN 2387-2128 (electronic edition) Researchers to watch 40 our work so that the rest of the society can take advantage of it. ABOUT UiB Enjoy the reading! Plastic oceans The University of Bergen (UiB) has 46 approx. 16,900 students and 3,800 staff Rector: Dag Rune Olsen Postcard from Bergen: Toril Moi 47 PHOTO: Eivind S University Director: Kjell Bernstrøm e

The last picture: SLATE at UiB’s Digital Day esetnn 48 Dag Rune Olsen Rector, University of Bergen Follow me on Twitter @UiBrector_Olsen 2 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 3 RESEARCH IN FRONT | mare nullius

sonal indignation on behalf of the lius to contribute to broader knowl- facts people of the Pacific, who have cared edge of how the Pacific island nations ▼▼ THE BLUE LAGOON: Marovo Lagoon for me so generously. They contribute engage as state actors in global legal of Solomon Islands, with one of the Mare Nullius and Toppforsk world’s largest and richest coral reefs the least to global warming, yet are and diplomatic systems, and to pro- • The project’s full title: Mare Nullius? Sea- and the place where Professor of set to suffer the most from its effects. viding the climate change challeng- level Rise and Maritime Sovereignties in Social Anthropology, Edvard Hviding, Through my fieldwork in the Solomon es with a clearly humanist dimension the Pacific – An Expanded Anthropology embarked on his research career. Islands and encounters and conver- grounded in Pacific islanders’ own of Climate Change. PHOTO: Edvard Hviding sations over three decades with peo- perspectives, hopes and ambitions.” • Five-year research project funded ple from most of the Pacific, I have by the Research Council of Norway’s Toppforsk programme. been deeply engaged in the fight by A highly interdisciplinary project the island nations against rising sea Mare Nullius builds on interdiscipli- • Principal investigator and project levels, intensified extreme weather nary approaches developed in the director is Professor Edvard Hviding. and other effects of global warming,” EU-funded ECOPAS project coordi- • Interdisciplinary project that draws on Edvard Hviding explains. nated by Hviding in 2012–2016, which social anthropology, climate science, law of the sea and sovereignty, included collaboration with climate political science, global history, etc. Sustainability and science diplomacy scientists at UiB’s Bjerknes Centre for The anthropologist is also one of the Climate Research and the Univer- • Leading scholars from three of the University of Bergen’s faculties are main contributors to UiB’s current sity of the South Pacific. Climate involved. In addition to Hviding as drive to engage in an active advi- science is central to the new project PI, Professor Ernst Nordtveit from sory capacity towards government too, and will be integrated with legal the Faculty of Law and Professor and international organisations; an studies, political science and mari- Noel Keenlyside from the Geophysical activity also referred to as science time global history. Institute are central participants. diplomacy. The Mare Nullius project “The project’s basic agenda con- • PhD candidates and postdoctoral includes anthropological fieldwork nects climate science and law to fellows will be recruited at UiB, and there will be close cooperation with in nearly all countries of the Pacific anthropology as the central, integra- prominent international scholars, Islands region, but also in the diplo- tive discipline. I aim to develop what including visiting professorships at UiB. macy of the UN and at climate I see as a true interdisciplinarity, • For the supervision of PhD candidates change summits. which includes the indigenous knowl- the project will develop new approaches edges of Pacific islanders,” Hviding to interdisciplinarity, combined with a explains. strong disciplinary grounding. They contribute the One of the project objectives is to • In addition to Hviding, Toppforsk Island nations could “ document the actual building of in- funding was awarded to Professor least to global warming, terdisciplinarity. Mare Nullius will Karsten Specht at the Department offer PhD and postdoctoral positions of Biological and Medical Psychology yet are set to suffer the and Professor Michael Fellows at the disappear due to in the participating disciplines. Department of Informatics. most from its effects. “For the project’s PhD and post- doctoral positions we aim for shared climate change supervision across disciplines, as well “My vision is to contribute to the as significant research time in the building of new anthropological Pacific, in the UN system and in Social anthropologist he project Mare Nullius? Sea- pear from climate change and rising method and theory, for fieldwork- other forums where island nations Level Rise and Maritime Sover- sea levels, a scenario faced by sev- based studies of international po- fight for their sovereign territories,” Edvard Hviding is one eignties in the Pacific – An Ex- eral low-lying Pacific Island coun- litical practice,” Hviding explains. Hviding notes. The anthropologist of three University of Tpanded Anthropology of Climate tries? What status is accorded to those “I have developed this project in sees the Mare Nullius project as a Bergen researchers to Change has been developed over who have to leave islands that are dialogue not only with a network of component of UiB’s strategy for sup- many years by Professor Edvard no longer inhabitable? And, what is research partners in many parts of porting the UN Sustainable Develop- receive five years of Hviding of the Department of Social the fate of the 200-mile exclusive the world, but also with the UN mis- ment Goals (SDGs). In this, he sees major funding from the Anthropology at the University of economic zones (EEZs) of island sions of the Pacific island nations. It synergies also with the new Ocean prestigious Toppforsk Bergen (UiB). states when the land upon which is the UN ambassadors of the Pa- Sustainability Centre, established by maritime boundaries are based is cific who handle many of the daily UiB in January 2018. programme, awarded A feeling of personal indignation inundated by a rising sea? challenges to wider global recognition by the Research Council The Mare Nullius project poses some “Mare Nullius is the culmination of the consequences of climate uncomfortable questions about the of 32 years of research engagement change for their countries. But in fact of Norway, for his >>> Professor Edvard Hviding leads the SDG Edvard Hviding (right) in conversation with the Hon. John condition of our globe: What happens in and with the Pacific Islands. The they engage in this fight on behalf of Bergen Task Force, a strategic initiative by the Maneniaru, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, project Mare Nullius. when entire nations stand to disap- project’s background is one of per- us all. My ambition is for Mare Nul- University of Bergen. Read more on page 27 Solomon Islands. PHOTO: Pacific Islands Development Forum

4 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 5 RESEARCH IN FRONT | machine vision

Three out of five grants to UiB

Out of five ERC Consolidator Grants to The cultural effects Norwegian projects this year, three were awarded to UiB-researchers. of Machine Vision In addition to Rettberg, Jill Walker Rettberg’s ERC funded project “Machine Vision” will explore Professor Thomas Arnesen, Department of Biomedicine/ what happens to us when we, increasingly, view the world around us Department of Molecular Biology through machines. and leader of the Arnesen lab, n sse

a was awarded the grant for his e project “Discovery and func- . andr

The ERC funding makes it pos- Rettberg is a professor in Digital Memorial Award for her Snapchat Life: Playful Interactions with Visual "All these are examples of every- : kim e tional significance of posttrans- hoto sible for me to build a team, Culture at the University of Bergen research stories. Technologies in Digital Art, Games, day machine vision", Rettberg argues. P lational N-terminal acetylation”. and really work with the re- and leader of the Digital Culture Narratives and Social Media. "The ubiquity of machine vision The project will explore new “search. We research the cultural Research Group, at the Department Self-representation online Studying selfies, she realised that is a shift in representational tech- systems of cellular regulation of proteins, with potential effects effects of a kind of technology which of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthet- It was while she was working on her the ways we use visual technologies nologies as vast as the introduction in hormone-regulation and cancer. is key to our society,” says Rettberg, ic Studies, at the Faculty of Human- book on self-representation online is changing, and that these changes of the printing press, or of linear “It’s fantastic and unreal to get a breakthrough after many stating the importance of this kind ities. She has previously been award- that Jill Walker Rettberg began to are impacting us in very significant perspective, and will lead to as sig- years of work,” says Arnesen, pointing out that this is the first of humanities in a world where tech- ed for her work with social media, develop the idea for her new ERC ways. Selfies are much more than nificant changes in our society". Norwegian ERC supported project in the category “Life Sciences 1” nology is evolving very quickly. recently receiving the John Lovas project, Machine Vision in Everyday just self-portraits. They are algorith- – Molecular and Structural Biology and Biochemistry. Different perspectives “This is mainly the result of a team effort from the entire The project Machine Vision will ex- research group, thanks to everyone that has contributed”. plore machine vision from three We research the perspectives. As a foundation, Rett- “ berg and her team will study theories Professor in meteorology Harald cultural effects of a kind and histories of visual technologies Sodemann at the ­Geophysical of technology which is and current machine vision. Then, Institute and the Bjerknes three PhD students will analyse Centre for Climate Research also key to our society. digital art, computer games and nar- got the Consolidator Grant for ratives (e.g. science fiction novels, the project “Isotopic links to o

movies or electronic literature) that .n ­atmospheric water’s sources”. oto kf

use machine vision as theme or in- o : “Together with recent hoto mically encoded, manipulated by terface. Third, an ethnographer will P technological advances in filters, and run through facial recog- examine the experiences of users isotope measurements and nition algorithms. Holding a camera and developers of consumer-grade in-situ sample collection, this will allow us to acquire a new kind up to our face can now be a way of machine vision apps through field- of observational data set that will follow the history of water proving our identity so we can unlock work and interviews. vapour from source to sink”, Sodemann explains in the project our phone, or to get money from a Three main research questions abstract, and continues: bank account – or we might be pho- are woven through all the approach- “In ISLAS, my team and I will make unprecedented use of tographed as a way of assessing our es, addressing 1) new kinds of agen- stable isotopes to provide the sought-after constraints for an emotional state – for security reasons, cy and subjectivity; 2) visual data as improved understanding of the hydrological cycle in nature and to sell us something or simply to malleable; 3) values and biases. in climate models, leading towards improved predictions of personalize a service. Our phones The project will be hosted by the future climate”. run each image we take through Digital Culture Research Group, and A central part of the project is use of research aircrafts to image recognition algorithms to sort will work closely with the Electronic measure the water cycle in the Norwegian Sea. and tag our photos. Literature Research Group at UiB.

‹ With the ERC Consolidator Grant, Jill Walker Rettberg will study Machine Vision in everyday life. The project launces in August 2018, and runs for five years. Photo: Eivind Senneset

6 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 7 RESEARCH IN FRONT | parkinson's disease

Asthma medicine halves

risk of Parkinson's Our discoveries may “ be the start of a totally new Using data gathered from 100 million Norwegian prescriptions, researchers at the University of Bergen have found that asthma medicine can halve a possible treatment for patient’s risk of developing Parkinson's disease. this serious disease.

