Welcome to FJORD//FORSK 2025 – The research seminar with a festival atmosphere for those with a heart for research and knowledge dissemination about fjord landscapes, world heritage, nature and the environment!
The launch of FJORD//FORSK marks 20 years of the Western Norwegian Fjord Landscape World Heritage Site and has as its theme the fjords' environmental condition, development and future .
We offer an interesting and fun day with good academic content, dialogue, beautiful landscape experiences and delicious food, new contacts and friendship, in Aurland October 18th! Here you can learn new things, participate in exciting discussions and experience world heritage with all your senses.
FJORD//FORSK is particularly aimed at young researchers and students, but established researchers, administration, business and local residents are also welcome to register.
The event is free for everyone and includes food and drinks.
Registration; deadline is Friday, October 17th at 4:00 PM
https://forms.office.com/e/XWsW4MJVtR
Program FJORD//FORSK Saturday 18 October
07.00-08.20 Morning swim in the Aurlandsfjord and Fjord sauna
with Synnøve Balabanian from SB Swimwear (two groups of 40 min – registration, limited number of places)
08.00-09.00 Breakfast with coffee, tea and hot apple juice
Lecture about the business SB Swimwear from Voss and pop-up shop with sustainable (re)designer swimwear (lecture starts at 8:30 am)
09.00-09.30 Opening of FJORD//FORSK
by World Heritage Coordinator Gry Mørk
Information about the Norwegian World Heritage Trainee Program and the background for FJORD//FORSK by Robert Hetland Lende, former trainee, and Maiken Minde from the World Heritage Park
09.30-10.10 "What's going on under the surface? Some thoughts on the status and development of the environmental condition in the Sognefjord"
v/ Marianne Nilsen, associate professor and marine ecologist, University of Western Norway
(Leg stretch)
10.20-11.00 “The fjord landscape – a geological masterpiece”
by Stein Bondevik, professor and Quaternary geologist, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
11.00-11.15 "Reconstruction of Blåskavlen, Aurland , based on mapping and investigation of lake sediments" (master's project in geology)
by Maiken Minde, geologist and project manager at the World Heritage Park
11.15-11.30 "Clouds above Geiranger. An analysis of nature-culture divides and heritage value." (master's project in archaeology)
by Robert Hetland Lende, archaeologist
11.30-12.30 Serving of soup and bread
12.30-14.30 "How to develop, promote and coordinate knowledge about and for the fjord landscape? What should we focus on? And what can each of us contribute?"
Panel debate, roundtable discussions and workshop by Else Ragni Yttredal, knowledge and research coordinator for the Western Norwegian Fjord Landscape World Heritage Site
14.30-16.30 Guided tour to Dagsturhytta - about the geology and visitor management in this popular area.
Tour guide: Maiken Minde, Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park
From left: Fjordsauna, Marianne Nilssen, Stein Bondevik, from Stegastein, Maiken Minde
Subject to change
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Enrollment
https://forms.office.com/e/XWsW4MJVtR
The deadline for registration is Friday, October 17th at 4:00 PM.
Accommodation tips - for every taste and budget:
Fjord Resort (Aurlandsvangen + Flåm)
Wangen Apartments
Aurland Guesthouse
Flåmsbrygga Hotel
Winjum Apartments and Cabins (10 min walk from Aurlandsvangen)
Winjum Hostel Stegastein (10 min walk from Aurlandsvangen)
Vangsgaarden Guesthouse (Aurlandsvangen)
Airbnb – more options
IN Aurland You can book various apartments or rooms, but often such accommodations cost almost the same as a hotel. If you are lucky, good deals can come up.
2/29 Aurland (boutique hotel at Tokvam, 5 minutes by car from Aurlandsvangen)
Flåm Hostel & Camping
Flam Marina
Fretheim Hotel
Svingen Guesthouse (Flam)
Gudvangen Camping
Gudvangen Fjord Hotel
How do you get here?
Car from Bergen - 2 hours and 30 minutes
Car from Sogndal - 1 hour 15 min
Car from Oslo - 4 hours and 30 minutes
Bus with Vy or Norway-bussekspress – check entur.no
Train: Bergen Railway-Flåm Railway (change trains at Myrdal, terminus Flåm)
Is there something you're wondering about?
Maiken Minde in Nærøyfjorden world heritage park
email: maiken@verdsarvparken.no
tel: 450 60 131
Website:
www.naroyfjorden.no/kva-skjer/fjordforsk
Support:
The event is carried out with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the Norwegian Environment Agency.