I have been an employee at NLH/UMB, now NMBU since 1983, with the exception of the year I worked in the Norwegian Ministry of Environment in 1993-94.
My master's degree was in Horticultural Sciences, with my thesis on tissue culture of Christmas begonia in 1983. I defended my PhD (Dr. Scient) in 1989 on mass propagation of foliar plants in tissue culture. Since then, I have been expanding my biotechnology interests into genetic modifications, use of biotechnology to study particular developemental processes, such as the formation of somatic embryos (clonal seeds) in bioreactors and the process of abscission of floral parts; an important process to retain high yields or ornamental value. At present, we turn towards gene editing in response to the need for novel genotypes for Norwegian plant production.
Since 2013, I have also tuned my interests into the field of urban agriculture, from my horticultural background into the whole circular economy of recycling resources and producing food and ornamentals in urban areas in recycled waste. One aim to reduce the amount of peat as growth medium in horticulture. From Augusr 2021, NMBU is offering a 2-year master programme in Urban Agriculture - a transdisciplinary approach for a circular economy in urban and semi-urban areas.
At present I am leading the National Centre for Urban Agriculture (NCUA) at NMBU and I am a member of the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board (2019-2023). From 2021 I am also leading one of NMBU's five Arenas for Sustainability - Green and smart cities "GreenSmart".
- Applied Biotechnology
- Urban Agriculture
- Urban Horticulture
I have course responsibility of the following courses (all given in English on demand):
BIO244 Plantebioteknologi: Celle- og vevskultur og genmodifisering - https://www.nmbu.no/emne/BIO244?studieaar=2020
English version: BIO244 Plant Biotechnology: Cell- and Tissue Culture and Genetic Modifications
https://www.nmbu.no/course/BIO244
BIO246 Semesteroppgave i plantebioteknologi/ planteforedling - https://www.nmbu.no/emne/BIO246?studieaar=2020
English version: BIO246 Thematic Essay in Plant Biotechnology/Plant Breeding
BIO350 RNA in situ Hybridisering - https://www.nmbu.no/emne/BIO350?studieaar=2020
English version: BIO350 RNA in situ Hybridization Techniques https://www.nmbu.no/course/BIO350
BIO351 Genetisk modifiserte planter - case studier - BIO351 Genetisk modifiserte planter - case studier
English version: BIO351 Geneticallly Modified Plants - Case Study - https://www.nmbu.no/course/BIO351
PJH251 Produksjon av utplantingsplanter av blomster og grønnsaker i veksthus - https://www.nmbu.no/emne/PJH251?studieaar=2020
English version: PJH251 Bedding Plant Production of Flowers and Vegetables in Greenhouses
https://www.nmbu.no/course/PJH251
In addition to these, I also teach in other courses in BIOVIT, MINA. LANDSAM, NMBU BUSINESS SCHOOL as guest lecturer, on demand.
We are creating at new course with a pilot in 2020: Urbant landbruk i praksis/Urbant agriculture in practice, which will be a regular course from 2022. It will run as a pilot also in 2021 to gain experience. This course is a collaboration between LANDSAM and BIOVIT faculties.
Forskningsprosjekter med nettside utenfor NMBU