Short biography:
Peter M Haugan is professor of oceanography at the Geophysical Institute since 1999 and also affiliated with the Institute of Marine Research. He has previously been employed at UNIS, NERSC and in industry. He was involved in the establishment and early days of the Bjerknes Centre and served as the head of the Geophysical Institute 2003-2011. In later years he has become involved in research and education in renewable energy and energy transformation.
Abstract:
The question in the title may seem surprising. However, funding of science and scientific institutions normally have a political background. I will take examples from the history of climate research in Norway including the establishment of CICERO and early emphasis on tradable emissions, the national program for carbon capture and storage as well as more general funding of climate system science. I will suggest that also Bjerknes scientists and others in Bergen with climate interests can encounter situations where they should ask themselves the question in the title before embarking on a new project.
Arranged date for the seminar talk: Nov 13, 2017