Basic Chemistry
Research in Norway
Evaluation
Division for Science
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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The =andate (or the 6valuation 0ommittee ...........................................................5B
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=andate..................................................................................................................5H
B.H
Irading...................................................................................................................5K
B.L
The 6valuation 0ommittee .....................................................................................5A
I6N6!AL D6S0!INTICN .............................................................................................5O
H.5
Narti,ipants o( the 6valuation .................................................................................5O
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Key Rigures ............................................................................................................5S
H.B.5
Iraduates ...........................................................................................................5S
H.B.B
!TD 6Upenditures by =ain Sour,e o( Runding V5WWW NCKX ..............................BB
H.B.H
!TD Nersonnel ...................................................................................................BK
I6N6!AL 0CN0L8SICNS............................................................................................BY
L.5
0omments !egarding the Zeitkamp !eport ..........................................................BY
L.B
The National Ni,ture ...............................................................................................BY
L.H
The !ole o( the !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay V!0NX .............................................HL
L.L
The =ain !esear,h Areas ......................................................................................HL
L.L.5
Inorgani, and =aterials 0hemistry .....................................................................HL
L.L.B
Theory and 0omputational 0hemistry ................................................................HY
L.L.H
0atalysis .............................................................................................................HA
L.L.L
Li(e S,ien,es ......................................................................................................HS
L.L.K
Crgani, 0hemistry ..............................................................................................L5
L.L.Y
Nhysi,al 0hemistry .............................................................................................LB
L.L.A
6nvironmental 0hemistry....................................................................................LL
L.L.O
Nu,lear 0hemistry ..............................................................................................LK
L.L.S
Applied 0hemistry and 0hemi,al 6ngineering ...................................................LY
3
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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I6N6!AL !60C==6NDATICNS.................................................................................LS
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At the National Level ..............................................................................................LS
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!e,ommendations !egarding the !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay............................KH
ASS6SS=6NT CR TH6 D6NA!T=6NTS AND !6S6A!0H I!C8NS .......................KL
Y.5
8NI;6!SIT? CR CSLC .........................................................................................KL
Y.5.5
Department o( 0hemistry....................................................................................KL
Y.5.5.5
Synthesis and =ole,ular Stru,ture .............................................................KS
Y.5.5.B
Analyti,al and 6nvironmental 0hemistry ....................................................Y5
Y.5.5.H
Nu,lear 0hemistry ......................................................................................YH
Y.5.5.L
Run,tional Inorgani, =aterials ....................................................................YY
Y.5.5.K
0atalysis .....................................................................................................YS
Y.5.5.Y
Nolymers ] Crgani, =aterials.....................................................................A5
Y.5.5.A
^uantum =e,hani,s_ Stru,ture and Dynami,s...........................................AH
Y.5.5.O
S,hool Laboratory.......................................................................................AY
Y.B
NC!Z6IIAN 8NI;6!SIT? CR S0I6N06 AND T60HNCLCI?.........................AA
Y.B.5
Department o( =aterials S,ien,e and 6ngineering VD=S6X...............................AA
Y.B.5.5
6le,tro,hemistry .........................................................................................OW
Y.B.5.B
Inorgani, 0hemistry ....................................................................................OB
Y.B.B
Department o( 0hemistry....................................................................................OY
Y.B.B.5
Nhysi,al 0hemistry .....................................................................................OS
Y.B.B.B
Crgani, 0hemistry ......................................................................................SB
Y.B.B.H
6nvironmental and Analyti,al 0hemistry ....................................................SH
Y.B.B.L
0hemistry Dissemination Iroup .................................................................SY
Y.B.H
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Analyti,al 0hemistry .......................................................................................LA
Department o( 0hemi,al 6ngineering.................................................................SO
Y.B.H.5
0atalysis ...................................................................................................5W5
Y.B.H.B
0olloid and Nolymers ................................................................................5WH
Y.B.H.H
Nro,ess Systems 6ngineering ..................................................................5WL
Y.B.H.L
!ea,tor Te,hnology..................................................................................5WY
4
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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Y.B.H.K
Separation and 6nvironmental Te,hnology ..............................................5WO
Y.B.H.Y
Naper and Ribre Te,hnology.....................................................................55W
Y.H
8NI;6!SIT? CR `6!I6N ..................................................................................55B
Y.H.5
Department o( 0hemistry..................................................................................55B
Y.H.5.5
Se,tion o( Crgani,_ `iophysi,al and =edi,inal 0hemistry........................55Y
Y.H.5.B
Se,tion o( Inorgani, 0hemistry_ Nanostru,tures and =odelling ...............55O
Y.H.5.H
Se,tion o( Nhysi,ala_ Netroleuma and Nro,ess 0hemistry.........................5BW
Y.L
8NI;6!SIT? CR T!C=Sb .................................................................................5BH
Y.L.5
Department o( 0hemistry..................................................................................5BH
Y.L.5.5
Inorgani, and =aterials 0hemistry Iroup ................................................5BA
Y.L.5.B
Crgani, 0hemistry Iroup .........................................................................5BS
Y.L.5.H
Stru,tural 0hemistry Iroup ......................................................................5HW
Y.L.5.L
Theoreti,al 0hemistry Iroup ....................................................................5HB
Y.K
NC!Z6IIAN 8NI;6!SIT? CR LIR6 S0I6N06S...............................................5HL
Y.K.5
0hemistry !esear,h Iroup ..............................................................................5HL
Y.K.5.5
6nvironmental 0hemistry at IN= ..............................................................5HY
Y.K.5.B
Natural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani, Analysis at IK`= .......................5HO
Y.Y
NC!Z6IIAN INSTIT8T6 RC! AI! !6S6A!0H ...............................................5L5
Y.A
8NI;6!SIT? CR STA;ANI6! ...........................................................................5LL
Y.A.5
Department o( =athemati,s and Natural S,ien,e ............................................5LL
Y.A.5.5
`iologi,al 0hemistry .................................................................................5LY
Y.A.5.B
Applied 0hemistry and the 6nvironment...................................................5LO
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ADDITICNAL INRC!=ATICN CN TH6 6;AL8ATICN ................................................5KA
`I`LIC=6T!I0 ANAL?SIS .................................................................................................5OH
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5
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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This is the report o( an ad ho, international 0ommittee ,onvened by the !esear,h 0oun,il o(
Nor%ay V!0NX to assess basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay.
The report has been prepared spe,i(i,ally (or the !0N_ %hi,h reserves the right to use the
,ontents as it sees (it. As the report is eUpe,ted to rea,h a %ide audien,e_ the 0ommittee
hopes its deliberations %ill promote a use(ul_ ,onstru,tive debate %ithin the Nor%egian
,hemistry ,ommunity.
The (irst revie% o( ,hemistry resear,h at Nor%egian universities and ,olleges_ the cZeitkamp
reportd_ %as submitted to the !0N in 5SSA. The ,urrent e((ort is the se,ond revie% o( basi,
resear,h in 0hemistry o( Nor%ay to be ,ommissioned by the !0N. The hearings and
meetings %ith sta(( o( the universities and institutes involved took pla,e bet%een September
and C,tober BWWO_ although the in(ormationagathering pro,ess_ in,luding (a,tual in(ormation_
sel(aevaluation and bibliometri, analysis_ began in January BWWO. The proje,t has involved
,omprehensive assessments o( resear,h e((orts at the departmental and resear,h group
level. The pro,ess o( a,hieving insight into su,h a %ide variety o( resear,h e((orts and
%orking to ,ome to a (air assessment o( their strengths and %eaknesses has reguired
substantial e((ort by the evaluation 0ommittee_ the !0N_ and the (a,ulty_ sta((_ and Nh.D.
students in the evaluated departments.
In spite o( the substantial s,ope o( the proje,t_ the 0ommittee (eels that it %as able to dis,uss
resear,harelated issues %ith a signi(i,ant number and ,rossase,tion o( (a,ulty and students_
and to obtain su((i,ient in(ormation on %hi,h to base balan,ed and (air assessments. The
0ommittee is ,on(ident that its analyses and re,ommendations are %ell (ounded. It is hoped
that the report %ill be vie%ed as a ,onstru,tive basis (or improvement_ development_ and
,hange.
!
6
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
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This is the report o( an ad ho, International 0ommittee ,onvened by the !esear,h 0oun,il o(
Nor%ay V!0NX to assess basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay.
The 0ommittee prepared this %ritten report (ollo%ing a revie% o( the sel(aassessments
provided by the institutions_ dis,ussions %ith sta(( and visits to most o( the resear,h (a,ilities.
Assessment o( the s,ienti(i, guality and produ,tivity o( resear,h groups %as primarily based
on the in(ormation provided in the 0;s as part o( the sel(aevaluations_ publi,ations and other
printed materials that %ere available during the intervie%s_ publi,ations that the 0ommittee
a,,essed ele,troni,ally in databases_ and also on a bibliometri, analysis_ %hi,h is in,luded in
the appendiU. A set o( spe,i(i, re,ommendations (or (uture development in the (ield_ in,luding
potential means o( improvement_ has been provided in the report.
The (irst revie% o( ,hemistry resear,h at Nor%egian universities and ,olleges_ the cZeitkamp
reportd_ %as submitted to the !0N in 5SSA. There have been important ,hanges sin,e the
last revie%_ espe,ially ,hanges in attitude and in management stru,tures to allo% strategi,
planning in resear,h. Substantial ne% initiatives have been put in pla,e_ but the overall
impression ,onveyed by Zeitkamp shares many similarities %ith the ,urrent assessment.
The 0ommittee notes that sin,e the time o( the Zeitkamp report there has been a signi(i,ant
redu,tion in the sihe o( many o( the departments_ and thus the opportunities to generate ne%
lines o( resear,h seem to have su((ered_ as the other responsibilities o( the sta((_ in,luding
tea,hing and administration_ have not de,lined proportionately.
The (ollo%ing general observations and ,on,lusions have been made by the 0ommittee:
a
Nor%ay has a relatively small a,ademi, ,ommunity. This small sihe has dra%ba,ks
%hen it ,omes to international ,ompetitiveness_ as it limits the number o( ne%
dire,tions that ,an be pursued by a c,riti,al massd o( resear,hers.
a
The number o( a,ademi, positions in all 0hemistry Departments has (allen_ in some
,ases guite substantially. The tea,hing load (or pro(essors %ho are interested in
per(orming resear,h is o(ten eU,essive_ apparently limiting their resear,h produ,tivity.
This problem appears to be aggravated by the (a,t that there are sometimes nona,ore
,ourses taught %ith only a (e% students enrolled.
a
Zhen ,ompared to other ,ountries the ,urrent a,ademi, ,hemistry ,ommunity in
Nor%ay appears to have a larger proportion o( late ,areer pro(essors no longer very
a,tive in resear,h.
a
The a,ademi, sta(( lists o( the departments the 0ommittee surveyed ,ontained a very
high proportion Vby international standardsX o( people %ho had ,ompleted their
masters and Nh.D.s in the same department_ and had a,ted as resear,h assistants in
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7
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
the same resear,h areasj there appears to be a strong ,ulture o( appointing the
groupks intelle,tual progeny.
a
A universally re,ognihed problem %as the di((i,ulty o( ,onvin,ing Nor%egian students
to obtain a Nh.D. degree and the shortage o( Nh.D. students in general. The value
added o( a Nh.D. to a ,areer in industry_ %hi,h most Nor%egian students have as
their target_ seems not to be %idely appre,iated.
a
0ompared to many other ,ountries_ the general pro(essional development aspe,t o(
the Nh.D. is not emphasihed as mu,h as %ork on the spe,i(i, proje,t. Iiven the high
number o( international students no% doing Nh.D.s in Nor%ay this might not be
appropriate. Thought should be given to (ostering and monitoring the development o(
trans(erable skills and to provision o( programmes (or edu,ation in key topi,s not
taught in undergraduate ,ourses. Iiven the small number o( Nh.D. students in most
universities_ this might need to be implemented at a national level.
a
6du,ational programmes and tea,her training only eUist at NTN8 and the 8niversity
o( Cslo. Ho%ever_ the result o( this engagement seems to be limited or ine((e,tive_ as
nearly all ,hemi,al departments in Nor%ay ,omplain about their di((i,ulties in
re,ruiting s,ien,e students.
a
The (unding available (or resear,h in Nor%ay is a smaller (ra,tion VW.AlX o( IDN than
in most 6uropean ,ountries_ %ell belo% 8S levels_ and belo% the 68 re,ommended
target.
a
=ost (unding provided by the !0N is through managed programmes VNANC=AT_
!6N6!II_ and R8I6X a there is only a lo% budget (or untargeted responsiveamode
appli,ations Vcblue skiesd resear,hX. Ror the development o( ne%_ innovative lines o(
resear,h_ ho%ever_ a substantial volume o( blue skies %ork is reguired to sustain the
vitality o( the (ield and to develop ne% talent. The (ra,tion o( this type o( resear,h is
,urrently mu,h too small in Nor%egian ,hemistry.
a
The ,urrent (unding system (or the a,ademi, ,hemistry departments in Nor%ay
reguires those departments to divide their (inan,ial resour,es among many di((erent
eUpenses. There are high sta(( ,osts Vsometimes ,onsuming the entire budgetX_
limited strategi, support (or resear,h_ limited te,hni,al support_ and very limited (unds
to support startaup grants.
a
The resear,h in(rastru,ture is mainly good_ in the 0entres very good_ but there is
al%ays s,ope (or improvement. The basi, eguipment %as o(ten running unsupported
%ithout maintenan,e ,ontra,ts and %ithout dedi,ated te,hni,ians. There does not
seem to be a ,ulture o( paying (or servi,es_ %hi,h is in ,ontrast to international
pra,ti,es.
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8
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
a
The opportunities (or %orking ,losely %ith resear,h institutes and %ith industrial
laboratories in Nor%ay are %ell developed and ,ompare (avourably in international
,omparisons. In ,ertain ,ases_ there %as an indi,ation that su,h relationships had
upset the appropriate balan,e bet%een applied and (undamental resear,h in the
university department.
a
The Nor%egian ,hemi,al and energy industries primarily hire masteralevel graduates_
and_ based on the in(ormation presented to the 0ommittee_ appear to ,redit little or
no added value_ either in entry positions or salary_ to ne% appointments %ith a Nh.D.
rather than a masterks degree. The 0ommittee understands (rom the %eekks
testimony that Nor%ayks ,hemi,al industry has relatively little interest in the (ield o(
organi, ,hemistry and stru,tural ,hemistry/biology.
0onsidering the main resear,h areas_ the (ollo%ing general observations %ere made by the
0ommittee. VSpe,i(i, evaluations and ,omparative assessments %ere made at the
departmental and resear,h group level.X
a
Inorgani, and materials ,hemistry are interdis,iplinary spe,ialties in the international
,hemistry ,ommunity that have in,reased in a,tivity and importan,e in the past
de,ade. Cn the %hole_ the health o( these ,hemi,al subadis,iplines in Nor%ay ,an be
,onsidered as very strong_ arguably amongst the strongest in the ,urrent Nor%egian
a,ademi, system.
a
Highaper(orman,e ,omputing (a,ilities_ %hi,h are the most important in(rastru,tural
,omponents (or theory and ,omputational ,hemistry_ are outstanding in Nor%ay and
a,,ess is at a %orldaleading level. The major problems (or both subje,ts are the la,k
o( Nh.D. students and_ in many groups_ the relian,e on very limited responsiveamode
(unding. Zithin the spe,trum o( resear,h regarded as topi,al in ,omputational
,hemistry %orld%ide_ several areas are underrepresented in Nor%ay.
a
The ,atalysis groups in Nor%ay should strengthen their mutual ,ollaboration by
sharing their o%n eUpertise in one or t%o ,ommon proje,ts Vother than inIANX.
0atalysis in Nor%ay has a good international impa,t in terms o( publi,ations_ although
improvement is possible. In this respe,t_ ,atalysis groups ,ould intensi(y their
,ooperation %ith materials s,ien,e groups.
a
There is little li(e s,ien,esarelated resear,h in ,hemistry departments in Nor%ay_
ho%ever_ the groups engaged in this %ork are among the most su,,ess(ul that %ere
evaluated. In,reasing intera,tions %ith bioorgani, ,hemistry should be a mutual
advantage (or both (ields.
a
Internationally_ organi, ,hemistry is normally a prominent area %ithin ,hemistry
departments. This is not the ,ase in Nor%ay_ %here organi, ,hemistry is hardly ever
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9
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
(ound as a standaalone area %ithin ,hemistry departments. The 0ommittee believes
that organi, ,hemistry in Nor%ay ,an be,ome internationally more visible through
several ,hanges in the %ay it is pra,ti,ed. Rurther_ it appears that there %ill be no
good opportunities (or better (unding o( resear,h in synthesis in the near (uture.
In,reased investment %ould be essential (or the health o( this dis,ipline_ as the
su,,ess o( KCSK has sho%n.
a
0hemi,al physi,s is in a parti,ularly pre,arious positionj and this is espe,ially true o(
,lassi,al areas like gasaphase spe,tros,opy. This means that Nor%egian ,hemistry is
turning its ba,k on several laboratoryabased subje,ts %ith important potential (or other
areas o( ,hemistry_ as %ell as abandoning ,lassi,al areas o( study that are important
to the dis,ipline pedagogi,ally and methodologi,ally. A great deal o( the a,tivity
des,ribed as physi,al ,hemistry is motivated by ,on,erns o( Nor%egian industries
and does not re(le,t the subje,t as seen globally.
a
6nvironmental ,hemistry is a Nor%egian strength_ and the geographi,al opportunities
and environmental threats in and to Nor%ay are a ,lear driver o( the resear,h
agenda. The areas o( spe,ialisation also provide eU,ellent opportunities (or
international ,ollaboration_ %hi,h is very important in the longer term (or this
,ommunity.
a
The national e((ort in nu,lear ,hemistry in Nor%ay is ,on,entrated in one resear,h
group in Cslo_ %here the (a,ilities are eU,ellent but there is a shortage o( personnel.
There are t%o strategi, reasons %hy it is ,riti,al to maintain nu,lear ,hemistry in
Nor%ay. Rirstly_ radiopharma,euti,al ,hemistry plays an important role in rapidly
developing medi,al te,hnologies. Se,ondly_ Nor%ay has very important deposits o(
thorium_ an alternative base nu,lear (uel to uranium. Nu,lear energy te,hnologies
based on thorium are under development internationally in order to eUploit its longa
term advantages.
a
In applied ,hemistry and ,hemi,al engineering the resear,h guestions addressed are
driven by the ,on,erns o( Nor%egian industries. =ajor so,ietal ,hallenges_ in,luding
,arbon dioUide ,apture and storage are ,overed by the resear,h groups in this (ield.
There(ore_ the resear,h per(ormed is highly relevant to Nor%egian so,iety and global
e((orts to mitigate global %arming. Rurther_ Nor%ay should ,onsider in the near (uture
establishing ,ollaboration bet%een resear,h in ,hemi,al engineering and resear,h in
the (ield o( biote,hnology.
a
Analyti,al ,hemistry is not a spe,ialihed area (or many o( the departments revie%ed
and has been e((e,tively integrated %ithin larger resear,h groups.
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10
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
In spite o( the substantial s,ope o( the proje,t_ the 0ommittee (eels that it %as able to dis,uss
resear,harelated issues %ith a signi(i,ant number and ,ross se,tion o( (a,ulty and students_
and to obtain su((i,ient in(ormation on %hi,h to base balan,ed and (air assessments.
The 0ommittee is ,on(ident that its analyses and re,ommendations are %ell (ounded. It
hopes that the report %ill be vie%ed as a ,onstru,tive basis (or improvement_ development_
and ,hange.!
!
11
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
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The Division o( S,ien,e at the !0N has reguested an evaluation o( basi, resear,h a,tivities
in 0hemistry in Nor%egian universities and ,olleges.
+89'o;<9=t?@9'oA't89'9@aCDat?oE'
Spe,i(i,ally_ the evaluation pro,ess %ill:
C((er a ,riti,al revie% o( the strengths and %eaknesses o( ,hemistry resear,h in Nor%ay_
both nationally and at the level o( individual resear,h groups and a,ademi, departments. The
s,ienti(i, guality o( the basi, resear,h %ill also be evaluated in an international ,onteUt.
Identi(y resear,h groups that have a,hieved a high international level in their resear,h_ or
have the potential to rea,h su,h a level.
Identi(y areas o( resear,h that should be strengthened in order to ensure that Nor%ay %ill
possess the ne,essary ,ompeten,e in areas o( importan,e to the nation in the (uture. And_
as one aspe,t o( this_ provide in(ormation to help the !0N to assess the impending situation
regarding re,ruitment in important (ields o( 0hemistry.
+89'CoEFGt9rI'pDrpoK9'oA't89'r9@?9L'
The evaluation %ill provide the institutions ,on,erned %ith in(ormation that %ill be help(ul in
raising their o%n resear,h standards. They %ill be provided %ith (eedba,k regarding the
s,ienti(i, per(orman,e o( individual resear,h groups_ as %ell as suggestions (or
improvements and priorities.
The evaluation %ill provide an additional kno%ledge base (or strategi, de,isionamaking by
the !0N (or their %ork developing 0hemistry resear,h in Nor%ay_ and represent a basis (or
determining (uture priorities_ in,luding (unding priorities_ both %ithin and among individual
areas o( resear,h.
The evaluation %ill rein(or,e the role o( the !0N as advisor to the Nor%egian Iovernment
and relevant ministries.
/9t8oMK'
An international 0ommittee %as appointed by the !0N. The 0ommittee based its
assessments on sel(aevaluations in,luding SZCT analyses provided by the departments and
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12
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
resear,h groups as %ell as meetings %ith various departments and resear,h groups. The
meetings in,luded oral presentations_ (ormal and in(ormal guestioning_ and an intervie% o(
Nh.D. students. In addition_ the 0ommittee ,arried out site visits to the institutions involved in
the evaluation. The departmentsk sel(aevaluations in,luded in(ormation about organisation
and resour,es_ and development and (uture plans_ as %ell as 0;s and publi,ation lists o( the
s,ienti(i, sta((. Assessment o( the s,ienti(i, guality o( resear,h groups %as based in parti,ular
on the bibliometri, analysis_ %hi,h is in,luded in the appendiU. The 0ommittee has %ritten a
report %ith a set o( spe,i(i, re,ommendations_ as reguested by the !0N. A preliminary
version o( the report %as sent to the departments (or ,omments_ and suggestions (or revision
%ere in,orporated %here ,onsistent %ith the 0ommitteeks vie%s. The (inal report has been
submitted to the !0Nks `oard o( the Division o( S,ien,e.
151' /%24%+#'
The 0ommittee %as reguested to evaluate s,ienti(i, a,tivities %ith respe,t to their guality_
relevan,e and international and national ,ollaboration. The 0ommittee %as (urther reguested
to evaluate the %ay in %hi,h 0hemistry resear,h is organised and managed. The 0ommittee
prepared this %ritten report based on the sel(aassessments provided by the institutions_ the
intervie%s o( sta((_ and the site visits_ %ith a set o( spe,i(i, re,ommendations (or the (uture
development in the (ield_ in,luding means o( improvement %hen reguired.
The resear,h groups and institutions in,luded in this evaluation have very di((erent origins_
stru,tures_ and priorities_ some being long established departments %ithin the Nor%egian
universities %hile others are very ne%_ and have only had university status (or a short time.
Some o( the groups_ both in the Institutes and 8niversities_ have very ,lose links to industry
and ,ommer,ial a,tivities rather than a purely a,ademi, orientation. The 0ommittee
re,ognises these di((eren,es and has taken them into ,onsideration in the evaluation. Su,h
institutional di((eren,es are a ,ause o( some o( the di((eren,es in outputs o( publi,ations. The
0ommittee has analysed the strengths o( the resear,h a,tivity (or all groups on the same
basis_ and has used the kno%n di((eren,es bet%een the groups and institutions in the
interpretation and re,ommendations.
The ,on,lusions o( the 0ommittee have led to a set o( re,ommendations ,on,erning the
(uture development o( resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay. The (ollo%ing spe,i(i, aspe,ts have
been ,onsidered:
!
13
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
General aspects
!
Zhi,h (ields o( resear,h in 0hemistry have a strong s,ienti(i, position in Nor%ay and
!
Zhi,h have a %eak positionn Is Nor%egian resear,h in 0hemistry being ,arried out in
(ields that are regarded as relevant by the international resear,h ,ommunityn Is
Nor%egian resear,h in 0hemistry ahead o( s,ienti(i, developments internationally in
spe,i(i, areasn
!
Is there a reasonable balan,e bet%een the various (ields o( Nor%egian resear,h in
0hemistry_ or is resear,h absent or underrepresented in any parti,ular (ieldn Cn the
other hand_ are some (ields overrepresented_ in vie% o( the guality or s,ienti(i,
relevan,e o( the resear,h that is being ,arried outn
!
Is there a reasonable degree o( ,ooperation and division o( resear,h a,tivities at the
national level_ or ,ould these aspe,ts be improvedn
!
Do resear,h groups maintain su((i,ient ,onta,t %ith industry and the publi, se,torn
Academic departments
!
Are the a,ademi, departments adeguately organisedn
!
Is s,ienti(i, leadership being eUer,ised in an appropriate %ayn
!
Do individual departments ,arry out resear,h as part o( an overall resear,h strategyn
!
Zhat is the balan,e bet%een men and %omen in a,ademi, positionsn
Research groups
!
Do the resear,h groups maintain a high s,ienti(i, guality judged by the signi(i,an,e o(
,ontribution to their (ield_ the prominen,e o( the leader and team members_ and the
s,ienti(i, impa,t o( their resear,hn
!
Is the produ,tivity_ e.g._ the number o( s,ienti(i, papers and Nh.D. theses a%arded_
reasonable in terms o( the resour,es availablen
!
Do the resear,h groups have ,ontra,ts and joint proje,ts %ith eUternal partnersn
!
Do they play an a,tive role in dissemination to industry and the publi, se,tor o( their
o%n resear,h and ne% international developments in their (ieldn
!
Do they play an a,tive role in ,reating and establishing ne% industrial a,tivityn
!
Is the international net%ork_ e.g._ ,onta,t %ith leading international resear,h groups_
number o( international guest resear,hers_ and number o( joint publi,ations %ith
international ,olleagues_ satis(a,toryn
!
Do they a,tively take part in international pro(essional ,ommittees and other
pro(essional a,tivities outside their immediate resear,h programmesn
!
Have resear,h groups dra%n up strategies %ith plans (or their resear,h_ and are su,h
plans implementedn
!
14
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
!
Is the sihe and organisation o( the resear,h group reasonablen
!
Is there su((i,ient ,onta,t and ,ooperation among resear,h groups nationally_ and
ho% do they ,ooperate %ith ,olleagues in the resear,h institute se,torn
!
Do the resear,h groups take a,tive part in interdis,iplinary/multidis,iplinary resear,h
a,tivitiesn
!
Ho% is the longaterm viability o( the group evaluated in vie% o( (uture plans and ideas_
sta(( age_ (a,ilities_ resear,h pro(ile_ ne% impulses through re,ruitment o(
resear,hersn
!
Zhat roles do Nor%egian resear,h groups play in international ,ooperation in
individual sub(ields o( 0hemistryn Are there any signi(i,ant di((eren,es bet%een
Nor%egian resear,h in 0hemistry and resear,h being done in other ,ountriesn
!
Do resear,h groups take part in international programmes or use (a,ilities abroad_ or
might utilisation be improved by introdu,ing spe,ial measuresn
Research infrastructure including scientific equipment
!
Zhat are the status and (uture needs %ith regard to laboratories and resear,h
in(rastru,turen
!
Is there su((i,ient ,ooperation related to the use o( eUpensive eguipmentn
Training and mobility
!
Does the s,ienti(i, sta(( play an a,tive role in stimulating the interest in their (ield o(
resear,h among young peoplen
!
Is re,ruitment to do,toral training programmes satis(a,tory_ or should greater
emphasis be put on re,ruitment in the (uturen
!
Is there an adeguate degree o( national and international mobilityn
!
Are there su((i,ient edu,ational and training opportunities (or Nh.D. studentsn
Future developments and needs
The 0ommitteeks %ritten report is based on the elements and guestions above. The
assessments and re,ommendations are provided at the resear,h group_ department_
institutional_ and national level.
