The Research Council of Norway (NFR) has allocated funds for the establishment of “The Norwegian Research School for Climate Knowledge in Innovation and Decision Making.” The research school will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2033.
The research school consists of several partners from academia and climate-sensitive sectors, including Climate Futures. The goal is to promote innovation and decision-making based on climate research, thereby strengthening society’s resilience and preparedness against climate change.
The University of Bergen (UiB) will be the coordinator of the research school, which will be led by Associate Professor Lea Svendsen. She looks forward to collaborating with a broad network of partners:
– The coming years will be exciting with collaboration in a large and broad network with many partners from various sectors and fields. The research school will add a new dimension to climate-related doctoral education in Norway, where we will gain expertise in interdisciplinarity and the applied use of climate data and knowledge through collaboration with partners from both private and public sectors. In addition, the school will provide all involved with a larger interdisciplinary network within the climate field, says Svendsen, who is also involved in Climate Futures as the leader of the energy node.
Øyvind Paasche, director of Climate Futures and department head at NORCE, often sees in his work with Climate Futures that there is a great societal need to develop interdisciplinary education within climate services:
– It is surprising how many private and public actors that require employees with the necessary insight and understanding of how they can best handle and navigate opportunities and challenges related to climate. The establishment of a new national research school in Bergen that can address this growing need is very welcome, and opens up for close collaboration across disciplines, industries, and sectors that can be a valuable contribution to how we all can become better at handling the escalating climate challenges we face, says Paasche.
Government supports research schools
National research schools are a scheme to strengthen Norwegian research education. The government is allocating NOK 112 million to seven research schools in various fields. This will help make doctoral education more relevant to the labor market:
– We need more people with research competence in the labor market, both in business and the public sector. The research schools contribute to making doctoral education both more relevant to work and interdisciplinary. Therefore, I am pleased to be able to strengthen the research schools and the important work they do with NOK 112 million, says Minister of Research and Higher Education Sigrun Aasland (Ap) in a press release.
Strengthening climate research and education
The research schools are a supplement to the institutions’ own doctoral programs and represent a significant boost for climate research and climate-related education in Norway. The establishment will provide doctoral candidates with the necessary education and competence to conduct important research in the climate field and contribute important knowledge in decision-making processes in both the public and private sectors.
Sources:
https://www.uib.no/nt/177335/universitetet-i-bergen-tildeles-prestisjefylt-forskerskole
https://www.khrono.no/deler-ut-112-millioner-til-forskerskoler-se-hvem-som-far-penger/956714
