The move to the Life Sciences Building
Everything is on track so far with our major relocation project, which will be incredibly exciting.
We will pilot teaching in the Life Sciences Building in April and begin using the teaching labs, which we will test immediately after moving in. This provides reassurance before the first major teaching period this autumn.
The main task immediately after moving in will be to start up and test all the new infrastructure that has been purchased, both large and small. This is extremely important, so that we can correct any errors or deficiencies and make use of the operational period within the warranty time, which is only two years.
At the steering group meeting on 23 March, UiO decided that the name of the new building will be Livsvitenskapsbygningen (the Life Sciences Building), in line with UiO’s naming policy and reflecting the building’s content and intentions. We must, of course, keep in mind that much life sciences activity takes place elsewhere on campus as well, not least at the health faculties. But the name reflects well that this is a building for research and education across disciplines and serves as a unifying hub for UiO’s activities within life sciences.
Emerging Technologies
The planning of the initiative on Emerging Technologies, with earmarked funding from the Ministry of Education and Research (KD), is progressing.
The process is led by Pro-Rector Bj?rn Jamtveit together with Vice-Rectors Jens Petter Berg and Mathilde Skoie. At the faculty, we initially received 14 proposed thematic areas from eight departments.
In the further process, research in materials science and nanotechnology has been included, mainly from SMN and with researchers from physics, chemistry, mathematics, informatics, technology systems, and pharmacy.
Within biotechnology, we are collaborating with the Faculty of Medicine on projects that have advanced, involving researchers from biology, chemistry, informatics, and pharmacy.
A small part of the allocation will also be dedicated to social science and legal research related to the application and regulation of new technologies, to help ensure that the initiative at UiO has a more holistic perspective.
This specific allocation to Emerging Technologies will be part of a broader initiative on deep and emerging technologies at the faculty, encompassing the breadth of our academic communities based on the 14 proposed thematic areas.
The process has begun and was discussed at the faculty’s board seminar with the heads of departments and the dean’s leadership team on 9 March.
We will return with more information about this later.
Happy Easter, everyone!
Kind regards,
Solveig