University of Tromsø

Infobox University


name =University of Tromsø
native_name =Universitetet i Tromsø
latin_name =
motto =
established =1968
type =Public University
rector =Prof. dr. med. Jarle Aarbakke
students =6,000
staff =1,800
city =Tromsø
country =Norway
campus =
affiliations =EUA
website = [http://www.uit.no/ www.uit.no]
The University of Tromsø (Norwegian: "Universitetet i Tromsø") is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of seven universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway. The University's location makes it a natural venue for the development of studies of the region's natural environment, culture, and society. At the same time the University has a global perspective, open to external influence and inspiration. The main focus of the University's activities is on the Auroral light research, Space science, Fishery science, Biotechnology, Linguistics, Multi-cultural societies, Saami culture, Telemedicine, social medicine and a wide spectrum of Arctic research projects. The close vicinity of the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the [http://www.polarenvironment.no/index.cfm?lid=2 Polar Environmental Centre] gives Tromsø added weight and importance as an international centre for Arctic research. Research activities, however, include much more than just activities based on the Arctic. The University's researchers work within a broad base of subjects and are both nationally and internationally recognised.

The University is currently working closely together with the Tromsø University College towards merging the two educational institutions into one larger university. On 23 March 2007, both the board of the University and the board of the University College announced their intentions to complete the merger. On 23 April 2008, Jens Revold, state secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, announced in a press conference that the department had given its consent to the merger, and that the formal announcement would be made once certain local processes were finished. The goal is for the merger to be complete by 1 January 2009. [http://www.itromso.no/nyheter/article150939.ece]

Faculties

Faculty of Humanities

*Center for Advanced Study in Theoretical Linguistics
*Department of Culture and Literature
*Department of Language and Linguistics

Faculty of Law

Faculty of Medicine

*Department of Clinical Medicine
*Department of Community Medicine
*Department of Dentistry
*Department of Medical Biology
*Department of Pharmacy

Faculty of Science

*Department of Biology
*Department of Chemistry
*Department of Computer Science
*Department of Geology
*Department of Mathematics
*Department of Physics
*Department of Statistics
*Tromsø Geophysical Observatory
*Albe

Faculty of Social Sciences

*Department of Archaeology
*Department of Education
*Department of History
*Department of Philosophy
*Department of Planning
*Department of Political Science
*Department of Psychology
*Department of Religious Studies
*Department of Social Anthropology
*Department of Sociology

Norwegian College of Fishery Science

=Honorary doctors=

* Narve Bjørgo, Norway (2008)
* Ole Henrik Magga, Norway (2008)
* Barbara Neis, Canada (2008)
* Steven Pinker, USA (2008)
* Ottar Brox, Norway (2003)
* Erica I.A. Daes, Greece (2003)
* Tor Hagfors, Norway (2003)
* Nawal el-Saadawi, Egypt (2003)
* Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, China (2001)
* Mordechai Vanunu, Israel (2000)
* William Nygård, Norway (1998)
* Salman Rushdie, Great Britain (1998)
* Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia (1998)
* Robert Paine, Canada (1998)
* Susanne Romaine, England (1998)
* Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Guatemala (1996)
* Carsten Smith, Norway (1995)
* Desmond Mpilo Tutu, South Africa (1994)
* Jørn Dyerberg, Denmark (1993)
* Torstein Bertelsen, Norway (1993)
* Georg Henrik von Wright, Finland (1993)
* Ragnhild Sundby, Norway (1993)
* Helga Marie Hernes, Norway (1993)
* Parzival Copes, Canada (1993)
* Amy von Marken, Nederland (1987)
* Kjell Bondevik, Norway (1982)
* Peter F. Hjort, Norway (1982)

Logo

The ravens in the university's logo are Hugin and Munin. In Norse mythology, Hugin and Munin travel the world for Odin, bringing him news and information. Hugin represents thought and Munin memory.

ee also

*Centre for Peace Studies, Tromsø

External links

* [http://uit.no/informasjon/english University of Tromsø]