For the first time it was held outside of Washington, D.C. – in Minneapolis – hosted by the University of Minnesota, in collaboration with the Norwegian Honorary Consulate General in Minneapolis and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
250 scientists, researchers and educators from Norway, the United States, and Canada attended, and engaged in spirited discussions on how to address issues pertaining to energy, pollution, global warming and life sciences. Berit Johne, Science Counselor at the Norwegian Embassy, said that “the conference serves as a catalyst for cooperation between the three countries.”
According to Arvid Hallén, Head of the Research Council of Norway, half the research papers by Norwegian researchers are co-written with Americans. “The United States is the single most important country for research cooperation. Students are the glue for all cooperation,” he said.
Norwegian Minister of Higher Education Tora Aasland stressed how cooperation across the Atlantic has increased over the years, lately with collaboration between Norway and the National Institutes of Health, more Fulbright exchange, and ongoing agreements and exchange between universities, such as at the University of Minnesota. Four years ago, the Norwegian government gave the University of Minnesota a $750,000 grant to help create an endowed chair in the fields of bioenergy, genomics and food safety. The Norwegian gift has been matched by University of Minnesota, which also administers the fund. “This partnership strengthens the relationship with Norway in the areas of biotechnology and bioenergy,” said conference participant Judd Sheridan, who is co-holder of the Norwegian centennial interdisciplinary chair and director of international programs for the College of Biological Sciences at UM.
Next year’s Transatlantic Science Week will be held in Washington, D.C., and in San Francisco in 2011.