y studying the effect of 1,000 The researchers examined more than searchers at Harvard University. facts medicines, researchers discov- 100 million prescriptions ordered “Our analysis of data from the ▼▼ ered that medicine against over the last 11 years in ­Norway. whole Norwegian population has Parkinson's Disease Basthma and blood pressure is linked "These discoveries could be the been decisive for the conclusion in • More than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD. to the risk of getting Parkinson's dis- start of a radically new treatment of this study,” says Riise. He leads the Asthma medicine has positive side effects, a study from the University of Bergen shows. • Incidence of Parkinson's disease increases with age, ease. While the use of asthma med- Parkinson's patients", says Professor registery study in Norway. Illustration: Istockphoto but an estimated four percent of people with PD are icine halves the risk of getting Par- Trond Riise at Department of Global The study is published in Science. diagnosed before age 50. kinson's, one type of medicine against Public Health and Primary Care (IGS), • Men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson's high blood pressure doubles the risk. University of Bergen (UiB). 100 million prescriptions searchers at Harvard University database, where all Norwegian pre- disease than women. Together with colleagues Anders found these effects of the medicines scriptions are registered. • There is no “one way” to diagnose Parkinson's disease Destroys the brain cells Engeland and Kjetil Bjørnevik, Riise in animal tests and in experiments “We analysed the whole Norwe- (PD). However, there are various symptoms and Parkinson's disease is a chronic dis- has analysed more than 100 million with brain cells in the lab. Their re- gian population and found the same diagnostic tests used in combination. Two of the four ease with unknown causes. The dis- Norwegian prescriptions registered sults showed that these different results as in the animal testing at main symptoms must be present over a period of time ease destroys the brain cells that since 2004. medicines had opposite effects on Harvard University. These medicines for a neurologist to consider a PD diagnosis: - Shaking or tremor control body movements. Shivering, In the study, the treatment of Par- the risk of Parkinson's. have never been studied in relation - Slowness of movement, called bradykinesia stiff arms and legs and poor coordi- kinson's was linked to prescriptions to Parkinson's disease,” says Riise. - Stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs or trunk nation are typical symptoms of Par- of asthma medicine and the medicine Possible new treatment Trond Riise underlines the fact - Trouble with balance and possible falls, also called kinson's. The symptoms may develop for high blood pressure. It enabled To find out if these medicines had that “Our discoveries may be the postural instability Trond Riise and slowly, and it sometimes takes time the researchers to see the connection the same effect on humans, the re- start of a totally new possible treat- • There are many medications available to treat the his research team´s to make a correct diagnosis. between medicine use and illness. searchers at Harvard University ment for this serious disease. We Parkinson's symptoms, although none yet that reverse discoveries may lead Researchers at IGS have com- The UiB-researchers were able to started to collaborate with the Nor- expect that clinical studies will follow the effects of the disease. to a breakthrough in pleted a large study that included make these comparisons by using wegian research team, and their these discoveries.” treating Parkinson's Source: The Parkinson's Foundation disease. Photo: data from the Norwegian Prescription the prescription database. The Nor- unique resource of having access to Kim E. Andreassen Database, in cooperation with re- wegian analysis was done after re- the unique and large Norwegian

8 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 9 RESEARCH IN FRONT | evolution

ancestor with a prominent nerve cord. Our findings prove this hypothesis to be invalid, as well as the hypothesis of inversion” Hejnol says. SPECIMEN SAMPLES: A scanning electron image of a young acoel worm. "It looks like a tribble from Star Understanding the nervous system Trek but is much smaller, only 150 micrometers. We Until now, it has been believed that look at the frontend - the face - where at the most the early origin of the vertebrate anterior tip the gland and sensory cells are posi- nervous system was about 600 million tioned," Hejnol explains. Photo: The Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology years ago. “Our finds place the origin at a much later time, around 100 to 200 million years later. Where this hap- pened in the tree of life is important for researchers to know,” the research group leader says. A new view He explains that the article in Nature and the finds published there will make it easier to explain how the nervous systems has evolved in of evolution animals. PREDATOR WORM: "The Lineus ruber: Its an adult ribbon “Our rejection of the common worm, Nemertean in latin. Its length is about 7 cm and from the rocky shore close to Bergen. They are ancestor makes it easier to under- dangerous predators - not for humans, but for other stand that the nervous system in worms," Hejnol explains. photo: The Sars International animals has developed in multitudes Centre for Marine Molecular Biology of ways.”

Andreas Hejnol believes the new finds will change the field of evolutional biology. photo: Eivind Senneset Changing the field He believes the finds will change the field of evolutional biology. New discoveries from the University of Bergen can knock a hundred years densation of the nervous system, “The researchers who have be- which is used as evidence that nerve lieved in the hypothesis of inversion old hypothesis on the evolution of the nervous system off its perch. cords in animals as diverse as flies will be shocked, and sad, perhaps. and humans have a common ances- The majority of the researchers in try. We wanted to look closer at this,” the field will be happy, on the other says Andreas Hejnol, researcher at hand. The hypothesis has been dis- COLLECTING SAMPLES: The research published in Nature n evolutional developmental biol- debated how the nervous system research project has been headed by the Sars International Centre for puted, but our article is strong enough examined nine diffferent species, collected from all ogy, inversion is a hypothesis that evolved in mammals, and the hy- Andreas Hejnol, researcher at the Marine Molecular Biology at the to put it to rest,” Hejnol says. over the world. photo: Eivind Senneset states that during the course of pothesis of inversion has been dis- Sars International Centre for Marine University of Bergen. Hejnol has Hejnol, who received an ERC Con- Ianimal evolution, the structures along puted, but has arisen time and time Molecular Biology at the University headed the investigation, which con- solidator Grant in 2015, has been main the dorsoventral axis have taken on again. Yet it has remained unclear of Bergen, and a team of interna- cludes seven years of research. author of several articles and papers an orientation opposite that of the when and how nerve cords origi- tional researchers. By collecting or cultivating nine shedding light on evolution, all of ancestral form, moving to the belly nated during the evolution. species of animals, the scientists were them published in highly rated sci- to the back of the animals. More than Now, a paper published in Nature, Flipping humans able to build a very strong case against entific journals. 100 years ago, German zoologist An- puts this issue to rest once and for “A feature of the inversion hypoth- the older hypothesis of inversion. “My approach is to look closer at ton Dohrn suggested that both insects all: studying several different animals esis is that one of the ancestors of “We found that the molecular pat- one organ system after another, we and mammals must have one com- (Xenacoelomorpha, Rotifera, Nemer- humans must have flipped, an inver- terns could not explain how the nerv- want to learn more and check ruling mon ancestor with a nervous system tea, Brachiopoda, and Annelida) sion of the entire body. In 1994, sci- ous system has developed. They have hypotheses. My next project is blood, similar to the human spinal cord. show that they have developed nerve entists found that a common gene been used before as evidence that and how it has been evolved,” Hejnol THE TEAM: Kevin Pang, Jose-Maria Martin Duran, Andreas In the past years, researchers have cords independent of each other. The cascade is responsible for the con- both humans and flies had a common concludes. Hejnol, Anlaug Furu and Aina Børve. P­ hoto: Wei Deng

10 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 11 RESEARCH IN FRONT | brain research

ogy and Medical Psychology, Fac- comments Hirnstein, who also col- therapy is completely new in Norway ulty of Psychology, University of laborates with the neurologist Tom and researchers need to find out Bergen, and collaborates closely with Eichele in this field. more about this treatment. Therefore, the academic departments at Hauke- together with colleagues Karsten land University Hospital. He is in- Targeting the correct area Specht and Eike Wehling, he wants volved in several of the projects un- If a tumour is located in the part of to introduce TMS also in Norway. The der the auspices of the research group the brain that controls movement, treatment is time consuming for the for Functional magnetic resonance surgeons must be certain when they patient and researcher, and the out- imaging (fMRI), which is headed by operate that they know the location come is still uncertain for some of Professor Karsten Specht. of the tumour as accurately as pos- these patients. Hirnstein explains sible. This means the patient can that there are two ways to do this: …not Jack Nicholson avoid injury or paralysis. When Hirn- Either stimulate the area around the There is a whole arsenal of methods stein has determined where the tu- part that is damaged, as our language that use an electric current to stimu- mour is located and what surrounds centre is located in the left hemi- late the brain. it, the surgeon can feel more secure sphere, or attempt to dampen activ- “But don’t think of Jack Nicholson’s that he will hit the target correctly. ity in the right hemisphere because rebellion against the treatment in By using electrical brain stimulation this part of the brain will often strive One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest". Hirnstein maps the precise areas that to compensate for the injury. That type of treatment is now only controls body movements. And with used for severe depression and only this method you don’t have to open Not a cure for everything under a general anaesthetic. Hirn- up the skull. This information is then “Electrical brain stimulation using a stein and his colleagues use a much sent to the neurosurgeons. weak electric current is without doubt weaker electric current that only “We determine which part of the very beneficial in many disciplines. affects one specific, small area in the body is controlled by precisely this But we must also be clear that this Small electrical shocks brain. The current is about the same area of the brain”. is not a miracle therapy for all dis- as that in a small battery, and it is The location of the area associ- orders,” states Hirnstein. not painful. The patient does not need ated with a particular function of the Researchers still does not know give healthier brains an anaesthetic, and does not even body varies from person to person. enough about what exactly happens notice it. The surgeon also performs his own in the brain during treatment with “Using these methods, we can tests during the operation, when the weak electric current. Moreover, stud- Controversial electrotherapy has been replaced with small electrical “modulate” the selected area so that skull is open. ies that use this method often have impulses to the brain. This can help patients with depression, stroke something in the brain is changed. “This means that the accuracy too few participants. That makes it and brain tumours. Then we can help those who do not increases for these extremely de- difficult for the researchers to deter- benefit from medication, as is the manding operations,” says Hirnstein. mine for whom this therapy will work. case for some patients with depres- “There is therefore still a lot that sion,” continues Hirnstein. Re-finding words needs to be researched in this aera an stimulating the brain using geons at Haukeland University Hos- He refers to other researchers Hirnstein uses a method called tran- in the future,” concludes Hirnstein an electric current help pa- pital in Bergen in preparation for who have found that the treatment A brain with two halves scranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) enthusiastically. tients with different condi- operations on brain tumours. is effective for two-thirds of the pa- Hirnstein started this research be- to make the measurements with his Ctions? Researchers believe it could “It is highly satisfying to be a re- tients. For one third of the patients cause he was curious as to why our device. When the researcher places have positive effects on some condi- searcher and to be able to apply basic the treatment gave good long-term two brain hemispheres are so special- the device on the head and presses tions, and they already have interest- research directly in the treatment of effects, while another third required ized. He explains that the left hemi- the button, the brain receives a very ing results. This involves stimulating patients,” says a dedicated Hirnstein. a “top-up”. The last third experienced sphere controls our ability to write mild form of electrical stimulation. the brain with tiny electrical im- no effect at all. Thus, the treatment and to speak, while the right governs About 12,000 people in Norway pulses in low-current therapy. But Helps people with depression has different effects on different our ability to understand spatiality have a stroke every year, and about how and why does it work? Unfortunately, however, electrical people, even if they have the same and to navigate. a third of them subsequently have Researcher Marco André Hirn- brain stimulation still does not work diagnosis. It is therefore particu- “We discovered that using electri- problems speaking (aphasia). This stein uses the brain stimulating de- for everyone. For example, even larly important for the researchers cal brain stimulation we could distin- method can help patients with stroke vices to treat stroke or depression. though it can be effective for many to find out why this is so, and how guish between the two hemispheres. to regain speech. Conditions that affects very many patients with depression, it may have electrical brain stimulation affects It is actually a very convenient meth- “Some studies show that the pa- people. The devices are also used to little effect on other patients with the the various psychological and neu- od to “reset” one half. That was when tients who receive this treatment nn eset e treat people who hear voices, such same condition. rological conditions. I became even more interested in the benefit more from language therapy,”

: Eivind S Eivind : as patients with schizophrenia. In “We need to do more research on Hirnstein works and conducts field. We can use the method to diag- states Hirnstein. Marco André Hirnstein. hoto

P addition, the researcher helps sur- this,” comments Hirnstein. research at the Department of Biol- nose, treat and conduct research,” Using TMS together with speech Photo: Eivind Senneset

12 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 13 RESEARCH IN FRONT | lung function