15N' OR%4,2O'
Ror the assessment o( the resear,h groups a grading system has been applied that (o,usses
on the (ollo%ing aspe,ts:
!
15
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Scientific Quality and Productivity
!
internationally applied standards (or s,ienti(i, guality based on bibliometri, analysis
!
number o( Nh.D._ masterks students and grades a%arded
!
parti,ipation in ,on(eren,es
Relevance and Societal Impact
Aspe,ts o( the s,ien,e that are not re(le,ted by normal internationally applied s,ienti(i,
measures_ in parti,ular_ relevan,e to Nor%egian industry_ health_ national and global
environmental issues and ,ulture. This is more di((i,ult to assess guantitatively.
Strategy, Organisation and Research Cooperation
!
arrangement o( in(rastru,ture to (a,ilitate guality o( the %ork
!
organising resear,h group a,tivities to improve (unding opportunities
!
supportive environment
The grading s,ale is:
Excellent = 5
Internationally leading position_ undertaking original resear,h and publishing in the best
international journals. High produ,tivity Vin,luding number o( Nh.D. theses a%ardedX. 0lear
and ,onvin,ing strategy and (uture planning. ;ery positive overall impression o( the resear,h
group and leadership.
Very good = 4
A publi,ation pro(ile %ith a high degree o( international publi,ations in good journals. High
produ,tivity and very relevant to international resear,h or to Nor%egian so,iety in,luding
Nh.D. training. Iood strategy and (uture planning. ;ery positive overall impression o( the
resear,h group.
Good = 3
0ontribute to international and national resear,h %ith good guality resear,h o( relevan,e both
to international resear,h development and to Nor%egian problem solving. Number o( Nh.D.s
is reasonable. Iood balan,e bet%een international and national publi,ations. A,,eptable
produ,tivity. Strategi, plans are reasonable to good. Nositive overall impression o( resear,h
group.
!
16
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Fair = 2
The guality o( resear,h is a,,eptable_ but the international publi,ation pro(ile is modest.
=u,h routine %ork evident in resear,h programme design and in publi,ations_ (e% original
,ontributions. !elevan,e and produ,tivity o( resear,h are not eU,iting. Strategi, planning
eUists_ but is not ,onvin,ing or realisti,. Cverall impression is positive but %ith signi(i,ant
reservations by the evaluators.
Weak = 1
!esear,h guality is belo% good standards and the publi,ation pro(ile is poor. Cnly o,,asional
international publi,ations. No original resear,h and little relevan,e to national problems.
Di((use strategi, planning. No overall positive impression by evaluators.
15P' +6#'#-%7*%+,32'&3//,++##'
Nro(essor 6vamarie HeyaHa%kins
8niversitot Leiphig_ Iermany
Ra,ulty o( 0hemistry and =ineralogy
Institute o( Inorgani, 0hemistry
Johannisallee BS
DaWL5WH Leiphig
Nro(essor David Ro%ler
0entre (or 6,ology and Hydrology_
`ush 6state_ Neni,uik_ 6dinburgh
6HBY W^`
8K
Nro(essor !obert J. 0ava
Department o( 0hemistry
Nrin,eton 8niversity
Nrin,eton NJ WOKLL
8SA
Nro(essor Naul =adden
Nrovost o( ^ueenks 0ollege
8niversity o( CU(ord
CU(ord C75 LAZ
8K
Nro(essor Thisbe K. Lindhorst
0hristiana Albertina 8niversity o( Kiel_ Iermany
CttoaDielsaInstitute o( Crgani, 0hemistry
CttoaHahnaNlath HaL
DaBLWSO Kiel
Nro(essor Daniel Dupreh
Laboratoire de 0atalyse en 0himie Crganigue
VLA00CX_ LW_ Av. !e,teur Nineau
OYWBB Noitiers
Rran,e
Nro(essor Ierhard S,hembe,ker
Te,hnis,he 8niversitot Dortmund_ Iermany
Department o( `io,hemi,al and 0hemi,al
6ngineering
Laboratory (or Nlant and Nro,ess Design
6milaRiggeaStr. BW
DaLLBBA Dortmund
6Ue,utive Se,retary Dr. Doritt Luppa_ 8niversitot Leiphig_ Iermany_ %as involved in
,ompiling all the input (rom the 0ommittee members and in pro,essing the report.
!
17
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
N'
O#2#R%7'4#.&R,!+,32'
N5(' !%R+,&,!%2+.'3$'+6#'#-%7*%+,32'
The (ollo%ing institutions are in,luded in the revie%:
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'3KCo'R*?3S'
Department of Chemistry
Synthesis and mole,ular stru,ture
Analysis and environment
Nu,lear ,hemistry
Run,tional inorgani, materials
0atalysis
Nolymers ] organi, materials
^uantum me,hani,s_ stru,ture and dynami,s
S,hool laboratory
2orL9F?aE'*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'.=?9E=9'aEM'+9=8EoCoFQ'R2+2*S'
Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE)
Inorgani, ,hemistry
6le,tro,hemistry
Department of Chemistry
Crgani, ,hemistry
6nvironmental and analyti,al ,hemistry in,luding ,hemistry dissemination
Nhysi,al ,hemistry
Department of Chemical Engineering
0atalysis
0olloid and polymers
Nro,ess systems engineering
!ea,tor te,hnology
Separation and environmental te,hnology
Naper and (ibre te,hnology
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'T9rF9E'R*?TS'
Department of Chemistry
Crgani,_ biophysi,al and medi,inal ,hemistry
Inorgani, ,hemistry_ nanostru,tures and modelling
Nhysi,ala_ petroleuma and pro,ess ,hemistry
!
18
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'+roIKU'R*?+S'
Department of Chemistry
Crgani, ,hemistry
Inorgani, and materials ,hemistry
Stru,tural ,hemistry
Theoreti,al ,hemistry
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'.ta@aEF9r'R*?.S'
Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
`iologi,al ,hemistry
0hemistry and environment
2orL9F?aE'*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'7?A9'.=?9E=9K'R*/TS'
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (IPM)
6nvironmental ,hemistry at IN=
Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (IKBM)
Natural produ,t ,hemistry and organi, analysis at IK`=5
2orL9F?aE',EKt?tDt9'Aor'%?r'R9K9ar=8'R2,7*S'
6nvironmental 0hemistry Department
N51' V#0'$,O*R#.'
N515(' OraMDat9K'
2DI;9rK'ar9'taW9E'AroI't89'Aa=tDaC'?EAorIat?oE'pro@?M9M';Q't89'49partI9EtK'
1XXY'
Dr. ing./Dr. scient. graduated
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'3KCo'
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5
The resear,h group cCrgani, 0hemistryd %as renamed cNatural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani,
Analysisd throughout this report as reguested by 8=`
!
19
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Synthesis and mole,ular stru,ture
B
5
H
Y
Analysis and environment
L
H
K
5B
Nu,lear ,hemistry
5
W
B
H
Run,tional inorgani, materials
Y
W
H
S
0atalysis
5
B
5
L
Nolymers ] organi, materials
W
B
W
B
^uantum me,hani,s_ stru,ture and dynami,s
5
5
5
H
Inorgani, ,hemistry
K
K
B
5B
6le,tro,hemistry
Y
B
5
S
Crgani, ,hemistry
H
B
H
O
Nhysi,al ,hemistry
5
5
L
Y
6nvironmental ,hemistry in,luding ,hemistry
L
B
W
Y
0atalysis
L
H
Y
5H
0olloid and polymer ,hemistry
H
H
H
S
Naper and (ibre te,hnology
W
L
W
L
Nro,ess systems engineering
B
5
H
Y
!ea,tor te,hnology
B
L
5
A
Separation and environmental te,hnology
B
W
B
L
Crgani,_ biophysi,al and medi,inal ,hemistry
H
K
B
5W
Inorgani, ,hemistry_ nanostru,tures and modelling
W
K
K
5W
Nhysi,ala_ petroleuma and pro,ess ,hemistry
5
B
B
K
Crgani, ,hemistry
5
5
W
B
Inorgani, and materials ,hemistry
5
W
W
5
Stru,tural ,hemistry
5
5
H
K
Theoreti,al ,hemistry
W
W
5
5
`iologi,al ,hemistry
5
H
B
Y
0hemistry and environment
5
5
5
H
6nvironmental ,hemistry at IN=
B
B
B
Y
Natural produ,ts ,hemistry and organi, analysis at
H
W
5
L
W
B
B
L
2orL9F?aE'*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'.=?9E=9'aEM'+9=8EoCoFQ'
dissemination
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'T9rF9E'
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'+roIKU'
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'.ta@aEF9r'
2orL9F?aE'*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'7?A9'.=?9E=9K'
IK`=
2orL9F?aE',EKt?tDt9'Aor'%?r'R9K9ar=8'
!
20
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
2DI;9rK'ar9'taW9E'AroI't89'Aa=tDaC'?EAorIat?oE'pro@?M9M';Q't89'49partI9EtK'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Synthesis and mole,ular stru,ture
H
A
5
55
Analysis and environment
Y
5W
5B
BO
Nu,lear ,hemistry
W
5
W
5
Run,tional inorgani, materials
A
K
B
5L
0atalysis
B
H
5
Y
Nolymers ] organi, materials
5
H
5
K
^uantum me,hani,s_ stru,ture and dynami,s
W
5
B
H
Inorgani, ,hemistry
K
Y
A
5O
6le,tro,hemistry
S
5W
5K
HL
Crgani, ,hemistry
55
O
5H
HB
Nhysi,al ,hemistry
H
L
W
A
6nvironmental ,hemistry in,l. ,hemistry dissem.
B
H
A
5B
0atalysis
Y
O
55
BK
0olloid and polymer ,hemistry
H
5
K
S
Naper and (ibre te,hnology
5
H
5
K
Nro,ess systems engineering
B
H
B
A
!ea,tor te,hnology
Y
5
Y
5H
Separation and environmental te,hnology
K
B
B
S
Crgani,_ biophysi,al and medi,inal ,hemistry
B
K
O
5K
Inorgani, ,hemistry_ nanostru,tures and modelling
W
K
5
Y
Nhysi,ala_ petroleuma and pro,ess ,hemistry
B
L
K
55
Crgani, ,hemistry
H
W
B
K
Inorgani, and materials ,hemistry
W
W
W
W
Stru,tural ,hemistry
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
C((shore 6nvironmental 6ngineering Nrogram
5W
5B
5H
HK
`iologi,al 0hemistry Nrogram
W
W
O
O
6nvironmental ,hemistry at IN=
H
B
A
5B
Natural produ,t ,hemistry and organi, analysis at IK`=
S
K
L
5O
M.Sc. graduated
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'3KCo'
2orL9F?aE'*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'.=?9E=9'aEM'+9=8EoCoFQ'
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'T9rF9E'
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'+roIKU'
Theoreti,al ,hemistry
*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'.ta@aEF9r
\'
2orL9F?aE'*E?@9rK?tQ'oA'7?A9'.=?9E=9K'
p
The master program in `iologi,al 0hemistry started autumn BWWY. =embers o( both resear,h groups
have supervised on both master programs
!
21
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
N5151' R]4'#^p9EM?tDr9K';Q'/a?E'.oDr=9'oA'$DEM?EF'R(XXX'23VS'
+Qp9' oA' 9^p9EM?tDr9K' pro@?M9M' ;Q' t89' Aa=tDaC'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
LW_KWW
L5_WWW
LW_SAW
8niversity (unding_ others
B_AWW
B_KWW
B_KWW
8niversity (unding_ instruments and eguipment
5_AWW
OWW
BLW
*E?@9rK?tQ'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
PP_`XX
PP_NXX
PN_[(X'
!0N_ Cther national grants Vsalaries_ so,ial ,osts_
BO_WWW
HW_WWW
HO_WWW
Y_OWW
H_BWW
5_WWW
KWW
B_YWW
AWW
#^t9rEaC'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
NY_NXX
NY_aXX
N`_[XX'
+otaC'9^p9EM?tDr9K'
aX_1XX
aX_[XX
aN_P(X'
LL
LL
LA
5H_WWW
5H_WWW
5H_WWW
8niversity (unding_ other ,osts
5_YWW
B_HWW
B_5WW
8niversity (unding_ instruments and eguipment
5_YWW
?EAorIat?oE'oA't89'49partI9EtK'
*?3_'49partI9Et'oA'&89I?KtrQ'
8niversity (unding_5X salaries Vin,luding S=NX
overhead_ in,luding S=NX
!0N Vinstruments_ eguipmentX
Cther national grants Vpubli, or privateX
International grants Vin,luding 68X
6Uternal (unding as l o( total eUpenditures
1S
2+2*_'4/.# '
8niversity (unding_ salaries
5_SWW
*E?@9rK?tQ'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
(Z_1XX
(Y_NXX
([_XXX'
!0N_ grants
5L_LWW
5K_SWW
5H_BWW
Cther national grants Vpubli, or privateX
5_WWW
5_WWW
5_WWW
International grants Vin,luding 68X
B_WWW
B_WWW
B_WWW
#^t9rEaC'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
([_PXX
(a_`XX
(Z_1XX'
+otaC'9^p9EM?tDr9K'
NN_ZXX
NP_1XX
NN_1XX'
K5.O
KK.H
LO.O
BH_HLY
BB_YSY
BL_YH5
B_SOW
H_5WW
B_5KW
Y5W
OKW
B_BHO
*E?@9rK?tQ'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
1Z_`NZ
1Z_ZPZ
1`_X(`'
!0N_ grants
5B_SHH
5W_HKW
Y_KLK
Cther national grants Vpubli, or privateX
5_AKL
S5H
LKA
International grants Vin,luding 68X
5_LLK
5_HBK
KOH
#^t9rEaC'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
(Z_(N1
(1_Y`a
[_YaY'
+otaC'9^p9EM?tDr9K'
PN_XZa
N`_1PP
NZ_ZXP'
HA
HB
B5
6Uternal (unding as l o( total eUpenditures
2+2*_'49partI9Et'oA'&89I?KtrQ'
8niversity (unding_5X salaries
8niversity (unding_ other ,osts
8niversity (unding_ instruments and eguipment
6Uternal (unding as l o( total eUpenditures
!
22
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
2+2*_'49partI9Et'oA'&89I?=aC'#EF?E99r?EF'
8niversity (unding_5X salaries
5S_HB5
5S_WAO
5S_OKO
8niversity (unding_ other ,osts
K_5SW
K_S5H
A_BSL
8niversity (unding_ instruments and eguipment
B_HOH
L_WKO
L_BH5
*E?@9rK?tQ'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
1Z_a`P
1`_XP`
N(_NaN'
!0N_ grants
BH_WA5
BO_SHA
HY_WWB
Cther national grants Vpubli, or privateX
5S_WAH
5L_LBO
5L_55O
L_YOL
L_BSB
L_5LS
#^t9rEaC'ADEM?EF_'totaC'
PZ_a1a
P[_ZY[
YP_1Z`'
+otaC'9^p9EM?tDr9K'
[N_[11
[Z_Y`P
`X_1[('
YL
YB
YW
8niversity (unding_5X salaries
5A_HWW
5O_KWW
BW_BWW
8niversity (unding_ other ,osts
5W_AWW
5B_5WW
5L_HWW
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!
23
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Cther national grants Vpubli, or privateX
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S_ALY
24
5W_A5A
5H_YYO
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
8niversity (unding_ instruments and eguipment
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5X
8niversity (unding: This re(ers to the institutions input o( o%n resour,es su,h as salaries (or s,ienti(i,
personnel Vin,luding so,ial ,ostsX'
BX
The eUpenditures are estimates sin,e the annual budget and eUternal (unding in,lude resear,h
groups that are not involved in the evaluation
N515N' R]4'!9rKoEE9C'
The !TD personnel ,ategorisation is split into the groups pro(essor_ asso,iate pro(essor_
pro(essor II_ postdo,toral (ello%_ do,toral students_ and te,hni,al/administrative positions.
The spe,i(i, numbers are given at the department and resear,h group level in the relevant
,hapters. The distribution o( male and (emale s,ienti(i, personnel in ,hemistry resear,h is
given in the table belo%.
!roA9KKor'
%KKo=?at9'!roA9KKor'
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male
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male
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Numbers ,on,luded (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Departments to the 0ommittee
In general_ the per,entage o( %omen in the natural s,ien,es depends on the individual
dis,iplines. These numbers vary among di((erent a,ademi, levels and usually de,rease
starting (rom the masterks level.
!
25
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
P'
O#2#R%7'&32&7*.,32.'
P5(' &3//#2+.'R#O%R4,2O'+6#'b#,+V%/!'R#!3R+'
This revie% takes pla,e 55 years a(ter the Zeitkamp revie%_ %hi,h ,on,luded that the vitality
and produ,tivity o( ,hemistry resear,h in Nor%ay did not re(le,t the e,onomi, and a,ademi,
potential o( Nor%ay_ and that ,omparison %ith near neighbours o( a ,omparable sihe sho%ed
the Nor%egian position to be %eaker than those ,ountries. In providing the national pi,ture_
many generi, ,omments %ere made to ,hara,terise the ,hemi,al resear,h ,ommunity.
These ,omments in,luded aspe,ts o( mobility_ the output o( do,toral graduates_ the use o(
sabbati,al leave_ the appointment o( highaguality appli,ants to pro(essorial positions_ and the
(ra,tion o( (unding available to support qblue skyk resear,h. The 0ommittee notes that in most
o( these ,ases the eviden,e provided to this 0ommittee sho%s a similar pi,ture. There have
been important ,hanges sin,e the last revie%_ and ne% initiatives have been put in pla,e_ but
the overall impression o( the ,hemistry resear,h revie%ed in 5SSA shares many similarities
%ith the ,urrent assessmentj there has not been an apparent trans(ormation over the
intervening 55 years. The 0ommittee notes that sin,e the time o( the Zeitkamp report there
has been a signi(i,ant redu,tion in the sihe o( many o( the departments_ and thus the
opportunities to generate ne% lines o( resear,h have su((ered_ as the other responsibilities o(
the sta((_ in,luding tea,hing and administration_ have not de,lined proportionately.
P51' +6#'2%+,32%7'!,&+*R#'
+89'a=aM9I?='=oIIDE?tQ'
Nor%ay has a relatively small a,ademi, ,ommunity. This small sihe has dra%ba,ks %hen it
,omes to international ,ompetitiveness_ as it limits the number o( ne% dire,tions that ,an be
pursued by a c,riti,al massd o( Nor%egian resear,hers. It also limits the (or,e o( intelle,t that
,an be brought to bear on any single important s,ienti(i, problem. The Nor%egian a,ademi,
,hemistry ,ommunity makes up (or the issue o( sihe by organising into resear,h groups
%here several pro(essors %ithin a university department are brought together to (o,us in
areas o( mutual interest. The resulting a,ademi, ,hemistry ,ommunity per(orms good guality
%ork %hen judged on an international standard_ and several o( the groups ,an be ,onsidered
%orldaleading. Nonetheless_ given the overall standard o( living and (inan,ial resour,es o( the
,ountry_ the %ellabeing and international ,ompetitiveness o( the a,ademi, ,hemistry
,ommunity ,ould be substantially enhan,ed i( several systemi, issues %ere to be addressed.
The Nor%egian a,ademi, ,hemistry ,ommunity is relatively small_ but is not ne,essarily
small in proportion to the overall population o( the ,ountry. There are_ ho%ever_ a variety o(
!
26
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
strong (or,es_ des,ribed in more detail belo%_ that ,onspire to limit the opportunities (or
young people %ho %ish to pursue ,areer paths based on obtaining a Nh.D. and entering the
a,ademi, system as pro(essors. Iiven the (a,t that advan,es in basi, and applied s,ien,e
are most o(ten made by enthusiasti,_ ambitious young people %ho look %ith a ne%
perspe,tive at problems that older generations ,ould not solve_ the ,onseguen,es o( this la,k
o( an a,ademi, ,areer path (or young people in Nor%ay are pro(ound.
It is important to note that %hile a %ide spe,trum o( ,hemistry resear,h in Nor%ay is ,overed
by this revie%_ there is mu,h that is not in,luded. The ,hemistry o( the atmosphere Vand o(
the o,ean and earth systemX_ in %hi,h Nor%ay has ,onsiderable strength_ may be (ound in
university departments that %ere not in,luded in this revie% Ve.g._ in Ieos,ien,esX and in
Nor%egian Institutes Ve.g._ the Nor%egian =eteorologi,al InstituteX. As substantial parts o(
this resear,h operate at the highest levels and is in ,ollaboration %ith leading resear,h
groups globally_ our ,on,lusions apply only to the parts o( the ,ommunity in,luded in the
revie%.
.taAA'aEM'r9=rD?tI9Et'
A universally re,ognised problem %as the di((i,ulty o( ,onvin,ing Nor%egian students to
obtain a Nh.D. degree and the shortage o( Nh.D. students generally. The (a,t that the
number o( universitya(unded Nh.D. positions has de,lined signi(i,antly means that there are
very (e% positions in groups that do not attra,t industrial or programmeagrant (unding_ (urther
diminishing the viability o( these groups. 6ven the larger groups %ere small by ,omparison
%ith internationally leading groups in the same resear,h area. Although positions are (illed
every%here %ith overseas students_ the la,k o( Nor%egian students ,reates di((i,ulties (or
supporting undergraduate tea,hing and leads to a la,k o( kno%aho% %ithin resear,h groups
in dealing %ith Nor%egian institutions and pra,ti,es. Nor%egian Nh.D. students (elt they
(a,ed an additional_ heavy burden as a ,onseguen,e.
The ,onseguen,es o( national poli,ies be,ame espe,ially obvious during the 0ommitteeks
intervie% o( a dohen ,urrent Nh.D. students. These %ere smart_ arti,ulate_ ambitious young
people %ith a ,lear desire to do %ell and use their talents to the best advantage. ?et many o(
them stated that the Nh.D. degree in Nor%ay is no guarantee (or opportunities beyond the
masterks degree_ espe,ially (or those %ho do not see their (uture in a,ademia_ and that it
might even be a deadaend option.
The a,ademi, sta(( lists o( the departments the 0ommittee surveyed ,ontained a very high
proportion Vby international standardsX o( people %ho had ,ompleted their masters and
Nh.D.s in the same department_ and had a,ted as resear,h assistants in the same resear,h
!
27
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
groupj there is a strong ,ulture o( appointing the groupks intelle,tual ,hildren. It ,an be
argued that spe,ial (eatures o( Nor%egian s,ien,e_ in parti,ular the ,lose asso,iation
bet%een ,ertain resear,h groups and Nor%egian industries and the programme
management o( resear,h (unding has led to the re(inement o( parti,ular spe,ialties_ so that
the c,hildrend may indeed be the international eUperts in areas %here maintaining eUpertise is
important (or Nor%ay. Zhilst there %ere eUamples that demonstrated this_ more generally the
0ommittee believes that this tenden,y inhibits the development o( ne% internationally
re,ognised resear,h opportunities and also ,ontributes to the per,eived barrier bet%een a
Nh.D. and an a,ademi, position_ to %hi,h the 0ommittee re(erred above. Numerous
important ,urrent resear,h themes in ,hemistry have not developed at all in Nor%ay Vas
highlighted belo%_ ,hapter H.L cThe =ain !esear,h AreasdX and this may in part be a
,onseguen,e o( ,onservative appointments. A,ademi, ,ultures in the 8S and 6urope try
very hard to dis,ourage this ,ulture o( (a,ulty hiring_ although the problem does eUist
every%here. The pra,ti,e strongly inhibits a,ademi, departments (rom moving in ne%
dire,tions in response to ne% ideasj institutions that operate in this (ashion sho% a strong
tenden,y to lose their intelle,tual vitality.
Although an issue at many universities internationally_ %hen ,ompared to other ,ountries the
,urrent a,ademi, ,hemistry ,ommunity in Nor%ay appears to have a larger proportion o( late
,areer pro(essors no longer very a,tive in resear,h. This pla,es a substantial (inan,ial strain
on the system_ as su,h pro(essors do not bring eUternal resear,h (unding to their universities
(rom ,ompetitive national or international grants. Also_ the unprodu,tive pro(essors o,,upy a
nonanegligible (ra,tion o( the limited number o( a,ademi, positions available_ resulting in a
bottlene,k that limits the opportunities (or a,ademi, employment (or young people. In
addition_ due to the lo% turnover rate o( pro(essors_ many o( the ,hemistry departments
intervie%ed des,ribed plans (or implementing ,hange that involved de,ades_ rather than
years_ strongly limiting the ability o( the Nor%egian a,ademi, system to move into the most
,urrent (ields o( s,ienti(i, inguiry.
!esear,h and tea,hing are both important parts o( the responsibility o( university ,hemistry
departments. =any times during the presentations_ the 0ommittee heard testimony that the
tea,hing load (or pro(essors %ho are interested in per(orming resear,h is eU,essive_ limiting
their resear,h produ,tivity. I( this is indeed the ,ase_ then pro(essors %ho %ish to per(orm
resear,h at internationally ,ompetitive levels may be substantially disadvantaged %ith
respe,t to their international ,ompetitors.
!
28
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
+ra?E?EF'aEM'=ar99r'p9rKp9=t?@9K'oA'QoDEF'r9K9ar=89rK'
Cne o( the primary issues the system o( s,ien,e edu,ation (a,es is the value pla,ed on the
Nh.D. degree in s,ien,e in Nor%ay_ presenting a situation that is guite di((erent (rom that in
most other developed ,ountries. Typi,al ,areer paths (or Nh.D. s,ientists internationally are
in university or institute resear,h and tea,hing or in industrial resear,h. There appear to be
di((i,ulties %ith ea,h o( these ,areer paths in Nor%ay. As a result_ relatively (e% Nor%egian
students ,hoose to pursue a Nh.D. degree. There(ore_ Nor%ay has a relatively smaller
proportion
o(
its
%ork(or,e
trained
in
the
innovative_
independent
thought
and
eUperimentation that ,riti,ally di((erentiates s,ienti(i, Nh.D. degree holders (rom masterks
degree holders in other developed ,ountries.
The per,eived unattra,tiveness o( the Nh.D. to Nor%egian students seems to have several
,auses. The value added o( a Nh.D. to a ,areer in industry_ %hi,h most Nor%egian students
have as their target_ seems not to be %idely appre,iated. =oreover_ it is not %idely
re,ognised that a very high proportion o( people at highest levels in industrial resear,h have
Nh.D.s. Se,ondly_ masterks students are a,tively re,ruited by industry or resear,h institutes
to ,onsiderably higher salaries than are given in a Nh.D. programme. There(ore_ %ithout a
per,eived longaterm advantage_ the attra,tiveness o( the Nh.D. Vi( seen as a path%ay to an
improved ,areer in industryX is limited. Thirdly_ be,ause Nh.D. positions are no% largely
obtained on resear,h grants_ the ability to make an early ,ommitment o( a position to a
promising masterks student is diminished. This (eature also dis,ourages students (rom
trans(erring bet%een universities_ many staying in the same one in %hi,h they did their
masters. As the 0ommittee notes belo%_ this has longer term ,onseguen,es (or re,ruitment
to a,ademi, positions. Rourthly_ the Nh.D. programme seems to be less (ormally stru,tured
than those no% o((ered in other ,ountries. It appears that the per,eived obje,tive is solely
spe,ialised advan,ed training in the narro%lyade(ined resear,h topi,_ and that more general
a,guisition o( resear,h skills and appre,iation o( the broader (ield in %hi,h that topi, is
lo,ated are not emphasised. !egular ,he,kpoints_ %ith students giving seminars or preparing
(ormal reports_ (or eUample_ until the a,tual submission o( the Nh.D. thesis %ere rarely (ound.
The ,on,ept o( one person responsible (or all graduates_ to assist %ith obtaining support_ to
,omplete a resear,h programme_ to attend a ,on(eren,e abroad_ or to advi,e about thesis
preparation did not seem to be %idely available. This ,reates parti,ular problems (or the
overseas students and has a kno,kaon e((e,t (or the Nor%egian students %ho are enlisted on
an adaho, basis by the overseas students to per(orm these (un,tions. Cur observation is that
the Nh.D. is managed as i( all entrants ,ome through a masters in the same university_
%hereas the reality is that this is no% true in the minority o( ,ases_ %ith a large proportion
,oming (rom abroad. Lastly_ there are spe,ial aspe,ts o( the transition (rom a Nh.D. to an
!
