"Regn med oss" - Open Day in March

The Bjerknes Center is 25 years old in 2025 and will celebrate with an open day on March 14. Join us for fresh research findings and a glimpse into the big scientific questions that characterize climate research.

Publisert 25. February 2025

The History of the Bjerknes Center: A Tribute to Pioneers Vilhelm and Jacob Bjerknes

The Bjerknes Center was established to continue the legacy of visionary scientists Vilhelm and Jacob Bjerknes. Vilhelm Bjerknes (1862-1951) is known as one of the founders of modern meteorology and weather forecasting through the "Bergen School of Meteorology". His work laid the foundation for today's weather forecasting, and the principles Bjerknes developed are still used in global weather models. His son Jacob Bjerknes (1897-1975) continued in his father's footsteps and became a pioneer in research into climate change and the role of the ocean in the climate system.

We are proud to bear the name of the Bjerknes family, and the spiral in the logo is inspired by one of Vilhelm Bjerknes' original drawings describing the circulation around a low-pressure system. This is a symbol of the research conducted at the center today – a dynamic and complex climate and geophysical system that requires interdisciplinary insight to understand.

25 years of excellent research

Since its establishment in 2000, the Bjerknes Center has grown to become one of Europe's largest and most renowned natural science climate research centers. With more than 300 researchers from over 40 countries, the center has established a strong international reputation as a leading player in climate research.

The Bjerknes Center was awarded the status of "Center for Outstanding Research" (SFF) by the Research Council of Norway, and in 2012 the center was evaluated with the grade "exceptionally good" by an international committee. This evaluation emphasized the Bjerknes Center's significant results and the good interdisciplinary collaboration model.

Today, research focuses on six main areas: global climate, polar climate, the carbon system, modeling, climate warning and climate hazards. The center is a key player in the distribution of climate knowledge to decision-makers, business and society at large.

"Regn med oss” - The conference you don't want to miss

On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the Bjerknes Center invites you to a conference with a varied program that addresses some of the most important research areas in climate. You can switch between two rooms with exciting presentations that cover everything from artificial intelligence in climate modeling, wild water, fjords, mountains and fungi. The conference offers brand new research findings and exciting discussions about how science meets the challenges in a world characterized by climate change.

Large banquet hall:

0900 Coffee and mingle
0920 Welcome by Kikki Kleiven

9:30-10:30 The future is now - machine learning in climate science

Everyone is talking about AI, but what does it really mean for climate research? What open questions and challenges remain, and how will new cutting-edge machine learning and AI make an impact and help reduce uncertainties? What will machine learning mean for operational warning?

Keynotes by

Claire Monteleoni, Research Director at INRIA Paris
Roar Skålin, Director General at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Noel Keenlyside, Professor at the Geophysical Institute, UiB
Hosted by Kikki Kleiven, Director Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

1045 - 1130 Tar vi naturen for gitt

Vi har nettopp fått en ny naturmelding. er denne et verktøy for å hindre nedbygging av natur?
Innledning om nordmenns holdninger til natur med Endre Tvinnereim, professor ved Institutt for politikk og forvaltning UiB, Vigdis Vandvik om naturens behov for areal.

Samtale med Vigdis Vandvik, tidligere klima- og miljøminister Sveinung Rotevatn (V) og Elisabeth Bergskaug, Zero

1145 - 1230 Vann, vann og mere vann

Det blir mer regn. Hvordan skor vi oss for fremtiden?
Faglig oppspill om ekstremvær og framtidens regn med Lu Li, NORCE og Kjersti Konstali, GFI UiB.

Diskusjon om klimatilpasning med

Stian Opedal Davies, fylkesvaraordfører i Vestland, Arbeiderpartiet
Ingrid Nergaard Fjeldstad, bystyrerepresentant i Bergen, Venstre
Terje Søviknes Frp, ordfører i Bjørnafjorden kommune
Christine Kahrs, byråd for byutvikling i Bergen, Høyre
Ordstyrer: Lars-Henrik Paarup Michelsen, leder for Norsk Klimastiftelse

kl 1300-1345 Næring for private penger i forskningen

Hvorfor bidrar norsk næringsliv så lite til forskning, sammenlignet med våre naboland?
Sammenlignet med Sverige og Danmark, bidrar næringsliv og private aktører mindre til forskningsfinansiering i Norge. Vi lurer på hvorfor det er slik, og hva som skal til for at flere private kan bidra. Minister for høyere utdanning og forskning Sigrunn Aasland har uttrykt ønske om et tettere samarbeid mellom offentlige og private og har lansert tanken om et nytt forskningsfond for å styrke forskningsinnsatsen i næringslivet. Vi tar samtalen med:

Rebekka Borsch, Avdelingsdirektør, NHO, styreleder ved Bjerknessenteret
Jens Ulltveit-Moe, grunnlegger av Umoe, Klimastiftelsen UMOE og klimafestivalen Varmere, Våtere, Villere
Iselin Medhaug, Research Director Climate Futures, NORCE
Kikki Kleiven, direktør ved Bjerknessenteret

Large Dining Room:

1100-1130 New tools in climate research

From urban heat islands in Arctic cities to apps for managing marine resources and 65 356 shades of gray. What new methods and tools are our climate scientists using?

Victoria Miles, NERSC
Eurico Noleto, GFI, UiB
Willem van der Bilt, Geo UIB

1200-1230 To fjordar og ei fonn

Bli med på eit djupdykk i fjordane og ein tur på Folgefonna, kva betyr klimaendringane for liv og landskap?

Linda Latuta, GFI, UiB
Mari Myksvoll, Havforskningsinstituttet
Jostein Bakke, Geo, UiB

1300-1330 One millimeter is just enough

Sometimes one millimeter is more than enough. Three researchers show how important information can be gleaned from tiny components and is it really that dangerous if the sea rises a few millimeters a year?

Harald Sodemann, GFI, UIB
Kristin Richter, NORCE
Nil Irvali, Geo UiB

In addition, you can attend the breakfast meeting Renewable Energy Race – Drivers and Counterforces, organized by the University of Bergen from 08:00-09:30. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to explore the drivers and challenges associated with the transition to renewable energy. The breakfast meeting requires separate registration here.

Open to all – free admission

The conference is free and open to all interested parties. No registration is required, so you can come and go as you wish. This is an opportunity to experience the exciting and diverse research taking place at the Bjerknes Center, as well as meet researchers and professionals from all over the world.

Meet us at Grand!

We look forward to celebrating 25 years of scientific progress with you. Join us in exploring new perspectives on climate research and gain insight into how the Bjerknes Center is helping to shape the future of climate science on a global level.

We hope to see you at "Regn med oss”! on March 14th in the Grand banquet rooms at Ole Bullsplass. Welcome!