Sundeep Sahay is a Professor at Digital Innovation (University of Oslo) with affiliate roles at Sustainable Healthcare Education (UiO Faculty of Medicine), The Information School (University of Sheffield), and HISP India . His research bridges technology and global health, focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) , climate-health intersections, and digital health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) , particularly India. He employs Action Research and social science theories to address health inequities, structural violence, and the realities of digital personal data in maternal/childcare. Research Themes : AMR through health inequity lens, digital identity work in community health, data governance in LMICs, and sociotechnical design for global health. Geographic Focus : Spanning 30+ countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, with emphasis on India, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Mozambique.
Jukka Pirttilä is a Professor of Public Economics at the University of Helsinki, specifically within the Department of Political and Economic Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences. He also holds affiliations as a researcher at the VATT Institute for Economic Research, a Senior Non-Resident Research Fellow at the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER), and a Fellow at CESifo. He serves as Deputy Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research (FIT), reflecting his leadership in national research initiatives. His research interests are centered on public economics , with a strong focus on optimal taxation , empirical analysis of tax systems , and the intersection of taxation and social protection in developing countries . His work spans labor economics, development economics, behavioral public finance, and inequality, often employing microsimulation and empirical econometric methods to evaluate policy impacts. His recent publications (2022–2024) reflect a consistent trend in analyzing tax and benefit systems in both developed and developing contexts. Key themes include migration and tax policy in Finland, tax-benefit microsimulation in the Global South, top income taxation in emerging economies, and youth activation programs. His work frequently involves cross-country collaborations and leverages large-scale administrative and survey data to assess policy effectiveness, equity, and efficiency. Fellow of CESifo Senior Non-Resident Research Fellow at UNU-WIDER Deputy Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research (FIT) Pirttilä has supervised and collaborated with numerous researchers, though specific advisees are not listed in the provided text. His work has been supported by major research centers such as VATT, CESifo, and UNU-WIDER. He is actively involved in policy-relevant research, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia), assessing tax reforms, social protection programs, and fiscal policy impacts. He maintains a research blog at the University of Helsinki and has a highly active publication record, with over 47 papers announced in NEP (New Economics Papers) across fields like Public Economics, Public Finance, Development, and Labor Economics. His research is widely recognized, placing him among the top 5% of authors in RePEc based on output and co-authorship networks.
Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorway
Carine S. Germond is a Professor of European Studies at NTNU’s Department of Historical and Classical Studies, part of the Faculty of Humanities. She teaches in the BA and MA programs in European Studies, supervising PhD, MA, and post-doctoral research on European integration history, policies, and politics. Her academic journey includes a M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Contemporary History from the University of Strasbourg, an MA and BA in German Studies from the University of Tours, France. Previously held positions: Tenured Assistant Professor at Maastricht University (2009–2016), Visiting Professor at the European University Institute (2022), and part-time professor at EUI (2018–2019). Expertise: European integration history, transnational policy-making, Franco-German relations, Common Agricultural Policy, and gender studies in EU politics. Research focuses on state actors in European cooperation, transnational societal actors, European Parliament evolution, and gendered roles in EU integration. Current projects include sustainability in EU maritime policy and ‘hidden figures’ in EU history (e.g., women’s contributions). Her work spans four main themes: Franco-German bilateral relations, transnational farm interest groups, European Parliament dynamics, and gendered histories of EU integration. She has led projects like ‘WomEUn’ (gendered EU history) and ‘EUSEAS’ (EU maritime sustainability). Awards include the Clifford Hackett Lectureship (Yale) and fellowships from NIAS, Marie Curie, and DFG. She advises EU institutions like the Committee of the Regions and contributes to media discussions on EU politics.