29
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
a,ademi, position in many departments in Nor%ay that appear to ,reate a large barrier to
pursuing an a,ademi, ,areer.
Zithout doubt_ the Nor%egian Nh.D. students are very attra,tive to Nor%egian industryj those
the 0ommittee intervie%ed %ere in no doubt that they %ould readily (ind positions. The
0ommittee did not have an opportunity to intervie% nonaNor%egian Nh.D. students to
dis,over i( they had the same obje,tives or eUpe,tations.
/o;?C?tQ'
The relatively small number o( institutions supporting a,ademi, ,hemistry departments and
the spe,ialist areas o( resear,h in ,hemistry reguire the majority o( Nor%egian resear,h
groups to ,ollaborate internationally to be %orking %ith the leading s,ientists in their (ields.
There are good eUamples o( this a,tivity_ and the 68 Rrame%ork resear,h programmes are
an important a,tivity in %hi,h some Nor%egian resear,h groups are %ell ,onne,ted.
Ho%ever_ there are groups that have not developed these links_ and_ given the small sihe o(
the resear,h ,ommunity_ s,hemes spe,i(i, to Nor%ay are needed to enable individuals to
develop ne% ideas and learn ne% skills at leading institutions internationally.
#MD=at?oEaC'proFraII9K'aEM't9a=89r'tra?E?EF'
6du,ational programmes and tea,her training eUist at NTN8 and the 8niversity o( Cslo.
There(ore_ these a,ademi, institutions play an important role in sensitising tea,hers in
,hemistry to the (uture needs o( Nor%egian so,iety. 6du,ating tea,hers provides an
important opportunity to ,ommuni,ate to pupils the value o( Nor%egian ,hemistry graduates
in over,oming ,hallenges in_ e.g._ sustainable energy produ,tion_ and the eU,iting ,areer
opportunities that are potentially available to ,hemists. ;ia this route_ Nor%egian universities
are enabled to en,ourage young people to study ,hemistry or ,hemi,al engineering.
Ho%ever_ the result o( this engagement seems to be limited or ine((e,tive_ as nearly all
,hemi,al departments in Nor%ay ,omplain about their di((i,ulties in re,ruiting s,ien,e
students.
The edu,ational and tea,her training programmes appear to be more a servi,e than a standa
alone resear,h a,tivity. The groups are very small_ sometimes ,onsisting o( only one person_
and their involvement in the edu,ational and tea,her training programmes is high. The
limited resear,h the group at NTN8 per(orms (o,usses on topi,s in nonadida,ti, (ields. The
s,hool laboratory at 8iC does not ,arry out any resear,h. Ho%ever_ it should be an important
obje,tive to understand %hy young people in Nor%ay are not interested in entering the area
o( ,hemistry. Cne possibility may be to (o,us the resear,h ,onne,ted to the edu,ation and
training programmes on the (ield o( ,hemistry and its dida,ti,s. In order to optimise the
!
30
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
limited resour,es in Nor%ay (or ,hemi,al edu,ation resear,h_ the 0ommittee re,ommends
,oordinating any (uture a,tivities in the (ield bet%een NTN8 and 8iC. The establishment o( a
National 0entre (or 6du,ation in 0hemistry may be help(ul in this regard.
$?EaE=?aC'
The (unding available (or resear,h in Nor%ay is a smaller (ra,tion VW.AlX o( IDN than in
most 6uropean ,ountries_ %ell belo% 8S levels_ and belo% the 68 re,ommended target.
A very high proportion o( these (unds is no% distributed through managed programmes_ and
the (unding reserved (or untargeted responsiveamode appli,ations is lo%. The su,,ess rate o(
appli,ations through the latter ,hannel is r5Wl_ despite the (a,t that many o( the most a,tive
groups do not bother %ith this potential sour,e o( (unding. At this lo% su,,ess rate_ peer
revie% and similar me,hanisms break do%n. The ,onseguen,e (or some bran,hes o(
,hemistry is guite severe_ and meaning(ul resear,h in some mainstream dire,tions o( enguiry
is not possible. A re,ommendation %ould be to in,rease substantially (unds (or untargeted
mode appli,ations.
The ,urrent (unding system (or a,ademi, ,hemistry departments in Nor%ay reguires those
departments to divide their (inan,ial resour,es among many di((erent eUpenses. In all but one
,ase_ the (unding provided as a blo,k allo,ation by the parent university or (a,ulty_ %as
entirely ,onsumed by salaries_ so that in(rastru,ture and resear,h support positions had
(allen a%ay_ and the opportunity to provide strategi, support o( resear,h Vas envisaged in the
National Runding StrategyX %as very limited. Cne ,onseguen,e o( this situation is the
di((i,ulty in maintaining ,ontinuity o( te,hni,al eUpertise %ithin a resear,h group and
supporting resear,h instrumentation %ith te,hni,ians.
The number o( a,ademi, positions in all ,hemistry departments has (allen_ in some ,ases
guite substantially. At some universities the departmental strength has be,ome so lo% as to
threaten the tea,hing o( a viable ,hemistry degree and_ every%here_ the burden o(
maintaining the range o( ,ourses o((ered has a very substantial e((e,t on the resear,h time o(
the a,ademi, sta((. A (urther ,onseguen,e is that some cresear,h groupsd are ,on(igured to
support tea,hing rather than to respond to resear,h needs and realisti, resear,h (unding
opportunities. The 0ommittee highlights the plight o( Crgani, 0hemistry and eUperimental
0hemi,al Nhysi,s belo% as eUamples.
Starting pro(essors reguire an initial (unding investment (rom their a,ademi, institution to
begin their resear,h e((orts. The (unds are used to pur,hase initial eguipment and pay (or
students and postdo,toral (ello%s to obtain the (irst resear,h results that ne% pro(essors
need to enter proposals into the ,ompetitive (unding stream. These cstartaup pa,kagesd (or
!
31
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
ne% a,ademi, (a,ulty members in Nor%ay are (inan,ed at levels substantially belo% the
international standard. There are t%o e((e,ts o( this poli,y. Rirstly_ the la,k o( (unding
hampers the ,ompetitiveness o( young resear,hers at the time in their ,areers %hen they are
likely to be the most ,reative and produ,tive. Se,ondly_ the lo% startaup (unding pa,kages
make it very di((i,ult (or Nor%ay to ,ompete internationally to lure the top (oreign resear,hers
into its s,ienti(i, establishment. Su,h people ,an greatly invigorate a resear,h ,ommunity
due to the di((eren,es in their resear,h ,ulture and intelle,tual ba,kgrounds_ and are a
desirable part o( any national s,ienti(i, system. The number o( startaup pa,kages reguired to
make a di((eren,e in Nor%ay in ,hemistry is small_ Ve.g._ bringing just one or t%o leading
international s,ientists into the ,ommunity %ould made a ,onsiderable di((eren,eX and the
absen,e o( a ,ompetitive s,heme pla,es Nor%ay at a ,onsiderable disadvantage.
Ror the development o( ne%_ innovative lines o( resear,h a substantial volume o( qblue skyk
resear,h is reguired to sustain the vitality o( the (ield and to develop ne% talent. The (ra,tion
o( this type o( resear,h is ,urrently mu,h too small in Nor%egian ,hemistry.
+89'roC9'oA'?EMDKtrQ'
The opportunities (or %orking ,losely %ith resear,h institutes and %ith industrial laboratories
in Nor%ay are very signi(i,ant_ in an international ,omparison. As illustrated else%here_ the
0ommittee observed both (avourable and un(avourable ,onseguen,es o( these asso,iations
(or the pursuit o( basi, resear,h in university departments_ even %hen re,ognising that
industriallyamotivated resear,h is o(ten basi, Ve.g._ the topi,s o( the ,atalysis groups in
Nor%ay are essentially ,on,erned %ith natural gas_ synthesis gas_ methanol and alkene
trans(ormation. All o( these topi,s are strategi,ally important (or Nor%egian industry and
more generally (or the ,ountry as %ell as being s,ienti(i,ally interesting.X.
The Nor%egian ,hemi,al and energy industries_ %hi,h are very healthy by international
standards_ primarily hire masteralevel graduates_ and_ based on the in(ormation the
0ommittee %as presented_ appear to ,redit little or no added value_ either in entry position or
salary_ to ne% appointments %ith a Nh.D. rather than a masterks degree V%ith an eU,eption_
may be_ o( those students having a Nh.D. ,ontra,t %ith resear,h institutes like SINT6RX. The
result is that there is little (inan,ial in,entive (or students to ,ontinue beyond their masterks
degrees be,ause the smaller number o( years o( salary they re,eive due to pursuing their
Nh.D.s does not yield signi(i,ant advantage to them in the long run. It may be that the ,urrent
industrial situation in Nor%ay_ %hi,h is based primarily on the ,ountryks substantial natural
resour,es_ is %ell suited by this system. This may not be an ideal longaterm strategy_
ho%ever_ as Nor%ay_ like other developed ,ountries_ may eventually have to substantially
in,rease the manu(a,ture o( high valueaadded produ,ts derived (rom its natural resour,es.
!
32
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Nor%ay ,learly has the basi, intelle,tual resour,es to per(orm %ell in the high valueaadded
arena_ and should ,onsider better preparing its %ork(or,e (or parti,ipating in su,h a,tivities.
The 0ommittee understands (rom the %eekks testimony that Nor%ayks ,hemi,al industry has
relatively little interest in the (ield o( organi, ,hemistry. This is in ,ontrast to the situation in
many developed ,ountries_ %here the ,hemi,al industry has a very strong investment in the
tea,hing and training o( organi, ,hemists at universities. This seems to be due to the la,k o(
(ine ,hemi,als and pharma,euti,als in the ,urrent Nor%egian ,hemi,al produ,t line_ %hi,h is
dire,ted more at the eUport o( ra% materials. The development o( a (ine ,hemi,al industry
%ould ,ertainly be an eU,ellent opportunity (or Nor%ay in the long run_ as it adds value to the
use o( Nor%ayks abundant natural resour,es. Due mostly to this la,k o( interest_ it seems_
syntheti, organi, ,hemistry is in a parti,ularly di((i,ult position in Nor%ay ,ompared to the
international standard.
R9K9ar=8'?EAraKtrD=tDr9'
Ienerally_ the level o( provision o( basi, resear,h eguipment seemed to be good_ so the
model o( being able to prioritise parti,ular pie,es o( eguipment and to seek university and
!esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay (unding appears to be %orking. In resear,h groups ,losely
asso,iated %ith resear,h institutes the a,,ess to eguipment %as o(ten eU,ellent. In some
universities_ spe,ial ,entres Ve.g._ in nanos,ien,eX had been ,reated as a ,onseguen,e o(
highalevel de,isions Vat the (a,ulty level or aboveXj %ithin resear,h groups these initiatives
%ere sometimes seen as having dra%n a%ay resour,es (rom their o%n priorities_ but the
,entres did o((er the prospe,t o( a substantial (a,ilities base (or innovative a,tivity.
In spite o( these (a,ts_ the basi, eguipment %as o(ten running unsupported %ithout
maintenan,e ,ontra,ts and %ithout dedi,ated te,hni,ians. There(ore_ %hilst the eguipmenta
(unding model appears to %ork_ it does not provide appropriate in(rastru,ture support to use
the eguipment most e((e,tively. There does not seem to be a ,ulture o( paying (or servi,esj
the 0ommittee only sa% one or t%o eUamples o( ,harging (or_ e.g._ N=! or 7aray (a,ilities. In
,ontrast_ models in %hi,h ,harges (or servi,es are used to support the longaterm viability o(
(a,ilities in(rastru,ture are most ,ommonly (ound internationally_ and are a major aspe,t o(
(inan,ial planning in a,ademi, ,hemistry departments.
The 0ommittee %as surprised that there %as relatively little enthusiasm among the
departments (or making highalevel (a,ilities available at a national level Van eU,eption is higha
per(orman,e ,omputing_ %here a %orlda,lass_ %ella,oordinated national provision has been
madeX. !elu,tan,e to bid (or VsayX a national N=! (a,ility seemed to arise (rom a (ear that
the di((i,ulties Vin,luding ,ostX o( providing the in(rastru,ture (or %ider use o( the eguipment
!
33
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
out%eighs the bene(its to the host group. The ,urrent absen,e o( a ,ulture o( paying (or
te,hni,al servi,es inhibits the development o( a business plan (or setting up a national (ora(ee
servi,e at major (a,ilities. Su,h approa,hes are more the norm in other ,ountries_ and %ould
provide assistan,e in bringing dispersed elements o( the Nor%egian ,hemistry ,ommunity
together.
Today there are largeas,ale items that might be regarded as la,kingj an eUample is a SWW
=Hh N=! ma,hine. Ho%ever_ there is little spe,ialised N=! resear,h in Nor%ay and there
is no institute in Nor%ay %here resear,hers strongly demand the establishment o( some kind
o( resear,h programme that %ould reguire highaper(orman,e N=! instrumentation VOWW or
SWW =Hh N=! instrumentsX.
P5N' +6#'R37#'3$'+6#'R#.#%R&6'&3*2&,7'3$'23Rb%0'RR&2S'
Zithin the !0N there are di((erent sour,es (or (unding o( 0hemistry !esear,h.
The S,ien,e Division is responsible (or basi, resear,h and the universities. Zithin the
division basi, resear,h proje,ts are (unded_ %hi,h are sele,ted a,,ording to gualityj
ho%ever_ (unding is very limited Ve.g._ 5K mill. NCK in the (irst year (or proje,ts in R!INAT_
%hi,h ,overs 0hemistry_ Nhysi,s_ =athemati,s and IeologyX. There are also small
programmes_ (or eUample KCSK II and Syn,hrotron !esear,h. Nor%ay is a member o(
6S!R_ %here S%itherland and Nor%ay are (inan,ing their o%n beam line. Cther (unding
instruments o( the !0N in,lude large s,ale programmes that ,ontain ,hemistry resear,h
aspe,ts_ e.g._ %ithin NANC=AT_ but also !6N6!II_ and R8I6.
A ne% (unding s,heme (or resear,h in(rastru,ture %ill be laun,hed in BWWS_ %hi,h %ill (o,us
on in(rastru,ture o( national interest at (e% lo,ations. The (unding s,heme %ill in,lude
advan,ed eguipment_ large s,ale in(rastru,ture_ and also ele,troni, in(rastru,ture_ databases
and ,olle,tions. The 0ommittee observed that there is initiative among the departments in
Nor%ay to establish su,h a (a,ility.
P5P' +6#'/%,2'R#.#%R&6'%R#%.'
P5P5(' ,EorFaE?='aEM'/at9r?aCK'&89I?KtrQ''
Inorgani, and materials ,hemistry are interdis,iplinary spe,ialties in the international
,hemistry ,ommunity that have in,reased in a,tivity and importan,e in the past de,ade. This
is due both to the emergen,e o( nanos,ien,e as a large and a,tive dis,ipline_ and the
realisation by ,hemists that the design o( mole,ular and nonamole,ular solids %ith spe,i(i,
!
34
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
physi,al properties ,an be both ,hallenging and re%arding. Nanos,ien,e in parti,ular_ %here
the primary ,hallenge is o(ten to determine ho% to ,rystallise in a ,ontrolled (ashion very
small_ very uni(orm parti,les_ has ,aptured the imaginations o( many ,hemists %orlda%ide. In
inorgani, ,hemistry_ the design o( mole,ules %ith spe,i(i, magneti,_ opti,al and
ele,tro,hemi,al properties is o( parti,ular ,urrent interest_ espe,ially as it ,onne,ts %ith
potential appli,ations su,h as solar energy ,onversion_ and_ on the basi, s,ien,e side_ as it
,hallenges theoreti,al models to eUplain and predi,t the properties o( mole,ules through
understanding their ele,troni, stru,tures.
Inorgani, and materials ,hemistry are ,urrently primarily pursued by t%o large_ dynami,
resear,h groups in Nor%ay_ one in Run,tional Inorgani, =aterials at 8iC and one in the
Department o( =aterials S,ien,e and 6ngineering at NTN8. Cne smaller but also dynami,
group %orks in this area at 8iT. The NTN8 Department o( =aterials S,ien,e and
6ngineering in,ludes many resear,hers %ho ,an be ,onsidered as leaning more to%ards
,lassi,al materials s,ien,e_ though all are interested in the impa,t o( the ,hemistry o(
materials on the properties o( solids. =aterials ,hemistry also has a substantial impa,t on the
resear,h o( groups spe,ialising in ,atalysis_ and in that (orm is (ound in many other resear,h
groups in ,hemistry departments in Nor%ay. Cn the %hole_ the health o( this ,hemi,al suba
dis,ipline in Nor%ay ,an be ,onsidered as very strong_ arguably one o( the strongest suba
dis,iplines in the ,urrent Nor%egian a,ademi, system. Zithin this strong ,ommunity_ the
area o( nanos,ien,e_ ,urrently less vigorously pursued_ %ould bene(it (rom (urther
development. Investment in strong leadership and young pro(essors re,ruited internationally
may be reguired to make the level and guality o( the nanos,ien,e a,tivity in Nor%ay
,ommensurate %ith %hat is generally seen internationally.
Detailed analysis o( the individual groups is presented later in the report_ but brie(ly_ the
Run,tional Inorgani, =aterials Iroup at 8iC per(orms resear,h in inorgani,_ solid state_ and
materials ,hemistry_ and in,ludes %ork in ,hemistryabased nanos,ien,e. Their primary
interests lie in the dis,overy and development o( materials (or advan,ed energy
te,hnologies_ but they are a,tive in other ,urrent areas as %ell_ in,luding (or eUample
thermoele,tri,s and mi,roporous materials. The key areas (or resear,h in inorgani, and
materials ,hemistry ,arried out in the Department o( =aterials S,ien,e and 6ngineering at
NTN8 are light materials_ materials (or energy te,hnology_ materials (or oil and gas_ and
materials (or ele,troni,s and sensors. In energy te,hnology_ hydrogen produ,tion by
membranes and %ater ele,trolysis_ gas separation membranes_ (uel ,ells and solar energy
,ells are o( parti,ular interest. The ele,tro,hemistry subgroup at NTN8 has strong links to
Nor%egian industry and resear,h institutes su,h as SINT6R and IR6_ and is espe,ially %ell
,onne,ted %ith the aluminium industry. Rinally_ the Inorgani, and =aterials 0hemistry Iroup
!
35
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
in Tromsø_ though very small_ is similarly highly produ,tive and dynami,. =ajor ,urrent thrust
areas are in synthesis_ ,hemistry and modelling o( (un,tional materials.
P5P51' +89orQ'aEM'&oIpDtat?oEaC'&89I?KtrQ'
It is important to realise that theoreti,al and ,omputational ,hemistry are distin,t subje,ts_
,ertainly as (ar as their pra,titioners are ,on,erned. Appointment o( a ,omputational ,hemist
is not ne,essarily seen as strengthening theoreti,al ,hemistry_ and vi,eaversa Vthough it
%ould be seen as strengthening the intelle,tual environmentX. Theoreti,al ,hemistry is
,on,erned %ith the eUploration o( the underlying origins o( phenomena as %ell as the
development o( ne% methods to allo% them to be analysed or guantities to be ,al,ulatedj the
underlying dis,iplines are guantum me,hani,s and statisti,al me,hani,s. 0omputational
,hemistry_ on the other hand_ involves ,al,ulations based on eUisting methods %ith the
obje,tive o( obtaining values that %ill help in the interpretation o( eUperiment. `oth subje,ts
are %ell represented in Nor%egian ,hemistry and in some ,ase %ithin the same resear,h
group.
Highaper(orman,e ,omputing (a,ilities_ %hi,h are the most important in(rastru,tural
,omponent (or both subje,ts_ are outstanding and a,,ess is at a %orldaleading level. The
major problems (or both subje,ts are the la,k o( Nh.D. students and_ in many groups_ the
relian,e on responsiveamode (unding. !e,ruitment o( Nor%egian students is parti,ularly
di((i,ult_ in part be,ause there is little emphasis on theory and ,omputation in undergraduate
,ourses_ but also be,ause most Nor%egian students are (o,ussed on doing resear,h (or
%hi,h they see an industrial linkj this might be appli,able (or ,omputational %ork but is less
easily appre,iated (or theory. There seems to be a good level o( ,oordination bet%een
groups in the di((erent universities in planning shared (ormal training programmes to support
theoreti,al and ,omputational %ork_ (or %hi,h a ,hemistry master Veither (rom Nor%ay or
abroadX is unlikely to provide an adeguate preparation. This is an important initiative and
should be supported as it holds the key to making Nor%ay an attra,tive ,entre (or students
and postdo,s. Le,tures and eUer,ises ,ould be shared bet%een di((erent sites_ either by
holding intensive %orkshops to %hi,h students (rom several ,entres %ere invited_ or by
video,on(eren,ing them Vsee the S8NA initiative in S,otland (or a good eUample o( ho% a
national training may be provided in a small ,ountryX. The 0entre (or Theoreti,al and
0omputational 0hemistry V0T00X has boosted (a,ilities and the number o( positions at
Tromsø and Cslo guite substantially_ and has primarily supported the international guality o(
theoreti,al guantum ,hemistry groups there.
!
36
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Zithin the spe,trum o( resear,h regarded as topi,al in ,omputational ,hemistry %orld%ide_
several areas are poorly represented in Nor%ay_ in,luding some that %ould ,ertainly link to
the subje,t areas o( important eUperimental and theoreti,al groups. These in,lude:
!
0omputer simulation methods Vmole,ular dynami,s_ =onte 0arlo_ and mesos,aleX
and theory o( cso(tamatterd. Zith the eU,eption o( some %ork on protein simulation_
this area is not strong. ?et ,lassi,al simulation ,ould play a valuable role in areas %ith
a lot o( eUperimental and industrial a,tivity in Nor%ay_ like absorption in porous
media_ membrane separation o( gases_ ioni, ,ondu,tors and the per(orman,e o( (uel
,ells_ the phase behaviour and sel(aorganisation o( gels_ ,olloids and sur(a,tants.
Apart (rom appli,ations like these_ there is strong methodologi,al development in the
(ield_ (or eUample_ in the study o( rare events and the development o( te,hnigues (or
multis,ale modelling. Although eUperimental %ork in ,olloids and ,ompleU (luids is
strong at several points_ there is a (eeling that this %ork is not (ully in(ormed by the
theoreti,al developments %hi,h have taken pla,e in this (ield in the last de,ade or so.
!
Alongside the above_ the area o( ab initio simulation is underarepresented Vsave (or
one user o( ;ASN_ %hi,h is really a total energy pa,kageX. These methods are no%
%idely used around the %orld as interpretive aids in mu,h ,ondensed matter s,ien,e.
This (ield is strongly linked to theoreti,al %ork on improved ele,troni, energy
(un,tionals and their pra,ti,al implementation. Ab initio simulation has underpinned
an improvement o( the mutual understanding bet%een statisti,al VthermalX behaviour
and ele,troni, stru,ture. This does not yet seem to have been transmitted into
Nor%egian ,hemistry.
Targeting appointments in these areas %ould allo% (ull eUploitation o( the eU,ellent
,omputational resour,es_ improve the links bet%een theoreti,al groups and pra,ti,al
,hemistry_ and underpin an improved approa,h to tea,hing statisti,al me,hani,s and
thermodynami,s as key elements o( ,hemistry ,ourses.
In general_ the Nor%egian a,tivity in Theoreti,al and 0omputational 0hemistry is good_ and
in some ,ases ,onsiderably better than that. This strength ,ould be in,reased by targeted
appointments in areas like those highlighted_ by (a,ilitating the (unding o( resear,h %hi,h is
not ,losely tied to parti,ular te,hnologi,al targets_ and en,ouraging a ,oordinated national
e((ort to provide training (or Nh.D.s and postdo,s.
P5P5N' &ataCQK?K'
As ,atalysts are ,hemi,al substan,es that a,,elerate rea,tion rates in the right dire,tion to
get the desired produ,ts_ ,atalysis o,,upies a ,entral pla,e in industrial ,hemi,al pro,esses.
It is a Nor%egian strength be,ause o( the interest and support o( the oil industry.
!
37
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Several groups in Nor%ay are involved in resear,h in ,atalysis. T%o groups are primarily
spe,ialised in this area. These are:
!
8niversity o( Cslo/Department o( 0hemistry: Se,tion (or Run,tional =aterials
0hemistry_ resear,h group: 0atalysis Vand 0AT=AT Iemini 0entre %ith SINT6RX
!
Nor%egian 8niversity o( S,ien,e and Te,hnology VNTN8X at Trondheim: Department
o( 0hemi,al 6ngineering_ resear,h group: 0atalysis Vand Kin0at Iemini 0entre %ith
SINT6RX
Cne group has signi(i,ant and in,reasing a,tivities in ,atalysis:
!
8niversity o( `ergen/Department o( 0hemistry: !esear,h group in Inorgani,
0hemistry_ Nanostru,tures and =odelling
Cther groups have minor or limited a,tivities in 0atalysis:
!
Nor%egian 8niversity o( S,ien,e and Te,hnology VNTN8X/Department o( 0hemistry:
!esear,h group in Nhysi,al 0hemistry.
!
Nor%egian 8niversity o( S,ien,e and Te,hnology VNTN8X/Department o( =aterials
S,ien,e and 6ngineering: !esear,h group in Inorgani, 0hemistry.
The groups in Cslo and Trondheim are ,losely ,onne,ted to SINT6R resear,h programmes
in ,atalysis via Iemini ,entres.
The topi,s o( study in the Cslo group ,over homogeneous ,atalysis and heterogeneous
,atalysis on heolites and =CRs Vmetalaorgani, (rame%orksX. =ost o( the rea,tions studied in
this group are a,idabase rea,tions or bi(un,tional rea,tions Vmetalaa,idX. The methanolatoa
ole(ins pro,ess is one o( the most studied rea,tions.
The topi,s o( study in the Trondheim group ,over natural gas ,onversion to hydrogen and
synthesis gas and Ris,heraTrops,h rea,tions. Some environmental problems are also
treated. This group primarily has a ,hemi,al engineering approa,h_ %ith mi,rokineti,
modelling studies_ ,atalyst dea,tivation and use o( ,ompleU rea,tant miUtures.
The topi,s o( study in the `ergen group are not totally devoted to ,atalysis. The resear,h o(
the small subagroup %orking in ,atalysis ,overs alkene a,tivation rea,tions by means o(
homogeneous ,atalysts or supported organometalli, ,ompleUes.
The ,atalysis groups seem to have organised to avoid dupli,ation o( the di((erent resear,h
topi,s: there is virtually no or little overlap. The positive aspe,t o( this situation is that there is
pra,ti,ally no redundan,y among the proje,ts in Cslo_ Trondheim and `ergen. The negative
aspe,t is that there is neither national ,ompetition nor synergy among these groups on their
o%n resear,h topi,s. =otivation (or the resear,h originates in large part (rom dis,ussions
%ith industry_ %hi,h o,,upies a ,entral role in ,oordinating ,atalysis a,tions. It also ,omes
!
38
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
(rom international ,ooperation_ Nor%egian groups being relatively %ell represented in
6uropean net%orks o( eU,ellen,e and in RN proje,ts.
Rinally_ several groups %orking in physi,al ,hemistry and materials s,ien,e ,ollaborate %ith
,atalysis groups_ either to prepare ne% materials (or possible appli,ations in ,atalysis or to
,hara,terise them by means o( sophisti,ated te,hnigues.
To ,omplete the pi,ture_ ,atalysis groups ,ollaborate %ith groups or teams spe,ialised in
guantum ,hemistry (or modelling elementary steps in ,atalysis Ve.g._ adsorption on a,tive
sites_ sur(a,e rea,tion me,hanismsX. This ,ategory o( study_ largely initiated on model
,atalysts Ve.g._ metal ,ompleUes_ homogeneous ,atalysisX_ is be,oming more and more
popular in heterogeneous ,atalysis due to the dissemination and good a,,ess to po%er(ul
,omputational tools no% possible. In this respe,t_ the 0entre (or Theoreti,al and
0omputational 0hemistry V0T00X ,ould play a ,entral role in modelling studies in ,atalysis.
As a general re,ommendation_ the ,atalysis groups in Nor%ay should strengthen their mutual
,ollaboration by sharing their o%n eUpertise in one or t%o ,ommon proje,ts. 0atalysis in
Nor%ay has a good international impa,t in terms o( publi,ations_ although improvement is
possible. In this respe,t_ ,atalysis groups ,ould intensi(y their ,ooperation %ith materials
s,ien,e groups. ;ery interesting %ork is ,arried out on kno%n ,atalysts. Ho%ever_ the
tenden,y should be to go (urther in evaluating ,atalyti, properties o( ne% ,ompounds that
result (rom the resear,h in inorgani,_ organi, and materials ,hemistry laboratories. Highalevel
interdis,iplinary publi,ations should originate (rom this type o( (ruit(ul ,ooperation. '
P5P5P' 7?A9'.=?9E=9K'
0hemi,al resear,h ,an be regarded as part o( the li(e s,ien,es %hen it deals %ith guestions
that are related to the stru,ture and (un,tion o( biomole,ules and biosystems su,h as ,ell
mimeti,s_ organelles or %hole ,ells_ or even bigger biosystems. Thus it ,an be at the
inter(a,e %ith stru,tural biology_ bio,hemistry or pharma,y and medi,ine. 0hemistry in li(e
s,ien,es tries to solve problems in living systems on a mole,ular level and %ith ,hemi,al
means. Naturally_ su,h resear,h is highly interdis,iplinary and reguires basi, understanding
o( related areas in s,ien,e. The synthesis o( biologi,ally interesting or a,tive ,ompounds
alone ,annot be regarded as li(e s,ien,es.
A,,ording to this ,lassi(i,ation_ there are (e% pla,es in Nor%ay %here resear,h in the li(e
s,ien,es is per(ormed.
!
39
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
At 8=`_ the Nor%egian 8niversity o( Li(e S,ien,es_ most o( the li(e s,ien,e areas %ere not
evaluated by the 0ommittee. Zithin the resear,h group qNatural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and
Crgani, AnalysiskB_ %ith its (our pro(essors_ there is one subgroup that per(orms resear,h in
the study o( enhymealigand intera,tions using a variety o( biophysi,al methods and di((erent
assays. This resear,h is relevant and published very su,,ess(ully and the group operates at
the leading edge o( international resear,h in this (ield. This group might bene(it (rom
intera,tions %ith other related areas at 8=`_ su,h as the proteomi,s lab.
At the 8niversity o( Stavanger_ the %hole `iologi,al 0hemistry Iroup in total is deeply
embedded in biologi,al resear,h_ mu,h more eUpli,itly than any other group that %as
evaluated. The groupks resear,h (o,usses on ,ellular pro,esses in ,ells and organelles_ %ith
a spe,ial (o,us on (un,tion and development and environment response. Zhile among the
adjun,t pro(essors asso,iated %ith this group some syntheti, ,hemistry plays a role_ the
prin,ipal investigators in the group do not use syntheti, mole,ules or any kind o( targeta
designed mimeti,s (or their resear,h_ neither inahouse nor in ,ollaborationj thus the %ork is
mainly that o( bio,hemistry. This group has an internationally signi(i,ant bio,hemi,al
resear,h programme and their %ork is published in highly ranked journals. There is the
potential gro%th in (uture ,ollaborations %ith syntheti, ,hemists_ (or eUample_ (or testing o(
inhibitors_ metaboli, tra,ers_ or (un,tional biomimeti,s. In addition_ the arsenal o( modern
bio,hemi,al methods Ve.g._ pat,h ,lamp_ kineti,s_ mutagenesisX that is available to this group
,ould be o( great interest in bioorgani, ,hemistry.
The Stru,tural 0hemistry Iroup at the 8niversity o( Tromsø is the third pla,e in Nor%ay
Vevaluated as part o( this studyX %here signi(i,ant resear,h in the area o( the li(e s,ien,es is
per(ormed. =ethods employed ,over protein eUpression_ (ermentation and puri(i,ation
(a,ilities_ ,ombined %ith an upatoadate setup (or protein ,hara,terisation and ,rystallisation_
and the essential international ,ollaborations needed to provide syn,hrotron 7aray data
,olle,tion (or stru,ture determination. Studies in the stru,tural analysis o( di((erent proteins
Ve.g._ enhymes and DNAabinding proteinsX_ mutation studies and evaluation o( their (un,tion_
me,hanism_ ligands and inhibitors_ are at the top international level and have been
su,,ess(ully published in highly ranked journals. The Tromsø group_ %hi,h has organised the
Nor%egian Stru,tural `iology 0entre VNorStru,tX_ ,learly has the best visibility in li(e s,ien,es
among the groups that have been evaluated in this study.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2
!The resear,h group cCrgani, 0hemistryd %as renamed cNatural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani,
Analysisd throughout this report as reguested by 8=`!
!
40
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Taken together_ there is little li(e s,ien,esarelated resear,h in ,hemistry departments o(
Nor%ay_ ho%ever_ the groups engaged in this %ork are among the most su,,ess(ul ones that
%ere evaluated. In,reasing intera,tions %ith bioorgani, ,hemistry should deliver a mutual
advantage (or both (ields.'
P5P5Y' 3rFaE?='&89I?KtrQ'
Internationally_ organi, ,hemistry is normally a prominent area %ithin ,hemistry departments.
This is di((erent in Nor%ay: organi, ,hemistry is hardly ever (ound as a standaalone area
%ithin ,hemistry departments. This may be due to the small sihes o( the groups and to the
attempts to ,ombine (or,es in pursuit o( a strategy. These attempts seem not to have been
very su,,ess(ul in most o( the ,ases_ as it is di((i,ult (or a group o( individual pro(essors to
agree on one main resear,h strategy_ (or eUample_ ,ombining di((erent interests in syntheti,
organi, and bioorgani, ,hemistry. There are_ ho%ever_ a number o( obvious potential
possibilities (or strong and e((e,tive ,ollaborations %ithin the di((erent organi, ,hemistry
se,tions_ %hi,h are ,urrently not used. !ather_ the resear,h is o(ten spread too thinly_ mainly
due to limited human resour,es_ and there(ore is not being per(ormed on an internationally
,ompetitive level.
In syntheti, organi, ,hemistry the sihe o( a typi,al resear,h group at a Nor%egian 8niversity
is small Vby a (a,tor o( Ha5WX %hen ,ompared to most international resear,h groups in organi,
,hemistry. In this very important and %orkaintensive (ield_ this dis,repan,y in resear,h e((ort
pla,es Nor%egian organi, ,hemists at a distin,t disadvantage in international ,ompetition (or
both (unding and s,ienti(i, eU,ellen,e. The number o( pro(essors has de,lined ,onsiderably
during the last 5W years due to retirements_ ho%ever_ this does not appear to be the main
reason (or the plight o( organi, ,hemistry in Nor%ayj even more so as there are not even
enough Nh.D. students (or the pro(essors le(t to build up e((e,tive groups. Typi,ally_ the
reputation o( an organi, ,hemistry group in Nor%ay is kept up by a minority o( its membersj
o,,asionally this is just one pro(essor %ho has enough (unding and students to per(orm
internationally ,ompetitive resear,h.
At the same time_ organi, ,hemistry does not seem to be appre,iated at all %ithin the
industrial lands,ape o( Nor%ay. A hand(ul o( startaup ,ompanies have emerged (rom
university groups_ ho%ever_ there is no big market and little demand (or organi, ,hemists
%ith a Nh.D. degree. 0onseguently_ the (unding situation in organi, ,hemistry is di((i,ult a
even more so as industrial (unding plays a big role in other areas o( ,hemistry resear,h in
Nor%ay.
!
41
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Cverall_ organi, ,hemistry in Nor%ay has no obvious international reputation_ nor does it
sho% a parti,ular strength in any spe,ialised area. Total synthesis_ %hi,h is traditionally a
%ellaappre,iated main topi, o( ,lassi,al organi, ,hemistry resear,h %orlda%ide_ is almost
invisible in Nor%ay_ %ith very (e% eUamples. Cther areas o( resear,h o(ten pra,ti,ed %ithin
organi, ,hemistry_ su,h as ,atalysis and materials s,ien,e_ are separated (rom organi,
,hemistry in Nor%ay_ and_ most surprisingly_ there are no strong intera,tions %ith those
areas. There are some attempts in Nor%egian organi, ,hemistry to (o,us on mole,ules o(
medi,inal and biologi,al interest_ in,luding proje,ts aiming at the marine environment_ %hi,h
is an important resear,h area in Nor%ay. Again_ the eUisting strategies to ,onsolidate
(o,ussed resear,h lines_ %ith organi, ,hemistry being a major player_ are either nonaeUistent
or (loundering. 0urrently_ organi, ,hemistry is not an important partner at the inter(a,e o(
related areas su,h as bio,hemistry and biology or materials s,ien,e and ,atalysis. In
addition_ ambitious nationalalevel plans are la,king in organi, ,hemistryj a ,ombined national
e((ort to develop a 0entre o( 6U,ellen,e in this area_ (or eUample_ %ould be o( interest.
The status o( the eguipment and in(rastru,ture ne,essary (or per(orming organi, ,hemistry
resear,h is %idely varying in Nor%ay. Zhile the large s,ale instrumentation that is typi,ally
reguired in organi, ,hemistry is o(ten o( an impressively high standard_ the laboratories are
mostly very old_ and o(ten o( una,,eptable guality. In addition_ intermediate s,ale
instrumentation and standard supplies are o(ten la,king or are not su((i,iently available.
Ze believe that organi, ,hemistry in Nor%ay ,an be,ome internationally more visible through
several ,hanges in the %ay it is pra,ti,ed. Cne possibility is (or (or,es to be ,ombined %ithin
a synthesis group by making a serious e((ort to develop ,ollaborative strategies (or (uture
development_ in,luding the (o,ussed dedi,ation o( ne% appointments. Another possibility is
(or organi, ,hemistry to gain higher visibility through e((e,tive net%orking %ith related
resear,h areas_ su,h as_ (or eUample_ %ith stru,tural ,hemistry or biologi,al and medi,inal
,hemistry. At present_ it appears that there %ill be no good opportunities (or better (unding o(
resear,h in synthesis %ithout any ,onvin,ing national or lo,al strategies and ,ollaborative
proposals. Runding o( modern organi, ,hemistry in Nor%ay is_ ho%ever_ essential (or the
health o( the ,hemistry as a %hole_ as the su,,ess o( KCSK has sho%n.
P5P5Z' !8QK?=aC'&89I?KtrQ'
Nhysi,al ,hemistry is one o( the major bran,hes o( the subje,t_ at least (rom a traditional
perspe,tive_ and %ould (orm a part o( an undergraduate degree in ,hemistry. It is the part o(
,hemistry asso,iated %ith guantitative measurement and the interpretation o( guantitative
eUperiments. Ror the purpose o( the revie%_ it might be ,onvenient to divide the subje,t
!
42
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
matter_ some%hat arti(i,ially_ into c,hemi,al or mole,ular physi,sd and cphysi,al ,hemistry_
per sed. In the latter are in,luded measurements done on bulk properties_ su,h as
thermodynami, or ele,tro,hemi,al guantities_ absorption isotherms or the rates o( ,hemi,al
rea,tions. 0hemi,al physi,s %ould be dire,ted at stru,tural et,. ,hara,terisation o( mole,ules
or assemblies o( mole,ules using methods like spe,tros,opy and di((ra,tion %ith a vie% to
providing mi,ros,opi, interpretations o( phenomena or measured guantities. The guantities
measured in physi,al ,hemistry may be directly related to industrial or environmental
pro,esses_ %hereas this is unlikely to be the ,ase (or ,hemi,al physi,s. As su,h_ and
be,ause o( other (a,tors_ the t%o bran,hes o( the subje,t are in some%hat di((erent states in
Nor%egian s,ien,e_ and in neither ,ase is the %ork overall prominent at an international
level.
0hemi,al physi,s is in a parti,ularly pre,arious positionj this is espe,ially true o( ,lassi,al
areas like gasaphase spe,tros,opy. The eguipment needs o( ,hemi,al physi,s tend to be
spe,ialised_ eUpensive_ and unlikely to be used by several groups. Zith a la,k o( suitable
(unding opportunities and a la,k o( interest (rom Nh.D. students the opportunities (or
developing high ,lass laboratories does not eUist %ithin the ,urrent (unding model and
,limate o( opinion. VAn eU,eption ,an be through the use o( international ,entres_ like the
6uropean Syn,hrotron !adiation Ra,ility V6S!RX_ %here the opportunity to ,ombine higha
guality physi,al measurements %ith materials ,hara,terisation ,reates viable opportunities
(or guality %ork.X This means that Nor%egian ,hemistry is turning its ba,k on several
emerging laboratoryabased subje,ts %ith important potential (or other areas o( ,hemistry_ as
%ell as abandoning ,lassi,al areas o( study that are important to the dis,ipline pedagogi,ally
and methodologi,ally. Amongst the (ormer one might in,lude singleamole,ule spe,tros,opy_
sum (reguen,y methods_ and (luores,en,e resonan,e energy trans(er_ %hi,h have important
appli,ations in studying the dynami,s o( biomole,ular ,on(ormation and assembly_ and also
the use o( lasers and mi,ros,opes in manipulation Vopti,al t%eehers et,.X %hi,h have
important appli,ations in sel(aorganisation o( nanomaterials and biologi,al assemblies. The
,onseguen,es o( abandoning ,hemi,al physi,s by negle,t_ espe,ially %ith regard to the
eUpertise and in(rastru,ture reguired (or (uture developments_ should be ,are(ully evaluated
at a national level.
A great deal o( the a,tivity in physi,al ,hemistry is motivated by the ,on,erns o( Nor%egian
industries. In some ,ases_ this has led to very good out,omesj (or eUample_ the high guality
o( the %ork in ,hemometri,s and in one or t%o individual laboratories %orking on emulsions_
suspensions and the rheology o( polymers. Here the problems posed by industry have been
,ast in general s,ienti(i, terms and this has motivated insight(ully dire,ted resear,h o(
signi(i,ant impa,t outside the immediate area o( appli,ation %hi,h has been published in
!
43
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
international journals. Ho%ever_ in a substantial number o( ,ases the relationship is too ,lose
to lead to good basi, s,ien,e. Here measurements are ,arried out on spe,i(i, ,ompleU (luids
produ,ed in parti,ular industrial pro,esses_ (or eUample. Su,h %ork does not have a general
impa,t. Although it may be o( national importan,e its ,ontribution to cbasi,d or longaterm
s,ien,e ,annot be evaluated using the available measures like the number and guality o(
resear,h publi,ations and the suspi,ion is that it is too narro%ly motivated to be labelled
good. It is important to ,onsider ho% appropriate motivation ,ould be provided to en,ourage
su,h resear,hers to set themselves longaterm s,ienti(i, goals.
P5P5[' #E@?roEI9EtaC'&89I?KtrQ'
6nvironmental ,hemistry is a Nor%egian strength_ although it is not represented at all o( the
universities or institutes visited and only a part o( the overall e((ort in the a,ademi,
,ommunity in Nor%ay is in,luded in this revie%. The areas in %hi,h Nor%egian resear,h
groups are strongest are (o,ussed on the ,hemistry o( the atmosphere_ sour,es and e((e,ts
o( pollutants and espe,ially a (o,us on high latitudes and polar environmental ,hemistry_ %ith
spe,ialised resear,h (a,ilities. Strengths are also (ound in radio,hemistry and both short
lived and long lived pollutants in organi, and inorgani, ,ompounds. Thus the geographi,al
opportunities and environmental threats in and to Nor%ay are a ,lear driver o( the resear,h
agenda. These areas o( spe,ialisation also provide eU,ellent opportunities (or international
,ollaboration_ %hi,h is very important in the longer term (or this ,ommunity. The subje,t area
has been maintained through re,ent years at several o( the universities and institutes visited_
but not all. The universities having little or no resear,h in this area are Tromsø_ `ergen and
Stavanger.
The resear,h group at the 8niversity o( Cslo_ espe,ially at senior levels ,omprises mainly
a,ademi,s approa,hing retirement and_ %hile the publi,ation outputs have been maintained
and are satis(a,tory_ these dra% mainly on past a,hievements. The (uture %ork and
innovations taking pla,e else%here are not re(le,ted to the same degree in this department.
The aging resear,h group in this area at Cslo la,ks the vitality_ ne% ideas and (or%ard
thinking to maintain an e((e,tive resear,h programme in the longer term. The department has
appointed several adjun,t pro(essors to assist %ith tea,hing and resear,h_ and this ,learly
serves %ell in the short term. This approa,h %ill not serve the longer term unless this area
has only a limited (uture. This %ould be an important missed opportunity as environmental
,hemistry in other ,ountries ,ontinues to gro% and to be strongly ,oupled %ith
interdis,iplinary resear,h Vin,luding links %ith ,limate ,hange and global biogeo,hemi,al
,y,lingX. 0learly there %ill be (urther opportunities to build on past a,hievements_ but the
vision (or %ork in this area is la,king. In ,ontrast the resear,h groups at Trondheim VNTN8
!
44
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
0hemistryX have a high international pro(ile_ e.g._ in metals. 6spe,ially at tra,e levels the
%ork at NTN8 and at the Nor%egian 8niversity o( Li(e S,ien,es V8=`X on the development
o( highly spatially resolved metal deposition estimates has led to international developments
in monitoring te,hnigues using passive sampling %ith biologi,al material. The ,ontinued
leadership in radio,hemistry at 8=` is also a notable strength and ,ontinues to prosper. The
%ork on persistent organi, pollutants_ in,luding N0`s_ and emerging environmental
pollutants and the (o,us on polar ,hemistry o( the atmosphere and pre,ipitation at NIL8 and
the asso,iated analyti,al te,hnigues and international ,ollaboration pla,e this team at the
,utting edge o( developments.
P5P5a' 2D=C9ar'&89I?KtrQ'
The national e((ort in nu,lear ,hemistry in Nor%ay is ,on,entrated in one resear,h group at
the 8niversity o( Cslo. The 0ommittee %ill report on this group in detail belo%j here the
0ommittee %ill merely summarise the level o( a,tivity (rom a national perspe,tive.
There are t%o strategi, reasons %hy nu,lear ,hemistry is ,riti,al to maintain in Nor%ay_ even
given the ,urrent abundan,e o( nonanu,lear energy sour,es in the ,ountry. Rirstly_
radiopharma,euti,al ,hemistry_ in,luding Nositron 6mission Tomography VN6TX_ plays an
important role in rapidly developing medi,al te,hnologies. Sin,e the radioisotopes used
de,ay on very short time s,ales_ the radio,hemi,als must be developed very ,lose to the site
at %hi,h the therapies are to be applied. Se,ondly_ Nor%ay has very important deposits o(
thorium_ an alternative base nu,lear (uel to uranium that is more abundant and does not
generate plutonium as a (ission produ,t. Nu,lear energy te,hnologies based on thorium are
under development Vin soa,alled Ieneration I;X internationally in order to eUploit these longa
term advantages. In order to eUploit ,urrent and (uture developments_ as %ell as to support
other appli,ations like radiotra,er methods_ it is ne,essary to maintain appropriate (a,ilities
and to provide a training base (or the skilled personnel and de,ision makers to %ork in these
(ields.
!esear,h is ,ondu,ted in radiopharma,euti,al ,hemistry_ radiotra,er te,hnology_ nu,lear
stru,ture and heavy element s,ien,e. C( these_ the latter t%o a,tivities may be regarded as
traditional pure nu,lear ,hemistry per se_ and Nor%ay has a good international reputation
and ,ollaboration net%ork (or this %ork. The radio,hemi,als %ork is only re,ently emerging.
The Cslo group is embedded in SAR6_ a national 0entre o( 6U,ellen,e (or A,,eleratorabased
!esear,h and 6nergy Nhysi,s_ ,reated in BWWK and in operation sin,e January BWWO. The
,entre is based on the use o( the Cslo 0y,lotron Laboratory_ %hi,h is a small but versatile
(a,ility_ re,ently re(urbished_ that enhan,es tea,hing and resear,h in this (ield through ease
!
45
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
o( a,,ess (or Nor%egian resear,hers. It in,ludes a ne%ly built_ stateao(atheaart N6T VNositron
6mission TomographyX imaging (a,ility_ ,losely linked to a radiomedi,al team in the Ra,ulty
o( =edi,ine. The planning and investment in physi,al resear,h in(rastru,ture in this (ield
there(ore appears to be at an eU,eptionally good level. Nu,lear labs need strong support
(rom me,hani,al and ele,troni, %orkshops and highly guali(ied te,hni,al sta(( %ith longaterm
eUpertise in te,hnigues_ sa(ety and pro,edure. At present there appears to be a short(all in
this aspe,t o( provision.
There is also a major shortage o( resear,h personnel to ,arry this (ield (or%ard and to make
good use o( the (a,ilities ,reated. Investment o( positions (or young resear,hers in this area
is vie%ed by the 0ommittee to be an important step that should be taken in the near (uture to
maintain the viability o( this type o( resear,h in Nor%ay. Iiven the (a,t that this is an
important (ield_ and the (a,t that the job market in this area is good_ it ,an be eUpe,ted to
greatly bene(it (rom any nationa%ide ,hanges that may be instituted in Nor%ayks Nh.D.
programme in ,hemistry in response to the re,ommendations o( this 0ommittee.
P5P5`' %ppC?9M'&89I?KtrQ'aEM'&89I?=aC'#EF?E99r?EF''
The resear,h in applied ,hemistry and ,hemi,al engineering in Nor%ay is mainly motivated
by the nationks a,,ess to ra% materials and its long history in pulp and paper te,hnology.
0onseguently_ the resear,h guestions addressed are driven by the ,on,erns o( Nor%egian
industries. All groups maintain a ,lose ,ooperation %ith Nor%egian industry_ SINT6R or the
Naper and Ribre !esear,h Institute VNRIX. Some groups have built up an eUtensive
international net%ork. =ost o( the groups in the (ield are ,on,entrated at NTN8 in
Trondheim. Some o( the resear,h o( the Nhysi,ala_ Netroleuma and Nro,ess 0hemistry Iroup
in the Department o( 0hemistry at 8niversity o( `ergen may be ,onsidered as belonging to
this resear,h (ield.
The Department o( 0hemi,al 6ngineering at NTN8 is the only one o( its kind in Nor%ay. It
hosts all major resear,h areas ne,essary to develop ,hemi,al pro,esses in Nor%ay: rea,tor
te,hnology_ separation and environmental te,hnology and pro,ess systems engineering.
=oreover_ it hosts the Naper and Ribre Te,hnology Iroup also having a unigue position in
Nor%ay.
In addition_ the Iroup in Nhysi,ala_ Netroleuma and Nro,ess 0hemistry at 8i` %orks on
various applied resear,h guestions dealing %ith pro,esses (or oil produ,tion.
Due to the intensive ,ooperation %ith industry_ most o( the resear,h groups in ,hemi,al
engineering and applied ,hemistry seem to have a,,ess to substantially higher budgets than
!
46
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
groups engaged in basi, resear,h only. Their resear,h (a,ilities are in general eU,ellent and
seem to attra,t national and international students to join the groups in order to %ork on
Nh.D. theses. This_ among other reasons_ eUplains %hy the number o( masterks and Nh.D.
students is signi(i,antly higher than the average numbers in other ,hemistry areas in Nor%ay.
=ost o( the ,hemi,al engineering resear,h groups at NTN8 sho% a good s,ienti(i, output
,ompared to international standards_ and in some ,ases ,onsiderably better than that_ on an
individual level even eU,ellent. Their international visibility is high and the ,ooperation %ith
other international resear,h groups is very good_ and in some groups eU,ellent.
=ajor so,ietal ,hallenges_ like ho% to deal %ith the 0CB generation and seguestration
problem_ are ,overed by the resear,h groups in this (ield. There(ore_ the resear,h per(ormed
by the ,hemi,al engineering ,ommunity is highly relevant to Nor%egian so,iety. !emarkable
is the (a,t that the groups at NTN8 have obviously re,ognised that the 0CB problem presents
a resear,h ,hallenge and ,ompleUity that ,annot be addressed by one single resear,h group
alone. Their initiative to join (or,es and to establish the department as cNational 0entre (or
!esear,h on 0CB removald_ %hi,h in,ludes setting up a joint laboratory_ is strongly supported
by the 0ommittee.
Nor%ay should ,onsider in the near (uture ho% to establish ,ollaboration bet%een resear,h in
,hemi,al engineering and resear,h in the (ield o( biote,hnology. =any o( the te,hnologies
and tools developed in the (ield o( ,hemi,al engineering ,an be su,,ess(ully applied to the
produ,tion o( bio,hemi,al produ,ts.
P5P5(X' %EaCQt?=aC'&89I?KtrQ''
Analyti,al ,hemistry is not a spe,ialised resear,h area (or many o( the departments
revie%ed. In parti,ular the universities at Tromsø_ `ergen_ and Stavanger do not in,lude
analyti,al ,hemistry as a spe,ialist resear,h area. At Cslo_ The Nor%egian 8niversity o( Li(e
S,ien,es_ NTN8 V0hemistryX Trondheim_ and NIL8 there are spe,i(i, analyti,al ,hemistry
a,tivities_ although not al%ays des,ribed as su,h. The number o( senior sta(( in analyti,al
,hemistry is not large overall_ but has in,reased sin,e the last revie%_ %hile the total sta((
numbers in many departments have de,lined. Analyti,al ,hemistry has not generally su((ered
as badly as other more spe,ialised areas. The analyti,al servi,e to departments and to
resear,h proje,ts appears to be mat,hed to needs. Little by %ay o( innovative ne%
te,hnigues at the ,utting edge o( international developments %as evident eU,ept in highly
spe,ialihed areas o( organi, ,ontaminants at the NIL8 laboratory and radio,hemistry at the
Nor%egian 8niversity o( Li(e S,ien,es. The basi, te,hnigues reguired (or analyti,al ,hemistry
!
47
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
%ere provided by up to date eguipment and methods at all o( the sites visited_ and some in
really eU,ellent modern laboratories.
Analyti,al eguipment in the departments evaluated appeared to be adeguate (or the resear,h
in progress_ and at most lo,ations %as (ully up to international standards. Zhether the
eguipment %as e((e,tively or (ully utilised %as less ,lear_ and this seemed to di((er
,onsiderably bet%een the di((erent departments. Also_ many resear,h groups indi,ated in
their submissions and presentations that the repla,ement o( eguipment and servi,e and
maintenan,e ,osts %ere not adeguately supported. The issue o( (unding servi,e and repair
,osts %as mentioned by hal( o( the groups_ but the s,ale o( the reguirements (or repla,ement
eguipment %as not ,lear and might not be a major problem.
Ror the spe,ialised resear,h on radio,hemistry_ tra,e persistent organi, pollutants and tra,e
metals_ the analyti,al eguipment %as adeguate or there %ere %ell developed plans (or
repla,ement.
!
48
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Y'
O#2#R%7'R#&3//#24%+,32.''
Y5(' %+'+6#'2%+,32%7'7#-#7'
The overriding vie% o( ,hemistry resear,h in Nor%ay (rom this_ the se,ond international
revie%_ is that the produ,tivity has in,reased in re,ent years %hile the overall sihe o( the
a,ademi, e((ort has de,lined_ so that there has been a ,lear in,rease in e((i,ien,y. There are
some very good resear,h groups %orking at the leading edge o( international resear,h and
publishing %ell. Ho%ever_ the overall ,ommunity is small even (or a ,ountry o( this sihe_ as
may be seen in international ,omparisons %ith ,ountries o( a similar sihe_ and some o( the
resear,h groups are not operating at a very high level in an international ,onteUt. Thus_ the
0ommittee re,ommends ne% e((orts to strengthen the resear,h teams_ and in,rease sta((
numbers in the key departments to allo% the best resear,hers to spend more o( their time in
resear,h. Rurthermore_ the 0ommittee (eels that a ne% ,ompetitive grant a%arding system to
en,ourage the appointment o( ne% truly eU,ellent postdo,toral resear,h sta(( into the
,ommunity should be a very high priority. There is also a need (or a larger number o( purely
qblue skyk resear,h grants_ to en,ourage diversity o( resear,h topi,s at the Nh.D. level.