Household cleaning can be as bad as smoking for lung function

Cleaners who have regularly used cleaning sprays over 20 years were found to have reduced lung function equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day over the same period, a UiB-study shows. Hunting People who have worked as versity of Bergen. He is main author “Use water bucket” cleaners or done household of the study. Professor Cecilie Svanes at the De- cleaning for 20 years have re- partment of Global Public Health and ”duced lung function equivalent to Bad for lungs Primary Care, UiB, supervisor of the mystery lightning smoking 20 cigarettes a day, for the He says his findings might not be study, says the cleaning sprays are same period of time,” says PhD can- surprising, when thinking about all the main problem. didate Øistein Svanes, at the Depart- the small particles that follow with ”The small particles from the ment of Clinical Science, at the Uni- cleaning products. sprays can remain in the air for hours from space The study also shows that clean- after cleaning. The small particles ers have 40 per cent higher risk of can travel deep into the lungs and Thunderstorms on earth are spectacular, yet what we developing asthma than others. cause infections, and ageing of the can see from here is only the beginning. For the first time The research includes 6,000 par- lungs,” Svanes explains. scientists are now reaching into space, aiming to crack the ticipants, based on the European “I would recommend using a Community Respiratory Health Sur- bucket of water and soap when clean- mysteries of a strange electrical phenomena that occur vey (ECRHS). ing. You will not need a lot of chem- above thunderstorms. The study is published by the icals after all, when cleaning. Micro- American Journal of Respiratory and fibre cloths may be just as effective,” Critical Care Medicine, and is part of Cecile Svanes points out. photo ck

sto the Horizon 2020 project Aging Lungs n: i o n: i t in European Cohorts (ALEC). A rast S illu PHOTO: NA

14 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 15 Centres of Excellence | the birkeland centre for space science

nd of April 2018 was a historic off, a small group of engineers and step is connecting the capsule to the several international universities. “Everything is working and we day for the University of Ber- scientists traveled from Bergen to International Space Station (ISS), The instruments from Bergen are are now receiving the first data from gen. After 14 years of planning, Florida to observe the launch from orbiting Earth at a speed of 27,000 part of ASIM (The Atmosphere-Space ASIM. We are entering the commis- 2developing and building, technology Cape Canaveral. km/h. Then a robotic arm is to lift Interaction Monitor), an advanced sioning phase, trying to understand from the Birkeland Centre for Space “This is like our baby. We have the instruments of the size of a wash- instrument package built to measure and calibrate the data we are getting”, Science (BCSS) was to be launched invested so much time, effort and ing machine onto its place and mount electrical discharges. The main con- says Professor Nikolai Østgaard, head into space. Its mission; to learn what energy in this. It´s been sweat and it outside the ISS. tractor for ESA is Terma, and the of the Birkeland Centre. happens in the atmosphere when tears. Finally we get to see the instru- “But the real test for us is actu- development of ASIM has been a With everything up and running lightning strikes earth. ments we've developed being sent ally a few days later. Then the switch collaboration between multiple Eu- he is presuming they will get data Launched to the International into orbit, but let’s keep our fingers is turned on, and we will see if what ropean companies and universities. from 1,000 gamma ray flashes a year, Space Station, the instruments from crossed, there is still a lot that could we´ve used 14 years to build actu- Three, two, one. Ignition! As the giving them a good foundation for the University of Bergen are the first go wrong”, says senior engineer ally works”, says Georgi, well aware rocket carrying a broad range of mapping the phenomenon for the built to observe gamma ray flashes Georgi Genov and Professor Kjetil this prestigious project is the larg- science equipment roars into the sky, first time. in thunderstorms. These flashes Ullaland, excited and nervous a few est and most expensive any Norwe- the representatives from the different “At this time, we don’t know the weren’t discovered until 1994, and are hours before the launch. gian university has ever done on nations contributing breaks into a importance of the flashes, but we will still largely unknown – which is why Their “baby” have a rough time space science. load cheer. The launch is a success. measure the quantity and strength there is great excitement linked to ahead. First a launch that will take of the flashes, as well as analyzing the results of this pioneer research. it from earth into orbit in ten minutes, Countdown First results how the processes are connected. exposing the payload of scientific Around T-minus 5 minutes the small Back in Norway a few weeks later, Later we might be able to under- Much at stake equipment to extreme G-forces and talk dwindles away at the observation the scientists and engineers of the stand how the flashes influence the The great excitement is accompanied temperatures. The Dragon capsule point at the NASA-facility. Waiting Birkeland Centre are relieved. Eve- Earth’s atmosphere”. BCSS leader Nikolai Østgaard and UiB Rector with great expectations. And some carrying the instruments is placed to watch the launch from the front rything seems to have gone as Dag Rune Olsen watches the launch with nerves. To see the SpaceX-rocket well in the very tip of the rocket. The next row are scientists and engineers from planned. excitement. Photo: Olaf Erlend Gundersen

LEFT: The ASIM-instrument on the Columbus-module at ISS. Illustration: Terma Launch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with the ASIM instrument on board. photo: NASA BOTTOM: The Norwegian ASIM-delegation before launch at Cape Canaveral, Florida. To the left UiB Rector Dag Rune Olsen, followed by Centre Leader Nikolai Østgaard, Senior Exec. Consultant at BCSS Kavitha Østgaard, Senior Manager at the Norwegian Space Centre Marianne Vinje Tantillo, Monica ­Ullaland, BCSS Professor Kjetil Ullaland and CEO at IDEAS ­Gunnar Maehlum. Sitting in the front is Senior Engineer at BCSS, Georgi Genov. Photo: Olaf Erlend Gundersen

facts ▼▼ The Birkeland Centre for Space Science • The Birkeland Centre for Space Science (BCSS) is a Norwegian Centre of Excellence (SFF) whose primary objective is to try to understand the Earth’s relationship to space. • Norwegian name: Birkelandsenteret for romforskning. • Centre leader is Professor Nikolai Østgaard. • Started in March 2013, at the Department of Physics and Technology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bergen. • Amongst other things, the research lay a foundation for better forecast of space weather, used to increase safety for GPS signals, TV signals, payment systems and other satellite-based information systems.

16 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 17 Centres of Excellence | centre for intervention science in maternal and child health

birth, the remaining cord stump dries effect on new-borns. up and falls off within 5 to 15 days. “Some research indicates that the In this period, however, the stump is BCG-vaccine has some positive side Centres of Excellence dead tissue and acts as an easy entry effects in addition to preventing tu- A programme funded by the Research Council of Norway that point for microorganisms, which may berculosis. It seems it has a immune gives Norway’s best scientists long-term funding and thus the cause an infection in the child. boosting effect, and can reduce infec- opportunity to generate ground-breaking results that advance To avoid such infections, several tions, such as HIV-infection from the international research frontier. In October, UiB opened a interventions have been recom- mother to child”, Nankabirwa says. new Centre of Excellence at the Faculty of Humanities. The mended. One of the most promising Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE) brings ones, according to Nankabirwa, is The optimal vaccination time together archaeologists, zoo-archaeologists, micromorpholo- cleansing with Chlorhexidine. Nankabirwa and her team of re- gists, palaeoclimatologists, climate dynamicists, dating experts, The World Health Organization searchers are trying to identify the social scientists, cognitive and neuroscientists, geneticists, to (WHO), recommend such cleansing best timing for giving the vaccine. say something fundamental about what it means to be human. of children born at home, but not for “A few earlier studies indicate that Three archeological sites near Cape Town in South Africa those born at health centres or hos- it could be better to wait a couple of will be excavated at the new SFF-centre. At these sites, traces pitals. For those children, soap and weeks rather than giving it right of settlements can be found, stretching from 50,000 years to water is enough. after birth”, says Nankabirwa. 100,000 years ago. “This advice lacks scientific proof. In the study, the participants are “In the coming years we will make great progress in under- One of the problems is that the moth- divided in two groups. One of the standing our common past”, says UiB Professor Christopher er and child travel home to less hy- new-born groups receive BCG-vac- Henshilwood, director of SapienCE. gienic condition, right after giving cine within 24 hour after birth, and birth at the health station,” Nanka- the other group is given the vaccine Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO) is a Centre of birwa explains. after 14 weeks. Excellence at the Faculty of Medicine. Researchers at the centre The Chlorhexidine project con- As many as 2,200 newborn babies are working on new cancer biomarkers and targeted therapy. ducted by Nankabirwa seeks to test participates in the project, which is Particular focus lie on mechanisms that show how cancer cells the effect of using Chlorhexidine at being conducted at three different are affected by the microenvironment in the tumors, and what Fighting health stations. As many as 4,760 health facilities in Uganda. significance this has for cancer proliferation and poor prognosis. children will participate in the pro- When the Norwegian Cancer Society announced their ject, which is partly funded through 2017-funding, researchers at The University of Bergen and child mortality the GLOBVAC-programme of The Haukeland University Hospital received 54,7 million NOK, of Research Council of Norway. facts which 23,2 million go to three CCBIO-projects. James Lorens’

n ▼▼ sse

a project concerns new methods to provide better treatment of e

ndr BCG-vaccine and immune response Chlorhexidine study aggressive cancer that is resistant to immunotherapy, Camilla

im E. A in Uganda • The project includes 4,760 children. : K In the other CISMAC-project, Nan- Krakstad’s project is investigating tumor alterations, and aims Most of its funding support comes hoto

P kabirwa is testing the BCG-vaccine's from the GLOBVAC-programme of to provide more personalized treatment and Bjørn Tore Gjert- The Research Council of Norway. sen’s project aims to achieve effective precision therapy by link- ing disease models, diagnostics and treatment closer together. • The project is lead by Victoria Nankabirwa (MU/UiB) and Centre Director Lars A. Akslen and his team are now halfway Researcher Victoria Nankabirwa is leading two research projects that aim Halvor Sommerfelt (UiB). through their SFF-period. to reduce child mortality in Uganda. • Members of the research team are: Grace Ndeezi (MU), James K. Centre for Geobiology (CGB) ended its successful ten-year Tumwine (MU), Thorkild Tylleskär SFF-period in 2017. Under leadership by Rolf Birger Pedersen very year, in low- and middle- two projects at Centre for Interven- testing the use of the antiseptic Chlo- (UiB), Usha Dhingra (Centre for Public and Ingunn Hindenes Thorseth (from 2014) the centre, placed income countries, as many as tion Science in Maternal and Child rhexidine for cleaning newborn um- Health Kinetics) and PhD candidates at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, developed Josephine Tumuhamye (UiB/MU) and 6 million children die before Health (CISMAC). The centre is a bilical cords. As many as 98 per cent David Mukunya (UiB/MU). new fundamental knowledge about the interaction between the Etheir 5th birthday. In addition, 300,000 Norwegian Centre of Excellence (SFF) of the 3 million yearly deaths within geosphere and biosphere - and the roots of life. mothers also die. at the Faculty of Medicine, UiB. the first 28 days of a child´s life occur BCG study As CGB ended its run, the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea “Most of these mothers and chil- In the projects, she is testing and in low- and middle-income countries. • The study is lead by Victoria Research (JC-DeepSea) was established. Director is the former dren die from diseases, which are comparing non-complex interven- “A third of these deaths are related Nankabirwa (MU/UiB) and CGB-leader Rolf Birger Pedersen. Halvor Sommerfelt (UiB). usually easy to cure and can be pre- tions, with the aim of reducing child to various infections, and infection of JC-DeepSea aims to be a leading international centre for deep vented by simple means in the rich mortality in Uganda. The results may the umbilical cord accounts for a large • Member of the research team are: sea research, building on the model and research of Centre for parts of the world,” says Professor have impacts globally. part of these,” Nankabirwa explains. Grace Ndeezi (MU), James K. Tumwine Geobiology. They are still pursuing both fundamental and applied (MU), Thorkild Tylleskär (UiB) and PhD Victoria Nankabirwa, at Makerere research questions, making the successful transition from a Cen- candidate Olive Namugga (MU/UiB). University (MU) and University of Cleansing the umbilical cord Entrance for infection Victoria Nankabirwa is leading two research tre of Excellence to a new centre with groundbreaking research. Bergen (UiB). She is currently leading In one the projects, Nankabirwa is After the umbilical cord is cut after projects in Uganda. photo: Kim E. Andreassen

18 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 19 national centre | slate

