Lars Henrik Smedsrud

Maverick?

If I were to gain the required trust and join the board at the University of Bergen - I would bring in one important principle; the Norwegian «fravalg». This is to decide on «what-not-to-do». I believe that all of us who are employed at this great university are above average hardworking, and genuinely interested in our individual subjects. For most of us, this professional interest also involves actively contributing towards passing this knowledge to posterity and society at large. What we can do to let research, teaching and outreach flourish is to make sure that there are as good as possible conditions for these activities. This largely depends on us daring to make active choices - that is, deciding what we should not spend time and money on. I would very much like to contribute in this way. Resources and administration should thus directly benefit research or education, and help those that actually deliver what we want. For example was UiB too slow in opting out of fossil fuel exploration and turning our energy towards renewables. This should have taken place much sooner. What scientific employees choose to research is of course an individual choice, but to choose what UiB collectively should do becomes more clear if we dare step away from what is not important.

I believe that I have some good qualities that fit well within the UiB board. I am honest and dare make a stand if there is something I think is wrong. I have few own favorites and hold that discussions with colleagues from other departments are great gifts, because I learn more. I am interested in history, geography, and more and more in the origin of names and linguistic expressions. I am thus by no means sure that if I were to choose again, it would be physical oceanography. But I have enjoyed the science and the people from the first day I arrived at the Department of Geophysics as a student in August 1993. I still enjoy it as much today as a professor. So because I have been 1 year in Cambridge, another in Australia, and most recently on a sabbatical year in San Diego, I know that I prefer to spend the next 20 years here at UiB. And if there is a need for me on the university board, I am ready for this challenge.

Regarding "Maverick" - we do not have a similar word in Norwegian – I think. Most people will think of the "Top Gun" movie, but the term has been used much longer. I think of it as an efficient and independent person who solves things in original ways. But one who clearly has the best intensions for the unit and his colleagues and is ready to take his turn at the helm when there is a storm on the horizon. At least that is the kind of person I inspire to be.