Oslo 2022: A social conference

They say that content is king, and of course the EARMA 2022 conference is packed with splendid, useful, interesting and thought-provoking sessions! For those of you who have been at some of the previous EARMA conferences, you will know that the EARMA crowd are not only smart, creative and innovative, – they are also extremely social. Hence, we have set out to invite you to the most friendly and social conference ever! In Oslo you will definitely extend you network – and having fun when you do.

Choose your social activity when you register! 

To keep track of the participants’ preferences we invite you to register also to the social programme at the same time as you register for the conference. For those activities that triggers costs, this will be added to the price of registration and will be specified on your receipt.

Many of these activities takes place on Wednesday May 4, and we invite you to join us there to connect with each other ahead of the conference. Make sure to plan your flights to arrive early, or even on the day before, to get the most out of your stay!

The idea is to do things together, have fun and put your head elsewhere for a while!
 

1. Botanical Garden and the new climate house

Wed 4th May, 13:00 – 15:00 
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo
Capacity: 100

Participant fee: Free of charge, requires booking 
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo invite you to a guided tour to the Botanical Garden and the New Climate house in the middle of Oslo.  
Guided tour in the Botanical Garden of Oslo.
Join senior lecturer Anneleen Kool for a walk in Oslo´s Botanical Garden which is a combination of a beautiful place and vital research infrastructure. We will visit different areas of the Garden and explore the historical greenhouses. Anneleen is an expert on Nordic useful plants and does research on plant use in Scandinavia from the Viking Age until now. She will be able to explain how you can use henbane to steal your neighbor´s chickens and why angelica, once a major Nordic export product, might be back on the market soon again.
 

2. Guided Innovation Tour at University of Oslo

Wed 4th May, 10.00-11.30 
Oslo Science Park
Open in Google Maps
Capacity: 60

Life Science Growth House, University of Oslo (UiO) invites you to a Guided Innovation Tour in Oslo Science Park at the Campus of University of Oslo  

Join UiO’s new innovation unit the Life Science Growth House for a guided innovation tour in Oslo Science Park in the heart of Norway’s first innovation district Oslo Science City. The Park is a vibrant community where 3 000 people from business, research and academia have their workplace in offices and laboratories. From 2026 the new Life Science Building – Norway’s largest building for research and education – will be ready at campus to house research environments from the university and university hospital. The building is expected to contribute to increased innovation and value creation for Norway. With the new Life Science Growth House the university has already strengthened its innovation work. On this guided tour you will meet researchers from UiO who have succeeded already, some with their own company in place. You will also learn more about UiO’s innovation ecosystem and how UiO works, and plans to work, with the various stages of the innovation phase to help researchers and students to put more knowledge from research into use. 

Photo: Ratio arkitekter/KVANT-1

3. Harbor Sauna bath 

Wednesday 4th of May, 11:00 - 13:00 and 13:00 -15:00 and 15:00 – 17:00
Friday 6th of May, 18:00 - 20:00
Oslo Badstuforening, Oslo Fjord
Open in Google Maps
Participant fee: 250 NOK
Capacity: 14 in each timeslot on Wednesday and 16 on Friday

The conference venue is 10 min walk from the brand-new Oslo seaside (and from most of the hotels), with the new Opera, the Munch Museum and much more. As the citizens of Oslo have regained access to the harbour and the industry has moved elsewhere, the water has been cleaned for everyone to use. 
Beaches, SPAs and harbor saunas have popped up everywhere and are used, not only in summer, but the year around. At the EARMA conference you will therefore be invited to join us for a two hour sauna and swim experience, refreshing and sparkling, – and yes, the water will be a bit cold, but the sauna even warmer. No experience needed, only swimsuit and a towel! Dive in and refresh!

Important information

The European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) is committed to conducting our annual conference social activities in a safe manner and holds the safety of participants in high regard.

In devising the program for the annual conference, EARMA has endeavored to reduce risks and insists that all participants follow safety rules and instructions that are designed to protect their safety. However, participants must recognise that there is an inherent risk of injury when choosing to participate in outdoor recreational activities.

