Bergen Summer Research School goes digital

It usually takes place in a summery Bergen, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, BSRS 2020 will be fully digital. Over the past few weeks, the researchers behind the five parallel courses have reorganised and repackaged their courses to fit virtual seminar rooms. BSRS takes place 8-18 June.

• Follow the open keynotes on Zoom or YouTube: https://www.uib.no/en/rs/bsrs/calendar

"We have managed to attract an exceptional group PhD candidates from six continents, so the team behind the Summer School did not hesitate to adjust to fact that we are prevented to meet each other in Bergen," says Professor Håvard Haarstad, Scientific Director for BSRS 2020.

Actionable knowledge
"The upside to a world in lockdown is that we are able to invite a record number of participants. We usually admit one hundred PhD candidates, but this year we will be more than 130," says Professor Haarstad. He is Director at the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation, where «actionable knowledge» is a key objective.

They will spend most of their time in one of the five courses exploring key global challenges, including climate governance, sustainable cities, media and democracy, food systems, and migrant health. 

Cross-cutting activities will focus on the interfaces between science, society and global challenges, and explore how to create actionable knowledge. A series of keynotes serve as "meeting places" where all participants gather to discuss some of the global challenges the world is facing. In addition, a number of common research tool sessions will illuminate how different disciplines address and share challenges in their research.

"Social interaction is of course at the heart of any summer school. This year we will sit at home, spread across many time zones, but I hope we have managed to put together a platform that combines rigorous academic work with more informal interaction that we strive to offer at BSRS."

Open keynotes
Keynotes and the panel debate (listed below), followed by questions and discussion, will be streamed on YouTube and are open to the public. Pose your questions in YouTube’s chat function. All are welcome!