Understanding the data that surrounds us Studying at the Digital traces are all around us. At SLATE, researchers works to understand digital data, and to put it to use for new ways of understanding and supporting learning. heart of the industry

searchers and students at SLATE work with vidual learning process towards each stu- in Media City Bergen the fire brigade in Sotra, west of Bergen, to dent”, she says, underlining the importance develop new tools to help fire fighters main- of following clear ethical guidelines and tain an overview of the competences of laws when using personal data in research. individual fire fighters, teams, and the brigade as a whole, and to identify compe- Interdisciplinary tence gaps where training efforts should be A recent case study review of Interdiscipli- focused. Collecting, analysing and using nary research in Norway, commissioned by such data is addressed by researcher Cecilie the Research Council of Norway from the Hansen, who has worked on this project for Technopolis Group, concludes that SLATE three years. is combining research from a variety of We collect and analyse data gener- disciplines to address the pressing educa- ated from learning while it happens, New technology can save lives tion-related questions in Norway today. The in order to understand different as- When time is of the essence, being able to conclusion is encouraging for the SLATE “pects of the learner, learning, and learning search a building as quickly as possible can team regarding the work done so far, and environments. The results are visualized be the difference between life and death. inspiring for the time to come: for learners and teachers”, says SLATE di- Two SLATE Masters students are develop- “SLATE has created an inclusive, creative rector Barbara Wasson. ing visualisations of the routes that fire interdisciplinary environment with a culture fighters take after entering a burning build- of team work and open-mindedness: a Efficient learning ing. This provides useful insights for instruc- platform for researchers from different Centre for the Science of Learning & Tech- tors and fire fighters for sharpening their disciplines to meet, set up new projects, and nology (SLATE) is a national centre con- skills and perfecting their search technique. produce joint publications.” tributing to international research and national competence development on the Surrounded by data use of data and data approaches (learning “There is digital data all around us”, says analytics) in education and lifetime learn- Wasson, “but this data is often not used to facts ing. An important focus is on creative and inform everyday practices”. ▼▼ innovative thinking that addresses the By systematically collecting, analyzing Centre for the Science of Learning challenges with learning and work in an and visualizing data generated by digital & Technology (SLATE) unknown future. This research is led by tools used in learning situations, SLATE’s • Established in 2016, after being awarded postdoc Ingunn Johanne Ness who has input can empower teachers/instructors, funding from the Norwegian Ministry of carried out extensive research on multidis- students, school leaders, policy makers etc., Education and Research. ciplinary teams working with innovation. to make informed decisions about learning • SLATE carry out research of high quality on Six new study programmes aim to provide SLATE is located within the Faculty of Psy- and education. learning analysis, which is the study of the use of media students with the theoretical and data and data analytics for understanding and chology at UiB, but draws together research- “The data tells a story. However, it needs n

e improving learning, teaching, and education, practical competence to master the media

aug ers from multiple faculties and disciplines. interpretation. At SLATE, we help under-

h and covers, among others, the research fields of

eth landscape of the future. The research can also yield great ben- stand the data. In one project, we work with Learning Analytics and Knowledge, Educational

argar efits in professional training situations. For a Norwegian upper secondary school, to Data Mining, and Big Data in Education. n: M o n: i nn eset t instance, as one of the partners in the pinpoint areas where pupils needs guidance. rast ivind se ivind

illu FINNUT-funded iComPass-project, re- This helps the teacher facilitate an indi- PHOTO: e PHOTO:

20 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 21 knowledge cluster | media city bergen

Lights off, on – quickly. Where is the Students get access to the latest technical education provides us with a very regular basis hired for workshops Cooperation in MCB backlight? What do you think? A little equipment, and learn to use the tools the good starting point, and that we have and seminars. flat? Should we adjust? There you go, industry is using. They will also help de- an advantage with the education Having the study programmes After years of planning, Media City Bergen opened “well done, you got it!” velop new tools and solutions for the media being placed here in the media clus- located in the same building as edi- in November 2017. The university has moved in Students at the new bachelor programme industry. All study programmes are practi- ter. At the same time, I think it’s de- torial media and technology industry, with around 250 students and employees, under the in TV-production are attending a course in cally oriented and includes collaboration cisive to take responsibility, be curi- has made project collaboration same roof as innovative companies like TV2, NRK, light setting in one of the studios in Media with, and practice at, the cluster companies. ous and get involved, for instance in easier. One important part of UiB’s Bergens Tidende, Bergensavisen, Vizrt and IBM. City Bergen with teacher Zulfikar Fahmy. “This approach characterizes the entire the student radio or newspaper, to commitment to Media City Bergen In the middle of the room a student is study programme”, says Marie Therese get even more practical experience”. is to create digital tools and solutions “This makes the distance shorter between academia and the sitting in front of a large TV screen, fellow Norekvål Hayes, student at the light course. for the media industry. For instance, industry. It’s clearly a benefit for the companies to get to know students gather around her, controlling the “It is a very technically focused study, Studying close to work the media and interaction design the students, and the other way around", says Anne Jacobsen, camera, headlight, backlight. Fahmy is giv- where we use the latest equipment used by Another student who benefit from six students will develop proposals for director for NCE Media and leader of the media cluster. ing instructions, asking the students to use the industry. From day one we’ve had it in of UiB’s media education programmes solutions to technology challenges Around 50 cooperative projects has started up following the filters and back plates. Every small adjust- our hands and learned how to use it.” being located in the media cluster, is they experience during their practice opening. UiB is involved in numerous: ment creates a different expression in the Ole Martin Eide Røssland. He studies in the cluster businesses. • The leading graphics/visual storytelling company Vizrt and student projected on the large screen. last year at the bachelor’s programme The informal meeting venues also UiB cooperates to make tools for online video editing. The “Now, try an orange filter, do you have The organization in journalism, and works as a tempo- provide good opportunities for stu- project is supported by The Research Council of Norway. a smaller one? Pinch there – bravo! Open “ rary employee in the newspaper BA. dents to get in contact with media • IBM and UiB cooperates to develop technological solu- of the study programme Ole Martin Eide Røssland works in the newspaper BA the lens, blender down – now we're talking.” alongside journalism studies at UiB. Photo: Eivind Senneset While the students editing room, and technology companies. tions. Access to the IBM supercomputer Watson; combining in MCB provides us with an computer lab and audio studio are “The location in Media City Ber- artificial intelligence and analytical software, is part of the A practical approach located on the second floor, BA is gen was important when I applied deal, making the technology available for UiB-platforms. From the new facilities in Media City Ber- expertise no media students “This is one of the reasons why I chose located on the third floor – just one for UiB. I am surrounded by journal- This opens for students to participate in innovative projects gen, the University of Bergen now offers six have had before us. UiB. The study programme provides us with staircase up. ists, and that is very motivating. I can with IBM and their customers. new studies – three bachelor’s programmes flexibility, and prepares us for professional “It makes it easy to move from walk past and look at NRKs radio • Cooperating with local newspapers on INJECT, a tool to help and three master’s programmes – in jour- life. You should be able to work on a mov- studies to job, and to combine them”, studios, and that is in itself very in- journalists become more creative and efficient in daily news nalism, television production and media The students should have their hands ie set, with documentaries, news stories. says Røssland. spiring”, says Eriksen. reporting. Supported through Horizon2020. and interaction design. Here, about 200 on the camera, touch the light, perhaps get You should be versatile, no matter where Students in Media City Bergen “The organization of the study • The News Angler-project uses information and communica- students are studying alongside industry a small burn, get a feel for it by using the you end up”, says Hayes. benefit from the co-location in sev- programmes in MCB provides us with tion technologies to exploit big data and social media. companies like NRK, BA, TV2, BT and Vizrt. equipment. They all get experience with In the studio, a blue filter is placed on eral ways. During the course of study, an expertise no media students have Supported by The Research Council of Norway (IKTPLUSS). The co-location of media companies, the different roles of a TV-production: work- one of the lights, and the student on the they will get practical experience had before us. It will be very exciting • Agreement between UiB and TV2 of using new studio facili- technology companies, research and educa- ing the camera, controlling the light, the screen looks like she is bathed in moonlight. from the cluster partners, and people to see how it’s received in the work- ties. This deal secures students access to top of the state tion makes the media cluster unique. sound, directing and producing. The others whistle Rue’s whistle from The working in the industry are on a ing life”. facilities for TV-production. Hunger Games and laugh. Teacher Zulfikar • UiB-students gets work experience from many companies in Fahmy steers on steadily. the cluster. “Blender up, please, thank you – a bit more. There you have it. Lovely! Some would The DigUiB Learning and Communication Lab is developing say this doesn’t look completely realistic, new technology in education and outreach from MCB. There but who in Hollywood could make this set- is also excitement linked to the establishment of the UiB ting completely natural? Let’s dim the lights Centre for Investigative Journalism. a bit. There, what do you think?” Establishing knowledge clusters is one of several working methods by which UiB will reach its goal to develop outstanding Close to the media industry research and education environments of excellence. The new study programmes in Media City Bergen will provide students with the skills “The development in Media City Bergen is very exciting. needed to master a radically changed me- The cluster idea is to gather public, private and academic dia landscape. participants under the same roof. The MCB-success shows The rapid changes and the labor market that this idea works”, says UiB Rector Dag Rune Olsen. is obviously something you think about as a media student, says Ellen Eriksen who is studying her first year on the bachelor’s programme in journalism in MCB. “We talk a lot about this, since the labor Ellen Eriksen is studying the first year of the bachelor programme in journalism at UiB. Photo: Eivind Senneset market is a difficult one. But I believe the The students get practical experience with all the roles of a TV-production. Photo: Eivind Senneset

22 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 23 new faculty | fine art, music and design

Synsmaskinen: How art responds to political crisis

"As artists, we try to find different ways of talking about the problems

of a scientist", says Professor Frans Jacobi. Leading the artistic project “Another World is Neccessary.” Synsmaskinen, at the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design, he has From Synsmaskinen`s performances in Porto Alegre, investigated the multiple crises facing the world today. Brazil. PHOTO: Synsmaskinen