You are solely responsible for determining if you are physically fit for the social activities contemplated by this agreement. It is always advisable, particularly if the participant is pregnant, has a disability or has recently suffered an illness, injury or impairment, to consult a medical professional before undertaking any physical activity.

Warning of risk

The harbour sauna bath activity is intended to be a pleasurable experience to participants. However, despite careful and proper preparation, instruction, medical advice, and conditioning, there is still a risk of serious injury including, but not limited to, cold water shock, hypothermia or death. All hazards and dangers cannot be foreseen. In this regard, it is impossible for EARMA to guarantee absolute safety.

It is important to inform yourself in relation to the risks associated with cold water shock. You can find information here.

Waiver and release of all claims and assumption of risk. 

Please read this form carefully and be aware that in signing up and participating in this activity, you will be expressly assuming the risk and legal liability and waiving and releasing all claims for injuries, damages or loss which you might sustain as a result of participating in this activity.

I recognise and acknowledge that there are certain risks of physical injury to participants in this activity, and I voluntarily agree to assume the full risk of any and all injuries, damages or loss, regardless of severity, that I may sustain as a result of said participation. I further agree to waive and relinquish all claims as a result of participating in this activity against the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA), including its officials, agents, volunteers and employees.

I have read and fully understand the above important information, warning of risk, assumption of risk and waiver and release of all claims. If completing this form online, my online signature shall substitute for and have the same legal effect as an original handwritten signature.

4. Guided tour at Oslo Opera House 

Wednesday 4th May, 13:00 and 14:00 (Duration 1 hour)
Oslo Opera House
Capacity: 15
Open in Google Maps
Participant fee: 120 NOK
What goes on inside a modern opera house? Would you like to see more of Oslo Opera House or learn about life in the Opera House? During the course of your visit, you will see some of the Opera House’s many rooms and some of what goes on behind the scenes before the curtain rises. Perhaps we will visit the costume workshop or the paint studio – maybe we will run into a singer or dancer while we are on our way.
You will also get to find out more about architecture, stage technology, opera and ballet from the knowledgeable guides.
 

5. Guiding Munch museum

Wednesday 4th of May 14.30 (Duration 1 hour)
Capacity: 20 
Participant fee: 250 NOK
22 October 2021, a brand new museum opens by Oslo’s waterfront, tailor-made for the world’s largest collection of art by Edvard Munch. The new MUNCH is the number one destination for experiencing Edvard Munch’s life and art. The museum’s ambition is to broaden the idea about what a museum is, and provide opportunities for completely new experiences and perspectives. 
The museum’s 13 floors contain expositions of Edvard Munch’s artistic career, alongside with changing exhibitions of works by other artists.
The highly distinctive museum building has been designed by Estudio Herreros. It is a modern passive house and has been built in in accordance with the FutureBuilt criteria, using low-carbon concrete and recycled steel, and its loadbearing structure has been designed with a technical lifetime of 200 years. 

Photo: Munch Museum

Photo: Alexander Ramsland

Photo: Munch Museum
 

6a. Seaside morning run (Geir Kværk)

Thursday 5th May, 07:15 - 08:00
Friday 6th May, 07:15 - 08:00
Starting outside Deichmann Library, Anne-Cath. Vestlys plass 1 (Google maps)
Participant fee: Voluntarily charity contribution
Capacity: Not limited

As you register for the conference, you will be invited to join morning run groups on day 1 and 2 of the conference, before the ordinary conference programme starts. 
Just to give you an idea: The new and old parts of the city seaside is now linked together with run-and walkways all along from Aker Brygge in southwest, in front of the City Hall, along the 14th century Akershus Fortress, further to the Oslo Opera House -where you can actually run onto the roof, then pass the brand-new Munch Museum, and finally ending up at Sørenga at the southeast. The distance will be between 6 and 10 km, depending on the registration and interest.
Run along! 
 

6b. Soft morning yoga on the roof of the Oslo opera: Let’s stretch and start our days calm and centered together! 

