Rune Svarverud

Rune Svarverud is a Professor at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Oslo. His research spans two major periods in Chinese history: early Chinese philosophy (pre-Qin to Han dynasties) and modern China (post-Opium War cultural encounters). Key research areas include conceptual history, environmental history, political philosophy, and cross-cultural translation studies.

• Permanent employee since 2004
• Head of Department since 2021
• Former PhD committee member and research leader (2007-2014)
• Active in international collaborations with Fudan, Nanjing, Kansai, and Zhejiang Universities

His academic work focuses on:

• History of concepts and textual analysis in Chinese thought
• Environmental history and terminology evolution in modern China
• Qing dynasty legal and political philosophy
• Translation of Western knowledge into Chinese
• Interactions between Chinese and Western modernity
• Individualism in 20th-century Chinese society

Recent publications examine environmental terminology, cross-cultural scientific translation, and conceptual frameworks in Qing reform. His interdisciplinary approach connects philosophy, law, and environmental studies through historical analysis.

• Co-edited works on standard languages and cultural communication
• Contributor to ACTA ORIENTALIA and PNAS
• Recipient of multiple research grants for Transsustain project