It may sound paradoxical, but human beings that has been the key involved in Synsmaskinen: Film, He is Danish, and is applying for his Brazil as a starting point for artistic scientific methods there is a form of Synsmaskinen has made me subject. But the most urgent crisis is Performance, Text, Printmaking, second term as a professor of time- intervention. The World Social Forum distance to the content. As artists we more hopeful that the world a hidden one. Textile, Photography, Drawing, Text, based media at the Department of was founded in Porto Alegre in 2001 strive for a subjective, metaphorical “can overcome the multiple crises we “In fact, Synsmaskinen has pri- Performance and Film to name some. Fine Art at UiB. and held its first global summits here and symbolic language. Synsmaski- are in", says Frans Jacobi. marily addressed the major underly- According to Jacobi a common fea- under the slogan "Another World is nen has been a very good and effi- Synsmaskinen meaning vision ing crisis that is invisible. Namely, a ture is that almost all projects explore Another World is Neccessary Possible!". In Synsmaskinen this has cient platform for collaborating with and machine, has been a very com- crisis in how we see the world. We the relationship between the differ- Synsmaskinen has attempted to cre- become "Another World is Necces- other artists I find interesting. My plex project, with seven parts. Each think the perception is a crisis in ent meanings of scripts. In English a ate art that shows the complexity of sary." There were also large scale artistic work has developed through of these has reached out into the itself”, says Jacobi. script can both mean manuscript or the problems the world faces. performances in Porto Alegre, where the project. It may sound paradoxical world and involved many artists. The He states that the artists´own script for a computer program. “Political art in my opionion tends Jacobi played a central role. when I say I have become more point of departure was to investigate journey is the starting point in Syns- “In the performance Lidos 61, to be too simple. I think Synsmaski- Brandon LaBelle, also a professor positive, but crises are also transfor- different crises the world is in the maskinen, and the artists have used about hidden stock exchange, Dark nen has succeeded in reaching out at the Department of Fine Art, has mation, a necessary transition to midst of; From the climate crisis to themselves very directly. Pools, that Synsmaskinen did during and finding issues that have ramifi- been responsible for another part of something new”, Jacobi states. the financial crisis, to social crises the Venice Biennial in 2017, for ex- cations in vast parts of of the world", Synsmaskinen, entitled Dreams of a and democratic crises. Nonetheless Scripted manuscripts ample script was both a manuscript says Jacobi. Sovereign Citizen. This part is about it is capitalism’s grip on the globe and Many different art forms have been and computer script,” Jacobi explains. As examples of individual projects utopian visions, dreams of solidarity that have made an impact, Jacobi and ways in which individuals can mentions the film Dignity directed win back their freedom. facts by Michelle Teran, a former doc- ▼▼ toral fellow at Department of Fine A subjective language A new faculty at UiB Art. Dignity is about the occupation But what exactly separates the work • On 1 January 2017, the Bergen of empty buildings in Madrid and of Synsmaskinen from, for example Academy of Art and Design became part of the University of Bergen and, looks at the forces of crisis activism. documentary filmmaking? together with The Grieg Academy, In another part of Synsmaskinen, “To name one example we made established the Faculty of Fine Art, the Utopia Machine, Professor at the as part of Synsmaskinen, a movie Synsmaskinen is a Music and Design. Department of Fine Art, Thomas called Burst. It deals with vast holes multidisciplinary project • The new faculty offers BA, MA and Kilpper, went to Porto Alegre in Bra- in the ground in Siberia that has been which ran between PhD programmes based on an zil and created the work Another created by exploding metan gas. We 2014–2018, Together with internationally recognised level of World is Necessary. have taken the symbolic language of the Bergen based artists artistic research. the nomads in the area and tried to Åse Løvgren and Benedicte ow Clemetsen, Frans Jacobi • Around 600 students and 130 Utopian visions translate it into a unique film lan- n+cr to staff members. has managed Synsmaskinen “Utopia Machine used the unstable guage. An anthropologist would de- : Huf : since 2014. hoto P and corrupt political situation in scribe the language. In my view, in www.synsmaskinen.net

24 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 25 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS | energy diplomacy

‹ ENERGY DIPLOMACY: The CET research team – here represented by its Academic Director Håvard Haarstad, Siddharth Sareen and Jakob Grandin – communicates its research in channels directly connected to political decision-making. PHOTO: EIVIND SENNESET What is SDG Bergen?

SDG Bergen is a strategic initiative by the In spring 2018 the centre contrib- will co-organise a training workshop University of Bergen to engage with the uted to two policy briefs towards the on innovative research and education Sustainable Development Goals. science base for SDG7: Affordable at the HLPF. and Clean Energy. “Academia needs to step up its The University of Bergen (UiB) is one of Norway’s leading “What roles can social scientists efforts to design education around comprehensive research universities, with long-standing global play in accelerating sustainable en- sustainability issues. The SDGs are a research partnerships. In 2017 UiB launched a university-wide ergy transformations? This is a ques- great way to mobilise interdisciplinary strategic initiative to engage with the Sustainable Development tion we discuss a great deal at CET. collaboration because they concern Goals (SDGs), spearheaded by the university’s participation in It ties in with our key objective of everyone,” says PhD candidate Jakob the UN Ocean Conference. As the first Norwegian university to actionable knowledge and providing Grandin, who is in charge of CET’s institutionalise the 2030 Agenda, UiB organised the inaugural, scientific advice to decision-makers,” contribution to the workshop. high-level SDG Bergen Conference in February 2018, on behalf says Postdoctoral Fellow Siddharth of the university sector in Norway and in cooperation with Sareen, who was CET’s main con- Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education tributor to the policy briefs. and Research. facts The 2018 SDG Bergen Conference was the first of its kind ▼▼ Accelerating action on SDGs worldwide, and brought together more than 300 researchers, Via the SDG Bergen initiative, UiB CET, UiB and the SDGs educators, politicians, government and UN officials, NGOs, • Centre for Climate and Energy was invited by Norway’s Permanent and industry representatives to discuss how universities can Transformation (CET) at University Mission to the United Nations to of Bergen (UiB) was launched in contribute at the science-policy interface required for the goals submit a proposal, together with the October 2017. of the 2030 Agenda. The conference laid the foundation to cre- Bringing actionable Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for Nor- ate innovative channels for science diplomacy. The SDG Bergen • CET researchers co-authored two way’s official, high-profile side event policy briefs in support of the SDG7 Conference is an annual event. at the high-level political forum (Affordable and Clean Energy) review UiB has created the SDG Bergen Task Force to address and knowledge to the UN (HLPF) in July 2018. In consultation at the UN high-level political forum develop the science-policy interface. SDG Bergen was initiated 2018 (HLPF). with the Ministry, SDG Bergen framed by the UiB Rector and his team and reports directly to the the university’s specific contribution • The official Norwegian side event at leadership. Building on the position as Norway’s premier SDG- How can research and higher education help accelerate the transformation in terms of CET’s involvement in the the HLPF, co-organised by Norway’s oriented university, UiB has established leadership through a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SDG to sustainable and just societies? SDG 7 Policy Briefs. national committee for the 2030 Agenda. Bergen initiative at UiB, will feature “SDG7 aims to ensure access to CET’s presentation of the research affordable, reliable, sustainable and behind the policy briefs. modern energy for all by 2030. At • CET will co-organise an HLPF Contact hen the interdisciplinary how to meet the ambitious goals we United Nations (UN) underlines CET’s CET we work closely on energy gov- training workshop on how university Centre for Climate and as a society have set for ourselves in broad and ambitious scope. ernance, and look forward to con- partnerships can accelerate SDG [email protected] Energy Transformation terms of sustainable transformation,” “The need for more research to tributing in ways that can have a action with other leading SDG- oriented universities. W(CET) opened at the University of says Professor and CET’s Director find solutions and how society han- constructive impact on future deci- uib.no/en/sdgbergen Bergen (UiB) in October 2017, it in- Håvard Haarstad. dles climate-related problems is at sion-making,” says Sareen. • CET has established the UiB cluded a long-standing engagement the core of CET. Being in dialogue CET contributed actively to the Collaboratory to bring together @SDGbergen students and researchers to work on with the Sustainable Development with societal actors improves the inaugural SDG Bergen Conference From the hyperlocal to the global sustainability issues. Goals (SDGs). Working with politicians, public of- research we do and makes our work in February 2018 and arranged the • See for more. “We are engaged in societal cross- ficials, industry and civil society at more relevant to decision-makers,” first annual Bergen International uib.no/en/cet roads, trying to better understand all levels from the hyperlocal to the Haarstad observes. Students Conference in April. CET

26 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 27 the uib interview | bruce kapferer

MAVERICK SPIRIT: Professor of anthropology and holder of an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council, Bruce Kapferer, in Sydney in April 2018 on his way to do field work in the Australian north. I think that equality is PHOTO: ANDY LEWIS “ an idealistic concept that is an impossibility.

Exploring the true nature of inequality The UiB Magazine interview: Bruce Kapferer

With the pioneering Egalitarianism project, Professor Bruce Kapferer wanted to challenge conventions in anthropology and to redefine how inequality is viewed.

hen Professor Bruce Kap- was awarded an Advanced Grant political formation and the hierarchy ferer was employed by the from the European Research Coun- at root,” says Bruce Kapferer about Department of Social An- cil (ERC). Fittingly the project, which the origins and current develop- Wthropology at the University of Ber- kicked off in June 2014 and concludes ments of the project. gen (UiB) he brought with him the in June 2019, is called Egalitarianism: “The stress is on egalitarianising experience of field work in several Forms, Processes, Comparisons. forces that overcome or upset the continents and research that in- The UiB Magazine met him in his hierarchies of social order and val- cluded hierarchical orders and ine- Bayswater, London flat for a conver- ue that are inevitable in human quality; and dynamics of political, sation on the pioneering research existence.” economic and socio-cultural trans- defining the project. formation in small and large scale “The whole project is much more The power of anthropology social systems. than being an exercise in the study When the project kicked off, Kap- of inequality. I think that equality is ferer called it “guerrilla anthropol- Inequality is the issue an idealistic concept that is an im- ogy” and said that “the changing The question of inequality within possibility. The research – com- landscape of inequality and protest societies and the nature of egalitar- parative in scope and on a global demand a new form of radical an- ian processes overcoming them was scale – addresses the socio-histori- thropology”. He believes this is so at the heart of his concerns when he cal and cultural dynamics of socio- now more than ever.

28 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 29 the uib interview | bruce kapferer

“To me, in a sense, guerrilla an- “Digitalisation has transformed “One of the big things I’m inter- thropology is anthropology. Anthro- the nature of the political economies ested in is to look at egalitarianism pology stands outside all the other we live in. Everyone thinks technol- in a way that’s not just about equal- disciplines. To put it rather crudely, ogy is going to solve all the problems ity. I want to shift things a little away most of the disciplines practised at that we might have and enable cer- from inequality, and the economic universities have been born in the tain forms of emancipation. A virtu- arguments that dominate, to perhaps Nineteenth century and in the his- ally millenarian religious value is the more encompassing concern of tory of nationalism, which began being attached to technology. Anthro- emancipation. Here the turn is to the the modern state,” says the veteran pologists might see the current belief hierarchical and oppressive struc- anthropologist. in the benefits of technology as hav- tures of most known socio-cultural ing a kind of cargo cult impetus,” says orders, the historical processes that Kapferer, warming to this theme: were and are relevant, and how the Anthropology is a “Technology is the solution to all resulting personal and social effects, “ human ills. A couple of the project’s their constraints may be loosened or guerrilla discipline in the researchers are examining this di- broken,” says Kapferer. sense that it challenges mension and uncovering the tech- nologically released forces that may A global crisis ruling assumptions. be leading to new social injustices He believes the world is looking at a and inegalitarian effects.” global egalitarian crisis. If there has Kapferer’s challenge of a Western- been much progress there is much According to Kapferer, all those centric view of poverty and inequal- that is indicating gathering poverty, disciplines come out of a particular ity, includes Western notions of hu- social dislocation, expanding warfare kind of cultural and political context man rights. He claims that a and their attending inequities. of Western Europe or North America. universalisation of human rights GLOBAL VISIONARY: Anthropology Professor Bruce Kapferer has built partnerships with major universities in the US, Europe, Australia, Africa, India and the Middle East as part “Many unexamined assumptions creates new inequalities. of the EU-supported Egalitarianism project. PHOTO: ANDY LEWIS regarding the nature and possibility “Let me first say that I’m very A virtually millenarian of human beings were present that much in favour of human rights. “ required challenge. Western phi- However, some human rights dis- religious value losophy offered radical critique but course runs the risk of a return of the northwards from the kitchen of his sic field work will endure in the future. facts it, nonetheless, could not escape the imperialising and inegalitarian effects is being attached flat in central London. “We need more guerrilla anthro- ▼▼ limitation of many assumptions that that accompanied the so-called rise to technology. pology. We need more anthropolo- Bruce Kapferer were culturally and historically em- of the West and the establishment of Conclusions and new ideas gists. We need much more of a crit- • Australian-born anthropologist. bedded in it,” he says. its global power or hegemony. West- At the core of the field work of the ical look at things.” • Employed at the University of Bergen “But anthropology also took seri- ern virtues that are very much in the “We’re now in a post-industrial project has been researchers being As Egalitarianism enters its final (UiB) since 1999. ously other systems. These other open in much public comment, de- era, in which there are new forms of embedded with various movements year, Kapferer muses on the project’s • Was awarded an European Research systems were not necessarily bound mand the kind of critical examination oppression emerging as a function of of resistance, including observing legacy, not the least internationally. Council (ERC) Advanced Grant in 2013 by the same principles or frameworks that the overarching anthropological socio-political changes associated with shifts in the landscape of work and “The critical guerrilla anthropol- for the project Egalitarianism: Forms, of understanding that our own worlds orientation of the project enables,” the transition from the nation-state employment. ogy perspective will lead to impor- Processes, Comparisons. were. Anthropology is a guerrilla says the anthropologist. into what could be called the corporate “The project has grown consider- tant reassessments of conceptual • In June 2014 the Egalitarianism discipline in the sense that it comes state,” says the anthropologist. ably since its start in 2014. It has and theoretical perspectives that are project was officially launched at an from outside a largely Western com- Inequality more than economics He points to radical changes in built up numerous research links still dominating discussions on prob- event in Bergen. prehension of things and challenges Inequality is too frequently present- the nature of class inequalities. across the world into major univer- lems associated with inequality. New • The project concludes in June 2019. ruling assumptions.” ed as a matter of economics. The “In Britain the lines of class and sities in the US, Europe, Australia, directions to enduring issues of • See the Egalitarianism website for Egalitarianism project takes the social exclusion are being redrawn. Africa, India and the Middle East. egalitarian significance are being more: uib.no/en/egalitarianism Digitalisation, emancipation and economy and financial issues as not A social depression is setting in – a Those participating actively in re- suggested. With major practical ef- human rights necessarily things of primary con- dimension of the impetus to Brexit search coordinated by the project fect. It’s already influencing a lot of One of the things the anthropologist cern. They are embedded often in and a revitalised nationalism – if you have mounted to over 20, far more people outside the University of has been looking at is how the na- other processes that are productive went from here to the north of Eng- than were initially envisaged,” says Bergen,” says Bruce Kapferer, before ture of work has changed due to of what appear to be the determining land, you’d see massively depressed the anthropologist. adding: “Yeah, I think it should have digitalisation. effect of the economic or the financial. populations,” says Kapferer pointing He hopes that anthropology’s clas- a big impact.”

