Grete Rusten as supervisor

Information about research interests and master project proposals

Grete Rusten is professor i Economic Geography at University of Bergen.

My research profile with my own publications, teaching and supervision includes the company's geography, location strategies, production systems and the organization of working life, industrial and regional development, service economy, industrial design, entrepreneurship and innovations, green economy, sustainable development and circular economy. The research field has mainly focused on Norway/Western economies. Below are suggestions for topics for possible master's theses.

Topic 1: Coworking as a tool for place development and workplace organization

Coworking in co-working spaces where people with different types of connections to working life come together is a growing phenomenon. A key question is also whether these visits lead to a spontaneous professional collaboration or just constitute a free office space to work alone side by side with others. The target group for such co-working spaces could be several: location-independent government workplaces, flexible office solutions for local public and private enterprises, a kind of start-up ecosystem (incubator). Decentralized office workspaces can be used by freelancers or employees who have the opportunity to work digitally.

The coworking topic may include two master's theses. One deals with how coworking can be included in a rural development strategy, related to increasing inmigration and new types of jobs. In this context, a coworking establishment in Ullensvang and Geiranger, respectively, may be relevant to study.The second master's thesis will deal with coworking in a metropolitan setting and where this represents a new form of organization of working life, especially in technology, media and the consulting industry.

Topic 2: Plastics in the loop

Countries in Europe have launched action plans for a circular economy to ensure that resources are used and kept in production system for as long as possible. This topic aim to address companies`life cycle thinking throughout the value chain from sourcing, disposal and recycling of plastics. The topic is relevant for different industrial and geographical contexts.

The master's thesis project can be connected to the Plastics Network for researchers and students at University of Bergen, a community which covers a wide range of topics and disciplines.

Topic 3: Industrial development and nature conflicts 

Our Society is experiencing a comprehensive green and digital transition with many new major plans for industrial establishments in the years to come. A good number of these investments are very land-intensive, with the result that natural areas are being built down and fragmented. How we should organise ourselves to best solve these types of dilemmas, are relevant topics in relation to our responsibility for nature, social development, regulations and planning.

A master’s project can a discussion about of how establishments create a basis for future jobs and green technology solutions, but at the same time causes that nature are being destroyed.

Topic 4: Data center establishments, energy efficiency and industrial development

Data center companies produce a large amount of residual heat that could have been used as heat resources for industrial processes, for heating homes or for other commercial purposes. In several cases, however, such resource utilisation has not been put in place, which means that valuable energy resources are missed. In order to achieve an appropriate one, it must therefore be planned that these heat producers are located in geographical proximity to buildings or opportunities for establishment and/or links with other commercial enterprises that can utilise this heat. Appropriate use of brown sites and a relative location that makes it possible to establish an industrial symbiosis that can utilise the surplus heat should therefore be an important regulatory and planning issue. Overall, it is also about preventing over-establishment in order to ensure the correct prioritisation of scarce electricity resources. Location should therefore constitute important elements in the assessment of data centre establishments. The master's thesis can case studies of some data center establishments in order to map strategies, challenges, development processes and regional effects.

Topic 5: Green innovative procurements in the local government sector

The Norwegian «Nasjonalt program for leverandørutvikling (LUP)» assists municipalities and other public agencies that want to use innovative procurements as a strategic instrument for innovation. A national database contains a good overview of different types of projects, and thus a basis for case studies. In this context, it will be particularly interesting to address projects that lead to a green infrastructure and services in the municipalities. Examples can be investments in school buildings, sports facilities, transport and/or other types of municipal infrastructure and services. In this proposal for a master's thesis, it may be interesting to compare the processes and effects of these projects both based on municipalities in urban municipalities and alternatively also smaller municipalities in rural areas.

The study has looked at how this can be organized with a view to developing new innovative and green solutions for the services and infrastructure that is the responsibility of this part of the public sector

Do not hesitate to contact me if you might be interested discuss your master project plans related to the mentioned topics  or other related issues with me.  Master projects may be in Norwegian or English.

Contact details:  Grete.Rusten@uib.no