Knut Bjørn Stokke is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His work bridges research, teaching, and supervision with a focus on landscape, environmental, and regional planning. His research interests include municipal and regional landscape planning, coastal and waterway planning, climate adaptation, protected areas, and local community development. He emphasizes the integration of environmental considerations, cultural heritage, and outdoor life into planning processes, particularly in peripheral and coastal regions. The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on climate change adaptation, European environmental policy implementation, landscape resource management, and the socio-political dimensions of planning. His work often involves multi-institutional collaboration and addresses real-world governance challenges in Norway. He is actively involved in several major research projects funded by the Research Council of Norway, including RUVIVAL (cultural heritage in urban development), WINDGOV (wind power and cabin planning), MAREA (nature accounting in the Oslofjord), and LANDTIME (time perspectives in planning and visitor management). Stokke teaches courses such as LAA360/361 Regional Landscape Planning and Local Community Development and APL240/241 Environment and Planning. He supervises multiple master's students and is committed to fostering synergies between research and education. No scientific awards or email addresses were mentioned in the provided text.
Halvor Mehlum is a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Oslo, specializing in macroeconomics, development economics, economics of conflict, and crime . He has held academic positions since 1994, including Research Fellow (1994–1998), Researcher at the Frisch Centre (1999–2002), and Associate Professor (2002–2006) before becoming a full Professor in 2006. He also serves as Deputy Head of the Department of Economics (2016–present) and Deputy Leader of the Centre of Equality, Social Organization, and Performance (ESOP). Education: Cand. oecon (1992), Dr. polit (1999) from the University of Oslo; Visiting Scholar at the New School of Social Research (1996). Research Focus: Macroeconomics with applications to conflict dynamics, crime, development, and political economy. Recent articles explore topics like social capital, land redistribution, crime-protection dynamics, and pandemic economics. Leadership Roles: Board member at the Frisch Centre, Center for Development and Environment (SUM), and Executive Committee of the European Development Research Network (EUDN). Co-editor of the Nordic Journal of Political Economy.
Lisa Hansson is a Professor of Community Planning at Molde University College, specializing in urban governance and transport policy. She is affiliated with the Logistics Department and actively contributes to sustainable mobility, socio-technical change, and multi-level governance research. PhD in Science and Technology Studies (2011), Linköping University MSc in Political Science/Public Administration (2005), Gothenburg University BA in Human Geography/Urban Planning (2003), Karlstad and Gothenburg Universities Her research focuses on sustainable transport systems, visual representation in planning, and policy adaptation. She leads externally funded projects like LEAD (Digital Twins for logistics) and SNAPSHOT (e-commerce transport), with partners including SINTEF and K2 Sweden. Her work bridges political science and transport governance, challenging economic-technical discourses. Recent articles analyze equity in 15-minute city planning, social justice in transport protests, and regulatory governance for autonomous vehicles. She chairs the WCTRS SIG G1 Transport Governance group and serves on the Thredbo Conference Committee. 2023: Co-authored Public Participation in Transport in Times of Change (Emerald) 2021: Chapter on Transport Policy and Governance (Elsevier) 2020: Editorial in Transportation Research Part A Lisa teaches MA/BA courses like Smart Mobility, European Transport Policy, and Future Cities. She supports Master’s and PhD research in sustainable urban development and transport policy.
Astrid Gramstad is an Associate Professor at the Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, where she also serves as Vice Dean of Education. Her research focuses on occupational therapy in primary health care , rehabilitation practices , and learning environments in higher education . She supervises PhD students Morten Nikolaisen (main), Anniken Bogstrand, and Lina Forslund (co-supervision). University: UiT The Arctic University of Norway Department: Department of Health and Care Sciences Email: astrid.gramstad@uit.no Her recent publications examine topics such as study approaches in occupational therapy education , person-centered rehabilitation , and barriers in post-stroke care . She is affiliated with the Centre for Care Research North and leads the RehabLos project, focusing on co-innovation in rehabilitation service design. Key research areas include: Occupational therapy in primary health care Learning environment dynamics in health professions Rehabilitation models for acquired brain injury
Malene Karensdatter Brandshaug is a Research Fellow at Oslo Metropolitan University's Faculty of Education and International Studies, affiliated with the Department of International Studies and Interpreting’s Development Studies division. Her current postdoctoral project, Rights of Waters , explores human-environment relations through ethnographic research in Peru and Norway. She contributes to the Riverine Rights project examining legal innovations granting rivers personhood. Education includes a PhD from Gothenburg University's School of Global Studies and an MA from the University of Oslo's Department of Social Anthropology. Her fieldwork spans over a decade with small-scale Andean farmers and current research on Norwegian nature protection. Research focuses on water practices, environmental change, and power dynamics through interdisciplinary lenses including political ecology, STS, and feminist materialism. Key themes include decoloniality, hydrosocial relations, and socio-legal frameworks shaping human-nature interactions. Recent work interrogates water governance challenges in Peru’s highlands and Norway’s emerging legal recognition of natural entities. She examines how infrastructure projects, climate change, and indigenous knowledge intersect with state policies. Labs/Teams: Active member of the Riverine Rights research group at OsloMet, collaborating across anthropology, law, and environmental science disciplines.
Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesNorway
Simen Pedersen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Forestry and Outback Studies , Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Inland Norway, Campus Evenstad. His research focuses on climate change impacts on wildlife, particularly adaptive responses in mountain hares and deer populations. Key Research Themes: Climate-driven camouflage mismatch in mountain hares, stress physiology in hunted populations, and trophic interactions between large herbivores and forest ecosystems. Methodology: Integrates GPS tagging, camera trap data from SCANDCAM, and molecular techniques to study adaptive genetics and behavioral responses. Publication Trends: Recent work spans from 2025–2016, emphasizing climate adaptation , herbivory impacts , and ecological sustainability . Collaborations with international scientists (Australia, Sweden, Norway) appear across journals like Global Change Biology and Ecology and Evolution . Students: Supervises PhD researcher Simen M Talleraas in the TaigaClimate project , which examines climate and management effects on deer populations. Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the WILDCOM research group (Ecological Communities in Change), working on wildlife population dynamics and habitat use through projects like Hare's change of costume and Territory use in hares .
Knut Bjarne Hidle is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Bergen, Faculty of Social Sciences. His research spans human geography, with a focus on mobility, migration, place, and spatial development. He is actively involved in academic research, supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Department: Department of Geography University: University of Bergen Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences Email: knut.hidle@uib.no Research Interests: Hidle's work centers on human geography, particularly mobility and migration, place and belonging, urban and rural development, second-home use, and governance. He investigates how individuals and groups experience place, especially in mobile and transnational contexts. His research combines cultural, economic, and political perspectives to understand spatial identities and planning processes. Recent Research Trends: His recent publications focus on gated communities, climate planning in Bergen, skilled migration, national parks and rural development, and second-home mobility. These works reflect a consistent engagement with place-making, territoriality, and the socio-political dimensions of mobility and planning in Norway and beyond. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: Hidle has supervised numerous master’s students, including theses on urban revitalization, second-home tourism, smart meters, and regional park development. He has contributed to multiple research reports, particularly through Agder Research and NORCE, on topics such as refugee integration, labor migration, and regional governance. These projects suggest sustained involvement in applied and policy-relevant research. Labs and Research Groups: He is affiliated with research groups in Environmental and Landscape Geography, Social Geography, and Human Geography at the University of Bergen. His collaborative work with scholars like Winfried Ellingsen and Arnt Fløysand indicates active participation in research networks focused on mobility, innovation, and regional development.
Chris Horbel is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at the Department of Sport and Social Sciences, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, where she has been employed since September 2019. She teaches Event Management and Sport Marketing at both undergraduate and graduate levels, contributing to the development of future sport management professionals. Her educational background includes: PhD in Business Administration from the University of Bayreuth, Germany Postdoctoral Degree (Habilitation) from the University of Bayreuth, Germany Dr. Horbel's research program centers on sport marketing with particular emphasis on sport events, sponsorship, fan behavior, and digital transformation. She has established herself as a leading scholar in value co-creation theory within sport contexts and sustainable tourism development in the Arctic region. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for sport organizations navigating sustainability transitions. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward integrating sustainability imperatives with sport management practices. Her research increasingly examines ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability communication, strategic implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in sport organizations, and innovative approaches to sustainable Arctic tourism development. This work often employs multi-level analytical frameworks that consider organizational, community, and global perspectives simultaneously. Dr. Horbel holds significant editorial responsibilities: Editorial Board Member and Social Media Editor for European Sport Management Quarterly Coordinator of the PhD Seminar for the European Association for Sport Management Regular ad-hoc reviewer for leading international journals in sport management and service research She actively contributes to major research initiatives including 'Ethical Environmental Sustainability Signaling in the Sport Industry' and 'The Doctoral Training Network in Sport Ethics and Integrity (DAiSI).' Her collaborative work spans multiple continents, reflecting her international research profile. Dr. Horbel co-leads an International Research Network focused on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Arctic, bringing together scholars to address critical challenges in this vulnerable region.
