Many Bjerknes affiliates were surprised when the news about Beatriz Balino leaving her position as leader of the secretariat became known well about a month ago. She is a true veteran at the Bjerknes Centre, and knows the organisation and all the researchers well. She has been part of the centre from the very beginning. Beatriz started of as a research coordinator in 2000, when the organisation was only a Bjerknes-collaboration and the application for a Centre of Excellence (SFF) was under development.
Beatriz is transferring to the Division of Research Administration at UiB, becoming their new assistant director, with the main task to lead UiB's efforts to increase external financing to the university.
- I received an offer impossible to refuse, Beatriz explains.
- This is a new step in my career. The whole university will become my workspace and not just the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences, which are the disciplines I know well. In the new position, the main task is to professionalise the administrative services at UiB in order to best guide all departments and faculties with their research applications. I believe this is a sensible use of the resources at UiB. This new experiment has not been explored at UiB before, making it even more tempting to be part of.
Initially, Beatriz has been given a one-year leave of absence from the Bjerknes Centre. If she wants to come back in one year's time, she has the opportunity to do so.
The Politician is moving in
In the meantime, Ragnhild Stolt-Nielsen will move in to Beatriz’ office. The two have met regularly for the past couple of weeks, to make sure all necessary information is available for Ragnhild.
- It is with a mix of dread and joy I start this new job, Ragnhild Stolt-Nielsen laughs.
- The Bjerknes Centre represents fields of research that are new to me, however there is a lot of interest regarding climate issues and the centre fulfills the demand for relevance at the highest level.
Most people know Stolt-Nielsen from the local politics here in Bergen, as she was the Chief Commissioner a few years back. Though she has a long track record from UiB before entering politics, mainly from Faculty of social sciences and the central administration. Stolt-Nielsen has a cand.polit. from the department of comparative politics at UiB.
- The Bjerknes Centre has managed to acquire a solid position within climate research for the general society. It is of high value for both Bergen and UiB that the centre is located here.
A wistful move
Stolt-Nielsen will initially be placed in Beatriz’ office space in the coming year. The Bjerknes veteran realises that it will be sad to leave the Centre.
- I will be extremely sad, Bjerknes are in many ways my family. But I will keep in touch, though from a different angle than before. Our team will contribute with the centre’s major research applications, Balino says.
But before Beatriz leaves the ship, it is in its rightful place to get the veteran’s perspective of the best and worst about the Bjerknes Centre?
- The best is absolutely the researchers. They have a passion, enthusiasm and strong faith in the idea of collaboration. It is a privilege and very motivating to work with such an enthusiastic crew. The worst about the Bjerknes Centre is after all the way it is organised – I say no more, Beatriz laughs.
Today, Friday 29th of April, is the last day at the office in Allégaten 70 for Beatriz Balino. There will, of course, be a farewell party at the office, and we wish her the best of luck in the new job!