Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorway
Jon Olaf Olaussen is a Professor of Economics at NTNU School of Economics and Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Economics at NTNU. He holds a PhD from NTNU’s Department of Economics (2007) and previously worked at Sintef Fisheries and Aquaculture before joining NTNU in 2008. Education: PhD in Economics, NTNU Department of Economics (2007) Research Focus: Jon’s research spans environmental and resource economics, with a focus on natural resource management, aquaculture challenges (e.g., wild salmon and sea lice interactions), housing economics (energy labeling and real estate markets), and wildlife management (moose, deer, reindeer). He leads the NTNU School of Business and Economics Centre for Housing and Environmental Economics. Recent Article Trends: His work explores regulatory challenges in aquaculture, housing market dynamics (auctions, energy certificates), and angler behavior in Nordic fisheries. Key topics include policy impacts, biodiversity conservation, and strategic economic decision-making. Labs & Teams: He oversees the Centre for Housing and Environmental Economics, which integrates economic analysis with environmental and housing sector challenges.
Bjarte Hannisdal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Bergen, Norway, and affiliated with the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research. He plays a key leadership role in iEarth, a national Centre of Excellence in geoscience education, serving as the iEarth Education Chair and Head of Focus Area 1, which aims to develop innovative frameworks for higher education in geosciences. Department of Geosciences, University of Bergen Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research iEarth – Centre of Excellence in Geoscience Education His research lies at the intersection of geobiology, paleontology, and Earth system science, with a strong focus on quantitative methods. He investigates Earth system evolution, causality in dynamical systems, and the co-evolution of life and the planet using advanced statistical and information-theoretic approaches applied to geological and fossil records. His work spans microbial ecology in deep-sea sediments, paleoclimatology through isotope analysis, and the detection of causal interactions in deep time. Hannisdal has made significant contributions through a high-impact publication record, with articles in top journals such as Science , Nature Geoscience , PNAS , and Physical Review E . His recent publications highlight trends in applying machine learning and information theory to geoscience problems, including microbial responses to oxygen, causality detection in incomplete records, and the calibration of geochemical proxies. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend, integrating biology, physics, and computational methods into Earth sciences. He is actively involved in higher education, having developed and taught courses such as GEOV114 (Introduction to Geobiology) and GEOV302 (Data Analysis in Geosciences), and contributes to others like GEOV344 and BIO318. His educational research explores student-centered learning and computational skill development. He has supervised doctoral research, including Dario Blumenschein’s project on educational change. His work is supported by funding from the Research Council of Norway, Trond Mohn Foundation, and EU Horizon 2020. Hannisdal collaborates widely across institutions and disciplines, as evidenced by his co-authorship with researchers from Norway, the US, Germany, and others.
Ole Arve Misund serves as a Professor at the Norwegian Fisheries College within UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. His research spans polar science, Arctic marine ecology, fisheries management, and international relations in polar regions, with particular focus on Norway-Russia scientific cooperation dynamics following geopolitical shifts in 2022. His research interests center on climate change impacts on Arctic marine ecosystems, acoustic monitoring of marine organisms, and the geopolitical dimensions of polar research. Recent work examines boreal species migration into the Central Arctic Ocean, machine learning applications for backscatter analysis, and management frameworks for the Central Arctic Ocean. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong interdisciplinary trends, integrating marine ecology with political science through studies of Russian-Norwegian scientific collaboration under sanctions, illegal fishing enforcement, and policy-relevant polar research. His work consistently bridges academic research with practical fisheries management and geopolitical considerations. Misund actively engages in science communication through Norwegian media outlets like Nordlys and Fiskeribladet, addressing topics from climate policy contradictions to Antarctic hydrological changes. His expeditionary work includes North Pole 2022 aboard the "Kronprins Haakon" research vessel. Professional activities demonstrate significant leadership in polar research infrastructure development and international scientific collaboration, particularly through the Norwegian Polar Institute where he contributes to strategic planning and policy advice. His work emphasizes evidence-based approaches to Arctic governance amid evolving geopolitical landscapes.
Julia M.I. Barth is a guest researcher at the University of Oslo, focusing on population genomics and conservation genetics. Her work emphasizes marine fish species, particularly Atlantic cod, and involves collaborations on projects like CodS (Interreg) and the Aqua Genome initiative. She holds an M.Sc. in developmental biology, a Ph.D. in genetics and cell biology, and postdoctoral training in evolutionary biology/ecology. Education: M.Sc. in Developmental Biology Ph.D. in Genetics and Cell Biology Her research spans population connectivity, adaptation, and demographic histories in marine species. Key themes include genomic divergence mechanisms in Atlantic cod and conservation strategies for threatened populations. Recent publications highlight topics like supergene dynamics, hybridization resilience in eels, and genomic tools for sustainable fisheries management. Collaborative projects include the CodS initiative to restore cod populations in the Skagerrak/Kattegat region and the Aqua Genome project dissecting genetic factors in fish adaptation. No formal student advisement roles are listed, but her work involves interdisciplinary teams addressing biodiversity and ecosystem challenges.
