This October, two outstanding researchers working in Svalbard were
rewarded for their achievements in science: Geir Wing Gabrielsen (Norwegian
Polar Institute) received the Nansen Award and Jørn Hurum (Natural History
Museum, University of Oslo) received the Award for Excellence in
Communication of Science.
The Nansen Award 2009 for Geir Wing Gabrielsen
The Nansen Award from the Fram committee ('Framkomiteens Nansenbelønning')
is awarded yearly at the Norwegian Science Academy on the birthday of
Fridtjof Nansen.
It is given to scientists who have yielded an outstanding contribution to
research and exploration of polar areas within the fields of biology,
geography, geophysics, geology or oceanography.
In 2009, this award goes to Geir Wing Gabrielsen, leader for the research
programme on ecotoxicology at the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) and
associate professor at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). His
research is focused on how contaminants are distributed in ecosystems and
what effect the contaminants have on organisms. He often uses seabirds in
his studies, since they are on a high level in the food chain and are easily
accessible for studies. The research field is of high interest since many of
the most harmful contaminants are transported by air- and ocean currents
into the polar regions.
Gabrielsen has initiated and managed many studies within ecotoxicology since
the late '80s. Gabrielsen has shown 'contagiuos' enthusiasm and has had a
vital role in creating interdisciplinary and international cooperations
working on this topic. He has a background in physiology and has cooperated
over long time with toxicologists and ecologist. As a result he has
documented several contaminants and their effects - often in combination
with other factors as nutritial stress and parasite load.
Gabrielsen is a nestor in the field of arctic ecotoxicology and has been
very productive, both in scientific journals and outreach media.
Award for Excellence in Communication of Science 2009 for Jørn Hurum
The Research Council of Norway’s Award for Excellence in Communication of
Science is given to a researcher who has demonstrated outstanding ability
and innovation in communicating the results of his or her research.
The award is intended to reward the use of original, creative communication
measures, and the initiative must be directed toward the general public.
Senior scientist Jørn Hurum received the award for 2009 due to his outreach
activities towards a broad audience that reached also new target groups. He
has made research and knowledge visible through his unique enthusiasm,
delight and presence.
He has approached new ways of communicating his research and has reached an
exceptional impact level of his outreach activities. One example was the
finding of worlds largest plisosaur in Svalbard in 2007. Within few days the
finding received attention from media worldwide. Next year, National
Geographic will show a documentary of more exiting findings in Svalbard.
Jørn Hurum is a senior scientist at the Natural History Museum of the
University of Oslo and workd within the field of vertebrate paleontology.
Beside many other field studies, he has worked on Svalbard since 2002. In
the last years he has mapped 40 skeletons of Jurassic marine reptiles and
has excavated several of those.
He is genuinely interested in outreach work and has published several
popular books in Norwegian on subjects like human evolution, local geology,
petrography and also a dinosaur book in Braille. He is used a lot in
Norwegian radio, TV and newspapers commenting on paleontological and
evolutionary issues.
(Sources: www.npolar.no;
www.forskningsradet.no;
www.forskning.no)
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Geir Wing Gabrielsen (Norwegian Polar Institute).
Foto: Norwegian Polar Institute
Jørn Hurum (Natural History Museum, University of
Oslo). Foto: forskning.no
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