The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences holds a special position in Norway. It is Norway’s oldest science faculty – with an important historical role in building our nation. It is also Norway's largest science and technology faculty – with the best researchers, great students and a fantastic professional technical-administrative staff. I am proud to have been working with educational and research management for eight years at the Faculty Deanery. We have achieved a lot, under the steady leadership of Dean Morten Dæhlen. He is one of the University of Oslo's most experienced and prominent leaders, with an enormous work capacity, overview, insight and not the least compassion for all employees as the basis for a strong value based management. There are big shoes to fill when I take over after him. I have to do it my way, but I promise that we will govern with the same course – carved out in our strategy “Knowledge development for a changing world – Science and technology towards 2030”.
I am bringing an excellent team with me: Bjørn Jamtveit is a researcher of a high international quality and is definitely one of Norway's best. In addition, he has extensive experience from research management. I am looking forward to working with him in lifting us a notch further as a high-level European research faculty.
Knut Mørken has already set his mark both nationally and at the University in his role as Head of Education and then Vice Dean for Education and Studies. He will lead our educational flagship InterAct with high competence and a steady hand.
Jo Døhl is our Faculty Director, with a valuable background as Head of the Department of Chemistry, and valuable management and leadership experience from the industry and private sector. This year, he has emerged as the Faculty's responsible for handling the corona pandemic, with closure, reopening, various measures and communication. It has been enormously demanding, and his calm nature, security, clarity and long experience have come in handy.
We face major tasks in the coming years. Our election platform describes our vision and our plans, here I will mention a few:
- Corona pandemic. We are still in a difficult situation that at least in 2021 will require measures and close monitoring.
- The economy. The allocations from KD no longer compensate wage and price inflation. We notice this change throughout the organization, and there will be a need to take some financial measures.
- The economic model. The Faculty will finalize a new financial model in 2021. It will not compensate for economic challenges, but is necessary to reduce risk and create predictability, transparency and dynamics at the departments.
- Life Sciences Building. The building process is underway again, after the University signed an agreement with OUS about how the building will be shared. It is necessary for the Faculty to have close involvement in the work ahead.
- Lower Blindern. The chemistry and pharmacy buildings will be emptied when moving to the Life Sciences Building, with new opportunities for the development of the lower parts of Blindern campus. We want to be clearly involved in this work.
- Employee development. This is important for all groups of employees; in particular, I would like to highlight our young researchers and the work to reduce temporary staffing.
- Educational development. We have taken a leading role nationally and at UiO. We aim to continue this work.
- Research infrastructure. Good coordination at the Faculty, UiO and nationally will be crucial for the sustainable development of this important area.
- Research funding. The Faculty's researchers are overall very successful, but we have probably not reached our full potential yet. We are motivated to put in the work to get there.
- New initiatives. dScience – Centre for Computational and Data Science – starts up 1.1.2021 with Morten Dæhlen as centre leader. And we are establishing the innovation unit LifeScience Growth House in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine.
- Environment and sustainability. Awareness of these important topics should be even more clearly reflected in our choices and priorities in the years ahead.
With this, I want to thank you for eight amazing years, the excellent collaboration with good colleagues in the Deanery and in the administrative Faculty Management – and especially the close collaboration I have had with the sitting Dean – Morten! Heartfelt thanks also for the good cooperation with our excellent Heads of Departments and brilliant colleagues at our departments, Faculty Administration and other units at the University of Oslo. I look forward to the next four years with the new team!