Meet the National Chairs: Kari Anne Bråthen, Norway
Meet the chairs of our five national societies! The chair of the Norwegian Ecological Society/Norsk økologisk forening is Kari Anne Bråthen, Professor at UiT/Arctic University of Norway, and at AHO/Oslo School of Architecture and Design.
Hi, Kari Anne! How would you describe your national society and its members?
I find the members of our society appreciate to meet and exchange knowledge about ecology. Our bi-annual national conferences are both interesting and fun, as are the Nordic conferences.
What are your aspirations as chair? Any recent or upcoming developments that you are especially excited about?
First of all to make sure our society is organized in such a way that we can fulfill our main purpose, which is to facilitate for our members to meet and exchange knowledge about ecology. Our next conference is coming up very soon and I am excited to participate and learn more ecology. [Editor's note: the May 5-6 conference was a great success!] My longer-term aspiration is to facilitate that the ecological knowledge of our members reach society at large.
What do you like about being part of the Nordic ecological societies?
The fora we create for discussing ecology with emphasis on our part of the world. It is both fun and engaging. On behalf of the board of the Norwegian Ecological Society I appreciate the help we receive from the NSO-secretariat to have a more professional profile and the facilitation of exchange of experience and ideas among all the national boards.
Any comments on the role of our societies within the big picture of global ecology and its applications in the 21st century?
I think we need to be more than societies for the exchange of knowledge among ecologists. We need to find ways to empower our members, and ecologists in general, to have their knowledge easily available to society at large without compromising credibility and verifiability.
What is your professional focus?
I am a plant ecologist. I focus on the functionality of plants in their ecosystems and how plant communities transform under climate change. I am also interested in what promotes biodiversity and how plant biodiversity and ecosystem functionality is linked.
Anything exciting going on now in your life or work?
Many things. For one, I truly find it engaging to supervise ecology to students in landscape architecture. They are embracing ecology to an extent I believe they will make a difference when they start their working-life. Then I am PI for a project where we address to what extent a native plant should be managed for its strong ecosystem effects. Here we collaborate with reindeer herders, sheep farmers and economists and it is very rewarding.
What's one way your life or work changed in the pandemic, for better or worse?
I must have forgotten, I am truly tired of the situation the pandemic is creating.
What do you miss most about pre-pandemic times? Where are you itching to travel?
I am sad we will not be physically present at the Norwegian Ecological Society conference in Sogndal this May. I am mostly itching for the ability to move freely in society—and I am itching for hiking in the mountains this summer. Opportunities around Tromsø are so great I will stay here.
Favorite organism or ecosystem: It must be the tundra. And plants, especially forbs. The forbs are simply fantastic.
Favorite book, movie, show: It depends on the mood. Now I look forward to the fourth season with “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Favorite hobby or activity: Skiing or hiking, preferably in the mountains and in the tundra.
Favorite food: Cod and reindeer and vegetables grown in Northern Norway.
Meet the other national society chairs: