My main research interests are environmental politics, civil society, public participation, democratization and development aid in post-socialist states. Geographically, my research has especially focused on Armenia, the South Caucasus, Russia, and more recently Poland. I have carried out a number of program evaluations of Norwegian and Western support mechanisms in the region, ranging from cultural exchange programs to deployment of security personnel in conflict zones. New areas of interest are the management of plant genetic resources in the post-Soviet area and new modes of mobility in urban development.
Academic background
- PhD, University of Oslo (Social Anthropology) (2017)
- Master in Social Anthropology, University of Oslo, (social anthropology, history of ideas, Russian and East European studies) (2005).
Professional experience
- Research Director Marine and Polar Issues (since 2019).
- Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (since 2017).
- Guest researcher, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo (August 2015-March 2016).
- Member of the Board and Council at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (2015 - 2019).
- Academic advisor at Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages, University of Oslo and International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (since 2009).
- Examiner at Department of Sociology, Political Science and Community Planning, University of Tromsø and Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo (since 2009).
- Director of the Russia Programme at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (2008-2010)
- Research Fellow at Fridtjof Nansen Institute (2006-2017)
PROJECTS
BOOKS
PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS
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Scientific Data, published online 29.11.2024, 23 p. DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-04111-4
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Frontiers in Environmental Science, Vol 9, 24.06.2021. DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2021.610926
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Euphytica, Vol 217, Article 94, 2021, 22 p.
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Polar Research, Vol 29, 2010, pp. 439-450.
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Norsk Antropologisk Tidsskrift, Vol 18, No 3-4, 2007, pp. 241-252. In Norwegian.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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FNI Policy Brief 9/2022. Lysaker, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, November 2022, 8 p.
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FNI Policy Brief 9/2022. Lysaker, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, November 2022, 8 p.
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PwC Norway, 2020, 68 p.
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FNI Report 1/2019. Lysaker, FNI, 2019, 42 p.
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Independent Reporting Mechanism Progress Reports. Washington DC, Open Government Partnership, 2018, 46 p. In Norwegian and English.
RELATED RESEARCH AREA(S)
NEWS
- Call for Papers – The IIIrd Annual Conference of the Romanian Centre for Russian Studies
- Workshop on Svalbard and Arctic geopolitics in Longyearbyen
- FNI-forskerne om krigen i Ukraina
- New project: Can we make the school commute greener?
- New research opportunities on ocean governance, Russia and the Arctic
IN MEDIA
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Historisk endring i norsk bistand (Historic Shift in Norwegian Aid)
Panorama Nyheter, August 25, 2023. In Norwegian.
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Tidligere Norad-sjef: – Skattebetalerne betaler åpenbart for mye for administrasjon av norsk bistand ('Taxpayers are obviously paying too much for the administration of Norwegian aid')
Bistandsaktuelt, January 8, 2023. In Norwegian.
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Ekspertutvalg vil gi bistand til færre land. Advarer mot at pengene «spres for tynt utover» (Expert committee proposes that Norway should give aid to fewer countries. Warns against the money being "spread too thinly")
Aftenposten, July 31, 2022. In Norwegian.
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UD-utvalg vil ha færre i kongens reisefølge. Foreslår slutt på vielser i Roma og Paris (Committee proposes fewer people in the king's travel entourage, and to put an end to weddings in Rome and Paris)
Aftenposten, July 21, 2022. In Norwegian.
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NRK Svarer: Kan Sverige og Finland bli med i Nato hvis Tyrkia sier nei? (NRK answers: Can Sweden and Finland join NATO if Turkey says no?)
NRK, May 21, 2022. In Norwegian.