Svein St?len is Rector of the University of Oslo for the period 2017-2025.
He is a professor of chemistry, with research interest in inorganic materials, and especially relationships between structure and functional properties.
St?len is engaged internationally and acted until recently as president of the European University Alliance, Circle U. and as chair of the board of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities. He chairs the board of Norway's first innovation district, Oslo Science City, and the Anders Jahres Foundation for the Promotion of Science. Recently, St?len has taken initative to create a global university consortium in respons to the urgent need for improved higher education programs for refugees and internally displaced people.
Prof. St?len has been vice dean for research at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (2013-2016) and head of the Department of Chemistry (2009-2012). He headed the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, and was the first chairman of the board, both for UiO: Life Sciences and for Digital Life Norway. He has been a member of the board of the Department of Energy Technology (2012-2017), the Research Council's division board for science (2015-2017) and Oslo University Hospital (2017-2023).
He is member of the Royal Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and the Norwegian Academy of Engineering Sciences.
He previously blogged on "Svein's blog", while now blogging with the rest of the team at Rector's Blog.