51ºÚÁÏ

Each year, the University Board 51ºÚÁÏ presents awards to academic staff for outstanding efforts and achievements. The awards for 2025 have been designated to the following researchers:

• Research Award: , Department of Political Science
• Education Award: , Department of Public and International Law
• Dissemination Award: , Institute of Clinical Medicine and Institute of Health and Society
• Innovation Award: , Institute of Clinical Medicine
• Award for Young Researchers: , Department of Political Science

– UiO is ranked among the best universities in the world; this reflects the quality of our researchers and research environments, and this year's awards clearly demonstrate this quality. I would like to extend my congratulations and heartfelt thanks for the significant efforts! says Rector Svein Stølen.

Pro-Rector Ã…se Gornitzka heads the award committee which makes recommendations to the University Board.

– I warmly congratulate all the awardees! Once again, we have had outstanding candidates for all the awards. The winners contribute groundbreaking and important research, education, innovation, and dissemination. They serve as an inspiration for all of us who work at the University of 51ºÚÁÏ, she remarks.

Research Award

Professor Carl Henrik Knutsen receives the Research Award for his work in political science, specifically political and economic development, regime changes, and democracy. He stands at the forefront of international research in this field. With commitment and enthusiasm, he delves into and explores significant questions, such as why countries develop into democracies or dictatorships, and how such regimes influence economic growth. Knutsen combines theoretical arguments with thorough empirical analyses, often based on extensive data collection. Simultaneously, he possesses a strong capacity for disseminating his research and contributing to public debate, particularly regarding the evolution of democracy.

Education Award

Associate Professor Stian Øby Johansen receives the Education Award for his numerous significant contributions to the development of education at the Faculty of Law. Johansen has been a pioneer for both students and staff through the introduction of digital teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also provided training for colleagues in the learning management system Canvas, teaches pedagogical courses for temporary staff, and has acted as an informal mentor for new teachers.

(in Norwegian)

Dissemination Award

Professor Gunnveig Grødeland receives the Communication Award for her efforts in the field of vaccines, their development, efficacy, and potential limitations and side effects in Norway. She explains complex issues related to vaccines in a comprehensible and credible manner. This communication became particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grødeland's contributions are grounded in her own research, and she has been a clear voice, arguing against vaccine sceptics and conspiracy theories with professional integrity.

Innovation Award

Professor Jan Terje Andersen receives the Innovation Award for his contributions to biomedical innovation. Since the early stages of his career, he has combined long-term groundbreaking research with innovative work in close collaboration with the business community and other stakeholders, both nationally and internationally. This has resulted in a significant portfolio of innovations with substantial utility in terms of better treatment and quality of life for patients, as well as extensive cost savings for the healthcare system.

Award for Young Researchers

Professor Sirianne Dahlum receives the Award for Young Researchers. She became a professor at a young age, and is a prominent contributor to democracy research, focusing on how citizens relate to political regimes and challenge leaders through protests. Her research has revealed that citizens may be more open to authoritarian forms of governance than previously assumed, and how support for democracy can weaken.