.taAA'aEM'r9=rD?tI9Et'
Appointments and (ello%ships:!To address the issues raised in this report about the tenden,y
to re,ruit (rom the' undergraduate students to Nh.D. positions_ and then to retain these as
a,ademi, sta((_ %hi,h promotes the ,urrent lines o( resear,h and limits the in(usion o( ne%
ideas in the resear,h groups_ the 0ommittee suggests a system that en,ourages ne%
postdo,toral sta(( (rom a %ider pool o( appli,ants. The vitality o( the ,hemi,al resear,h
,ommunity in Nor%ay %ould bene(it (rom a system in %hi,h highly ,ompetitive resear,h
(ello%ships %ere a%arded (or K years VeUtensible to a (urther period o( up to 5W years in
totalX. The positions %ould depend on the guality o( the resear,h proposal AND the appli,ant.
The appli,ation %ould spe,i(y the proje,t in su((i,ient detail to (a,ilitate peer revie% by the
!esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay and eUamination o( the ,andidates to a similar degree o(
s,rutiny. There should be a large enough number o( these (ello%ships to generate an
in(usion o( ne% blood over the neUt K years to this ,ommunity. Nor%ay may %ish to ,onsider
a system in %hi,h the (inan,ing (or these (ello%ships might be provided in part by the
government and in part by the ,hemi,al industries.
The ,areer bottlene,k: Due in part to a nonanegligible proportion o( late ,areer pro(essors
%ho are not very a,tive in resear,h and o,,upy some o( the limited number o( a,ademi,
positions available_ the opportunities (or a,ademi, employment (or young people are limited.
The 0ommittee (eels that it is very important to investigate and address this issue at a
!
49
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
national level_ %ith the goal o( (inding a so,ially a,,eptable pro,ess to move the more senior
pro(essors into primarily tea,hing roles_ in order to (ree resear,h resour,es (or promising
early ,areer resear,hers. This pro,ess need not ne,essarily prevent these neararetirement
a,ademi,s (rom ,ontinuing to ,omplete important aspe,ts o( their resear,h or publi,ations.
An alternative possibility_ analogous to a pro,edure that has been su,,ess(ul in private
universities in other ,ountries_ may be to institute a national retirement programme (or
pro(essors in s,ien,e departments. Ror pro(essors bet%een the ages o( YK and YS_ (or
eUample_ a lump sum payment ,ould be o((ered to people %ho agree to leave their position
%ithin Y months. At the same time_ other in,entives should be ,onsidered (or opening more
positions to young people_ in order to prevent a re,urren,e o( the present situation.
!esear,h and tea,hing:!Some pro(essors have moved to%ard in,reased interest in tea,hing
rather than resear,h over the ,ourse o( their ,areers_ a situation that is not un,ommon in
,ountries outside o( Nor%ay. Su,h pro(essors o(ten have no eUternal (unding (or supporting
resear,h programmes. They are valuable members o( the a,ademi, system_ but they do not
meet the international standard (or %hat is eUpe,ted (or a university pro(essor_ %hi,h involves
both tea,hing and resear,h. The 0ommittee re,ommends that the Nor%egian a,ademi,
,hemistry ,ommunity ,onsiders a poli,y in %hi,h pro(essors %ith no eUternal resear,h
(unding be en,ouraged to ,ontribute more to tea,hing and thus (ree more time (or the junior
a,ademi,s to eUpand their resear,h a,tivity. =any o( the departments intervie%ed des,ribed
a,ademi, programmes in %hi,h a signi(i,ant number o( the ,ourses o((ered annually enrol
only a (e% students_ o(ten as (e% as 5aL. This is a very ine((i,ient use o( time (or pro(essors_
(or %hom available time (or resear,h is o(ten a limiting (a,tor in su,,ess. The 0ommittee
strongly re,ommends that departments revie% the ,ourses that they reguire (or degrees in
,hemistry: ,ourses that are not at the ,ore o( ,hemistry should not be o((ered yearlyj ,ourses
that ,urrently typi,ally enrol 5aL students should be o((ered at most on,e every t%o years.
=any international a,ademi, institutions o((er their nona,ore ,urri,ulum in this (ashion_ and
students plan their ,ourse s,hedules a,,ordingly.
In addition_ the possibility o( o((ering le,tures that are given at one university and are
broad,asted simultaneously at other departments should be ,onsidered (or ,ourses that
have only a small number o( students enrolled nationally.
+ra?E?EF_'Io;?C?tQ'aEM'=ar99r'p9rKp9=t?@9K'oA'QoDEF'r9K9ar=89rK'
Nh.D. programmes:! The 0ommittee observed that a,ademi, inbreeding in ,hemistry in
Nor%ay starts at an earlier stage than at the ne%apro(essor level. The issue begins at the
level o( re,ruiting students (or Nh.D. programmes. The heavy demand (or masterks level
students by industry_ and the limited opportunities (or Nh.D. degree holders in ,hemistry in
!
50
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Nor%ay lead to a shortage o( students ,hoosing to pursue Nh.D. level %ork. Thus_ through
personal intera,tions_ the (a,ulty are most su,,ess(ul in re,ruiting Nh.D. students (rom the
ranks o( their o%n undergraduate and masterks level students. This is a natural ,onseguen,e
o( the ,urrent system.
The 0ommittee does not re,ommend radi,al restru,turing o( the system to address this
issue_ %hi,h has several guite ,ompleU ,auses. Ho%ever_ the potential strategi, bene(it to
Nor%ay o( a larger pool o( resear,hers trained to Nh.D. level is large_ and there(ore spe,i(i,
initiatives should be developed to en,ourage more Nh.D. studentships together %ith the
industrial se,tors to help them to re,ognise the bene(its o( this (orm o( training (or long term.
An eUample o( an instrument to promote su,h a,tivities %ould be the in,lusion o(
studentships in all large ,onsortia grants_ engaging them to eUplore the (undamental aspe,ts
o( the ,onsortia goals_ and engaging %ith the large teams at di((erent institutions. Su,h an
approa,h %ould also have the bene(it o( providing additional studentships in areas o( pure
a,ademi, resear,h.
$?EaE=?aC'
Departmental (unding system:! The ,urrent (unding system (or a,ademi, ,hemistry
departments in Nor%ay reguires departments to divide their (inan,ial resour,es among many
di((erent eUpenses. In many ,ases_ this has ,aused departments to (orego the appointment
o( ne% pro(essors to repla,e (a,ulty retirees in order to maintain the (unding (or already
eUistent (a,ilities and te,hni,al sta(( that ,annot be eliminated or do%nasihed nonavoluntarily
%ithin the ,urrent rules. This method o( (unding threatens the sihe o( the pro(essoriate in
many departments.
To address this issue_ the 0ommittee re,ommends that the departmental (unding system
should be ,hanged so that (a,ulty salaries are separated (rom departmental operating ,osts.
Dis,ussions at a national or university level should be made to eUpli,itly determine the sihe o(
the pro(essoriate in a department_ based on (a,tors su,h as undergraduate enrolment_
importan,e o( dis,ipline_ and resear,h_ (or eUample_ and then the appropriate amount o(
salary should be separately allo,ated to (ully (und the pro(essor salaries.
Startaup (unding pa,kages: cStartaup pa,kagesd (or ne% a,ademi, (a,ulty members in
Nor%ay are (inan,ed at levels substantially belo% ,omparable pa,kages available else%here.
The 0ommittee re,ommends that steps be taken at the national level in Nor%ay to remedy
this dis,repan,y_ %hi,h_ given the sihe o( the Nor%egian a,ademi, s,ien,e resear,h
establishment_ ,an be done at a relatively lo% ,ost. The 0ommittee suggests (or eUample a
,ompetitive pro,ess o( instituting one cnational young pro(essorshipd per year in ea,h major
!
51
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
s,ienti(i, dis,ipline V,hemistry_ physi,s_ and biologyX %ith the a%ard o( an amount startaup
(unding ,onsistent %ith the ,urrent international standard in the (ield.
R9K9ar=8'?EAraKtrD=tDr9'
Runding (or resear,h instrumentation: The availability and guality o( instrumentation play an
important role in resear,h programmes in eUperimental ,hemistry. =any o( the ,hemistry
groups in Nor%ay %ere (ound to have ben,hatop laboratory instrumentation that is up to
international standards_ espe,ially in groups %ith ,lose ties to SINT6R. Nonetheless_ many o(
the groups report serious ,on,erns that they are not keeping up %ith international standards
(or resear,h instrumentation.
`eyond resear,h institute and industrial (unding_ !0N is the primary sour,e o( (unding (or
instrumentation in basi, ,hemistry resear,h in Nor%ay. In the ,urrent pro,ess (or distribution
o( !0N (unding_ the (a,ulty at ea,h university agrees on a list o( instrumentation priorities by
,onsensus that is then (or%arded to the university administration. The administration o( ea,h
university submits their priority list to !0N_ %hi,h then sends the university the (unds (or the
(irst (e% items on the list. This system %orks to help assure that resour,es are distributed by
,onsensus. The 0ommittee re,ommends_ ho%ever_ that a se,ond tra,k (or instrumentation
(unding by !0N_ individually ,ompetitive_ should be added to the system. The
instrumentation (or this part o( the programme %ould be a%arded to the resear,h groups
%hose individual proposals to !0N are judged to be best by peer revie%. The addition o( this
se,ond_ individual tra,k (or attaining ne% in(rastru,ture %ould have important positive e((e,t
o( in,reasing the responsiveness o( the system to rapid developments in the (ield and
enhan,ing the international ,ompetitiveness and resear,h su,,ess o( the most produ,tive
and ,reative resear,h groups.
Syntheti, organi, ,hemistry: Cne possibility (or ,reating eU,ellen,e in syntheti, organi,
,hemistry %ould be to identi(y a sele,tion o( Nor%egian universities %here this (ield %ill
re,eive a spe,ial (o,us. In addition_ these pla,es should not emphasise the same main (o,us
area_ but one pla,e should_ e.g._ ,on,entrate o( syntheti, methodology_ another one on
,atalysis_ and a third one on biologi,al ,hemistry. This model ,ould in,lude do%nsihing
syntheti, ,hemistry at a small number o( the universities to a limit that is just su((i,ient to
maintain the s,ienti(i, environment (or the department and the tea,hing programme. Su,h an
approa,h might also help to ,reate a dynami, environment in Nor%ay_ allo%ing the best
students in the (ield to gather at the internationally most re,ognised pla,es (or their training.
A se,ond possibility (or a,hieving eU,ellen,e in syntheti, organi, ,hemistry %ould be to start
a national ,ollaborative net%ork as a ,entre o( eU,ellen,e in Nor%ay. To improve the ,urrent
!
52
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
national situation_ this ,entre should appoint one or t%o eUternal eU,ellent resear,hers in the
(ield and attra,t ,andidates %ith large enough startaup (unds. Zithout ,reating a positive_
dynami, environment at least at one internationally re,ognised ,entre or university in Nor%ay
(or the pra,ti,e o( this (ield_ ,hemistry as a %hole in Nor%ay su((ers greatly.
Nanos,ien,e: Nanos,ien,e is an important ne% bran,h o( s,ien,e that has in,reased in
importan,e %orlda%ide in the past de,ade. The most a,tive bran,h o( this (ield internationally
,an most o(ten be (ound in ,hemistry departments_ though there are also many pra,titioners
in physi,s_ materials s,ien,e and applied engineering departments.
Nor%ay has begun to make a signi(i,ant investment in the in(rastru,ture needed to %ork in
this (ield through the establishment o( the national nanos,ien,e laboratory VNTN8 NanolabX
at NTN8. The 0ommitteeks intervie%s o( ,hemistry departments indi,ated relatively little
involvement o( ,hemistry (a,ulty in this (ield nationally_ ho%ever_ and the 0ommittee (ound
that there %ere (e% i( any ,hemists nation%ide %ho %ould ,lassi(y themselves primarily as
eUperts in nanos,ien,e. I( a (irstarate nanos,ien,e programme is to be established in Nor%ay
to take advantage o( the ,urrent and planned nanos,ien,e in(rastru,ture_ then (inding a
resear,her to a,t as the national leader in the (ield %ould be eUtremely bene(i,ial. The
0ommittee re,ommends that highaguality_ ambitious_ early ,areer s,ientists should be hired
(rom an international nanos,ien,e laboratory to help establish a (irstarate nanos,ien,e
resear,h programme in Nor%ay. This is a highly ,ompetitive (ield internationally_ implying
that substantial (urther investment %ill have to be made to ,reate a ne% internationallya
,ompetitive resear,h group.
Y51' R#&3//#24%+,32.'R#O%R4,2O'+6#'R#.#%R&6'&3*2&,7'3$'23Rb%0'
The 0ommittee re,ommends that a system should be implemented that allo%s resear,h
teams to suggest ne%_ (or%ardalooking national level resear,h programmes to the !0N %ith
the programmes operating at the resear,h ,onsortia level_ to en,ourage at least three
resear,h groups (rom di((erent institutions or departments to develop proposal at the H year_
L to O =t level. These proposed ne% national initiatives ,ould be evaluated by an eUpert
team_ and i( judged to be viable_ ,ould be ,onsidered (or support by the !0N. This possibility
%ould present an additional ,hannel and %ould supplement the present system_ in %hi,h
resear,h programmes are suggested by the !0N. This ne% approa,h %ould allo% (or more
bottomaup initiatives_ and en,ourage more initiative %ithin the Nor%egian s,ienti(i,
,ommunity.
!
53
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Z'
%..#../#2+'3$'+6#'4#!%R+/#2+.'%24'R#.#%R&6'OR3*!.''
Z5(' *2,-#R.,+0'3$'3.73''
Z5(5(' 49partI9Et'oA'&89I?KtrQ''
The Department o( 0hemistry VKIX is organised as a ,onventional university institute. As a
result o( the reorganisation in =ar,h BWWK_ the institute ,urrently ,omprises t%o se,tions
cSe,tion (or Li(e S,ien,es 0hemistryd and cSe,tion (or Run,tional =aterials 0hemistryd in
,ontrast to its (ormer L se,tions. The number o( resear,h groups has been redu,ed (rom 5L
to A in order to ,on,entrate e((orts in (e%er resear,h (ields_ to make the resear,h groups
more robust and to improve the ,ooperation bet%een the (ormerly small groups. The
department intera,ts %ith other departments_ universities_ the institute se,tor and industry
through several ,entres and resear,h programmes. In parti,ular_ a number o( !0N (unded
0entres o( 6U,ellen,e have been established under the leadership o( the department or
jointly %ith other Nor%egian ,hemi,al institutes. An overvie% o( the instituteks intera,tions is
sho%n in Rigure 5.
The resear,h groups are assigned to the se,tions a,,ording to their resear,h pro(ile as given
in Rig. 5. In a,,ordan,e %ith the (a,ultyks strategi, planning_ the department aims at
providing ,uttingaedge resear,h %ithin the t%o broad themati, areas cLi(e S,ien,es
0hemistryd and cRun,tional =aterials 0hemistryd. In parti,ular_ the department bene(its (rom
the ,entres_ %hi,h aim at promoting intera(a,ulty ,ollaboration. In the reorganisation o( the
department_ individual sta(( members %ere allo%ed to ,hoose the resear,h group they %ould
join. The large resear,h groups in,orporate subaresear,h groups_ ea,h o( %hi,h is headed by
a leader in order to promote joint resear,h initiatives.
The ,urrent ,hemistry building does not satis(y modern reguirements (or a sa(e and suitable
environment (or eUperimental resear,h. In a,,ordan,e %ith the strategi, development o( the
resear,h pro(ile_ the 8niversity `oard agreed to ,onstru,t a substantial ne% building cThe
0hemistryaNharma,yaLi(e S,ien,es 0ompleUd in Iaustadbekkdalen VI`DX in BW5A_ %hi,h
%ill host the 0entre (or =aterials S,ien,e and Nanote,hnology VS=NX_ the 0hemistry
Department_ the Nharma,y Department and the Li(e S,ien,e groups. SAR6 %ill not move to
I`D_ but %ill either stay ,lose to the ,y,lotron or move to the Institute (or 6nergy Te,hnology
VIR6X.
!
54
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Rig. 5: Instituteks a,tivities and intera,tions %ith ,entres_ programmes and main ,ollaborating
institutions
!0N 0entres o( 6U,ellen,e: dark yello%j 8iC top programme: redj 8iC development programme:
yello%j 8iC ne% initiative programme: light bluej bilateral agreement: green. In all these_ KI is the
major ,ontributor. 0entres and programmes %ith other departments as the major ,ontributor are
sho%n in grey. Abbreviations: S=S: Ra,ulty resear,h programme cSynthesis and =ole,ular Stru,turedj
Ily,onor: Ra,ulty resear,h programmej SAR6: Ra,ulty ,entre o( nu,lear ,ompeten,ej SIN0I6!6:
!esear,h plat(orm (or environmental resear,h ,ollaboration bet%een Nor%ay and 0hinaj 0AST: Node
o( 0o6 VSRIX ,entre o( tumour stem ,ellsj 0T00: 0o6 VSRRX 0entre (or Theoreti,al and 0omputational
0hemistryj inIap: 0o6 VSRIX 0entre in 0atalysisj R6!=iC: 0o6 VSRRX (inalist in materials ,hemistry
The organisational and leadership stru,ture o( the institute re(le,ts the general ,hanges at
the 8iC in a,,ordan,e %ith the ne% la% o( higher edu,ation in BWWH. The department itsel(
has an institute board_ an institute head_ a deputy head_ and a leader group. A,,ording to the
ne% regulations_ the institute head_ %hi,h ,an either be ele,ted or appointed by the (a,ulty_
reports dire,tly to the dean o( the (a,ulty and makes both major and everyday de,isions. The
board is mainly responsible (or strategi, longaterm de,isions and the budget_ %hile the leader
group has an advisory (un,tion. Tea,hing matters have been delegated to the deputy head.
!
55
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
HL
W
Asso,iate pro(essor
H
5
Nro(essor II
5
55
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
S
HY
Do,toral students
B5
LK
Te,hni,al/administrative positionsp
HB
W
(XX'
`N'
Table 5: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
p Te,hni,al/adm. positions: Nositions supporting resear,h Vte,hni,al/administrative sta((
members are not permanently allo,ated to a resear,h groupX
!
The sta(( key data are summarised in Table 5 Vdetailed in(ormation at the level o( individual
resear,h groups is given in the (ollo%ing se,tionsX. During the last 5K years_ the number o(
permanent s,ienti(i, positions at the institute has been redu,ed (rom K5 to HY due primarily to
(inan,ial ,onsiderations. Nostdo,toral positions are almost eU,lusively (inan,ed by eUternal
sour,es.
The age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions is summarised in the (ollo%ing
table.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
5
B
H
K
5W
A
H
K
Table B: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
!elated to the generally di((i,ult situation in Nor%ay ,on,erning the re,ruitment o( students to
the s,ien,es_ and espe,ially to Nh.D. programmes_ the number o( Nh.D. ,andidates and
do,toral degrees a%arded Vsee Table HX in relation to the number o( sta(( is very small %hen
,onsidered by international standards.
!
56
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
5K
S
5K
HS
=.S,. graduated
5S
HW
5S
YO
Table H: Number o( graduates
VKaY ,andidates graduating ea,h year (rom the =6NA programme are not in,ludedX
In order to ,ompensate (or the relatively small number o( Nor%egian students_ the
department and resear,h ,entres %ork to attra,t ,andidates at the Nh.D. and postdo,toral
levels (rom abroad. Ho%ever_ appli,ants %ith mastery o( a S,andinavian language are
needed as tea,hing assistants. To help address these issues_ the Department o( 0hemistry
is supporting initiatives at the (a,ulty level o( the university and is %orking %ith publi, s,hools
to in,rease interest in ,hemistry in Nor%ay. The strategi, plan (or the department postulates
an in,rease in the re,ruitment o( Nh.D. students by HWl and a ,orresponding per,entage
in,rease in the number o( temporary positions VNh.D. and postdo,sX in the period BWWAaBW5B.
The department emphasised its relatively high resear,h produ,tivity in the intervie% %ith the
0ommittee. Sele,ting BWWY as a re,ent year (or re(eren,e_ they pointed out that they have
K.L publi,ations per (a,ulty (or their department in that year_ a signi(i,antly larger number
than is (ound in the 8iC physi,s VL.HX_ astrophysi,s VH.KX and biology VH.KX departments. This
represents a good level o( produ,tivity on the international standard_ though the overall
university s,ien,e average o( H.5 publi,ations per (a,ulty member is relatively lo%.
The departmentks (uture planning and longaterm obje,tives are in,luded in the strategi, plan
BWWYaBW5B.
%KK9KKI9Et'aEM'r9=oII9EMat?oEK'
This is the premier a,ademi, resear,h institute in ,hemistry in Nor%ay and there(ore there is
an eUpe,tation that this department is %ell resour,ed_ innovative and o((ers eU,ellen,e in the
areas o( both personnel and in(rastru,ture. Cverall_ this is an eU,ellent department o(
resear,hers that meets many_ but not all o( these eUpe,tations.
There have been major reorganisations along the lines suggested by Zeitkamp_ and in most
,ases this has led to strong strategi,ally oriented resear,h groups_ %ith eU,ellent morale_
generating a high level o( eU,itement and a,tivity. These groups have been very su,,ess(ul
in obtaining resear,h (unding Vlo,al_ national and 68X %hi,h has been used to obtain
eguipment o( very high guality and to ,reate eU,ellent in(rastru,ture. There are numerous
institutes and ,entres on and in ,lose proUimity to the ,ampus %hi,h (urther enhan,e the
opportunities (or ,ollaborative resear,h grant appli,ations and the available in(rastru,ture.
!
57
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Ho%ever_ several major issues arose over the ,ourse o( the dis,ussions that should be
addressed.
As (or the ,ase o( the other departments %ho testi(ied be(ore the 0ommittee_ this group
pointed out the di((i,ulties in re,ruiting Nh.D.alevel students into their edu,ation and resear,h
programme. Iiven the desirable lo,ation o( the institute and its national status_ these
di((i,ulties are a re(le,tion o( the problems asso,iated %ith the do,toral degree in Nor%ay as
a %hole. The 0ommittee re,ommends that steps be taken ,ountrya%ide to address this
issue. Those re,ommendations are des,ribed else%here in this report.
The allo,ation o( limited internal (inan,ial resour,es is a major issue (or this department. Cne
,onseguen,e is that_ although the level o( eguipment %as eU,ellent_ mu,h o( this %as
running %ithout maintenan,e ,ontra,ts and %ithout an appropriate level o( support (rom
spe,ialised te,hni,ians. Nast pra,ti,es have apparently resulted in the (a,t that the
department is ,urrently in signi(i,ant debt. This high debt_ %hi,h ,onstrains ,urrent spending_
signi(i,antly limits the options (or (unding ne% initiatives_ %hi,h is not a desirable ,ondition (or
a premier institution in a (astamoving interdis,iplinary (ield like ,hemistry. An additional
,onseguen,e o( this indebtedness is the (a,t that during the last 5K years the number o(
permanent sta(( positions in the ,hemistry department has de,reased (rom K5 to HY. This has
had a substantial impa,t on the general outlook o( this group. During the dis,ussions_ they
eUpressed the desire to be able to determine spe,i(i,ally %hi,h areas should be de,reased in
sihe in the department so that they ,an maintain highaguality e((orts in the areas they judge to
be most important. This is apparently not possible in the ,urrent system_ %here rules di,tate
that ,ertain responsibilities ,annot be ,ut and personnel ,annot be asked to leave nona
voluntarily. The 0ommittee does not believe that this is a pre(erred situation (or a major
a,ademi, ,hemistry department and en,ourages the university and national resear,h
administration to %ork %ith the department to provide adeguate tools to reorganise and
restru,ture the department to its best advantage. Some re,ommendations related to the
issue o( department (unding stru,ture are also elu,idated else%here in this report.
In ,ontrast to these (inan,ial issues_ the department reported to the 0ommittee that the
8niversity `oard has de,ided to ,onstru,t a building on the 8iC ,ampus o( very substantial
sihe that %ill a,,ommodate the ,hemistry department_ the li(e s,ien,es department_ and the
pharma,y department in a single lo,ation. The 0ommittee applauds this substantial
investment in s,ienti(i, in(rastru,ture. The ,oahousing o( these departments %ill serve to
in,rease intera,tions and ,ollaborations in di((erent departments_ and %ill promote
interdis,iplinary resear,h as %ell as bene(it the individual resear,h groups.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The department presented strategi, plans (or %here they %ould like to be ten years (rom
no%_ at the opening o( the ne% building_ and those plans seemed sound. Iiven the (a,t that
moving into ne% areas in ,hemistry through hiring early ,areer pro(essors is largely
,ontrolled by rates o( voluntary retirement_ the amount o( ,hange presented in those plans is
relatively minor. Some suggestions o( the 0ommittee about ho% the opportunities (or hiring
young (a,ulty might be enhan,ed are des,ribed else%here in this report. The suggestion that
resear,h should be in,reased in the areas o( bioananos,ien,e and sustainable energy are
good ones. 0omputer simulation ,ould play an important role in bridging the gap bet%een
di((erent a,tivities and the environment should be very stimulating (or su,h resear,h_ in so(ta
matter_ biosystems_ porous materials et,. As the 0ommittee notes else%here_ gaps Vmirrored
throughout Nor%ayX %ill soon develop in eUperimental ,hemi,al physi,s and physi,al
,hemistry and_ as the nationally leading institution_ the department should ,onsider %hat ne%
resear,h areas it %ould like to develop. These areas are di((i,ult to support be,ause o( the
shortage o( (unds (or nonaappli,ation oriented resear,h_ so the issue may reguire resolution
at the !0N level.
6.1.1.1
Synthesis and Molecular Structure
This group is arranged %ithin the se,tion qLi(e S,ien,es 0hemistryk_ ,omprising three
resear,h groups and the s,hool laboratory. It is planned to ,onsist o( AaO pro(essors in the
(uture. 0urrently there are Y (ull pro(essors and one asso,iate pro(essor_ %ho is the ,urrent
group leader. The groupks resear,h is (o,ussed on organi, synthesis o( bioa,tive mole,ules
and stru,tural ,hemistry o( bioma,romole,ules together %ith N=! spe,tros,opy. Though the
group has seven pro(essors_ it is small_ due to %eak re,ruitment o( graduate students. It has
signi(i,ant international as %ell as national intera,tions. The groupks a,tivities are %ithin the
programme qSynthesis and =ole,ular Stru,turek VS=SX_ %hi,h has been designated a
strategi, resear,h area at the university. In part the group overlaps %ith the interdis,iplinary
group qIly,onork.
Assessment and grading
This group has the highest international visibility %ithin organi, synthesis in Nor%ay. The
resear,h proje,ts %hi,h are dealt %ith are o( ,urrent interest and up to date s,ien,e.
Throughout the group there is a (o,us on bioa,tive mole,ules_ and also the method
development resear,h is modern Ve.g._ organo,atalysisX. The ,ombination o( subgroups
%orking on syntheti, proje,ts and those %hi,h are spe,ialised on stru,tural ,hemistry V7aray
and N=!X is bene(i,ial and ,an be (ruit(ully (urther developed. It is in line %ith the universityks
development programme_ %here q=ole,ular Li(e S,ien,esk has been de(ined as a priority
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
area_ involving a Synthesis and =ole,ular Stru,ture priority area VS=SX %ith a (o,us on drug
development and stru,tural ,hemistry and bioanalyti,s. Thus_ this group per(orms highly
relevant resear,h %ith high international visibility and its a,tivities are supported by the
university strategi, planning_ both o( %hi,h are very positive. Ho%ever_ the group su((ers (rom
a la,k o( Nh.D. students_ %hi,h is severe_ and (rom old laboratories_ %hi,h are (ar belo%
a,,eptable standards. Some improvements have been made lately in one o( the laboratories_
%hereas many other labs are not ,lose to international standard. Rurthermore_ the =S lab
has moved a%ay (rom the groupks premises_ %hile it is important (or organi, ,hemists to have
easy a,,ess to analyti,al methods su,h as N=! spe,tros,opy and mass spe,trometry.
