Hello,
This week, NMU (Norwegian Maritime University Consortium) organized a two-day digital conference: Sustainable Blue Futures – Exploiting the Ocean and Protecting the Ocean. It was two days of discussions on ocean sustainability, arctic cooperation, and the balance between utilization and protection of the ocean. The conference was a collaboration between NMU and the Chinese Marine University Consortium.
NMU is an institutional agreement between 12 academic institutions with extensive maritime and marine profiles. NMU is led by a steering committee that includes permanent members from UiO, UiB, NTNU, and UiT, along with two rotating members currently from USN and UiS. UiB consistently holds either the chair or vice-chair position due to its role as host of the NMU Secretariat. In his previous role as Marine Dean, Øyvind Fiksen represented UiB. This role is now held by BIO’s Deputy Head, Katja Enberg. This is an important position, and we are pleased that BIO now occupies this role. NMU is Norway’s representative for the higher education sector to the European Marine Board (EMB) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), facilitating Norwegian participation in processes initiated and led by EMB and SCOR.
This week, we will be visited by the NT Faculty’s Dean’s Office. Dean Gunn Mangerud will lead a town hall meeting at the VilVite auditorium on Thursday from 14:15 to 15:15. The topic will be “Where does the faculty stand in autumn 2025?”, and among the issues to be discussed are: academia’s role in a changing world, polar research, quantum technology, the new rectorate, dean’s office and board, UiB Realfaghøyden, economy, education, ethics, AI, BOA, and outreach. I hope to see as many of you as possible on Thursday.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Pedro A. Ribeiro and Runar Stokke on their promotion to Researcher 1183! This is a major recognition of their scientific quality. Fantastic work, and congratulations to both!
We have a busy time ahead, with many great opportunities to meet for academic and social activities. A few highlights: Teacher Gathering (November 25), ECC Conference (December 1), Poster Symposium (December 2), BIO Christmas Party (December 5), HSE Meeting/JULEbioSEMINAR (December 11). It’s still possible to sign up if you haven’t done so already. Rumor also has it that “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” will be held on Friday, December 12—but that’s just what I’ve heard…
This week is also the submission deadline for several major center calls (including SFF and the Centre for Sustainable Area and Nature Use). Good luck to everyone coordinating, writing, participating as partners, performing administrative tasks, or otherwise involved! I know there is a lot of work behind these applications, and many at BIO have done an impressive job for this deadline.
Have a great week!
Ståle