The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research is the world’s only scientific academy that concentrates on the polar regions and related challenges within all scientific disciplines and in an international perspective.

Norway’s King Harald is the Academy’s patron.

Founding of the Academy

The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research was founded in Oslo on March 27th 2008 by 11 Norwegian polar researchers, all professors. The first elected board consists of professor Ola M. Johannessen, Nansen Centre and University of Bergen (President), professor Willy Østreng, Centre for Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (Vice-president), professor Rolf Langvatn, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, professor Gudmund Hernes, FAFO/Norwegian School of Management, and at that time managing director Gunnar Sand, The University Centre in Svalbard (Secretary General).

Picture from the founding meeting: Below Fridtjof Nansen, from left: Professor emeritus Alv Egeland (UiO), managing director Gunnar Sand (UNIS), professor Rolf Langvatn (NTNU), professor Gudmund Hernes (FAFO/BI), professor emeritus Ivar B. Ramberg (UiO), professor Willy Østreng (Centre for Advanced Study) and professor Ola M. Johannnessen (Nansen Centre/UiB)

  • The following individuals, all professors and members of other scientific academies, took the initiative to establish the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research on 27 March 2008:

    Bo Andersen, managing director, Norwegian Space Centre

    Asgeir Brekke, professor, University of Tromsø

    Alv Egeland, professor emeritus, University of Oslo

    Gudmund Hernes, professor, FAFO/Norwegian School of Management

    Ola M. Johannessen, professor, Nansen Centre/University of Bergen

    Rolf Langvatn, professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

    Sveinung Løset, professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

    Jøran Moen, professor, University of Oslo

    Ivar B. Ramberg, professor emeritus, University of Oslo

    Olaf I. Rønning, professor emeritus, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

    Willy Østreng, professor, Centre for Advanced Study

Our Mission

Polar Advancement

Promote research and education in polar regions.

Contribute to the understanding of environment- and climate changes and human activities that are affected and are impacted by these.

Enhancing Environmental Understanding

Collaborative Polar Exploration

Stimulate national and international cooperation and multi-disciplinary polar research.

Promote Arctic Sustainability

Encourage sustainable development on Svalbard and in the Northern regions.

Polar Insights and Engagement

Contribute to scientific knowledge about the Polar Regions and their inhabitants and outreach to national and international decision makers, business and the public.

Enhancing Polar Research Expertise

Contribute to increase the competence at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and in the polar research community in general.

Academy members must have a distinguished career in polar research or in other ways contributed to the advancement of polar research.

The Academy will function as a contact organisation for research in the Arctic and Antarctic and between foreign academies and international scientific organisations.

Partners

The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP) collaborate with numerous scientific organizations, both in Norway and internationally.

  • Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi

  • Agder Vitenskapsakademi

  • Det Kongelige Norske Videnskapers Selskap

  • Norges Tekniske Vitenskapsakademi

  • Academia Borealis, Nord-Norges Vitenskapsakademi

  • Academia Europaea, Bergen Knowledge Hub

  • Akademiet for yngre forskere

  • Vitenskapsakademiet i Stavanger

Norwegian Science Academies

  • Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien

  • Russian Geographical Society

  • Polar Research Board | National Academies

  • The B2BI North Atlantic-Arctic Ocean Strategic Framework

International Collaboration