K/HpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
H
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
H_H_LppX
'
This group largely has an eU,ellent to very good publi,ation re,ord %ith a signi(i,ant number
o( papers in level B journals. Ho%ever_ a minority o( group members publishes rather little
and overall the per,entage o( level B journal papers is belo% the Nor%egian average. As the
groupks resear,h is basi, and has not led to a signi(i,ant industrial ,ollaboration_ the so,ietal
impa,t and relevan,e o( this group ,annot be ,onsidered as espe,ially high_ though the
group has that potential. The group ,omposition has started to be,ome homogeneous_ but
so (ar the strategy (or the (uture is not ,ompletely evident. Also the in(rastru,ture o( the group
needs improvement. !esear,h ,ollaborations_ both nationally and internationally_ are very
good_ ho%ever_ there ,ould be more overlap %ith other groups_ su,h as ,atalysis_ %hi,h
,ould be bene(i,ial (or this group.
Recommendations
This group is on its %ay to be,oming a uni(ied e((ort in the (ield o( resear,h on bioa,tive
mole,ules. This involves syntheti, proje,ts and stru,tural ,hemistry proje,ts. `iologi,al
testing o( bioarelevant mole,ules is done in %ella%orking ,ollaborations_ and it does not
appear sensible (or the group to make e((orts to build up its o%n assays. Ho%ever_ liganda
re,eptor intera,tions should be investigated %herever there is a ,han,e (or ,ollaborative
proje,ts bet%een stru,tural and syntheti, ,hemistry %ithin this group. This is an ideal (ield to
,ombine synthesis %ith N=! resear,h and 7aray studies to ,ome up %ith internationally very
,ompetitive proje,ts. Ne% positions in organi, and analyti,al ,hemistry should be assigned
a,,ordingly_ to strengthen resear,h on biologi,ally interesting mole,ules and to support the
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
eUisting eUpertise_ both in synthesis as %ell as in stru,tural ,hemistry. Su,h a strategy should
eventually (a,ilitate ne% (unding programmes in addition to the eUisting ones_ espe,ially the
KCSK programme o( !0N_ %hi,h is ,urrently o( high importan,e (or organi, ,hemistry in
Nor%ay.
A ,ollaborative plat(orm bet%een organi, ,hemistry in 0hemistry and Nharma,y is desirablej
un(ortunately it has no visibility as yet. The net%ork Ily,onor o((ers a ,han,e (or better
net%orking. Thus_ priority should be given to the development o( Ily,onor_ %hi,h is a priority
strategi, area at the (a,ulty. In a,,ordan,e %ith the universityks priorities_ Ily,onor is
,ombining resear,hers (rom ,hemistry_ pharma,y and the Institute o( =ole,ular `iophysi,s
VI=`;X. The strategi, resear,h area S=S (urther supports this approa,h. It seems to be
essential (or the group to in,rease the number o( Nh.D. students_ though the postdo,
situation looks rather good. The number o( beginning students has in,reased latelyj e((orts to
stabilise this trend are ne,essary. Attra,tive ,ollaborative proje,ts ,an be supportive in this
regard.
The N=! se,tion is strong and ,ould be (urther eUpanded_ given that the ne,essary
premises and permanent sta(( %ill be available. It is advisable (or 8iC and the Cslo region to
develop the N=! group into a strong servi,e and resear,h ,entre_ %ith nationa%ide
importan,e. The advantages o( an analyti,al ,entre in Cslo_ in,luding mass spe,trometri,
instruments should be ,are(ully ,onsidered. The reorganisation pro,ess o( the ,hemistry
department is ongoing and the Synthesis and =ole,ular Stru,ture Iroup has to play a vital
role in this pro,ess. Strategi, planning in this regard is even more essential (or this group as
the ne% premises_ %hi,h are planned (or BW5A_ are planned as a 0hemistryaNharma,yaLi(e
S,ien,es building. In order to make a ,entral impa,t in the (uture_ syntheti, and stru,tural
,hemistry should improve their ,ollaborations no% Ve.g._ utilise the Ily,onor net%orkX. A
,lear and ,omprehensive strategi, plan is needed to develop the (uture (or the Synthesis and
=ole,ular Stru,ture Iroup_ %hi,h ,ould strengthen its pro(ile as the leading li(e s,ien,es
organi, ,hemistry group in Nor%ay.
The ,urrent premises o( this group are large. Ho%ever_ the laboratories are old and reguire
minimum renovation as soon as possible_ %ithout %aiting until the ne% building is ready.
6.1.1.2 Analytical and Environmental Chemistry
The group ,onsists o( (ive pro(essorial sta((_ (our o( %hi,h are over KW years o( age_ (ive
adjun,t pro(essors_ one postdo,_ ten Nh.D. students and eleven masterks students. The
overall age pro(ile o( the senior sta(( is strongly %eighted to%ards sta(( ,lose to retirement
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
age and this area la,ks leadership at present. The number o( postdo,s is very small (or a
group o( this sihe %hereas the Nh.D. and =.S,. student numbers are reasonable.
The t%o parts o( this group have a di((erent history and %ere brought together in a logi,al
grouping o( these t%o potentially very ,omplementary (ields in BWWK.
The analyti,al eguipment and general (a,ilities are adeguate and the publi,ations (rom the
group are reasonable and ,lose to the mean o( the department as a %hole.'
Assessment and grading
The Analyti,al and 6nvironmental 0hemistry Iroup ,ontributes approUimately one third o(
the Nh.D. students and almost hal( o( the =.S,. graduates in the department and there(ore
a,,ounts (or a substantial (ra,tion o( departmental a,tivity. The range o( topi,s and issues on
%hi,h members o( this group have published is broad and in,ludes a substantial e((ort in
0hina. The group re,eived advi,e (rom an international advisory panel in BWWY on the
development
o(
the
group.
Ho%ever_
(inan,ial
,onstraints
prevented
important
re,ommendations (rom the BWWY revie% being implemented. In parti,ular there %as no
appointment o( a ne% pro(essor to provide leadership in environmental s,ien,e. This
appointment %ould have helped to develop a strategy (or the (uture and there appears to be
little intelle,tual leadership o( a very able group o( individuals.
L/HpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
B_H_LppX
The grades given (or guality and produ,tivity re(le,t the guality o( the s,ien,e produ,ed_ as
eviden,ed by the publi,ation outputs_ %hi,h are ,lose to the mean values (or the department
overall and are reasonably %ell ,ited. It is a,kno%ledged that the group as a %hole has been
publishing %ell. The value is moderated by the (a,t that mu,h o( the output o( the
environmental ,hemistry part o( the group re(le,ts the past and eviden,e o( ne%
developments in the s,ien,e by this se,tion o( the group is limited_ %hile the analyti,al
,omponent o( the group is maintaining its publi,ation outputs. The relevan,e and so,ietal
impa,t s,ore relatively %ell re(le,ting the %ay the group has identi(ied important
developments in the s,ien,e o( pollutants o( %ider ,on,ern globally and espe,ially in rapidly
developing regions o( the %orld as %ell as to Nor%ay spe,i(i,ally.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The strategy and organisation s,ore less %ell due to the la,k o( vision in not appointing key
ne% sta(( in (ull time positions to take this area o( s,ien,e (or%ard. It is use(ul in the short
term to appoint adjun,t pro(essors to the department_ and these have made important
,ontributions_ but (ull time dedi,ated leaders are needed to develop the department in the
longer term. Iiven that by BW5W there %ill be t%o key posts un(illed_ a ,lear strategy to
appoint an international leader in this (ield is ,ertainly needed.
Recommendations
At least one ne% appointment should be made at the pro(essorial level_ bringing into the
department an environmental or analyti,al ,hemist %ith an international reputation_ along
%ith at least t%o postdo,toral resear,h sta(( and some Nh.D. students_ in an area o( s,ien,e
,omplementing the eUisting lines o( resear,h. The qstartaupk pa,kage dis,ussion else%here in
this revie% %ould mat,h the needs o( this group_ and the department.
6.1.1.3
Nuclear Chemistry
The nu,lear ,hemistry group is in,orporated %ithin the ,hemistry department in the se,tion
(or Li(e S,ien,es 0hemistry. The group ,onsists o( B pro(essors_ 5 asso,iate and 5 pro(essor
II %ith t%o postdo,s and L do,toral students. Ho%ever_ one pro(essor and one asso,iate are
,urrently KWl and the other pro(essor is leader o( SAR6 Vthe 0entre (or A,,eleratora`ased
!esear,h and 6nergy Nhysi,s_ a multidis,iplinary ,entre %ithin 8iCX. The sta((ing levels thus
appear pre,arious but the ,reation o( SAR6 provides a (ar more substantial base (or
development than is immediately apparent. The number o( postdo,toral (ello%s VB.KX_ Nh.D.
students VKX and masterks students VYX in this (ield_ though small on a national level ,ompared
to the importan,e o( this (ield_ is a,tually relatively large given the small sihe o( the ,urrent
pro(essoriate. The group reports di((i,ulty in re,ruiting native Nor%egian students_ in spite o(
the (a,t that the job market in this area is good_ and a signi(i,ant number o( their students are
international.
Assessment and grading
The eUisten,e o( a re,ently re(urbished ,y,lotron onasite ,reates opportunities %hi,h are
available in (e% other pla,es_ %orld%ide_ both (or homeabased resear,h and also training in
nu,lear ,hemistry. The SAR6 group is Nor%ayks largest provider o( edu,ation and training in
nu,lear (ields_ at all levels. A broad range o( ,ourses is o((ered using dedi,ated tea,hing
(a,ilities. Ne% outstanding laboratories have been ,reated to support Nositron 6mission
Tomography VN6TX and there is ,lose ,onne,tion %ith radiobiologists in the medi,al ,entre.
This should be the base (or a signi(i,antly enhan,ed a,tivity_ due to the ,riti,al importan,e o(
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63
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
this (ield in medi,al treatment and diagnosis. The 0hemistry and Nhysi,s Departments have
promised to provide te,hni,al support (or this group at the te,hni,ian level. In the long term_
the 0hemistry Department eUpe,ts this group to ,onsist o( three pro(essors.
The group has strength in superaheavy element ,hemistry (or %hi,h it has an important
international reputation. Through this %ork it is involved in numerous international
,ollaborations %ith leading ,entres in,luding IR6_ 06!N_ ISI_ L`NL_ T8=_ and 0halmers.
`ased on their ,urrent e((orts_ they ,an be ,onsidered the %orld leader in the cre,oil trans(er
,hamberd te,hnology employed in ,ertain nu,lear ,hemistry eUperiments at large
international (a,ilities (or resear,h dire,ted at produ,ing very heavy atoms. Zhereas parts o(
the ,urrent group are very strong_ other parts should %ork to in,rease their resear,h
produ,tivity.
The (a,t that this one small group is responsible (or all the edu,ation and resear,h in this
important (ield in Nor%ay has pla,ed a signi(i,ant strain on its ,urrent members. It is
signi(i,antly understa((ed at the pro(essorial level and there is a di((i,ulty in re,ruiting Nh.D.
students (rom master degree programmes in ,hemistry. In addition_ the level o( te,hni,al
support is lo%: Nu,lear labs need strong support (rom me,hani,al and ele,troni, %orkshops
and highly guali(ied te,hni,al sta(( %ith longaterm eUpertise in te,hnigues_ sa(ety and
pro,edure. !esear,h a,tivity in the re,ent past has not been high and ,an be ,onsidered as
a %eakness_ though this has been a period o( restru,turing. The overall a,,omplishment o(
this group in the area o( nu,lear ,hemistry is presently ,learly inhibited by its very small sihe
and the signi(i,ant responsibilities (or resear,h and edu,ation that it bears at the national
level.!
L/BpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L_L_KppX
`ased upon normal measures Vnumbers o( publi,ations_ ,on(eren,es_ number o( Nh.D.sX the
level o( s,ienti(i, guality and produ,tivity is only good_ espe,ially %hen it is re,ognised that a
good deal o( the %ork on N6T has been ,ondu,ted else%here. There is a variable amount o(
resear,h produ,tivity_ (rom high to lo%_ %ithin the group. Nonetheless_ some o( the
publi,ations are at international guality levels_ and there are ,learly very talented people in
the group.
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64
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
A,,ording to the relevan,e and so,ietal impa,t the group is eUtremely %ell pla,ed to play a
strong role in Nor%egian and international s,ien,e through the development o( unigue
(a,ilities (or resear,h training in nu,lear ,hemistry_ links to international groups in nu,lear
,hemistry_ and the development o( links to radiomedi,ine in Nor%ay. Nu,lear ,hemistry has
,riti,al appli,ations in medi,ine_ and there(ore the so,ietal impa,t o( the %ork o( this group
,ould not be greater. The grade o( L re(le,ts the (a,t that this is potential rather than already
delivered a,tivity.'
Rinally_ the resear,hers have done %ell_ given the very small sihe o( the group_ to organise
their university_ departmental_ and institute a((iliations to get their %ork done.
The leader o( this group is a very dynami, individual %ith strong ,onne,tions to international
resear,h programmes. An outstanding in(rastru,ture has been ,reated (or this group_
eU,ellent links have been (orged %ith the medi,al ,entre_ the a,tivities address Nor%egian
and international needs eUtremely %ell. The interdis,iplinary ,hara,ter and unusual nature o(
this (ield makes rea,hing ,riti,al mass very di((i,ult %ithin the small s,ienti(i, resear,h
,ommunity in Nor%ay_ and the group has established eUtensive international ,ollaborations
to (a,ilitate its %ork. At present_ the human resour,e dimension is la,king at the level o(
a,ademi, sta((_ students_ and resear,h te,hni,ians and the 0ommittee %as not made a%are
o( more than outline plans to address these de(i,ien,ies.
Recommendations
=u,h o( the in(rastru,ture has only re,ently been ,reated Vespe,ially the N6T labX and
development o( the human resour,es to eUploit this ,apability is vital_ given the shortage o(
trained personnel to parti,ipate in nu,lear programmes. Zith these (a,ilities_ the possibility
(or international training programmes is a signi(i,ant opportunity. The 0ommittee
understands that at present there is no !0N programme (or nu,lear ,hemistry_ and the
0ommittee re,ommends that this be eUamined as soon as possible. Nu,lear ,hemistry is
eUpensive be,ause o( the sihe o( the instruments needed but also be,ause the reguisite
sa(ety measures ,ontribute a massive overhead.
The N6T resear,h programme ,reates possibilities (or organi, and pharma,euti,al ,hemists
to ,ollaborate in designing ligands et,. The ,urrent Nu,lear 0hemistry Iroup %ould bene(it
(rom establishing a very ,lose ,ollaboration %ith an eUpert or eUperts in organi, or inorgani,
mole,ular synthesis. The mole,ular ,hemist %ould design and synthesise mole,ules that
%ould in,orporate radionu,lides and %ould intera,t %ith di((erent mole,ular ,omponents o(
biologi,al systems in order to deliver the radionu,lides in a targeted (ashion. This kind o(
,ollaboration_ highly desired by the ,urrent members o( this group_ %ould represent a
substantial opportunity (or an interested syntheti, ,hemist_ and it may be desirable (or the
!
65
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
!0N or 8iC to establish (unding (or a targeted resear,h programme in this ,ollaborative
area.
The (ield o( nu,lear medi,ine is eUtremely important (rom the point o( vie% o( medi,al
diagnosis and treatment. Nor%ay is_ ho%ever_ in the unusual position o( having very (e%
internal eUperts in this (ield. The hand(ul o( resear,hers at 8iC in this area provide a good
(oundation (or maintaining this ,riti,al eUpertise in Nor%ay_ but the 0ommittee %as le(t %ith
the impression that the group is in danger o( disbanding in the near (uture. The group is
,urrently %ellapla,ed in the Department o( 0hemistry in the qLi(e S,ien,es 0hemistryk area.
Ho%ever_ it is not ,lear that (uture plans_ %hi,h %ill separate this group (rom the remainder o(
the Department o( 0hemistry on the opening o( the ne% resear,h building in BW5A_ %ill be
good (or (ostering its ,ollaborative intera,tions %ith ,hemists_ pharma,ists_ and li(e s,ientists
%ho may be interested in %orking in this area.
Iiven the (a,t that this is an important (ield_ and the (a,t that the job market in this area is
good_ this group ,an be eUpe,ted to greatly bene(it (rom any nationa%ide ,hanges that may
be instituted in Nor%ayks Nh.D. programme in ,hemistry in response to the re,ommendations
o( this 0ommittee.
The importan,e o( this group (or the development o( nu,lear ,hemistry ,annot be overstated.
Re% universities_ %orld%ide_ o((er the opportunity to %ork ,lose to a ,y,lotron and %ith chotd
laboratories %hi,h are eguipped at this very high level. The 0ommittee re,ommends that the
viability o( this group should be looked at ,are(ully at the national level_ and that e((orts
should be made_ by investment in personnel_ te,hni,al support_ and in(rastru,ture_ to
maintain this eUpertise in the ,ountry.
6.1.1.4
Functional Inorganic Materials
The Run,tional Inorgani, =aterials Iroup at 8iC per(orms resear,h in inorgani,_ solid state_
and materials ,hemistry_ and in,ludes %ork in ,hemistryabased nanos,ien,e. Their primary
interests lie in the area o( dis,overy and development o( materials (or advan,ed energy
te,hnologies_ but they are a,tive in other areas as %ell_ in,luding_ (or eUample_ (un,tional
oUides and mi,roporous materials. The group is relatively large by Nor%egian standards. It
,urrently ,onsists o( K pro(essors_ 5 asso,iate pro(essor V%ith a se,ond asso,iate pro(essor
to be appointedX and H adjun,t pro(essors. The number o( postdo,toral resear,hers V55X_
do,toral students V5OX and masterks students V5LX is substantial.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Assessment and grading
This is arguably one o( the most internationally %ellakno%n and su,,ess(ul resear,h groups
in ,hemistry in Nor%ay. They have re,ently published their %ork in the highest guality
international journals Vi.e. Nature_ Nhysi,al !evie% Letters_ Applied Nhysi,s LettersX and are
kno%n internationally (or their resear,h on proton ion ,ondu,tors. They ,an reasonably be
,onsidered as one o( the best groups in the %orld %orking in this important area. In addition
to their %ork in proton ,ondu,tors_ they have made important ,ontributions in the materials
,hemistry o( other important materials ,lasses su,h as multi(erroi,s and (un,tional oUides_
indi,ating that they display both eU,ellent problem sele,tion and high resear,h guality. Their
,urrent eU,ellen,e in resear,h in the de(e,t ,hemistry o( oUides is the ,ontinuation o( a
de,adesalong tradition o( (irstarate %ork in that (ield. The programme integrates thin (ilm
synthesis Vimportant be,ause many ele,troni, devi,es use materials in thin (ilm (ormX_
eUploratory resear,h and ,hara,terisation o( ne% materials_ and ,omputer modelling o(
ele,troni, stru,tures o( solids_ promoting ,rossa(ertilisation. It is a %ell diversi(ied group that
en,ompasses many o( the subspe,ialties that are needed to (ormulate a highaguality_
,oordinated e((ort in materials physi,s and materials ,hemistry.
The group has been highly su,,ess(ul in obtaining eUternal (unding to support their resear,h
programme. They have eUtensive involvements %ith national and universityabased
,ollaborative resear,h e((orts and ,entres su,h as S=N_ inIAN_ R6!=iC_ R8N=AT_ and
=iNa and in the 68aproje,ts =CR0AT_ NanoH?_ and NC;6LC7. They also have good
resear,h ,onne,tions %ith the applied resear,h ,entres SINT6R and IR6. The range o(
resear,h eguipment available to this group is outstanding.
K/LpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L_L_KppX
This group publishes many papers_ some in journals o( the highest international guality. Their
%ork is highly ,ited. They a,tively pursue eUternal resear,h (unding and are generally
su,,ess(ul in se,uring it both as individuals and in (o,ussed resear,h groups. Their %ork on
proton ,ondu,tors_ important materials in a potential alternative energy e,onomy based on
hydrogen rather than petroleum_ is highly relevant to so,iety. This is a large group %ith
strong leadership. Their resear,h strategy is very good_ but the group may be %orking in too
many areas in parallel Vsee re,ommendationsX. The resear,h in(rastru,ture Veguipment_
,lean rooms et,X is outstanding and lo,ated in very good laboratories. There appeared to be
!
67
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
a shortage o( te,hni,al sta(( supporting the eUperiments and the 0ommittee %as told that
mu,h o( the eguipment is not supported by maintenan,e ,ontra,ts. They ,ollaborate %ith
highaguality resear,h groups in 6urope_ Japan and the 8S. They are on the %hole (o,ussed
and produ,tive %ith a positive vie% to%ards s,ienti(i, resear,h.
Recommendations
The 0ommittee re,ommends that this eU,ellent group should ,ontinue along ,urrent
resear,h dire,tions and (ollo% their des,ribed plans (or the (uture. Their %ork should be %ella
supported by the !0N. Cne danger they (a,e is that by being involved in so many di((erent
areas o( resear,h that they (ind interesting and important they may be,ome overaeUtended
and there(ore less produ,tive. The 0ommittee re,ommends that they should be mind(ul o(
this potential problem and s,ale ba,k e((orts in some areas they believe to be less important
i( this situation develops.
Although in large part things are going very %ell (or this group_ the ,onne,tion bet%een the
materials physi,ists and ,hemists in this group and the 0entre (or Theoreti,al and
0omputational 0hemistry V0T00X is not as good as it ,ould be. This group %ould bene(it
(rom in,reased intera,tions %ith theorists and ,omputational ,hemists_ and there(ore plans
(or in,reasing intera,tions bet%een the ,omputational ,hemists and materials ,hemists
should be en,ouraged. I( the group eUpands their interests into the area o( mole,ular
materials ,hemistry_ su,h ,omputational ,hemists ,an be eUtremely valuable in aiding the
interpretation o( physi,al properties su,h as hydrogen produ,tion and photo,onversion_
photolumines,en,e_ and ele,trolumines,en,e. In the best ,ase_ that eUpertise should be
(irmly established %ithin the group itsel( through an internal sta(( member. Iiven that they
have other priorities (or hiring in the near (uture_ ho%ever_ they may %ant to eUplore %hether
one o( the (a,ulty in the ,omputational ,hemistry group might %ant to s%it,h into their group.
This group in(ormed the 0ommittee that in the (uture they %ould like to better integrate
polymer s,ien,e into their a,tivities_ as a so(tamatter ,omponent %ithin the 0entre (or
=aterials and Nanos,ien,e. cSo(t materialsd are a very important bran,h o( (un,tional
materials s,ien,e that this group is ,urrently la,king_ and so in,reased a,tivities in this area
%ould be o( interest. The 0ommittee believes that the integration o( an organi, ,hemistrya
based programme dire,ted to%ards the synthesis o( polymers or mole,ules %ith attra,tive
ele,troni, or opti,al properties into this dynami, group %ould be bene(i,ial to the groupks
%ork. Ho%ever_ given the ,urrent eUtensive a,tivities o( this group in other areas_ a ne%
(a,ulty member %ould be needed to eUpand into this ne% (ield. Iiven that this might be an
appealing opportunity (or some organi, ,hemists %ho might have a se,ondary interest in
!
68
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
physi,al ,hemistry_ the 0ommittee re,ommends that this group should a,tively seek organi,
,hemists (rom other groups to ask %hether they might be interested in joining.
6.1.1.5
Catalysis
The 0atalysis Iroup is relatively small VH pro(essors_ 5 asso,iate pro(essorX_ %ith_ ho%ever_
a unigue position in Nor%ay. It is involved in t%o resear,h (ields in ,atalysis: ViX the synthesis
o( metalaorgani, ,ompleUes and their use in homogeneous pro,essesj and ViiX
heterogeneous ,atalysis_ espe,ially mi,roporous materials_ su,h as heolites and_ more
re,ently_ metalaorgani, (rame%ork V=CRX stru,tures_ and also traditional metal/support
,atalysts. Appli,ations o( the resear,h are mainly in natural gas ,onversion. The group has
several joint proje,ts %ith SINT6R_ espe,ially through the 0AT=AT Iemini 0entre V0atalyti,
=aterials and AbsorbentsX. The group plays a leadership role in the SRI 0entre (or Innovative
Natural Ias Nro,esses and Nrodu,ts VinIANX. Cther joint resear,h a,tivities_ at the national
Vin materials s,ien,e and nanote,hnologies %ith S=NX and international V6uropean 0entre o(
6U,ellen,e in 0atalysis_ ID60ATX level_ also provide stru,ture (or the resear,h in the
0atalysis Iroup.
The number o( postdo,toral (ello%s VYX and Nh.D. students V55X is high %hen ,ompared to
other resear,h groups in ,hemistry. This is an indi,ation o( the good dynamism o( the sta((
members.
Assessment and grading
!esear,h on ,hemi,al ,atalysis in Nor%ay is essentially per(ormed by this group and the
0atalysis Iroup at NTN8. Some resear,h topi,s Vparti,ularly on natural gas ,onversionX are
,losely related in the t%o groups_ even though the problems are treated using di((erent
approa,hes and te,hnigues. The resear,h a,tivities in the group rest on t%o pillars:
homogeneous ,atalysis mediated by transitionametal ,ompleUes_ and heterogeneous
,atalysis. There is ,onsiderable ,rossa(ertilisation bet%een the t%o_ in parti,ular through the
re,ently developed ,hemistry o( metalaorgani, (rame%orks.
The (irst resear,h area in ,atalysis is csynthesis and ,hara,terisation o( metal ,ompleUes and
their use in homogeneous ,atalysis pro,essesd. This (ield o( resear,h has eU,ellent
international visibility and re,ognition_ %ith highalevel publi,ations.
The se,ond resear,h area Vcheterogeneous ,atalysts using mi,roporous and mesoporous
solids su,h as heolites or =CRdX has been developed more re,ently and has no% rea,hed a
high s,ienti(i, level. It takes advantage o( the s,ienti(i, kno%ledge developed in the (irst
resear,h area and displays very good ,ooperation among the di((erent members o( the
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69
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
group. Although this (ield o( resear,h leads to more applied proje,ts_ the (undamental
aspe,ts o( the %ork_ through me,hanisti, and modelling studies_ remain one o( the obje,tives
o( the group. Some o( the re,ent %ork on the ,hara,terisation o( porous materials is
parti,ularly interesting_ and has given rise to eU,ellent publi,ations. ^uantum ,hemistry
modelling o( ,atalyti, pro,esses is per(ormed in this group by an adjun,t pro(essor.
Nubli,ation indi,es are reasonably good and even eU,ellent in the (irst resear,h area. The
sta(( members involved in the se,ond resear,h area Vmetalaheolites/=CR ,atalystsX share
part o( their time bet%een the 0atalysis Iroup o( the Department o( 0hemistry and di((erent
Te,hni,al and Innovative 0entres. This gives them a,,ess to very interesting (a,ilities and
personnel resour,es but also in,reases their resear,h Vand (or one o( them administrativeX
duties_ %hi,h has its do%nside as %ell.
K/HpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L_L_KppX
The publi,ations o( the senior members o( the group are o( eU,ellent guality. The youngest
should be en,ouraged to (ollo% the tra,k o( their senior ,olleagues. The great number and
very good guality o( publi,ations is in line %ith the number o( Nh.D. students and postdo,toral
(ello%s.
6ven though the group keeps in mind the maintenan,e o( a high level o( (undamental
resear,h_ there is little doubt that the applied resear,h a,tivities are very %ell linked to
industrial strategy and national priorities. 0lose ,onta,t bet%een this group and the inIAN
,entre re(le,ts their %illingness to translate (undamental (indings into ,on,rete a,hievements
and to initiate applied proje,ts %ith the best ,han,e o( su,,ess.
The organisation o( the group is eU,ellent_ %ith a good balan,e bet%een members mainly
,on,erned %ith appli,ations o( metal ,ompleUes in homogeneous ,atalysis and those
%orking to support or in,orporate ,atalyti, metal ,ompleUes on or in mesoporous materials.
This latter aspe,t is %ellaadapted to applied proje,ts.
Recommendations
The group is very %ell organised both in the national and international ,atalysis ,ommunity. It
has developed a resear,h a,tivity o( highaguality_ %ell eguilibrated bet%een (undamental and
!
70
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
applied proje,ts. The presen,e in the same group o( spe,ialists in mole,ular ,atalysis_ in
organometalli, ,ompounds_ and materials able to host tailored a,tive phases provides an
eU,ellent opportunity (or per(orming very good resear,h. Ho%ever_ the group is %eakened by
its lo% number o( sta((. The 0ommittee re,ommends making every e((ort to re,ruit a ne%
member in the near (uture.
