Greetings from the Department

Foto:
Melanie Burford, Silvereye Pictures

In the Molecular biology group, it has been an exciting semester and exam time is approaching. Our new course MOL220 (Techniques, model systems and current research topics in molecular biology) has gone well with 22 committed students, and they have been introduced to, among other things, Drosophila, Nematostella, salmon, yeast, cell lines and lipids, and a variety of molecular biological methods.

Many of these will be introduced to available master’s projects next week, and we are looking forward to that. This autumn we have had several “visits” to the MOLBIO seminars from other subject groups here at the department and it has been exciting to get an insight into what others are doing. We hope it can help form the basis for more research collaboration across the groups.  Research groups and collaboration across disciplines were also a topic at a joint GrA meeting today. It is good that we are now getting even more focus on research.

With that, I wish everyone the very best for the final leg of the semester and the upcoming Christmas holidays, which are just around the corner. At least according to the shops that have long since started selling Christmas decorations and julebrus.

Hilsen Gyri

Head of the Molecular biology group (Faggruppe molekylærbiologi)

OPINION: Appeal – Stortinget must put the knowledge to work to stop the loss of nature

[Our translation]

Dear colleague,
These days, Norway’s plan to follow up the nature agreement, the Norwegian Action Plan for Natural Diversity, is being discussed in the Storting. Our expectation for this plan was that it should not only describe the status of Norwegian nature, but also take this knowledge seriously by proposing the necessary measures to slow down and reverse the loss of nature and natural resources in Norway. Unfortunately, that expectation was not fulfilled.

Biobase – new website for BIO-coordinated SFI initiative

Professor Ivar Rønnestad, UiB, leder initiativet som er et partnerskap med ledende forskningsinstitusjoner, akvakulturnæringen og myndigheter. Foto/ill.: FHF/Havbruk2024

The Communication Divison and Faculty of Science and Technology recently published a website presenting the SFI-initiative Biobase, led by Ivar Rønnestad. The Biology Based Innovation Centre for Salmon Welfare and Survival (BioBase) initiative will investigate the biological constrains of Atlantic salmon and improve fish welfare and performance in aquaculture. This effort will be driven by an innovative partnership among leading research institutions, the aquaculture industry, and regulatory authorities.

Seethe Biobase homepage for more info

UiB: Project establishment support for educational projects – EXTENDED DEADLINE 28. NOVEMBER

[Our translation]

UiB is now announcing funding for the establishment of educational projectsFunding can be granted to groups/PIs that plan to apply for external funding as a coordinator in 2025.
Interested groups/PIs can apply for up to NOK 50,000. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO 28 November, and the scheme has a simple, digital application form.

The Fridtjof Nansen reward and the Nansen fund

[Our translation]

Please see the attached information about the Fridtjof Nansen reward for outstanding research for 2025, which will be awarded in science and medicine, the Fridtjof Nansen reward for younger researchers is awarded in both science & medicine and humanities & social sciences. The deadline for nominations is 10 February 2025.

REMINDER: Plastics network fall meeting 2024. Sign-up deadline SUN 17. NOV

The Plastics Network, in collaboration with the Norwegian Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology (NSFT), Norwegian Institute for Water Research, and the Institute of Marine Research, are organizing the meeting “Microplastics and Human Health: Sources, Exposure, and Impact” on November 22nd in Bergen.

  • 22.11.2024 – 09.3015.15
  • Stort Auditorium, Thormøhlens gate 55

For more info, program and to sign up – see the event homepage

NT faculty – Save the Date: “From Research to Academic Startup” Workshop Dec 12th

  • Theme: From Research to Academic Startup
  • Organizer: VIS TILT – Academic Entrepreneurship
  • Date: Thursday, December 12th, 9:00 – 12:00
  • Location: Realfagsbygget, 1. floor, Aktivt rom 4 (1C4f) (https://link.mazemap.com/XOQwUktl )
  • Audience: Open to all, with a special focus on PhD students, post-docs, and researchers at UiB’s NT Faculty interested in exploring the path from academia to commercialization
  • Language: English