30 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 31 world wide uiB | global outreach

Researchers from eight governmental Norwegian institutions, including the University of Bergen, and two private research institutes, have joined forces to document, understand and forecast the changes in the World Wide UiB Norwegian part of the Arctic Ocean. The Nansen Some highlights from the international efforts at the University of Legacy-project (Arven etter Nansen) has a budget of Bergen (UiB) the last year. close to 800 MNOK. Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Psychology went to Japan in early 2018 to expand and strengthen UiB’s commitment to cooperative research efforts.

In August 2017 International Centre UiB opened. The Bergen competence centre for staff and students will be a driving force and facilitator for international cooperation and mobility at the University of Bergen.

The University of Bergen has entered into an expan- sive collaboration in marine research with the Ocean University of China in Qingdao. Qingdao has the position as China's leading ocean and marine city, just like Bergen is leading the way in Norway. In June, UiB participated at the United Nations Ocean Conference in New York. Among the university's UiB is the eighth most activities were the presentation of Groundbreaking research puts human evolution quoted university in the voluntary commitments with partner in a new perspective as significant archaeologi- world within humanities, institutions in South Africa and the cal findings reveals sign of modern human according to a recent ranking Pacific. In December, UiB’s new behavior 300,000 years ago. Professor Francesco from Times Higher Education. Vice-Rector for Global Relations, Malaria is one of the main causes for hospitalization among d’Errico is part of the international team behind Annelin Eriksen met with diplomats and children in Malawi. As many die in hospital, many also die at the remarkable findings inKenya . D’Errico is United Nations officials to follow up on home, several months after hospitalization. Professor Bjarne also one of the most cited researchers in the initiatives on the Sustainable Robberstad at Centre for International Health at UiB is leading world according to a ranking published by Development Goals. a project in Malawi, trying to find out if preventive malaria Clarivate Analytics, and Principal Investigator at treatment after hospitalization can save lives. UiB’s new Centre of Excellence, Centre for Early Sapiens Behavior (SapienCE).

If you become a member of UiB Alumni, you can stay in touch with your alma mater and join in discussions Are you a former student from the University of Bergen? with other members of our alumni community. As we build our global alumni network there may be an JOIN UiB ALUMNI! If so, you are one of our alumni and part of the UiB community. alumni meeting where you live. Interested in joining? Register at uib.no/alumni!

32 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 33 education | bioceed

“It is a privilege to be able to con- tion on which to build the next stage facts ▼▼ tinue working with our great col- of development.” leagues – and the dedicated and The review further concludes bioCEED • bioCEED is a consortium between the ambitious teachers, students, staff, bioCEED made excellent progress on Department of Biological Sciences at leadership and external partners, its four main areas of focus in the UiB (BIO), Department of Arctic Biology that develop and challenges our biol- first phase: Teacher culture, Innova- at UNIS (AB), Department of Education ogy education”, says centre director tive teaching, Practical training and at UiB (IPED), and the Institute of Vigdis Vandvik. Outreach. In the report, the commit- Marine Research (IMR) which has been awarded status as a Centre of tee also gave valuable feedback and Excellence in Biology Education. Original thinking suggestions for the future work at bioCEED was evaluated by an inter- the centre. • The SFU-initiative, which is a parallel initiative to the Norwegian Centres of national expert committee, led by Excellence in Research, is managed Professor Paul Ashwin from Lan- Cooperation by NOKUT (the Norwegian Agency for caster University. In the evaluation, “In the first phase, bioCEED had focus Quality Assurance in Education); an he states: on developing good ideas, and to test independent expert body under the “In short, they have created an them in the biology educations and Ministry of Education and Research. exceptionally strong community of Norwegian higher education. We will • There are currently eight Centres practice in the area of biology teach- continue to do so. But in the second for Excellence in Education: bioCEED – Centre of Excellence in Biology ing. This community brings togeth- phase, we will also focus on “landing” Education, CCSE – Centre for er educators, innovators and com- these ideas in our institutions and Computing in Science Education, municators to not only pass on best programmes. That requires close CEFIMA – Centre of Excellence in practice, but to stimulate original cooperation on all levels”, says bio- Film and Interactive Media Arts, thinking in the area of biology teach- CEED-director Vandvik, also con- CEMPE – Centre of Excellence in Music Performance Education, ENgage – ing. In addition, they have promot- gratulating the other centres with Centre for Engaged Education through ed and overseen a large number of their successful interim evaluations: Entrepreneurship, ExcITEd – Centre successful and innovative projects “We are glad CEMPE and MatRIC for Excellent IT Education, MatRIC – that focus on improving the student passed their evaluations as well. We Centre for Research, Innovation and experience and aspects of the biol- appreciate the national SFU-fellow- Coordination of Mathematics Teaching, ProTed – Centre for Professional ogy curriculum. (…) Taken togeth- ship, and have been cooperating Learning in Teacher Education. er, the work completed during the closely, and learned a lot, from the first phase provides a firm founda- other centres”.

For bioCEED, practical training is crucial to effective biology education. PHOTO: Eivind Senneset Excellent educators “bioCEED have created an exceptionally strong community of practice in the area of biology teaching”, an international expert committee concludes.

n 2010, the Norwegian Ministry The SFU-status is initially for five “Everyone at of Education and Research took years, with the possibility of an ex- bioCEED is thrilled the initiative to establish “Cen- tension for another five years, sub- about this result, Itres for Excellence in Education ject to an interim evaluation after and look forward to the second phase”, (SFU)” aiming to stimulate teaching three to four years. In December says centre director excellence and educational innova- 2017, bioCEED, along with the SFU- at bioCEED, Vigdis tion in higher education. Four years centres CEMPE and MatRIC were Vandvik, after bioCEED-students on later, the status was awarded to given “the green light” to proceed to passing the interim fieldwork at Lygra, evaluation. photo: bioCEED - Centre of Excellence in the next phase, after an extensive close to Bergen. Kim E. Andreassen Biology Education. interim evaluation. PHOTO: Eivind Senneset

34 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 35 education | phd project

will therefore focus particularly on tiated before climate change and the Norwegian legislation. melting Arctic sea ice was an issue Through her doctoral thesis, Er- on the international agenda. The ichsen will examine the extent to only provision dealing with Arctic which coastal and flag states have a navigation is a narrow and vaguely right and an obligation to regulate worded exception. Arctic shipping in order to protect The Polar Code that entered into the environment. force 1 January 2017 does to some extent take account of the new Arc- Savings at a cost tic situation. "The Northern Sea Route along Rus- sia's northern coast is currently the Complex questions most accessible Arctic seaway. Using Does the current international legal the Northern Sea Route on seaborne framework adequately protect the trade between Atlantic and Pacific environment? How to regulate a vast ports may cut the distance with as area that is rapidly changing? How much as 50% compared to the south- can the need for preservation of the ern routes via the Suez or Panama Arctic environment meet the world`s Canals. Time saving and reduced seemingly insatiable need for trade fuel consumption may give substan- and transport? These questions are tial cost saving", Erichsen explains. at the core of Erichsen`s research. The potential savings do how- "These are complex questions with ever come at a cost: Arctic shipping global implications. I consider work- poses great threats to the highly ing with these issues a great privilege", sensitive ecosystems of the region. Erichsen says. "An oil spill incident, for instance, would potentially be catastrophic for the environment, with long lasting and widespread damage. Navigation in the Arctic is extremely challenging with hazards such as ice, fog, strong PHOTO: istockphoto winds and very low temperatures. The risk of an incident leading to accidental spill of fuel or cargo is activity and maritime traffic is lim- therefore relatively high. In the event Trans-Arctic shipping ited", Yngvil Marie Erichsen says. of an oil spill, the remoteness and She is a PhD student at the Fac- hostile environment of the region ulty of Law, University of Bergen. make both response and clean-up Erichsen is currently working on operations extremely difficult, if at and the tragedy of a project named “Arctic Shipping: all possible", Erichsen says. Climate Change and Legal Challenges.” Other potential environmental The aim of the project is to explore threats include operational discharg- the polar ice cap the legal challenges related to in- es and emissions, leakage of danger- creased commercial traffic in the ous cargoes and introduction of alien The Arctic sea ice is melting. Areas that previously have been covered Arctic Ocean, with special focus on species. Noise caused by regular with ice are opening up, facilitating increased access for ship traffic in the environmental concerns. passage may also disrupt the migra- tion patterns of marine mammals. Arctic Ocean. How can the need for preservation of the vulnerable Arctic Through Norwegian waters environment meet the world's need for trade and transport? A large part of Arctic ship traffic A new Arctic situation passes through waters that are sub- The United Nations Convention on Norwegian legislation in the Arctic: ject to Norwegian jurisdiction. In the the Law of the Sea of 1982 is the in- In her PhD project, Erichsen can draw on he continuing decrease of Arc- cific Oceans. It may even be possible Maritime traffic and the ecosystem capacity of being both an Arctic flag ternational legal framework for her experience from the shipping industry. In addition, the research project matches tic sea ice is gradually creating to cross the North Pole on voyages "Our knowledge of how the Arctic state and an Arctic coastal state, regulation of activity in the world's her commitment to environmental protec- new trans-Arctic shipping between the west and the east with- marine ecosystems will respond to Norway has a unique position in oceans, including Arctic shipping. tion. Photo: André Kvalvågnes, Dragefjellet Troutes, linking the Atlantic and Pa- in 2030. influence caused by increased human relation to Arctic shipping. Erichsen However, the Convention was nego- lærings- og formidlingssenter/UiB

36 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 37 education | the phd interview

can cause criminals to become “blinkered”. philosopher. For many prisoners, change “People who have led a criminal life or Blinkers prevent us from seeing issues and can involve anxiety and grief about what committed serious offences cannot expect actions from different perspectives. In a they are losing, and uncertainty about what to start with a clean slate. Our choices result way it can become easier to be criminal, they are heading towards or what they will in consequences, and that also applies to with a slightly better conscience. On the become. Some prisoners experience that crimes. On the other hand: can society other hand, philosophical dialogues allow changing themselves involves going from expect criminals to become law-abiding us to open up in order to see things in dif- "being someone" (ed: in the criminal world) citizens if we reject them, look down on

ferent ways. This can be challenging be- to "becoming no-one" in ordinary society. them or doesn’t trust them?” (BT 14.02.2018). n

o cause exposing oneself requires courage It is all about questioning one’s own iden- What do you hope to achieve by sharing

i t and willpower. tity and facing prejudice and stigmatisation your knowledge and experiences as a pris- mmunica about the life which one has been living.” on philosopher?