The level o( publi,ation o( the senior sta(( members is eU,ellent. To maintain the high level o(
publi,ation in the group_ the younger members are en,ouraged to improve their tra,k re,ord
by publishing their %ork.
In the ,onteUt o( rapid ,hanges o( the e,onomi,al environment in Nor%ay and in the %orld_
this group has the ,orre,t eUpertise to provide ans%ers to problems and ,ru,ial
advan,ements important to so,iety.
To take opportunity o( the gradually de,reasing resour,es o( (ossil oil and gas_ the position o(
the group in the (ield o( alternative energy resour,es should be strengthened. Due to the
threat o( the de,line o( traditional ,hemistry in Nor%ay_ developing ne% proje,ts in
nanomaterials and bioresour,es through national and international ,ooperation should be
,onsidered i( the group has the opportunity to re,ruit another member. The group should
take advantage o( inIAN to develop these ne% proje,ts.
0ooperation %ith other ,atalysis groups in Nor%ay is en,ouraged and should be
strengthened. In a similar %ay_ ,ooperation %ith groups spe,ialised in nanomaterials
,hemistry_ through =iNaLab_ or other resear,h stru,tures_ should be strengthened. The
Department o( 0hemistry at 8iC bene(its (rom a high potential in this (ield_ and the 0atalysis
Iroup is invited to take advantage o( this ,lose proUimity.
Rinally_ ,ollaborations %ith ,omputational ,hemists through the 0T00 should also be
developed.
6.1.1.6
Polymers – Organic Materials
The group ,onsists o( K pro(essors_ K postdo,s_ S Nh.D. students and K masterks studentsj
ho%ever_ L postdo,s_ L Nh.D.s and K masterks students are asso,iated %ith a single
pro(essor. It supports a range o( cso(tamatterd a,tivity_ and has responsibility (or tea,hing in
polymer_ sur(a,e and ,olloid ,hemistry_ delivering the only ,omprehensive polymer edu,ation
in Nor%ay. There is a %ide range o( te,hni,al eUpertise %ithin the group and the
in(rastru,ture to support a ,omprehensive range o( eUperiments %ithin this (ield. The level o(
,oordination and ,ooperation %ithin the group and %ith other groups in the Department o(
0hemistry is anomalously lo%.
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71
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Assessment and grading
0ompared to other groups %ithin 0hemistry at Cslo_ there are signi(i,ant areas o( %eakness
%ithin this group_ and signs o( poor ,oordination and demoralisation. Although there is some
highaguality %ork_ there appear to be signi(i,ant missed opportunities that ,ould arise (rom
intera,tion %ith members o( other strong groups %ithin the Department o( 0hemistry. Ror
eUample_ sel(aassembly is an important aspe,t o( nanos,ien,e and nanomaterial preparation
and there is ,onsiderable potential (or use o( solidastate N=! methods else%here in the
department_ but these opportunities do not seem to have been (ollo%ed. Intera,tion %ith
resear,h organisations outside the university in ,olloids and gels is guite eUtensive and the
%ork o( some o( the pro(essors is ,losely linked %ith industry and institutes.
'
K/HpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
5_5_HppX
'
Cne o( the pro(essors runs a large group %ith a high level o( a,tivity. 6lse%here_ the number
o( resear,hers and publi,ation rates are lo%_ though a reasonable proportion o( the papers
do appear in good guality journals. =u,h o( the a,tivity is related to industrial ,on,erns_ and
the group has a spe,ial role in providing the only broadly based edu,ational programme in
polymers and ,olloids in Nor%ay. Rurthermore_ this is the only ,olloid/sur(a,e ,hemistry
university resear,h in Nor%ay related to landabased industriesj the a,tivity in other
universities is narro%ly (o,ussed on the petroleum industry and oil re,overy. As ,ommented
above_ the level o( strategi, planning %ithin the group seems very poor_ and is ,on(ined to
individual group members. Ho%ever_ the basi, in(rastru,ture (or eUperimental %ork and the
laboratory ,onditions seem to be good. The pattern o( eUternal ,ollaboration is miUed. Zithin
Cslo it seems that numerous opportunities (or ,ollaboration are being missed.
Recommendations
The re,ent strategi, organisation o( resear,h groups %ithin the 8niversity o( Cslo has largely
been very su,,ess(ul_ but this group appears to be an eU,eption. It does not seem that
bringing this group together has led to signi(i,ant bene(its and_ indeed_ it seems to have
,reated problems %ith some o( the members not responding to opportunities (or (unding and
,ollaboration in ne% resear,h areas. It seems that reassessment o( this resear,h group and
reassignment o( its members should be a priority.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Despite the obvious risks o( building on a poor (oundation_ there is a great deal o( potential
(or developing %ork o( the type ,arried out in this group along numerous strategi, dire,tions
in asso,iation %ith other groups in Cslo. It is ,lear that a programme o( %ork in polymers_
teUtured inter(a,es and gels must be maintained and strengthened. There are strong
overlaps %ith nanos,ien,e Vsel(aassembly_ nanoabio_ hybrid nanoparti,lesX and %ith
pharma,y Vdrug delivery_ gelsX. =u,h progress has been made around the %orld in
developing a theoreti,al and eUperimental (rame%ork to support these developments. This
might be an area (or targeted ne% appointments to bring in ne% eUpertise in (ore(ront areas
su,h as so(tamatter statisti,al me,hani,s_ opti,al t%eehers and ,on(o,al mi,ros,opy_ and
singleamole,ule spe,tros,opy. As the 0ommittee has ,ommented else%here_ su,h a,tivities
have a high degree o( prominen,e in universities internationally that have ,omparable
reputations to Csloks_ and the 0ommittee believes that they should be part o( the resear,h
port(olio at Cslo as %ell. Iiven the redu,ed opportunities (or %orking %ith industrial
organisations in ,olloids and polymers_ the development o( this ne% s,ien,e should be seen
as an opportunity to re(o,us.
The di((i,ulty o( re,ruiting Nh.D. students to this area %as ,ommented upon and_ looking at
the group as a %hole_ the number o( Nh.D.s is lo%. The Nh.D. training programme should be
eUamined to see i( it provides a su((i,iently rounded training in this subje,t area to be
attra,tive. This_ o( ,ourse %ould depend on retaining a re,ognisable cso(tamatterd group in
the (uture.
6.1.1.7
Quantum Mechanics, Structure and Dynamics
The group ,onsists o( t%o parts. There is a Theory/0omputational subgroup ,ontaining t%o
pro(essors_ t%o re,ently appointed adjun,t pro(essors and the pending appointment o( an
asso,iate pro(essor. The se,ond subgroup is eUperimentally based and in,ludes (our
pro(essors_
t%o
in
gas
phase
stru,tural
,hemistry_
one
in
atmospheri,
,hemistry/spe,tros,opy_ and one in mass spe,trometry/,hemi,al rea,tivity. The group is
asso,iated %ith one arm o( the 0T00 Vtogether %ith the theory group at TromsøX_ o( %hi,h all
pro(essors are members or asso,iate members. This has enabled ,oalo,ation o( all members
in re,ently re(urbished laboratories o( very good guality. Zithin the Theory subgroup_ one
pro(essor has been Dean o( =athemati,s and Nhysi,al S,ien,es (or several years_ %ith
,onseguen,es (or his resear,h output.
Assessment and grading
The Theory subgroup is strong and (irmly (ounded. The 0T00 has enabled ne%
appointments and an in(luU o( postdo,toral %orkers into the Theory subgroup. The Theory
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73
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
subgroup Vaside (rom the pro(essor %ho is DeanX is highly a,tive_ as evident (rom the
bibliographi, survey_ and very %ell regarded at the international level. It is responsible (or the
Dalton suite o( guantum ,hemistry ,odes_ %hi,h is %idely used_ and this has dra%n the group
into eUtensive international ,ollaborations. Cverall this is one o( the strongest groups_
%orld%ide_ in developing guantum ,hemi,al methods and this has been re,ognised by
a%ards et,. The group also hosts international summer s,hools in guantum ,hemistry and is
a very a,tive ,entre (or visiting students and resear,hers. The ,omputing in(rastru,ture is
outstanding. The group ,ould support more Nh.D. students but_ as the 0ommittee has
,ommented else%here_ re,ruitment problems are ,onsiderable. The group ,ould pro(itably
broaden its resear,h interests i( the s,ope (or eUpansion eUists. 0omputer simulation and
,ondensed phase ab initio ele,troni, stru,ture methods are applied to a limited eUtent
else%here %ithin eUperimental ,hemistry groups at Cslo. The Theory group ,ould provide a
better (o,us (or this type o( %ork and perhaps enhan,e the guality o( the %ork %hi,h is done.
6gually_ there is no eUpertise in statisti,al me,hani,s or so(tamatter_ %hi,h ,ould be very
bene(i,ial to other groups and provide a more rounded approa,h. In all ,ases_ this
broadened a,tivity %ould enable pro(itable intera,tion %ith very strong eUperimental groups
%hi,h ,ould suggest %holly ne% problem areas and (a,ilitate grant appli,ations to sustain
this level o( a,tivity.
The mi,ro%ave and ele,tron di((ra,tion labs have been badly a((e,ted by the di((i,ulties o(
(unding and re,ruiting Nh.D. students and postdo,s_ %hi,h have prevented the development
o( ne% and innovative a,tivities. The ,urrent e((ort is supported at a lo% level %ith little ne%
money (or eguipment or maintenan,e. Rurthermore t%o o( the pro(essors are approa,hing
retirement_ and it is believed that these areas o( a,tivity %ill be terminated at that time under
the strategi, plans o( the Department o( 0hemistry. The 0ommittee has ,ommented
else%here on the ,risis (or guantitative spe,tros,opy in Nor%egian ,hemistry %hi,h %ill
ensue_ as these have been the leading Nor%egian labs in the subje,t (or many years. C( the
remaining spe,tros,opy groups_ one is (o,ussing on vibrational spe,tros,opy %ith an applied
Venvironmental/atmospheri,X orientation and the other on mass spe,trometri, studies o(
,lusters and ,hemi,al rea,tivity. These have been relatively %ell eguipped.
Cverall then the t%o subgroups are on di((erent traje,toriesj the Theory group is gro%ing in
strength and resour,es_ %hereas the eUperimental groups are (a,ing a redu,tion in their
a,tivity levels and a need to (o,us on applications o( spe,tros,opy. Despite these di((eren,es
there is a high level o( a,tivity in the appli,ation o( ,omputational guantum ,hemistry to
,hemi,al rea,tivity_ stru,ture_ spe,tros,opi, observables_ et,. This (orms a strong
,ollaborative link bet%een theoreti,ians and eUperimentalists %ithin the group.'
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74
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
K/LpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
H
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
H_L_LppX
'
The best %ork %ithin the group is at the cinternationally leadingd level. The overall publi,ation
rate is guite high_ and the ,itation levels are admirable. Nubli,ation rate is high even in the
eUperimental groups %hi,h have su((ered (rom limited resour,es_ and many o( the
publi,ations are in highly respe,ted journals. This attests to a good level o( morale and
general a,tivity %ithin the group as a %hole. The bulk o( the %ork is on basi, problems in
,hemistry and the level o( a,tivity is %ell represented by the normal indi,ators Vpubli,ations
et,.X %ithout spe,ial Nor%egian relevan,e. An eU,eption is the %ork on appli,ations o(
spe,tros,opy in atmospheri, ,hemistry_ %hi,h represents a signi(i,ant ,ontribution to
Nor%ayks internationally re,ognised strength in the area.
The group is %ell lo,ated_ has good resour,es (or its ,urrent a,tivities_ and is sustaining a
high level o( a,tivity. These testi(y to the su,,ess o( the previous reorganisation to (orm this
strategi, group. The Theory subgroup is very %ell engaged %ith the groups doing similar
%ork at other Nor%egian universities_ and there is promise o( resolving the Nh.D. problem by
these means. A (or%ard looking strategy (or the eUperimental groups is urgently reguired.
The 0ommittee %as ,on,erned that there is a gap opening bet%een the Theory subgroup
and the ,ondensed phase ,omputational %ork being undertaken in Run,tional =aterials_ in
parti,ular. Cpportunities (or symbiosis may be being lost. There is ,onsiderable eviden,e (or
a healthy level o( international ,ollaboration.
Recommendations
This is ,urrently a strong group_ %hi,h has made good use o( the resour,es o((ered through
the 0T00. As the 0ommittee has dis,ussed else%here_ the National !esear,h Training
Net%ork is a realisti, proposal (or addressing the %eakness in graduate re,ruitment and
training in theory and ,ould (orm a model (or ho% resear,h training ,an be o((ered in a small
,ountry. Rurther appointments ,ould be very pro(itably used to strengthen the e((ort in
,omputational studies o( ,ondensed phases.
A strategy is urgently reguired (or the development o( eUperimental ,hemi,al physi,s and
spe,tros,opy in vie% o( the impending retirements_ poor level o( (unding and the suba,riti,al
level o( a,tivity. In our vie% this is a matter (or national attention as the 0ommittee observed
little innovative %ork any%here in the ,ountry in the use o( lasers_ guantitative spe,tros,opy
!
75
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
et,. This suggests a longastanding shortage o( resear,h %orkers %ith skills and interests in
this area.
6.1.1.8
School Laboratory
The S,hool Laboratory is a group o( very small sihe. Cne pro(essor and one le,turer are (ully
involved in the edu,ation o( tea,hers in ,hemistry. The group did not supervise any Nh.D.
students during the last years. The S,hool Laboratory a,ts virtually as a servi,e organisation_
and resear,h proje,ts are not ,arried out at all.
In vie% o( this_ the S,hool Laboratory has to be evaluated by applying another standard. A
grading o( the resear,h output is not possible. Ho%ever_ the group has a responsibility to
train ,hemistry tea,hers. This is a task o( national interest.
0onsidering the servi,e role o( the group in the department and the age distribution o( its
members_ the department needs to develop a strategy (or the S,hool Laboratory.
Cne perspe,tive ,ould be to turn the group (rom a resear,h group into a servi,e group
V%hi,h it is de (a,toX and to install t%o le,turers (or ,arrying out the training programme.
Another alternative ,ould be to invest in the group and turn it ba,k into a resear,h group %ith
the strategi, task to in,rease the interest o( so,iety ] in parti,ular young people ] in the (ield
o( ,hemistry. In the long run_ this ,ould have a signi(i,ant impa,t on the re,ruitment o( young
s,ientists.
In order to optimise the limited resour,es in Nor%ay (or resear,h in ,hemi,al edu,ation the
0ommittee strongly re,ommends ,oordinating any (uture a,tivities in the (ield %ith the
Department o( 0hemistry at NTN8.'
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Z51' 23Rb#O,%2'*2,-#R.,+0'3$'.&,#2&#'%24'+#&62373O0''
Z515(' 49partI9Et'oA'/at9r?aCK'.=?9E=9'aEM'#EF?E99r?EF'R4/.#S'
D=S6 at NTN8 %as established in BWWB a(ter a merger o( three (ormer departments:
Department o( =etallurgy_ Department o( 6le,tro,hemistry and Department o( Inorgani,
0hemistry. Today D=S6 is organised in (our resear,h groups cNhysi,al =etallurgyd_
cNro,ess =etallurgyd_ cInorgani, 0hemistryd and c6le,tro,hemistryd. Cnly the t%o latter
groups are in,luded in the evaluation. The main reason (or dividing the department into (our
resear,h groups is due to their edu,ation and tea,hing responsibilities_ taking into
,onsideration the histori,al origin o( the groups. D=S6 is ,oalo,ated %ith several resear,h
groups in SINT6R and ,ollaborates very strongly %ith those groups. In general_ strong
,ollaboration a,ross the borders o( the (our (ormal departmental resear,h groups and %ith
resear,hers at other departments_ SINT6R_ and industry_ is guite ,ommon.
The resear,h ,arried out at D=S6 (its into t%o o( NTN8ks strategi, resear,h areas:
c=aterialsd and c6nergy and Netroleum ] !esour,es and 6nvironmentd. Key areas (or
c=aterialsd are light materials_ materials (or energy te,hnology_ materials (or oil and gas_ and
materials (or ele,troni,s and sensors. The se,ond area o( resear,h is related to hydrogen
produ,tion by membranes and %ater ele,trolysis_ gas separation membranes_ (uel ,ells and
solar energy ,ells. The ele,tro,hemistry group is also a key player in the 0entre (or
!ene%able 6nergy_ %hi,h is a joint e((ort by NTN8_ SINT6R and the Institute (or 6nergy
Te,hnology VIR6X. The D=S6 at NTN8 has been the guiding (or,e in the establishment and
,onstru,tion o( the national nanos,ien,e laboratory VcNTN8 NanolabdX_ %hi,h is designed to
house the ele,troni,s patterning and ,hara,terisation eguipment that is reguired to per(orm
stateao(atheaart resear,h in the (abri,ation and ,hara,terisation o( materials at the nanometer
length s,ale. The NTN8 Nanolab_ under ,onstru,tion at the time this report is being %ritten_
is physi,ally ,onne,ted to the materials s,ien,e building at NTN8.
The organisational and leadership stru,ture o( the department involves a department head_ a
deputy head_ a management group_ resear,h group leaders_ and an advisory board.
Students_ Nh.D. students_ administrative_ s,ienti(i, and te,hni,al sta(( are represented in both
the management group and the advisory board_ %hi,h is headed by an eUternal member
VSINT6RX and is ,onsulted %ith regard to the annual budget_ ne% (a,ulty positions and other
strategi, issues. =eetings on the s,ienti(i, sta(( level are ,arried out regularly.
The sta(( key data are summarised in Table L Vdetailed in(ormation on the resear,h group
level is given in the respe,tive ,haptersX.
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77
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
S
W
Asso,iate pro(essor
5
W
Nro(essor II
K
W
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
5
Y
Do,toral students
Y
BS
Te,hni,al/administrative positions
S
5
N('
NZ'
Table L: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
Hiring o( ne% (a,ulty members is one o( the most important strategi, de,isions in the years to
,ome_ e.g._ hiring o( t%o asso,iate pro(essors_ one in nanos,ien,e and one in ,orrosion and
sur(a,e s,ien,e. The age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions is
summarised in the (ollo%ing table.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
5
W
B
B
B
5
5
5
Table K: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
The re,ruitment o( do,toral and postdo,toral (ello%s to D=S6 over the past (ive years has
,hanged in terms o( in,reasing numbers o( masterks students. Roreign do,toral and
postdo,toral ,andidates are mainly re,ruited (rom 6uropean ,ountries and Asia.
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
55
A
H
B5
=.S,. graduated
5L
5Y
BB
KB
Table Y: Number o( graduates
Spe,ial attention is paid to the edu,ation o( ,ompetent masterks and Nh.D. students in solar
,ell resear,h_ sin,e D=S6 (eels that it has a national responsibility to meet this emerging
(ield in Nor%ay. A,,ordingly_ the department %ants to meet the rapidly in,reasing number o(
graduates needed by the Nor%egian solar ,ell industry.
As to (uture and strategi, planning_ the evaluation o( engineering s,ien,e per(ormed in BWWL
has had a large impa,t on D=S6. In parti,ular_ interdis,iplinary initiatives involving
me,hani,al engineering_ metallurgy/materials s,ien,e and ,hemistry_ e.g._ (ields su,h as light
metals_ solar ,ells and nanote,hnology_ are in the (o,us.'
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Assessment and recommendations
The evaluated port(olio o( this department in,ludes one o( the t%o large inorgani, and
materials ,hemistry resear,h groups in Nor%ay. These are spe,ialties in the larger ,hemistry
,ommunity that have in,reased in a,tivity and importan,e in the past de,ade. This is due
both to the emergen,e o( nanos,ien,e as a large and a,tive dis,ipline_ and the realisation by
,hemists that the design o( mole,ular and nonamole,ular solids %ith spe,i(i, physi,al
properties ,an be both ,hallenging and re%arding. This department ,learly approa,hes these
,hemi,al spe,ialties (rom the vie%point o( materials s,ien,e ] as their emphasis is strongly
on developing the ,hemistry o( materials to improve the pro,essing o( important
te,hnologi,al materials and to dis,over and develop ne% materials that have the potential (or
appli,ations in important te,hnologies. These gualities o( their approa,h to materials
,hemistry resear,h are greatly enhan,ed through their very ,lose ,ollaborations %ith SINT6R
and other industriallyabased organisations. In some areas o( resear,h_ this ,lose
,ollaboration %ith nonaa,ademi, resear,h organisations has resulted in some%hat more
emphasis on developmentaoriented rather than basi,aoriented resear,h than is generally
(ound in a,ademi, materials s,ien,e departments internationally. The department as a %hole
has been very su,,ess(ul in (unding its resear,h_ and seems to have a very healthy resear,h
,ulture.
D=S6 moved into a ,ompletely renovated ,hemistry building in BWWY. The laboratories in the
renovated building are eU,ellent both in the areas o( basi, building in(rastru,ture_ and
availability o( resear,h eguipment. D=S6 has re,eived several grants (or highaguality high
,ost resear,h instrumentation in re,ent years and the positive impa,t o( this instrumentation
%as apparent to the 0ommittee during the tour. It %as noted by the resear,hers_ ho%ever_
that (unding (or smaller eguipment_ (or ,onsumables_ and (or maintenan,e and te,hni,al
support o( the eguipment has been di((i,ult to attain.
D=S6 stands to be the primary bene(a,tor (rom the ne% in(rastru,ture that %ill be available
in the NTN8 NanoLab %hen it is ,ompleted. This ne% laboratory_ %hi,h represents a major
national investment_ is eUpe,ted to establish a ,rossadis,iplinary (rame%ork (or resear,h in
nanote,hnology. Ruture plans (or largeas,ale in(rastru,ture improvement also in,lude a
building (or solar ,ell resear,h_ %hi,h %ill be o,,upied together %ith SINT6R and other NTN8
departments. In ,onjun,tion %ith the eUpanded a,tivities o( this department in nanos,ien,e_
%hi,h are presently very limited_ plans are ,urrently in pla,e to hire a ne% (a,ulty member in
that spe,ialty area. Cther plans are to add another in the area o( ,orrosion/sur(a,e s,ien,e.
This %ould serve to rein(or,e their already major (o,us in that resear,h area.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Cverall_ this is a strong department %ith an applied (o,us. They have good (unding (or their
%ork through their industrially (unded proje,ts and institute asso,iations_ and their leadership
is strong. The labs visited %ere busy and had a good (eeling o( produ,tivity. =u,h o( the %ork
is presently oriented to%ard lo,al Nor%egian industry and te,hnology_ in part due to the
materials s,ien,e and engineering ,ore interests_ but also due to the relatively good
availability o( (unding (or applied resear,h in this (ield ,ompared to (unding (or basi,
resear,h. Substantial ,apability eUists in this department in terms o( in(rastru,ture_
eUperien,e_ and intelle,tual resour,es that %ould potentially allo% them to per(orm basi,
resear,h that %ould have signi(i,ant impa,t in the international s,ienti(i, ,ommunity. To do
that_ ho%ever_ the department %ould have to a,guire the (inan,ial support ne,essary to
eUpand or redire,t their resear,h in ne% dire,tions. This %ould reguire that they very a,tively
seek support (rom ,urrent limited resour,es available (or basi, resear,h in Nor%ay or
,ompete internationally (or 68a(unded basi, resear,h proje,ts. Iiven their eU,ellent re,ord o(
su,,ess in applied areas_ this group may be an e((e,tive voi,e arguing to in,rease the
(unding available (rom national Nor%egian (unding sour,es (or basi, s,ienti(i, resear,h: the
resear,hers in this department %ould no doubt be very produ,tive in any basi, resear,h
programme they undertake i( (urther investment is made in that area.
At (irst it may be ,onsidered un,onventional (or strongly ,hemi,ally oriented groups su,h as
dInorgani, 0hemistryd and c6le,tro,hemistryd to be subgroups in a materials s,ien,e
department rather than in a ,hemistry department. The very strongly propertiesaoriented and
materialsapro,essing oriented ,hara,ters o( these groups_ and the nature o( their intera,tions
and ,ollaborations_ ho%ever_ makes their intelle,tual home mu,h more suitable in the
materials department rather than the ,hemistry department. This arrangement is ,learly
%orking very %ell (or these groups_ and the 0ommittee re,ommends that the ,urrent
in,lusion o( these groups in D=S6 be maintained.
6.2.1.1
Electrochemistry
The ele,tro,hemistry group involves H (ull pro(essors_ 5 asso,iate and H pro(essor II. There
are three resear,h teams_ in ele,trolysis_ ,orrosion_ and ele,tro,hemi,al energy te,hnology.
There are ,urrently 5S Nh.D. students_ %hi,h is high by Nor%egian standards (or a group o(
this sihe_ and three postdo,s. Although this is labelled an ele,tro,hemistry group_ its
resear,h a,tivities are more narro%ly (o,ussed in several applied a,tivities. There is a
signi(i,ant overlap bet%een the groupks a,tivities and those in the Inorgani, 0hemistry Iroup
Vto %hi,h the same remark about breadth o( (o,us ,ould be appliedX and the t%o groups
,oordinate their planning through the D=S6 organisational stru,ture. The group has re,ently
moved to a ,ompletely renovated building_ %here the (a,ilities are eU,ellent.
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!
Assessment and grading
The 6le,tro,hemistry Iroup has strong links to Nor%egian industries Valuminium and
o((shoreX. This ,onne,tion may_ in the past_ have en,ouraged too narro% a (o,us on
industrial ,on,erns (or good internationally re,ognised and publishable %ork to have been a
major priority. The group has great potential (or addressing s,ienti(i, issues due to ne%
te,hnologies arising (rom the energy ,risis and the in(rastru,ture and the eUpertise they have
a,,umulated due to the range o( problems they have histori,ally addressed. The group has
strong links %ith institutes VSINT6R and IR6X %hi,h (urther strengthens the available
in(rastru,ture and the possibilities (or major resear,h ,ollaborations. It is ,lear that ne%
dire,tions o( resear,h are being targeted_ stimulated in part by the reorganisations at NTN8
and strategi, resear,h dire,tions identi(ied %ithin NTN8 and the 68. There %as eviden,e o(
rapid development o( %ork on ne% energy te,hnologies_ e.g._ signi(i,ant and gro%ing a,tivity
in the (uel ,ells and hydrogen e,onomy areas Vthough not yet substantial publi,ationsX_ and
on the ele,tro%inning o( other materials Ve.g._ the avoidan,e o( 0CB in Re produ,tion and Ti
ele,tro%inningX. This group is bene(itting (rom strategi, thinking (ollo%ing reorganisations and
ne% re,ruitments.
It is ,lear that the re,ruitment o( students to do Nh.D.s in this group has been problemati,j
though there has been a strong in,rease in the number o( eUternally (unded Nh.D. positions
re,ently. As dis,ussed in general ,omments_ steps ,ould be taken to improve the
attra,tiveness o( a Nh.D. programme Vi.e. to generalise its edu,ational baseX. The masterks
programme has been very busy_ and the numbers o( students graduating seems to be
in,reasing rapidly. There %as eviden,e in the laboratories o( many international visitors
Vstudents and postdo,sX supported on eUternal grants. Cn the other hand_ the sta(( is mostly
lo,al and appears to have %orked in Nor%ay (or most o( their ,areers.
H/BpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L_L_HppX
'
The level o( resear,h a,tivity visible (rom publi,ations in internationally re,ognised journals is
not high_ though it is on a steeply rising traje,tory a espe,ially the %ork asso,iated %ith ne%
energy te,hnologies. The ,itation rate o( mu,h o( the %ork is lo%_ %hi,h is %hat might be
eUpe,ted (or %ork that has been primarily motivated by lo,al ,on,erns o( Nor%egian
industries.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The %ork ,onseguently s,ores relatively highly (or its relevan,e. The group is also very
a,tive in edu,ating masterks and Nh.D. students %ith appropriate training to parti,ipate in
ne% te,hnologies. The laboratories %ere very busy %ith masterks students and overseas
Nh.D. students.
The resear,h in(rastru,ture is very good. There are eUtremely %ell eguipped and spa,ious
laboratories_ eU,ellent te,hni,al V%orkshopX support and very good a,,ess to libraries. The
group no% appears to be responding %ell in its strategi, thinking to several eUternal stimuli_
and moving a%ay (rom heavy relian,e on its traditional sour,es o( support (rom the
aluminium and o((shore industries.
