This is probably the first – and last – time I give a lecture in a long dress and high heels! Every year, on Fritjof Nansen’s birthday, the Norwegian Science Academy invites its members (and a few others) to “Nansen’s memorial lecture”. The title of this year’s lecture was “From cold to warm – Norwegian Oceanographic Research in the Weddell Sea” – and the presenter was me!
When preparing for the talk I learnt a lot about the first Antarctic research expeditions and the history of oceanography in Bergen, and I had the pleasure to have Arne Foldvik tell me his stories from the “old days” down south – I’ll try to share some of those with you here later, but first some photos from the festive evening in Oslo!
The presentation was followed by a very fancy dinner!
Elin, I am so deeply glad that you were the honored scientist, speaking in Nansen’s home. I wish that Nansen himself, and Eva, had been there to hear you.
I hope that you were able to climb up the stairs to his office in the tower. That is truly an extraordinary place, with so many original pieces of his equipment. (And where he stayed alone for months after Eva died.)
I greatly enjoy following your work, Elin. The world needs you.