Open meeting with Marnburg and Johnsen attended

Today I have attended an open meeting where two of the candidates at the election of rector for University of Stavanger, Dean Einar Marnburg and Head of Department Gro Johnsen, were presented, in dialogue with the audience. The meeting was targeted at Department of Health Studies and Department of Social Studies. I asked a few questions on the candidates´ thoughts about research, and the relation between rector and university director.

I have not decided who I will vote for, if anyone (the other candidates are Rector Marit Boyesen and Dag Husebø).

Uis received 33 proposals for external board members, including my 2

Today I asked the University of Stavanger university director John Møst whether I could get to see the minutes from the board meeting October 1st concerning UiS´ nominations for external board members (2016-2019) (this part of the meeting was closed). I did not get the document, but was informed (via Assistant director Sonja Meyer) that the nomination committee received 33 proposals, and that all were listed in the case document which was presented to the board. The UiS board, based on the recommendation from the nomination committee, has nominated 6 men and 6 women, some of which might be appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research.

See also:

External UiS board members proposed

UiS to establish RENSE, network for sustainable energy; my opinion

The University of Stavanger´s strategy for environmentally friendly energy will be treated on the UiS board meeting October 1st. The university director´s proposal (based on the recommendations of a working group) is now available online. It involves establishing a network for environmentally friendly energy, "Forskningsnettverk innen miljøvennlig (bærekraftig) energi" [Research Network in Sustainable Energy (RENSE)], with 5 research areas. With regard to funding, it implies that UiS centrally will spend about 1 million NOK per year on coordination/administration, while Faculty of Science and Technology will devote 3 PhDs and Faculty of Social Science 1 PhD to the network. The network will apply for further funding.

My opinion is that such a network, across disciplines, is a good idea. However, UiS should devote more PhDs and funding to the network - and I do not support having Carbon Capture and Storage as one of the prioritised research areas (as I do not regard CCS as sustainable in the bigger picture). 

External UiS board members proposed

The board of University of Stavanger has external members as well as internal members, and the board will soon propose prospective external members for the Ministry of Education - which makes these appointments. I have suggested to university director John Møst that Dag Hessen and Arne Johan Vetlesen be considered.

UiS university director proposes not to merge with HSH

Here is the presentation of issues (saksfremlegg - in Norwegian), prepared by the University of Stavanger (UiS) university director John Møst, ahead of this Sunday´s board meeting, which will decide whether or not UiS will merge with Stord/Haugesund University College (HSH). The university director proposes not to merge with HSH - I couldn´t agree more.

University of Stavanger yet to take concrete measures in relation to ethical trade

Today a letter to the editor of sorts that I wrote yesterday was published on the debate pages of the University of Stavanger. It is titled "Oppfølging av styrevedtak om etisk handel" [Follow-up of the board decision on ethical trade], and refers to a proposal of mine and decision made by the board of University of Stavanger on November 28th 2014. As far as I have seen no concrete measures have been discussed by the board to date. It is the responsibility of university director John Møst to suggest some concrete measures.

See also:

University of Stavanger to take concrete measures in relation to ethical trade (December 2012)