Open to all levels and abilities
Wear comfortable clothes, no mats or other equipment needed

Thursday May 5, 7-7.30am
Thursday May 5, 7.30-8am
Friday May 6, 7-7.30am
Friday May 6, 7.30-8am

Starting outside Deichmann Library, Anne-Cath. Vestlys plass 1
Participant fee: Voluntarily charity contribution
Capacity: 15 

7. LUNCH EVENT: Sustainability and innovation as catalysts for change in the Oslo region

Date: May 05, 2022
Time:  12:15-14:15
Capacity: 250
Place: Kulturhuset - Youngs gate 6, 0181, Oslo

Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet): Sustainability, co-creational leadership and innovation as catalysts for change in the Oslo region (45 min)

Confronted by the climate crisis, cities around the world are assuming leadership through climate-ambitious policies and calls for co-creation of innovative green and sustainable solutions. No single public or private actor possesses the knowledge, resources, and creativity to address such complex societal problems. To be successful, co-creation requires the exercise of a particular type of co-creational leadership for designing and leading the new forms of collaborative platforms, arenas and networks emerging that can complement ‘the state’ and ‘the market’.
 
To improve our understanding of how to lead and manage co-creation, Oslo Metropolitan University has studied successful examples of co-creational city leadership and leadership of platforms at multiple scales for the green shift. This session brings together stakeholders involved in co-creation endeavours from government, business, bridging entrepreneurs, and academia to share insights from collaborative research and development.

Additional Panel participants: 

• Senior partner Karin Lindgård, SoCentral, a collaborative incubator working on innovation and urban sustainability transformation across cities in Norway and internationally.
• Senior adviser Hilde Sollie, Oslo Climate Agency.
• Technical director Christian Eriksen, Bellona, an independent non-profit organization that aims to meet and fight climate challenges.
• CEO Knut Inderhaug, Fortum. Fortum is a leading international energy company working on energy supply, renewable energy, and waste recirculation with ambitious climate goals.

Photo: Arvid Malde on Unsplash

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU): “Universities as key players in sustainable innovation” (45 min)

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has an overall ambition which is “Knowledge for life”. NMBU has succeeded in pinpointing sustainability as the university`s main goal for development. This lecture will focus on the implications of sustainability as a strategy for innovation activities. 
 
We will show the different actions across decision levels and across actors needed for this development. Through this process different tools have been developed: clear leadership, strategies, clear responsibilities, platforms for collaborations and agreed commitments. Finally, we will share some of our most successful projects with both national and international impact.

Introduction talk by Solveig Fossum-Raunehaug (Deputy Director of Research and Innovation, NMBU), followed by talks by the students Ina Marie Finnerud (Student Leader) and Kristoffer Pinheiro (Urban Lab NMBU). Fasilitator: Jorun Pedersen, CEO Ard Innovation (NMBU Technology Transfer Office).
 

Photo: Morten Lillemo
 

8. Open Access Escape Room EARMA

5 + 6 May 2022
Location: Conference centre
Participant fee: Free of charge
Capacity: 6 players per room or 25 for the workshop version
Time needed: 40 min

During the programme of the conference 5 and 6 May 2022, there will be an open access escape room. Please indicate if you are interested in participating. Limited timeslots available (you will be contacted by e-mail). You can also easily sign up here. 

In this interactive adventure game players will team up to solve a range of puzzles in order to defeat a villain who has locked away all the research at EARMA. 

Players will have 40 minutes to finish the game, where they will move around the room to find clues in order to complete a range of puzzles. 

The escape room will be set up both as a traditional escape room which can accommodate one team and as a workshop version where several teams can play against each other. You don’t need any prior knowledge of open access to be able to play this game, nor does it give you an advantage. 

However, if you pay attention you might learn something along the way…
 

9. EARMA Championship in Stand Still 

Room: Balder
There will also be held a EARMA Championship of Standstill. Do you think you can stand completely still while listening to (different types of) music? During the conference, delegates will be invited by researchers from RITMO, a Center of Excellence in music and technology, to try to stand completely still for 7 minutes, with and without listening to music. 

To read more about the European Championship of Standstill 2022, click here. 

Photo: RITMO, UiO

Photo: Brooke Cagle/Unsplash