Representatives of the three centres received a warm welcome at a reception on 10 June at the IPY Oslo Science conference when the decisions were announced.

The project manager for NCoE SVALI, Jon Ove Hagen, the project managers for NCoE DEFROST, Torben R. Christensen and Andreas Stohl and the project manager for NCoE CRAICC, Markku Kulmala, presented the new NCoEs as an audience of 45 people applauded.

The programme committee was delighted with the quality of the applications from innovative and well co-ordinated research programmes.

In addition to drift ice, glaciers and permafrost, the applications also covered genetic responses, hydro-geology and other consequences of changes to the cryosphere.

According to Friberg, the three centres address important aspects of the interactions between climate change and the cryosphere and meet the TRI’s intentions.

“NCoE SVALI focuses on the condition of the glaciers, NCoE CRAICC on the effect of aerosoles and soot and NCoE DEFROST on changes to the permafrost and carbon balance."

All three centres are part of wide-ranging networks of partners from all of the Nordic countries.

The centres also have participants from other Arctic countries (the USA, Canada and Russia). A total of approx. 340 researchers are involved in the NCoE programme.

Read about the three new Nordic centres and the Top-level Research Initiative

Lisa Ekli + 47 97 07 11 27 lisa.ekli@nordforsk.org