Meley Mekonen Rannestad is a Researcher at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences specializing in forest and resource economics. She leads the interdisciplinary NFR project ClimateSmartForest with a 15 million NOK budget and received the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program research grant in 2024. Her research examines climate-smart forest management, ecosystem services valuation, and sustainable land use in African dryland ecosystems. Recent publications focus on remote sensing applications for biomass estimation, armed conflict impacts on vegetation, and economic analyses of agroforestry adoption. Rannestad represents NMBU at UN climate conferences (COP25, COP27, COP28) and investigates carbon sequestration potential, forest governance, and climate adaptation strategies in vulnerable ecosystems. Her work integrates natural and social science approaches to address climate change challenges.
Sylvi Marlen Sandvik is a Researcher at the Faculty of Technology and Science , University of Agder. Her work focuses on alpine ecology, plant biology, and climate change impacts, with extensive publications spanning 2000-2024. PhD in Scientific Seminar (Dr. Scient Cand real) Email: sylvi.m.sandvik@uia.no Phone: +47 38141341 | Mobile: +4748155784 Research Highlights: Dr. Sandvik specializes in alpine plant responses to climate change, including: Thermal thresholds for embryo growth in Conopodium majus (2024) Nitrogen-fixing legumes' impact on alpine ecosystems (2013) Long-term warming effects on snowbed vegetation (2004, 2014) Reproductive costs in Parnassia palustris under warming (2008-2010) Recent Publications: 15+ peer-reviewed works from 2000–2024, including Annals of Botany (2024), Global Change Biology (2013), and Oikos (2001). Key journals: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research , Environmental and Experimental Botany , Nordic Journal of Botany .
Øyvind Fiksen is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Bergen, specializing in biological oceanography and marine ecosystem dynamics. His work focuses on how individuals drive population and community dynamics in marine environments through mechanistic models, state-variable optimality theory, and trait-based ecosystem modeling. Professor Fiksen's research spans behavioral ecology, predator-prey interactions in fish, zooplankton, and microbes, investigating how these interactions structure marine ecosystems. His teaching portfolio includes Marine Ecology courses, and he has been instrumental in developing the Centre of Excellence in Biology Education (bioCEED) at the University of Bergen. During 2012-2015, he served as Head of Education and Deputy Head of Department at BIO, contributing to Bergen's recognition as a Centre of Excellence in Education. Analysis of his recent publications (2020-2024) reveals a strong emphasis on climate change impacts on marine systems, particularly how environmental changes affect fish phenology, distribution patterns, and ecosystem dynamics. His work integrates theoretical modeling with empirical data across multiple spatial and temporal scales, with notable contributions to understanding mesopelagic zone dynamics, tuna reproductive strategies, and cod-capelin interactions. A consistent theme throughout his research is the application of mechanistic models to predict ecosystem responses to environmental change. Excellent Teaching Practitioner from UiB Professor Fiksen has supervised numerous doctoral students including Johanna Myrseth Aarflot, Johanna Jennifer Elisabeth Fall, Tom Langbehn, Agurtzane Urtizbera Ijurko, Øystein Varpe, and Christian Jørgensen. His research has been supported by significant funding from EU, NFR (Norwegian Research Council), and NOKUT, including projects such as ETHOFISH, ADAPT, ECOBE, CLIMAR, TBECO, EGGVALUE, bioCEED, MARmaED, FILAMO, and PANDORA. As part of bioCEED, he has delivered over 40 invited talks on educational activities at local and national forums, demonstrating his commitment to both research and teaching excellence. His laboratory work focuses on theoretical ecology approaches to marine ecosystem modeling, with particular expertise in individual-based models that connect physiological processes to population dynamics. Current research directions include investigating how coastal water darkening affects marine phenology, optimizing tuna spawning strategies, and understanding the three-dimensional spatial dynamics of predator-prey interactions in marine environments.
Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorway
Yngve Karl Frøyen is a Professor at the Department of Architecture and Planning within the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Since 2010, he has taught and coordinated spatial and transport planning in the master's program in physical planning, while also leading GIS and geodata activities across academic programs. His research focuses on sustainable urban transport , emphasizing walking, cycling, and public transit as tools to enhance urban systems. He investigates how urban form —including land use, density, and functional mix—affects travel behavior, with specific projects on retail location transport impacts, cycling infrastructure modeling, and park-and-ride solutions in urban peripheries. Key trends in his recent publications include urban ecology , smart city geospatial analysis , and pedestrian/cycling mobility . His work integrates GIS, accessibility metrics, and land use-transportation interdependencies, reflecting collaborations with institutions like SINTEF and Asplan Viak. Doctoral training in transport economics and impact analysis 9-year research at the Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) Consulting and project management in transport modeling, electronic ticketing, and GIS applications Contributions to Norwegian transport policy frameworks
Norwegian University of Science And TechnologyNorway
Hanna Lee is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on terrestrial ecosystem ecology and land surface modeling, particularly the feedback cycles between climate change and ecosystem carbon cycles. Specializes in permafrost dynamics and Arctic/alpine ecosystems Investigates climate change impacts on nature and society Develops Earth system models for carbon-climate feedbacks Key Projects & Funding (2016–2025): 2022–2025: Project leader. Research Council of Norway Polar Program (10 million NOK) 2021–2026: WP leader. Horizon2020 PolarRES (8 million Euro) 2020–2024: Project leader. INTPART PRISM (4.5 million NOK) 2020–2023: Co-leader. KLIMAFORSK Permafrost4Life (12 million NOK) 2019–2022: Co-leader. KLIMAFORSK IMPOSE (10 million NOK) Outreach & Public Engagement: Host of scientific blog on afforestation impacts Media appearances in NRK, PBS NOVA, and DNMagazinet Host of 'Art and Science MS project' at University of Bergen
Connor Joseph Cavanagh is an Associate Professor at the Department of Geography, University of Bergen. His work intersects human-environment geography, political ecology, and agri-environmental governance, emphasizing interdisciplinary research on land use change, environmental justice, and biodiversity conservation. He actively collaborates across disciplines and serves as a Lead Author for the IPBES Nexus Assessment and Contributing Author for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Research Focus: Political ecology of conservation and sustainability, property regimes for land/resources, socio-ecological conflicts, and green economy critiques. Teaching: Courses include GEO 131 , GEO 222 , and GEO 337 on sustainable development, urbanization, and political ecology. Publications: His recent articles address topics like illicit conservation compliance, land rush dynamics, carbon finance inequality, and neoliberal conservation impacts. His work spans interdisciplinary journals such as Annals of the American Association of Geographers and Political Geography . Supervision: Welcomes PhD/Master’s students on themes like environmental governance, land rights, and socio-ecological systems. Service: Peer reviewer for 60+ journals and co-founder of the Political Ecology Network (POLLEN), contributing to global collaborations.
Professor Vigdis Vandvik at the University of Bergen (Department of Biological Sciences) is a leading community ecologist studying global change impacts on plants, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. Her research spans three key areas: local-regional process interactions, environmental change scaling from individuals to ecosystems, and human land-use impacts. She directs the Between The Fjords Lab using macroecological experiments across Norway's Vestland Climate Grid and global networks. Key research systems: Alpine, grassland, heathland ecosystems Methodological focus: Experimental macroecology, field-lab integration Policy engagement: IPBES assessments, Norwegian Council on Ethics Her 15 most recent articles reveal trends in climate-vegetation interactions, functional trait analysis, and nature-climate policy linkages. Studies range from Arctic nutrient dynamics to alpine grazing mitigation and heathland carbon fluxes, emphasizing cross-scale ecological modeling and experimental frameworks. Current PhD/MSc projects include climate budget integration (ECOBUDGETS), mycorrhizal responses (FUNDER/DURIN), range expansion impacts (RangeX), and carbon flux dynamics (ThreeD/INCLINE). She actively promotes open science through GBIF ambassadorship and FAIR data initiatives. Labs/teams: Between The Fjords Lab, CeSAM Centre for Sustainable Area Management, Ecological and Environmental Change Research Group, bioCEED Center of Excellence in Biology Education. International collaborations span Norway, Europe, US, Uganda, Nepal, China, and Peru.