Insight and education Walderhaug goes on to explain that “I would like to help create a more hu- Co

arningand “Questions such as “who am I?” and “who change also involve existential processes. mane society where we see criminals as

Le f

o e

r t

n do I want to be?” cause us to think about “Going behind the “mask” to see what whole people, so that they can have a real

etCe

ll what we say and do, rather than aligning makes a criminal choose whatever he or chance of being included as members of

e fj

e ourselves with habitual thoughts and given she does, can teach us more about the society once they have paid their debts by

rag D : : truths. By having to justify things in a new compromises they have to address and what serving a prison sentence". photo way, we are being made responsible for our their decisions mean. We need to take the own thoughts and actions. We appear to time to dwell on how individuals experience ourselves as we appear to others, or we see being a person for better or worse.” facts ▼▼ ourselves in the eyes of others, and in this way we can assess ourselves from an out- side perspective,” explains Walderhaug. By having to justify things

“Do you think that philosophical dialogues “

A way out of "robot mode" can help rehabilitation?” in a new way, we are being

“I think that it is wrong to talk about made responsible for our own “By questioning our habitual thoughts and given truths, we can obtain insights which enable rehabilitation in this context. It would be better to talk about personal education and thoughts and actions. us to reflect on our lives in a different way,” says Marianne Frøystad Walderhaug. During valuable insights which can provide us with her dialogues with inmates, they try to discover how they can get out of “robot mode”. expanded judgement. In other words: "Given that philosophical thinking results “One could also say that changing from in insights which helps criminals make a criminal lifestyle to a so-called “straight“ Marianne Frøystad Walderhaug alderhaug has been working as say, not least because of my encounter with that anyone attending a philosophical dia- choices that takes them away from a crimi- existence involves reassessing one’s values, • Marianne Frøystad Walderhaug has been working as a philosopher at Bjørgvin Prison a prison philosopher for the last prison philosophy. After a while I learned logue should feel they are conversing with nal lifestyle, we could say that it is not just something which in itself links change with since 2006 and she recently defended her twelve years and she recently to question my opinions about both issues their partner on equal terms. Furthermore, beneficial for the criminals themselves, but philosophical issues. This approach to doctoral thesis entitled Philosophical Dialogues Wcompleted her doctorate with her thesis and people” (Syn og Segn 2007). the discussion topics are chosen by the also for the correctional services and society". change makes philosophical dialogues with Prison Inmates. entitled Philosophical Dialogues with Pris- According to several inmates there is inmates themselves. relevant for both the inmates and those • Bjørgvin Prison is a low-security prison located on Inmates. Her thesis is based on dialogues something to be said for the philosophical “Philosophical dialogues are all about Confronting identity employees working in the correctional in the municipality of Bergen. with prisoners in Bjørgvin Prison. way of thinking. It takes them out of "robot respecting each other’s input, not necessar- Walderhaug says that she has obtained a services", says Walderhaug. • The doctoral thesis goes into depth in respect mode" and connects them with their heads ily by accepting the other person’s opinions, greater understanding of and more respect of philosophical practices and philosophical Connecting with the head and brains, thus enabling them to discover but by allowing them to have opinions and for the dilemmas faced by many criminals Labelled as a criminal practice as a field of study. According to Walderhaug, the philosophical things for themselves. to be able to think from their own perspec- if they choose to change themselves in In theory a prison sentence is an opportu- • Walderhaug has developed three concepts: path is the actual objective of these dia- “By the way we listen and ask questions, tive. The point is to wonder about what is order to live differently. nity for prisoners to pay their debts to so- attentive equality, dialogical openness and logues. This involves allowing space for the we are challenged to think for ourselves,” being said, to be present in the dialogue “It is challenging to make changes, and ciety. However, many inmates experience polyphonic patience. These concepts express expression of as many views and voices as says Walderhaug. and to be patient when it is difficult to put the importance of having the space to reflect that they are met and treated as criminals, her thoughts about what philosophical possible, or as expressed in the words of a something into words.” on the concept of change and one’s own even when they have served their sen- dialogues are, based on her own experiences derived from dialogues with prison inmates. former inmate: Removes the blinkers During these dialogues Walderhaug has change processes is something which has tences. In a chronicle Walderhaug wrote for “I learned to reflect more on what others According to Walderhaug, it is important noticed that leading the life of a criminal interested me in my capacity as a prison the newspaper Bergens Tidende, she says:

38 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 39 researchers to watch | rune aune mentzoni

“Things have never been what they used to be”

Past societal uproar on cultural expressions share many similarities with nn eset

today’s debate on video games, Associate Professor Rune Mentzoni at the se ivind

Department of Psychosocial Science at UiB believes. e PHOTO:

oday many, especially parents, I believe these changes are nothing can follow a gambling addiction as Gambling Research at the Faculty Hooked or addicted? facts watch with growing concern to worry about”. Like other forms of addiction, gam- one of many examples. of Psychology, UiB, led by Professor ▼▼ the younger generation’s time- ing addiction can be a big problem Although Mentzoni underlines Ståle Pallesen. Rune Aune Mentzoni Tconsuming activities related to Studying loot boxes in itself. that playing video games, for most This winter, Mentzoni has been • Born 1978 in Norway. video games. Mentzoni sees the Two of Mentzoni’s main research “Where does one draw the line people, is a fun and harmless activ- one of 16 participants chosen to • Associate Professor at the debate in relation to similar discus- interests are gaming and gambling. between being hooked on a game, and ity, he stresses that it is important to partake in the new career develop- Department of Psychosocial Science. sions in the past. In his latest research project, he being addicted?” be aware of the danger signals, and ment programme “Momentum” at • Postdoctoral fellow at UiB 2013–2015. combines the two, investigating “An addiction often starts out as seek help if necessary. the University of Bergen. Momen- Cultural changes microtransactions in video games, an activity that is seen as fulfilling, “There are national and local tum is an interdisciplinary arena • PhD from the Faculty of Psychology, “It’s true things are not what they or so-called loot boxes, which are and adds a positive value to a person’s support groups for people suffering that aims to inspire to innovation University of Bergen, 2013. used to be. But things have never items you can buy to gain progres- life. However, this can change. For from most types of addictions. You and development for the best re- • One of 16 talented young researchers been what they used to be. Different sion or rewards in the gameplay. some, the activity becomes a negative can also discuss it with your doctor, search talents at UiB. It is an im- chosen for the career development programme Momentum (2017–2018). cultural expressions, like art, litera- Often the player buys these pack- interference in everyday life, causing who can refer you to a specialist if portant part of the commitment of ture, theatre, music and movies, have ages unaware of its content, and a person to neglect responsibilities, needed. If you worry you might be the rectorate at UiB to prioritize • Member of multiple research groups sparked similar debates over the many spend a lot of money to reach obsess on the activity, isolate from addicted, having friends and family young and talented researchers. and networks on gaming and gambling addiction, including the years. This will probably continue, their goals. the outside world and so on”, Ment- to talk to can often be very helpful “The most useful thing for me in new National Center for Gaming and as new technologies, like Virtual When analyzing his findings, zoni says adding: as well”, Mentzoni says. Momentum has been to network and Gambling Research at the Faculty of Reality (VR), advances in the coming Mentzoni will look at a number of “When addicted, a person will share experiences with other re- Psychology, UiB. years”, he says, adding: data, including the value gained from often realize he or she has a problem, Building momentum searchers on similar levels in their “Cultural changes happens with the purchases, and conclude wheth- without being able to quit the destruc- Mentzoni is a partner in numerous careers. Even if we come from dif- every generation, and are typically er or not loot boxes should be defined tive behavior. This can lead to severe networks and research groups that ferent faculties and departments, a followed by the older generations as a form of in-game gambling. The problems, even long after he or she focus on gaming addiction and gam- common factor is that we are moving getting worried about the impact on results will be presented to the Nor- is able to quit”, he says, pointing to bling. Amongst them is the new in similar directions as academics the youth. Most of the time however, wegian Gaming Authority. the difficult financial situation that National Center for Gaming and and researchers”, he says.

40 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 41 researchers to watch | helen f. leslie-jacobsen

Filling the gaps of medieval knowledge

"The young researcher of the year" in humanities, Helen F. Leslie-Jacobsen, will in her newest project combine legal history and philology to fill gaps ngrid Endal

in our knowledge about medieval and Early Modern society. PHOTO: I

he research project “Transfor- The project is developed based on tion is available about the translation is under establishment. The project PhD degree in 2009, she became part facts mations of Medieval Law” will the following research questions: of the law from Old Norwegian to will result in new PhDs and postdoc- of the Centre for Medieval Studies at ▼▼ explore how medieval and "How and to what extent do in- Danish in early modern Norway (16th toral fellows at the university. UiB, which was a Centre of Excellence Helen F. Leslie-Jacobsen TEarly Modern law books in Norway novations in the structure, contents and 17th centuries), later editions of The results from the project will (SFF) from 2003–2012. She stayed at • Born 1984 in England. and Iceland reflect the legal and and use of law books of Early Mod- the law and its revision to form the be presented in journal articles, the University of Bergen for her post- • Researcher in Old Norse Philology cultural contexts in which they were ern Norway reflect changes to Nor- law-code Jónsbók in Iceland. monographs, conference presenta- doc, with the “dragon-slayer” Sigurðr at the Department of Linguistic, written and compiled, filling gaps in wegian society during the Reforma- Leslie-Jacobsen’s project seeks to tions, blogs and social media. Fáfnisbani, the pre-eminent figure Literary and Aesthetic Studies at our existing knowledge. tion and Renaissance?" fill these gaps, researching the later in the art and narrative of medieval the Faculty of humanities, UiB. "How did legal circles in Norway manuscripts of the Landslov in order Medieval history Europe, as her main topic. • Postdoctoral fellow at UiB 2013–2017. Young researcher of the year and Iceland order and apply their to gain an insight into its develop- The project builds on what has been Leslie-Jacobsen has further ana- • PhD from the Faculty of Humanities, In November, Leslie-Jacobsen was knowledge in medieval and Early ment from the end of the Middle Leslie-Jacobsen’s research interest lyzed this legend, placed it in a cul- University of Bergen, 2012. awarded the prize “young researcher Modern times?" Ages onwards. The study will also for many years, at least since her tural context, and researched how • Awarded the prize “Young researcher of the year” in humanities. A month show how and to what extent in- studies of literature in Durham, the story developed over time. She of the year” in humanities at UiB, 2017. later she was one of three research- Documentation of transformation novations and changes in the struc- which included both Old English and explains that one of the primary • Awarded one out of three BFS Starting ers chosen for the Starting Grant from Her project will in particular explore ture, contents and use of law books Norse languages. interests in her studies was to see Grants in 2017, along with Konrad Bergen Research Foundation (BFS). the later revisions of Magnus Laga- of Early Modern Norway reflect From that moment, she was how Sigurd the Dragon-slayer was Tywoniuk/Faculty of Mathematics and “This is like an early Christmas bøtes Landslov, which was the first changes to Norwegian society. hooked on old texts, and chose to conceptualized and understood in Natural Sciences and Ari Stern/Faculty present”, Leslie-Jacobsen said after national law-code of Norway, in force research Snorre Sturlason’s “Heim- medieval Norway. of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. being awarded the prestigious grant. for 400 years until it was superseded Public outreach skringla”, the best known of the Old “The new funding from Bergen The next four years, as result of in 1687. Her new project will strengthen the Norse kings’ sagas, for her master’s Research Foundation means that I the funding, she will build and lead During that period, there were research and teaching environment dissertation. She took her second can take my career a step forward, a research group for the project sweeping changes in religion, culture in medieval and Early Modern stud- master’s in Reykjavik, a fitting place build a research team, and contribute “Transformations of Medieval Law: and language, all captured in and ies at UiB, as well as to provide mul- for studying the heroes of the Ice- meaningfully to the University of Innovation and Application in Early reflected by the law manuscripts of tiple opportunities for public outreach landic sagas. Bergen”, she says. Modern Norwegian Law Books”. the period. However, little informa- as a part of the Medieval Cluster, that After coming to Norway to take a