Norwegian University of Science And TechnologyNorway
Miriam K. Gustafsson serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Nursing at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), with active research and teaching responsibilities. Her institutional affiliation includes the Samfunnsmedisinbygget facility in Øya, Trondheim. Her educational background includes an MD from Lund University, Sweden (1998), followed by PhD studies in the Department of Public Health and Nursing at NTNU from 2013-2018. Her doctoral dissertation focused on Vitamin D status and health-related quality of life in pregnancy-impact of exercise . Gustafsson's research centers on maternal-fetal nutrition, particularly vitamin D metabolism during pregnancy and its long-term impacts on offspring health. Her work spans nutritional epidemiology, obesity research, and diabetes prevention, with significant contributions to understanding how prenatal vitamin status affects childhood bone development, dental health, and metabolic outcomes. Recent studies extend into Nepalese population health, examining obesity and diabetes prevalence in rural communities. Analysis of her publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on vitamin D's role in pregnancy since 2016, evolving from Norwegian cohort studies to international comparative research. Her work demonstrates methodological diversity across randomized controlled trials, longitudinal cohort analyses, and population-based surveys, with increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to maternal-child health. As an academic advisor, she has supervised Master's theses including Axel Sjilov's Should we be concerned about the vitamin A status among Norwegian pregnant women? (2020) and Klara Evjen Seim's The Association Between Maternal Vitamin D Status and Bone Mass in Offspring at 8-9 Years of Age (2018). Her outreach activities include developing the BEDre interdisciplinary obesity treatment model and regular public health communication through media interviews. Gustafsson actively participates in research teams including the longitudinal pregnancy cohort study tracking maternal vitamin status and child outcomes, and collaborates with dental health researchers on enamel hypomineralization projects. Her recent outreach includes academic lectures at European Calcified Tissue Society meetings and popular science presentations on eating disorders through ROS Trøndelag.
Marit Ekne Ruud is a Research Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University , affiliated with the Centre for Senior Citizen Staff . Her work bridges academic research with practical interventions in urban and social policy. Fields of Interest : Social Sciences, Housing, Town Development, Childhood and Youth, Participation, Community, Social Housing Research Trends : Focus on social sustainability, socio-cultural site analysis, and equity in urban planning, with recent emphasis on pandemic preparedness and multiethnic communication. Email : marit.ruud@oslomet.no
Cathrine Arntzen is a Professor at the Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and Academic Director at the Center for Care Research North. Her work spans health services research, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation within municipal healthcare systems. She contributes to projects like RehabLos and engages in co-design methodologies. Affiliation: UiT The Arctic University of Norway Directorship: Center for Care Research North Research: Rehabilitation, occupational therapy, e-health, and service co-design Her research focuses on person-centered rehabilitation, service coordination across sectors, and digital health systems. She explores user involvement, organizational factors in care delivery, and innovative models for chronic disease management, particularly in rural contexts. Recent publications address unplanned hospital admissions among elderly, digital rehabilitation tools, stroke recovery, and supported employment integration. She employs qualitative methods, mixed-method designs, and action research to analyze healthcare challenges in Northern Norway. Arntzen collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on projects such as RehabLos, which emphasizes community-based rehabilitation models for individuals with acquired brain injuries. Her work bridges academic research with municipal healthcare practice.
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.
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