Oceanographer receives this year's Nansen Award
Professor Ola M. Johannessen from the University of Bergen has been
awarded this year's Nansen Award.
The Nansen Award is awarded each year on Fridtjof Nansen's birthday,
October 10th, by the academic college of the University of Oslo, on the
basis of a nomination by a committee of three members appointed by the
College.
Johannessen is professor of oceanography and remote sensing at the
Geophysical Institute and founding director of the Nansen Environmental
and Remote Sensing Center. His research has concentrated on processes in
the marginal ice zone, where much of the dynamics around ice-covered
ocean occurs. Central themes have been deepwater formation, changes in
the ice cover's extent and the global ocean circulation
On these themes, Professor Johannessen and his colleagues have produced
a number of central works published in highly acclaimed scientific
journals. Several of the publications have aroused international
attention, not the least of which have been his measurements of changes
in the sea-ice extent in the Arctic basin and predictions of future
changes, which have been much used in the ongoing discussions about
global warming, including work with the United Nations climate panel
(IPCC).
In its justification for the award, the committee emphasizes that Ola M.
Johannessen has shown outstanding organizational abilities within
international cooperation, among other things, through establishing
large arctic research projects. Regarded highest of all are his efforts
in founding the Nansen Center, which was established in 1986.
With his substantial contributions to Norwegian polar research as an
active research scientist, founder and organizer, and his broad
international engagement, the committee regards Professor Ola M.
Johannessen to be a most deserving recipient, states the committee
consisting of professors Olav Eldholm, Olav Orheim and Tore Slagsvold.
The Award is given out at the Norwegian Academy of Sciences in Oslo.