Andrea Noche Ferreira is a PhD Research Fellow in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Agder, Norway, focusing on marine protist diversity using molecular tools like metabarcoding. She contributes to the BlueBioClimate project developing climate-adapted tools for sustainable blue bioeconomy in the Kattegat-Skagerrak region. Her academic background includes a Master of Science in Oceanography and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences from the University of Vigo (Spain), with a semester abroad at the University of Pula (Croatia). Research spans Marine Biology, Oceanography, and Molecular Ecology, emphasizing protist community diversity, gene expression analysis, and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. Her work employs metabarcoding to investigate ecological dynamics and biodiversity in marine environments, particularly microbial communities. Recent publications examine particle fluxes under ocean alkalinity enhancement and respiration-sinking speed relationships in marine aggregates, advancing understanding of ocean biogeochemistry and carbon cycling in climate mitigation contexts. As part of the BlueBioClimate project, she collaborates on climate-resilient strategies for sustainable marine resource utilization in the Kattegat-Skagerrak, integrating molecular ecology with climate adaptation frameworks.
Ulysses Silas Ninnemann is Professor and leader of the Quaternary and Paleoclimate research group at the Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, affiliated with the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research. His research focuses on paleoclimate reconstruction using marine archives to understand climate system dynamics. Research examines: Sea ice variability across glacial-interglacial cycles Ocean circulation changes and climate linkages Ice sheet responses to climate thresholds Sedimentary DNA applications in paleoceanography Chronological methods in marine archives Recent publications investigate polar amplification mechanisms, Arctic sea ice persistence through warm periods, and ice sheet stability under varying climate conditions.
Norwegian University of Science And TechnologyNorway
Elizabeth Sanna Barron is a Professor at the Department of Geography and Social Anthropology , Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her research intersects with political ecology, conservation social science, and critical physical geography, focusing on emplacement theory and its applications to sustainability. Co-PI for EMBAST (2022-2026) - NSF-funded algal bloom sustainability research Research Team Leader for Mission Mjøsa (2022-2027) - multidisciplinary freshwater management project Senior Researcher in Arctic Auditories (2021-2025) - Norwegian Research Council-funded hydrosphere study Her academic contributions include chairing IUCN's Fungal Use Specialty Group and serving as IPBES coordinating lead author. Current teaching includes advanced geography courses like GEOG8001 Theoretical Perspectives in Geography . Research spans fungal conservation epistemology, Arctic auditory ecology, and decolonial environmental frameworks. Key publication themes include: Emplacement theory development across 15+ years Water sustainability Intergovernmental biodiversity assessments Non-human agency Post-capitalist environmental models Alternative economic metrics
Anniken Førde is a Professor in Community Planning and Cultural Understanding at the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Teacher Education at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. She also serves as Doctoral Coordinator ISV, overseeing doctoral education within her department. Based in Tromsø, Professor Førde actively contributes to both teaching and research at Norway's northernmost university, with a particular focus on Arctic and sub-Arctic contexts. Professor Førde's research spans several interconnected areas focused on sustainable and inclusive place development. Her work centers on local transformation processes, place-sensitive planning approaches, and the development of diverse cities that accommodate both human and non-human inhabitants. She has pioneered research on multispecies place development, examining how humans coexist with other species in urban environments, particularly focusing on seabirds like kittiwakes in northern Norwegian cities. Her research on tourism examines changing landscapes and the pressures of the tourism age on place qualities. Additionally, she explores innovation and improvisation in planning, investigating how urban spaces can accommodate unforeseen encounters and spontaneous social interactions. Professor Førde's publication record reveals a strong trajectory toward multispecies perspectives and environmental crisis response. Her recent work increasingly focuses on how planning and place development must account for non-human actors, particularly in times of planetary emergency. She has made significant contributions to understanding sharing economies as mechanisms for sustainable consumption, particularly through equipment lending systems. Her research shows a clear evolution from traditional urban planning concerns toward more holistic, ecologically grounded approaches that recognize the agency of non-human elements in shaping places. The geographical focus remains strongly rooted in Northern Norway, with particular attention to Tromsø and other Arctic communities. As Doctoral Coordinator ISV, Professor Førde plays a key role in guiding the next generation of researchers. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary research collaborations, serving as a member of the research group Sted, Makt og Mobilitet (Place, Power and Mobility), as well as participating in the Changing Arctic and Center for Arctic Humanities initiatives. Her current project FUGLAN VEIT focuses on mobilizing place, nature, and community through local food practices, representing her commitment to transdisciplinary approaches that combine research, art, traditional knowledge, and dialogue. Professor Førde is deeply engaged with community-based research and knowledge co-production. Her work with the UPSCALE project (2020-2024) demonstrates her commitment to practical applications of research, particularly in developing library-based initiatives to promote more sustainable consumption. She frequently collaborates with local communities, artists, and knowledge holders to develop innovative approaches to place development that respect both human and non-human inhabitants of urban spaces.
