NetIAS Business Meeting 2024
Last week, the Centre for Advanced Study (CAS) had the honor of hosting the NetIAS Business Meeting at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
Representatives from nearly all NetIAS member institutions came together for two days of engaging debates, discussions, and a range of academic and cultural activities.
The event opened with welcome addresses from CAS Director Camilla Serck-Hansen and NetIAS President Christina Garsten, both of whom stressed the importance of networks like NetIAS in promoting academic collaboration across Europe.
The sessions included presentations from various NetIAS working groups, covering topics like diversifying applications, strengthening collaboration with researchers and institutions in the Global South, connections between arts and sciences, and support for early career scholars. Institutes shared insights from their Scholars at Risk programmes and science bridge initiatives, alongside discussions on alumni engagement and expanding fellowship outreach. The business meeting also provided fruitful discussions on new membership applications and organizational development.
Berit Rønsen, from the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, was invited to provide insights into the history of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters building. Two CAS fellows: Nani Teig (UiO) and Rosie Bishop (UiS), also presented their projects. Nani discussed her work on Disadvantaged Students Who Beat the Odds (#BeResilient), which investigates the academic resilience of students who succeed in school despite the odds against them. Rosie shared insights from her project, Climate, Crops, and Crisis? which examines how prehistoric farmers adapted to climate change.
Day one of the meeting concluded with a dinner at the Academy, featuring a well-received cultural performance by Kim Rysstad, who performed traditional Norwegian folk songs from Setesdal.
Overall, the meeting was a resounding success, with fruitful discussions and valuable insights exchanged. CAS extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making the event possible. We look forward to further advancing the ideas and initiatives discussed and welcoming more researchers and institutions to the network.