42 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 43 researchers to watch | hans christian steen-larsen

Aims to change climate research

Climate researcher Hans Christian Steen-Larsen has for many years explored some of the most extreme environments on Earth, in his search to improve our climate models. If he succeeds with his new ERC project, te

it will have great impact on todays climate research. p riva PHOTO:

he SNOWISO-project comes climate archives thus mainly relies perhaps so far back as 1,5 million climate models, Steen-Larsen has strong scientific community on cli- facts with a "high risk/high gain"- on the assumption that the state of years if the new EU Horizon 2020 travelled to many of the most ex- mate research that already exists at ▼▼ status, meaning that ERC con- the climate determines the isotopic project Beyond EPICA - Oldest Ice treme environments on Earth, from the University of Bergen and the Hans Christian Steen-Larsen Tsiders the hypothesis as a risk, but composition of precipitation, which is successful. Antarctica to Mount Everest. His Bjerknes Centre. • Born 1982 in Denmark. a risk worth taking, considering the is “stored” in ice, and can later be research has also taken him to Ber- “Climate research in Bergen is • Researcher at Geophysical solid background of the project analyzed in ice cores. SNOWISO ques- The larger picture muda, to study water vapor. internationally recognized, and I look institute, and the Bjerknes Centre leader and the potential gain if the tions this view, with the hypothesis Steen-Larsen for a moment rests his In Steen-Larsen’s view, all this is forward to cooperating with these for Climate Research. hypothesis is verified. If the project that the isotope record from an ice eyes on the world map hanging on closely linked together. groups. That is one of the main rea- • Postdoctoral fellow at the Centre succeeds, it will give new and excit- core is determined by a combination a wall of his office at the Geophysical “I have a holistic approach, and sons why I moved SNOWISO to UiB”, for Ice and Climate in Copenhagen, ing perspectives to the field of cli- of the precipitation isotope signal Institute at the Faculty of Mathemat- aim to combine climate models with he says. Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat mate research. and the atmospheric water vapor ics and Natural Sciences, University climate research on ice cores”, he The climate researcher looks for- et de l’Environnement in Paris, and A major question for the five-year isotope signal above the snow surface. of Bergen. says, adding: ward to the challenges that awaits University of Colorado in Boulder. run of the project, is if it is possible With SNOWISO, Hans Christian “The map reminds me of how “When SNOWISO ends in five the next five years. • PhD from University of Copenhagen, to analyze so-called isotopes from Steen-Larsen will look at the pro- small we are as individuals. And how years, I hope to have built bridges “The most exciting thing with 2011. ice cores to create a better under- cesses in the hydrological cycle that important it is to understand that we between the analysis of isotopes in getting an ERC-grant, is the possibil- • Awarded ERC Starting Grant for the standing of past climate variations influence the isotopic composition need to look further than our own ice cores and climate modeling. To ity to build a team and investigate project Signals from the Surface and therefore better climate models. of the water, and establish how the backyard, to understand that our present new ways to understand these potentially ground breaking Snow: Post-Depositional Processes Controlling Ice Core isotopic water isotope signal is recorded in actions affects people and communi- climate, and climate dynamics”. questions with them, he says, under- Fingerprint – SNOWISO, focusing on SNOWISO snow. This will give a more accurate ties on a much larger scale”, he says. lining the word “potentially”. enhancing our ability to interpret ice Isotopes are, simply put, atoms with analysis of data from ice cores. In He feels climate researchers have Cooperation in Bergen “There is no guarantee that the core climate records. a specific composition. The isotopic the project, Steen-Larsen and his a responsibility to enlighten the pub- SNOWISO builds on many years of hypothesis is correct, but if it is, I believe composition varies, for instance due team will combine laboratory and lic and decision-makers about the research, but the ERC project started this will be the beginning of something to temperature, and in this way the field experiments with observations consequences of climate change. in 2018. It will last for five years, and really interesting”, he says. isotopes contain an “image” of the of snow and water vapor isotopes That is why scientists need the best PhD positions will soon be in place climate at a given point in time. in Greenland and Antarctica. They possible foundation for their re- at the university. The use of ice core records as will analyze ice cores from the past, search. In his quest to improve our Steen-Larsen appreciates the

44 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 45 plastic pollution | the legacy of the plastic whale postcard from bergen

searching environmental pollutants in the Toril Moi oceans, including environmental pollutants t Professor of Literature and Romance Studies kif that exists on and in plastics. es at Duke University. Director of the Center for “Environmental pollutants could disrupt b rødr r Philosophy, Arts, and Literature at Duke.

the hormone system in animals and humans, tho PHOTO: and influence the ability to reproduce and evolve. They often end up in fat tissue, could pile up in organisms, and it can take a long time before organisms get rid of it. On the highest levels in the food chain, you find the highest levels of environmental pollutants. The animals on top tend to be food for humans. That is why we have dietary advices in Norway that says that we should not eat shellfish and fish from areas with high levels of pollution”, says Karlsen.

Plastic oceans Dealing with the problem Haave thinks it is crucial to act fast.

photo

ck

One out of four Norwegians have participated in cleaning the “The most important thing is to reduce sto

PHOTO: i S emissions. We have to replace plastic with A

s coastline for plastics, since the “plastic whale” made headlines au

r h other materials where we can. Half of the v e around the world last year. n: o o n: i t plastic is used only once. It is meaningless to rast

illu use everlasting materials for things we only use once”, she says. Toril Moi is a renowned professor, writer and columnist. Moi is also the UiB Marine biologist Magnus Svendsen Nerheim alumn (former student) of the month in June 2018. agrees, calling for a debate on socioeconomic www.torilmoi.com and legal perspectives. “Our foolish use of plastic is creating a Bergen in the 1970s. It rained all the time. Students went to the film club n January 2017, researchers from the wegians have been picking up plastic from or clog the digestive tract, or get tangled up larger environmental problem. There are to see obscure European movies, and drank a lot of beer. Hardly anyone had University of Bergen opened the stom- the coastline for recycling within the last in plastic and become deformed or drown”, plenty of evidence supporting that we must a phone. Mobile phones hadn’t been invented. And we were at once politically ach of a whale found stranded on Sotra, 12 months. According to the non-profit or- says Magnus Svendsen Nerheim, a UiB- think differently. We have to make sure that it engaged, and innocent. Iwest of Bergen. They pulled out 30 plastic ganization “Hold Norge rent” (Keep Norway graduated marine biologist who has re- does not end up in the environment. This means I was a feminist, some of my best friends were maoists, we demon- bags, and multiple large and smaller piec- clean), the number of organized events searched plastic in the oceans. proper infrastructure for recycling, incentive strated against Franco and in favor of abortion rights. But we weren’t rich. es of plastic. The whale’s intestinal system picking plastic from the coastline increased Plastics is not going to disappear, but schemes and/or recycling solutions that make Norway had just begun to exploit its new oil resources. We didn’t talk about contained no nutrition, the layer of fat was by 800 per cent in Hordaland county, where will be broken down to smaller pieces, it easy to choose solutions that are environ- neoliberalism and globalism. We didn’t worry about careers, and whether very thin and the weight was low for a whale the Plastic Whale was found, pointing to eventually becoming microplastics, which mentally friendly, and a clear legal framework we made a good impression, for we didn’t have to deal with Facebook and of this size. the whale as a direct cause. are plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimeters that holds manufacturers and consumers of Instagram and all that. We actually had to go out on the town to meet others. “It’s unbelievable how much plastic ends in diameter. plastic products accountable”. Sitting alone at home meant simply that: sitting alone at home. up in and by the ocean. What we see, sad- Heading for more plastic than fish “Even if these plastic pieces are small, My best memories being a student at the University of Bergen is ly is just the tip of the iceberg”, says Chris- Globally, we produce around 320 million they are not harmless”, ecotoxicologist hanging out with friends, learning French, and Spanish and discussing ideas toph Noever, researcher at the Department tons of plastic each year. According to a Marte Haave at Uni Research warns. night and day. I wanted to learn French to be able to read books by Simone of Biological Sciences at UiB. report from the World Economic Forum, “Microplastics can block the intestines de Beauvoir in the original language. I really enjoyed all the feminist study He was the one opening the stomach of every year at least eight million tons ends and lower the reproductive capacity of groups and other groups I was in. the Plastic Whale, and a year and a half up in the oceans. That equals 15 tons of smaller animals. There has also been found I also remember Sydneshaugen Skole. The reading rooms for ­humanities later, Noever thinks it is important that we plastic pollution in the oceans every minute. evidence that nanoplastics has entered the students. An old school where I worked all day. At some point in the early never forget the disturbing sight. If we continue like today, by 2025 the circulation of crabs and blue mussels”. 1970s we had to turn up no later than 7:45 a.m. to wait for the doors to ocean will contain one ton of plastic per “We still do not know if it could hurt open at 8:00. Otherwise we might not get a seat. But I made friends in the Eye-opener three tons of fish. By 2050, there will be more humans to eat blue mussels or crabs with hallways, went to lectures and enjoyed student life. The plastic whale made national and inter- plastic in the ocean, than fish. microplastics in their tissue, or if the small- Three tips to students today: Be interested in everything, work hard national headlines, and became an eye- est pieces of plastic could enter fish tissue. and learn to express yourself precisely and sharp. Writing is thinking! opener of the severity of the plastic pollu- The plastic will not disappear There is need for more research in this “Picking up plastic from the coastline really helps. It means tion-problem. The public responded, and “The consequences of seabirds, fish and area”, says Haave. the flakes are not being turned into microplastic, and won’t in January 2018, a survey from “Medborger- other animals eating plastic, are well-doc- Molecular biologist Odd Andre Karlsen damage life in and close to the ocean”, says Christoph Noever. panelet” showed that one out of four Nor- umented. Animals who eat plastic can hurt is head of a group of scientists at UiB, re- Photo: Solfrid Langeland

46 the Uib Magazine. the Uib Magazine. 47 RETURN ADDRESS: Communication Division University of Bergen P.O. Box 7800 5020 Bergen NORWAY

E-mail: [email protected] • Web: uib.no/en

the last picture | slate at digital day

The digitalisation strategy at the University of Bergen supports and Amongst many innovative presenters and stands, they met Joakim complements the university’s strategy for 2016–2022 “Ocean, Life, Vindenes at SLATE (see also page 20). He holds a Masters in New Society”. Digitalisation shapes the activities across the areas of Media where he designed and developed a VR learning environment. education, research, communication, innovation and administration. Vindenes continues to work with learning environments in VR and More than 1,000 UiB-employees visited the Digital Day in Grieghallen extends the focus to explore how multimodal data gathered in these on October 4, to learn more about the ongoing and in-front digitalisation environments and analytics can be used to understanding learning projects, tools and methods, and future digital solutions at the university. processes. photo: eivind senneset