News from the Polar Academy
Thor Severin Larsen appointed Honorary Member of the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research
Thor S. Larsen has been appointed an Honorary Member of the Polar Academy. The appointment was formally announced during the Academy’s 2026 Annual Meeting, following a unanimous decision by the Board.
From Drones to Seabirds: The Future of Arctic Monitoring
How can new technology improve our understanding of a rapidly changing Arctic? At the seminar “Technology and Nature – Hand in Hand” in Tromsø, researchers and technologists presented innovative approaches to environmental monitoring using satellites, drones, sensors, marine robotics, and seabird tracking.
New Members Admitted to the Academy in 2026
25 people were admitted as new members at the Board’s meeting on 12 March 2026 and presented during the Annual Meeting.
State funding secured for the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research
From 2026, the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP) will receive NOK 1 million through the Norwegian state budget.
GoNorth 2025: Science in a stormy Arctic
The stormiest of the four GoNorth expeditions has drawn to a successful close, returning to port in Tromsø on the evening of 16 December.
Anne Husebekk has passed away
It is with deep sadness that we learned that Anne Husebekk passed away on 5 December 2025, after a period of illness. She was 69 years old when she passed.
Royal patronage extended for the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research
His Majesty The King of Norway has extended his Royal Patronage of the Norwegian Academy of Polar Research for the period 2026–2030, recognising the Academy’s role in advancing polar research and international scientific cooperation.
Call for nominations of new members to the Polar Academy 2026
The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP) welcome nominations of new Academy members in 2026.
The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research welcomes new secretary general
The Polar Academy welcomes Professor Geir Wing Gabrielsen as new Secretary General. With a distinguished background in Arctic ecology and environmental research at the Norwegian Polar Institute and UNIS, he brings extensive expertise to the role.
Daily reports from the GoNorth Expeditions
The GoNorth consortium has proposed a wide-ranging and cross-disciplinary program to acquire new and essential knowledge about the oceanic areas, from the sea floor and subsea geology, through the water column, to the surface sea ice. Education will be an important part of the program.
The reports are published in Norwegian.

