Meltzer Prize for Outstanding Younger Researcher 2020
Updated: May 20, 2021
On Monday 8 March 2021, the birthday of Lauritz Meltzer (d. 1943), the Meltzer Fund awarded two prizes for outstanding younger researchers under the age of 40 currently working at the University of Bergen. I was honored to receive one of the awards, which is the top prize of its kind at UiB and comes with 150 000 kr (approx $17,600, taxfree).
The award is for "fremragende vitenskapelig arbeid, selvstendighet og evne til nyskaping" (outstanding scientific work, independence and ability to innovate) and places emphasis on "nyere forskningsbidrag, fortrinnsvis slike som er publisert eller bedømt det foregående år, eller som i det foregående år har fått særlig vitenskapelig anerkjennelse" (recent research contributions, preferably those that have been published or assessed in the previous year, or that have received particular scientific recognition in the previous year).
Here is an overview of my scholarship emphasized by the prize, written by nominator Professor of medieval Latin Aidan Conti.
Read more about the Meltzer awards 2020 and part of a short interview with me on På Høyden, as well as an announcement in Khrono.no.
For me, learning through hands-on creative projects becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. Handling a material directly can suggest ideas that are hard to discover from a picture alone. That practical perspective helps me frame creative craft projects as a theme for Bodyart Nation. I can imagine different responses depending on the situation, which makes the question more interesting. What small experiment would you try before planning a finished piece?
When it comes to discovering the character of a local event, one clear example can stay with me longer than a long list of general points. A short encounter or unexpected performance can become the part of an event someone remembers. It is the kind of question I would keep in mind when thinking about Bobevansfairs and local festival experiences. It leaves me curious about the steps between understanding an idea and putting it into practice. How would you leave room to discover something beyond the main programme?
The idea of making everyday business processes clearer gives me a reason to slow down and consider the details. A simple record of responsibilities can prevent a task from being passed around without an owner. For Boardviewltd, I would use practical business organisation as a starting point for a closer discussion of the subject. That is the part I would keep thinking about after moving on to something else. Which part of a routine process would you make clearer first?
I like thinking about exploring everyday food and cooking traditions through small observations rather than trying to reach a conclusion immediately. An ingredient can carry a story about the place or family that uses it. With Beetspulseandthyme in mind, food and cooking ideas feels like a topic worth exploring one question at a time. That is the part I would keep thinking about after moving on to something else. Which part of a recipe would you ask someone to explain beyond the written measurements?
I like thinking about exploring the details that shape a screen story through small observations rather than trying to reach a conclusion immediately. The order of two scenes can change what a viewer notices about a character. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring film storytelling ideas in connection with Aserbianfilm. It leaves me curious about the steps between understanding an idea and putting it into practice. Which small details make you want to revisit a scene after the story ends?