A visit from Norway

Dørum will give a public lecture titled “Polar Policy” at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Gamble Hall Lecture Bowl. The focus is how climate change is reshaping the Arctic, global security, oil and gas exploration and more. The lecture is free and open to the public.

One of the most respected politicians in Norway, Dorum is a member of the Venstre, Norway’s oldest political party. He recently completed his fourth four-year term but did not seek re-election. A social worker, Dorum is known in his homeland to be a strong supporter of innovation and small business. He was a professor of social science at the University of Trondheim.

Dørum reportedly does not take himself too seriously. For decades he has been a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings books and made headlines when he showed up for the premiere of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” wearing a hobbit’s robe, much to the amusement of the film’s star Viggo Mortensen. He later donned the same outfit at an outdoor Lord of the Rings concert in Oslo in 2005.

While at UND, Dørum will visit with Nordic Initiative, the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad, the Center for Innovation, the UND Aerospace Foundation and several key leaders in charge of educational exchanges in Norway.

Dørum will be accompanied by Steinar Opstad, founder of the American College of Norway and recipient of an honorary UND degree in 2008; Krista Lauritzen, president of the American College of Norway; and Siri Blindheim, chair of the American College of Norway and head of a large program in Norway called “Female Future,” which helps well-educated women to achieve public and private sector executive and board positions.

Also with the delegation will be artist Helge Skånlund, who has an exhibit at the Chester Fritz Library next week, and Kai Robert Johanssen and daughter Camilla who will be performing in the Grand Forks Public School system all week.

Source: Grand Forks Herald