In the 2024/2025 call for UiO:Energy and Environment’s Convergence Environments, CH-CYCLE, Cargo Crime and Clim-SHOCK were selected for funding by the Board of UiO:Energy and Environment.
In total, 17 project sketches were submitted. Of these, 13 were developed into full applications, and 7 applicants were invited to present their projects to the evaluation panel. Each application was reviewed by at least three external experts covering the different disciplines of the individual applications. Based on these evaluations, it was decided which projects would be invited to present to an internal panel consisting of all members and deputy members of our Board, pro-rector and the director of the Centre for Global Sustainability.
— We were impressed by the quality of the applications we received, so it was a very tough competition to receive funding in this round, says Vebj?rn Bakken, the director of UiO:Energy and Environment.
— It's a pity that we could only fund three Convergence Environments. Hopefully, though, the extensive feedback from the external referees will be useful for further developing the other concepts that we had to turn down, says Bakken.
The three Convergence Environments 2025–2030
Clim-SHOCK: Unsustainable? Past impacts and future challenges of volcanic climate shocks
Clim-SHOCK will investigate how major volcanic eruptions have historically affected climate, environment, food supply and human health, and what we can learn from this for future climate challenges. The project combines natural science methods with humanistic sources to understand how societies can respond to future climatic shocks.
- Head of convergence environment: Kirstin Krüger
- Participants: MN-GEO, HF-IAKH, KHM, as well as external partners
CH-CYCLE: Renewable energy-driven recycling of CO? and H?O into consumer products and fuels
CH-CYCLE develops circular solutions to recycle CO? and H?O into fuels and consumer products using renewable energy. The project aims to close the gap between technology, sustainability and policy, and will be among the first to carry out a comprehensive sustainability assessment of CO? recycling.
- Head of convergence environment: Unni Olsbye
- Participants: MN-SMN/KI, MN-ITS, SV-IS, as well as external partners
Cargo Crime: (Il)Licit Seaborne Transport, the Energy Transition, and its Repercussions at Sea
Cargo Crime will examine how illicit activities and environmental crime in maritime transport may undermine the green transition. The project addresses global challenges related to the energy transition, international trade and environmental threats.
Head of convergence environment: Hege H?yer Leivestad
Participants: SV-SAI, JUS-IKRS, JUS-NIFS, MN-MI, as well as external partners and stakeholders
About convergence environments
Convergence environments are large interdisciplinary research projects designed to strengthen collaboration across the university and foster interaction with external partners in the fields of sustainable energy and energy transition.
Their goals are to:
- Promote research in sustainable energy, climate and environment
-
Stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration – internally and externally
-
Increase UiO’s visibility and impact in the green transition
-
Recruit and train early-career researchers in interdisciplinary environments
Funding
The total budget for the initiative is about NOK 35 million. Each convergence environment receives three recruitment positions including operating costs, as well as some extra, flexible funding.
Background
Funding convergence environments with PhD and postdoctoral positions is the most powerful instrument UiO:Energy and Environment has to promote interdisciplinary collaboration that will contribute to new knowledge and increased societal impact in energy, climate and environment.
The first two pilot Convergence Environments were established in 2021. In 2025, three new environments have been selected, marking the second round of funding.