Recommendations
Cverall this is a group %ith (irst ,lass_ relevant eUpertise (or a range o( highly topi,al
problems_ and eU,ellent in(rastru,ture. Rollo%ing the upheavals o( restru,turing and moving_
the group seems to be moving a%ay (rom its traditional relationships %ith industry and
repositioning itsel( to take advantage o( the ne% opportunities.'
Attention is dra%n to the very signi(i,ant opportunities (or a group o( this type that are
presented by ne% te,hnologies espe,ially in ne% methods o( metal eUtra,tion and in
ele,tro,hemi,al energy te,hnologies. These te,hnologies appear in the strategi, plans o(
NTN8 and at the national and 68 level_ so there are major opportunities (or (unding ne%
resear,h dire,tions. Ho%ever_ to (ully eUploit these opportunities_ more sta(( are reguired and
this is also indi,ated by the age pro(ile o( the ,urrent members. Apparent threats %ere the
la,k o( internal support (or resear,h in the (orm o( te,hni,ian support (or instruments_ (unds
(or small items o( eguipment et,. Attention is also dra%n to the amount o( time spent on
tea,hing as a ,onseguen,e o( improved undergraduate re,ruitment and the redu,tions in
sta(( levels. To improve the international visibility o( this group_ in,entives to publish in
leading journals should be ,onsidered.
The group should address %hether it is presenting an attra,tive Nh.D. training programme_
%hi,h %ill en,ourage its masterks students to remain in the university. Suggestions have
been made in the general se,tions o( this do,ument.'
6.2.1.2
Inorganic Chemistry
This is a group o( reasonable sihe VK pro(essors_ 5 adjun,t pro(essor and 5 ,hie( s,ientistX
%orking in a broad (ield o( resear,h topi,s: ,arbons (or ele,trodes in aluminium ele,trolysis
te,hnology_ ,erami, materials (or metallurgy Ve.g._ oUides_ sili,ides_ nitrides_ borides_ and
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
glassesX_ perovskites as (erroi, materials_ oUygen permeable membranes_ and various nanoa
materials te,hnology related topi,s. At present_ t%o additional resear,h topi,s are pursued in
the group: molten salts and polymerisation ,atalysts. During the intervie%_ it %as announ,ed
by the head o( the group that these t%o topi,s %ill be given up in the near (uture. The group
also ,omprises K postdo,toral (ello%s and 5Y Nh.D. students. This is in good a,,ordan,e
%ith the number o( sta(( members_ and re(le,ts a signi(i,ant resear,h a,tivity.
Assessment and grading
This group per(orms highaguality resear,h in materials ,hemistry as it applies to materials
s,ien,e_ parti,ularly as it is related to applied topi,s. They are %ell eguipped to per(orm their
resear,h. The resear,h group is very a,tive and is %ell ,onne,ted to industry. They per(orm
a substantial amount o( industryarelated resear,h that is o( value to the development o(
te,hnologies in Nor%ay.
The group o,,upies a unigue position in Nor%ay in the (ield o( aluminium produ,tion and in
other (ields o( metallurgy. !esear,h topi,s are ,losely related to industrial problems_ and thus
in this area the group appears to be %ella(unded by industry_ %ith resear,h highly relevant to
Nor%egian so,iety. The visit to the laboratory by members o( the 0ommittee largely
,on(irmed this impression o( an applied resear,h at a highaguality level.
Investigations o( ,arbon ele,trode materials %ithin the (rame%ork o( appli,ation to aluminium
ele,trolysis te,hnology are important parts o( the groupks %ork. Ne% ,onsiderations o( the
need (or energy savings during aluminium eUtra,tion_ addressing environmental problems_
and o( purity o( produ,ts and byaprodu,ts are eUpe,ted to dominate (uture a,tions in this (ield
o( resear,h. Their resear,h on ,erami,_ membrane and (erroi, materials_ %hile largely
distin,t (rom the above_ is related at the most (undamental level as many o( the appli,ations
o( su,h materials o( interest to the group are in the energy se,tor. These materials_ though
the details o( their relevant physi,al properties and appli,ations are di((erent_ (it %ell into the
eUpertise o( this group and %ith ea,h other_ as their basi, solidastate ,hemistry_ preparation_
and ,hara,terisation are strongly related. The %ide range o( topi,s studied_ ho%ever_ may
hinder intera,tions bet%een the sta(( members_ as they must ,on,entrate primarily in their
spe,ialties to most e((e,tively obtain highaguality results in their spe,i(i, areas o( interest. As
a ,onseguen,e_ some o( the synergies that arise (rom ,on,entrating e((orts o( several sta((
members in one area are sa,ri(i,ed.
This group has had strong input to the development o( the NTN8 NanoLab_ the national
nanos,ien,e laboratory that is lo,ated very ,lose to the laboratory housing inorgani,
,hemistry. I( this group does eUpand into the area o( nanos,ien,e in a substantial %ay_ then
the syntheti, methods employed to prepare nanos,ale oUides and other materials via solagel
!
83
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
or mi,elle te,hnigues may be appli,able broadly to many o( the materials o( interest_ and
interesting ne% ,ollaborations among group members ,ould emerge on the basis o( these
ne% te,hnigues.
L/HpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
H_K_HppX
The overall level o( publi,ation in international journals is good_ but ,ould be improved.
6((orts in that dire,tion have been made by various members o( the group_ re(le,ting a good
progression o( s,ienti(i, guality and in,reased (o,us on publishability. This group is ,apable
o( publishing more in basi, resear,h in the (uture and ,ould redire,t their %ork in that area i(
they obtain (unding. The relevan,e o( the %ork is high_ in that it impa,ts ,urrent te,hnologies
important to the Nor%egian e,onomy_ espe,ially in the (ield o( ele,tro,hemi,al metallurgi,al
pro,essing_ and in the (ield o( metallurgy in general.
The organisation o( the resear,h is very good. The leadership is very strong. Ho%ever_
,ooperation bet%een sta(( members is limited. The level o( outside ,ollaboration is high_ both
%ith other groups and industrial ,on,erns.
Recommendations
Like the 6le,tro,hemistry Iroup_ overall_ this resear,h group is guite strong. Narti,ularly
strong is their %ork related to the ,hemistry o( metallurgi,al pro,essing_ and the 0ommittee
re,ommends that this %ork should ,ontinue along its ,urrent dire,tions. They have good
(unding (or that %ork through their industry and institute ,onne,tions_ and the %ork is ,learly
valuable to Nor%egian national interests. The visit to the laboratory sho%ed a good level o(
resear,h a,tivity and positive attitude o( the young resear,hers_ %hi,h the 0ommittee %ould
like to ,ommend. The 0ommittee is also happy to ,ommend this groupks tea,hing strategy o(
o((ering a good ,hoi,e o( summer s,hools (or their Nor%egian and international students.
Their remarkable e((orts in terms o( student edu,ation should be maintained and even
strengthened.
The 0ommittee re,ommends that this group ,onsider a ,hange in balan,e bet%een applied
and (undamental resear,h over the longaterm. This ,an be a,,omplished by eUpansion o( the
group to in,lude ne% sta(( members (o,ussing on basi, resear,h_ but ,ould also be (a,ilitated
by abandoning some o( the ,urrent applied topi,s and (inding the (unding to %ork on ne%_
more basi, problems. The very good eguipment_ the intelle,tual resour,es present_ and the
!
84
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
eU,ellent possibility o( re,ruiting students through having them per(orm %ork in a ,ombination
o( both basi, and applied areas %ould likely allo% basi, resear,h to thrive in this group_
improving their produ,tivity in terms o( highalevel publi,ations and in,reasing their visibility in
the international resear,h ,ommunity. Some o( this may ,ome along %ith an in,reasing
emphasis on nanos,ien,e_ %hi,h by its nature is more o( a basi, resear,h (ield. They are
already %orking to%ard those dire,tions in the area o( (uel ,ell studies_ %hi,h_ given the
importan,e o( energy resear,h in the ,oming de,ade_ the 0ommittee hopes that they %ill be
able to eUpand in basi, as %ell as applied dire,tions. Their %ork in (erroi,s is perhaps the
most (or%ardalooking o( the ,urrent resear,h programmes_ and %ould be one area %here
in,reased (unding (or basi, resear,h ,ould have a substantial bene(it. Runding basi,
resear,h areas o( mutual interest %ill also help to strengthen internal group resear,h
,ooperation.
This group has been the prime motivating (or,e_ it appears_ (or the establishment o( the
NTN8 Nanolab. Nanos,ien,e as it is pra,ti,ed at the ,urrent stateao(atheaart level
internationally is not_ ho%ever_ one o( the primary strength areas o( the ,urrent resear,hers
in this group_ nor is it very strong in other ,hemistry groups in Nor%ay. The establishment o(
the NTN8 Nanolab as an important resour,e in Nor%ay is a signi(i,ant step to%ard joining
the international resear,h ,ommunity in this important area o( s,ien,e. It should no% be
,onsidered a very high national priority to bring strong leadership in nanos,ien,e (rom
outside o( Nor%ay into the Nor%egian system. Investment in an internationally re,ognised
eUpert %ith a good modern overvie% o( the (ield_ and giving that person the opportunity to
hire several very early ,areer pro(essors (rom international resear,h groups to ,reate a
,riti,al nu,leus o( resear,hers %ould jumpastart an internationala,lass e((ort in this important
area. `e,ause daily a,,ess to (a,ilities su,h as those that are envisioned to be part o( the
NTN8 Nanolab %ill be ,riti,al to the su,,ess o( su,h an e((ort_ this group may best be sited
at NTN8.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Z5151' 49partI9Et'oA'&89I?KtrQ'
The Department o( 0hemistry at NTN8 has emerged (rom (our ,hemistry departments at the
(ormer 8niversity o( Trondheim in 5SSS. Today the department ,onsists o( three se,tions_
cNhysi,al 0hemistryd_ cCrgani, 0hemistryd_ and cAnalyti,al and 6nvironmental 0hemistryd.
The main (o,us o( the Department o( 0hemistry_ di((erent (rom the rest o( ,hemistry
departments at NTN8_ is more basi, resear,h and less te,hnology oriented. The members o(
the department are split a,ross t%o buildings_ %ith the organi, ,hemistry se,tion mostly
remaining in the old ,hemistry building.
The departmentks organisational stru,ture involves an ele,ted head and three se,tion
leaders_ appointed by and advising the head o( the department. The head is responsible (or
the administration o( the department and also (or tea,hing and resear,h. The head is advised
by the ,oun,il_ %hi,h ,omprises ele,ted representatives (rom the permanent s,ienti(i, sta((_
the resear,h assistants_ the administrative and te,hni,al sta(( and students. The head
dire,tly ,ommuni,ates %ith sta(( in terms o( per(orman,e and proje,t appli,ations.
!e,ently_ a ,onsiderable number o( (a,ulty members have retired and there %ere three more
due to retire in BWWO.
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
5H.B
W
Asso,iate pro(essor
5W
W
Nro(essor II
H
W
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
5
B
Do,toral students
55
5S
Te,hni,al/administrative positions
L
W.H
P151'
1(5N'
Table A: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
W
5
L
5
B
B
B
B
Table O: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
In parti,ular_ tea,hing seems to be regarded as the main ,riteria (or the level o( sta((ing and
(uture appointments due to the strong involvement o( sta(( in tea,hing duties. In this regard
the redu,tion o( the number o( NTN8a(inan,ed resear,h assistants (rom 5H to K in BWWA
apparently resulted in a serious short(all in tea,hing ,apa,ity. `oth eUternal (inan,ing and
re,ruiting postdo,toral (ello%s as %ell as do,toral students remain problems to be solved. In
parti,ular_ the department %ants to attra,t (emale =.S,. and Nh.D. students through goala
oriented re,ruitment drives.
The situation at the masterks and Nh.D. level is represented in (ollo%ing table:
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient graduated
O
K
A
BW
=.S,. graduated
5Y
5K
BW
K5
Table S: Number o( graduates
Ruture planning is part o( the Department Strategi, Nlan (or resear,h_ %hi,h is e((e,tive (or
the period BWWYaBW5W.
Assessment and recommendations
The reorganisations at NTN8 have ,reated ,hemistry groups in t%o departments_ 0hemi,al
6ngineering and D=S6_ %hi,h are %ell ,on(igured to take good advantage o( the strong
industrial and institute links %hi,h are a (eature o( NTN8 and %hi,h ,ontribute to outstanding
in(rastru,ture (or resear,h. As des,ribed else%here_ these groups are either very strong_ or
on strong up%ard traje,tories in their resear,h output.
The remainder o( 0hemistry V%hi,h in,ludes mu,h o( the basi, ,ore o( the subje,t_ and many
o( the people responsible (or tea,hing itX is grouped into the Department o( 0hemistry_ to
%hi,h these ,onsiderations about a,,ess to resour,es do not_ a priori_ apply. Zithout this
eUternal/industrial support_ the NTN8a(unding model leaves a department very dependent on
(inding eUternal (unds in order to pursue resear,h and_ as ,ommented else%here_ unless the
resear,h e((ort is mat,hed to the strategi, programmes o( the !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay_
su,h (unding is very di((i,ult to ,ome by. The department is under severe (inan,ial ,onstraint.
This has a((e,ted the te,hni,al support (or resear,h guite seriously and means that there are
no residual (unds to help %ith in,entivisation and prioritisation. The sta(( reported high
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
tea,hing loads and a heavy time penalty asso,iated %ith bureau,rati, pro,esses. Cverall_
the 0ommittee (elt that morale %as lo% %ith a sense that the reorganisations and resour,e
allo,ation model at NTN8 had not %orked in (avour o( this department.
Sin,e_ to a large degree_ the ,urrent resear,h targets o( the %orkers in the Department o(
0hemistry might be des,ribed as basi, ,hemistry_ many are struggling to generate the
ne,essary resour,es Vin,luding resear,h students as %ell as support (or eguipmentX to
operate at even ,lose to the internationally re,ognisable level_ %hi,h is %ell belo% the
internationallyaleading institutional aspiration. It is simply not possible_ (or eUample_ to run a
re,ognised laboratory in organi, synthesis on the level o( resour,es available to the %orkers
in this department. Cn an international level an organi, synthesis pro(essor %ould supervise
ten graduate students and have t%o postdo,toral resear,h assistants and an attempt to
re,ruit su,h a person on the international stage %ould (ail unless running a group o( this type
%as a possibility.
Zithin the department_ there have been some moves to adapt a,tivity to meet this ,hallenge.
The merger o( analyti,al and environmental ,hemistry has ,reated a group that is more
relevant to industry and this has enabled ,ollaboration %ith StatoilHydro. Several other
individuals have re,on(igured their resear,h obje,tives to parti,ipate in highly a,tive (unded
programmes else%here in NTN8_ (or eUample_ in ,atalysis. Cthers_ espe,ially in theory
%here resour,es are less important_ have been able to ,ontinue resear,h on topi,s o( ,urrent
interest %hi,h have a substantial (undamental aspe,t. Ho%ever_ a substantial number o(
disen,hanted resear,hers remain_ %hose area o( resear,h a,tivity has not adapted to
,hanging times_ %ho are apparently ,ontent to do resear,h at a relatively lo% level.
The department displays no strong internal s,ienti(i, ,ollaborations or ,onvin,ing synergies.
Its di((erent se,tions are even lo,ated in di((erent buildings and there is no vision or
agreement on a ,ollaborative (uture development o( the department. 6ven %ithin one unit_
su,h as the se,tion o( organi, ,hemistry_ net%orking is underdeveloped.
NTN8 and !0N should undertake a serious evaluation o( the state o( this department_ in (ull
,onsultation %ith the members o( the department themselves. The department a ,harged %ith
maintaining a ,entre o( basi, ,hemistry at an internationally leading level a appears to have
been pla,ed in an eUtremely di((i,ult position by the (unding model %ithin NTN8 and the
!0N_ and the division o( the subje,t o( ,hemistry bet%een di((erent departments at NTN8.
To a,hieve this level o( resear,h there %ould have to be ne% appointments o( resear,h
a,tive sta(( pursuing ne% areas o( a,tivity. Ho%ever_ the department itsel( does not appear to
have a vision o( a ,redible resear,h agenda and a substantial shi(t o( (o,us amongst many o(
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
the eUisting members %ould be ne,essary be(ore the additional investment ,ould be
eUpe,ted to produ,e the hoped (or upli(t in a,tivity.
6.2.2.1
Physical Chemistry
This is a group o( reasonable sihe VY pro(essors_ H asso,iate pro(essors and 5 adjun,t
pro(essorX. Ho%ever_ t%o pro(essors retired in BWWO. C( the remainder_ three pro(essors and
one adjun,t pro(essor ,ould be ,onsidered as doing theoreti,al/,omputational %ork. This
means that the number o( groups doing eUperimental physi,al ,hemistry is lo% and probably
suba,riti,al_ (rom the vie%point o( ,oordinating basi, resour,es and in(rastru,ture and
de,iding on strategy. A (urther retirement is due in BW5H. Strengthening the T/0 se,tion has
been a priority in re,ent years resulting in the appointment o( t%o ne% pro(essors in his area.
There are 5B Nh.D. students in the group and (our postdo,s %hi,h are small numbers (or a
group o( this sihe.
Assessment and grading
The Nhysi,al 0hemistry Iroup ,onsists o( a theory/,omputation se,tion and several
eUperimental resear,hers. The T/0 se,tion has good s,ienti(i, guality_ re(le,ted in a good
number o( publi,ations in international journals and an appropriate spread o( a,tivities. There
is a good level o( ,ollaboration bet%een the T/0 groups and other similar groups in Nor%ay
and else%here. The a,tivity level o( the eUperimental subse,tion is not so high and_ overall_
(alls belo% %hat might be regarded as the internationally eUpe,ted norms. The a,tivities o(
the eUperimentalists do not appear to be ,oordinated and do not appear to re(le,t any
resear,h strategy in physi,al ,hemistry per se. Apart (rom distin,tive %ork in ,hemometri,s_
the a,tive eUperimental proje,ts ,ould be ,hara,terised as appli,ations o( spe,tros,opy and
syn,hrotron te,hnigues in inorgani, ,hemistry and ,atalysis. There are (ar (e%er ,onne,tions
%ith the industrial and resear,h institute se,tor than in other NTN8 departments. The group
is not %ell pla,ed to take advantage o( the more a,,essible Nor%egian (unding opportunities
and needs a resear,h strategy that more ,losely mat,hes national priorities or opportunities
%ithin NTN8_ espe,ially (or its eUperimental a,tivities_ %here the resour,e reguirement is
higher. Although the level o( eUternal (unding is listed as strength_ it seems to be diminishing
guite rapidly in the yearaonayear returns. Nromising opportunities are presented by the
development o( the NTN8 Nanolab.
It is ,lear that the re,ruitment o( students to do Nh.D.s and also masterks students has been
problemati,. The number o( Nh.D.s and postdo,s is lo% by international standards_ and it is
di((i,ult to see ho% the ne,essary degree o( ,ontinuity to run eUperimental resear,h
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
laboratories ,an be maintained %ith these numbers. The number o( internally (unded
positions is very lo%_ and has diminished rapidly.
The theory group is some%hat easier to sustain_ and the ,omputational se,tion is able to
make use o( the eU,ellent highaper(orman,e ,omputing (a,ilities in Nor%ay. At least t%o o(
the members have taken advantage o( ,ollaboration opportunities %ithin NTN8_ and
some%hat re,on(igured their a,tivities to mat,h the priorities o( eUperimental groups in
0hemi,al 6ngineering_ %here they have (ound ,hallenging and distin,tive resear,h
opportunities. The T/0 group %ould be viable and even strong %ith an easier a,,ess to
responsiveamode (unding_ though the balan,e o( the subje,ts ,overed is threatened by
retirements that %ill redu,e the strength in statisti,al me,hani,s/thermodynami,s. There are
opportunities (or ,ollaboration and symbiosis %ith 0hemi,al 6ngineering in the latter area
through modelling %ork on porous materials and ,on(ined systems_ so(tamatter et,. %hi,h
,ould be addressed %ith a strategi, appointment. The T/0 group had a ,olle,tive sense o(
identity and strategy and %ould be a suitable base (or investment in ne% developments.
Their links %ith other T/0 groups in Nor%ay is good and they %ould be %ellapla,ed to take
advantage o( a national training net%ork.
The group appears to have very heavy tea,hing ,ommitments_ sin,e it is engaged in a large
number o( ,lasses at the undergraduate level. It %as not ,lear to the 0ommittee %hether the
group %as holding onto this tea,hing load in order to maintain its university (unding streams
or %hether it really had no option. It does appear that these a,tivities and the asso,iated
administrative tasks have had a negative impa,t on resear,h.
L/BpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
H
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
B_B_HppX
'
The resear,h a,tivity indi,ated by publi,ation rates is some%hat uneven_ %ith the best at a
very good level %hile the poorest appear to be almost resear,h ina,tive by this measure. The
pattern o( supervision o( Nh.D. students presents a similar pi,ture. The level o( publi,ation is
good and even eU,ellent (or some senior members. Some young members should improve
their personal data in terms o( publi,ation and ,ontra,ts. The group has international visibility
in several (ields o( theory.
!
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The topi,s o( the group are not very ,lose to appli,ations. Ho%ever_ the group ,ontributes to
the improvement o( basi, kno%ledge use(ul (or several national Vand internationalX groups
%orking in more applied resear,h.
The %ork ,arried out in the group is largely dire,ted at (undamental problems_ so the a,tivity
should be (airly re(le,ted by the normal measures o( publi,ation rates et,. Ho%ever_ some o(
the group members have mat,hed their a,tivity to programmes in 0hemi,al 6ngineering
%here the resear,h dire,tions are more dire,tly attuned to national priorities.
As ,ommented above_ it appears that there has not been any strategi, thinking about ho% a
basi, ,hemistry group like this one is supposed to (un,tion su,,ess(ully %ithin a
te,hnologi,ally (o,ussed university like NTN8 and %ith the (unding opportunities presented
by the !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay. =u,h o( the cstrategyd is rea,tive to the pressures o( a
substantial tea,hing load and limited (unding. There %as no eviden,e o( a ,on,erted e((ort to
lay out a programme o( eUperimental resear,h development_ ne% appointments et,._ %hi,h
might attra,t strategi, (unding at the university or national level.
Recommendations
The theory group has good guality and has maintained a good level o( a,tivity %ith modest
resour,es. It %ould ,ertainly be helped by an improvement in (unding (or basi, s,ien,e. It
seems that there are good prospe,ts (or symbiosis %ith more appli,ationaoriented %ork in
0hemi,al 6ngineering_ %hi,h thro%s up a number o( basi, problems o( ,onsiderable interest.
Some o( this is already happening_ but an appointment to (a,ilitate simulation %ork on
,on(ined (luids_ ,ompleU (luids_ and porous media ,ould be enormously bene(i,ial to both
0hemistry and 0hemi,al 6ngineering and %ould build upon a strong tradition in Statisti,al
=e,hani,s.
To be su,,ess(ul and a,hieve an internally re,ognisable level the eUperimental physi,al
,hemistry e((ort needs some ne% (o,al points and an in,rease in the number o( %orkers to a
,riti,al sihej these might be asso,iated %ith the NTN8 NanoLab development.
The group must address the problems ,aused by the shortage o( young resear,hers_ either
as graduate students or postdo,s. It should %ork to improve training opportunities %ithin the
Nh.D. programme and also give the ,reation o( positions a higher budgetary priority in order
to stimulate (urther resear,h.
The group Vand also the departmentX should revie% its ,ontributions to the ,hemistry
tea,hing programme. It %as reported that these ,ommitments %ere a signi(i,ant dampener
on resear,h. Is the groupks ,ontribution really eU,essiven Are there poorly attended ,ourses
%hi,h should be droppedn
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
6.2.2.2
Organic Chemistry
The Se,tion o( Crgani, 0hemistry ,onsists o( three (ull pro(essors and three asso,iate
pro(essors. T%o o( siU (a,ulty members are (emale. The spe,trum o( resear,h topi,s is broad
and divergent and ranges (rom me,hanisti, studies to supramole,ular ,hemistry_ ,atalysis
and synthesis o( lipids_ hetero,y,li, ,hemistry_ (luoroaorgani, ,hemistry and the isolation and
investigation o( natural produ,ts. 0urrently 5B Nh.D. students are %orking in this se,tion.
There is a strong ,omplaint about a la,k o( graduate students and an overload o( tea,hing
duties. T%o masterks programmes %ithin ,hemistry studies at NTN8 have not led to a
su((i,ient in,rease in the number o( Nh.D. students (or the organi, ,hemistry se,tionj
ho%ever_ there has been an in,rease in the number o( masterks students.
Assessment and grading
The Se,tion o( Crgani, 0hemistry at NTN8_ ,onsisting o( siU pro(essors_ does not appear as
a uni(ied %hole. Nossibly due to its history_ it is (urther subdivided into groups_ some o( %hi,h
kno% ea,h other %ell and some o( %hi,h even have their labs in a di((erent building. There is
little ,ollaboration %ithin this se,tion and hardly any %ith other resear,h groups in the
Department o( 0hemistry. Stru,tural (uture planning is inadeguate and not driven by
,ollaborative endeavours. The group has su((ered (rom sta(( shortagesj ho%ever_ in this
situation it is even more important to develop a strategi, plan (or the group_ rather than to
spread its resear,h a,tivity thinly. There did not appear to be any %ellade(ined priority areas.
During the evaluation pro,ess several desirable resear,h areas (or a ne% appointment have
been mentioned su,h as organometalli, ,hemistry_ organi, synthesis_ ,atalysis and mass
spe,trometry. These plans to hire ne% pro(essors are in,onsistent.
The (undamental instrumentation (or organi, synthesis is largely old and insu((i,ient_ eU,ept
the N=! eguipment. Surprisingly_ even though there is a ne% ,hemistry building at NTN8_
only a small part o( the Crgani, 0hemistry Se,tion moved into it.
H/BpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
B
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
5_B_HppX
'
The number o( publi,ations ,oming (rom this se,tion is partly good_ ho%ever_ publi,ations
are o(ten in level 5 journals and o( little international visibility. Hetero,y,li, ,hemistry and
%ork on lipids_ vitamins_ ,arotinoids and antioUidants ,urrently has the highest impa,t in this
!
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
se,tion. There are isolated ,ontributions %ith high international visibility. Cverall_ ho%ever_
the publi,ation rate and e((ort o( the Crgani, 0hemistry Se,tion in Trondheim is not more
than (air and o(ten not internationally ,ompetitive. In its ,urrent ,ondition resear,h in this
group is o( little so,ietal relevan,e and impa,t. 6U,ept (or some %ork on vitamins and
antioUidants that holds potential (or various appli,ations_ a so,ietal impa,t is not ,learly
visible. In terms o( a (uture strategy_ organisation_ and ,ooperation_ the se,tion has (allen
behind the Nor%egian standards. There is neither observable strategy nor leadership that
governs the group and (e% internal ,ollaborations eUistj these ,ould help to (avourably
,ombine the eUisting resour,es. `asi, eUperimental eguipment is o(ten in poor ,ondition and
the s,ienti(i, ,ommuni,ation %ithin the se,tion is not broad enough. There are_ ho%ever_
some national as %ell as international ,ollaborations that are administered by a minority o(
the se,tionks members. These ,ollaborations are good and suited to improve the guality o(
the se,tionks resear,h.
Recommendations
The Se,tion o( Crgani, 0hemistry at NTN8 is the %eakest representation o( organi,
,hemistry in Nor%ay. It is essential to %ork on the s,ienti(i, pro(ile o( the group_ putting
emphasis on a ,onsistent strategy and upatoadate resear,h proje,ts. 6stablishing
,ollaborations %ithin the Department o( 0hemistry and other related institutes at NTN8
appears to be more important V(or eUample_ %ith the 0atalysis IroupX (or (uture su,,ess than
maintaining less important proje,ts. The most su,,ess(ul members in the se,tion should take
a leading position in this improvement pro,ess. This se,tion needs one or t%o leading
resear,hers %ho are a,tive in a resear,h area o( international importan,e. Nro(essors %ith no
s,ienti(i, output and no eUternal (unding should not signi(i,antly parti,ipate in the institutional
(unding. It should be ,onsidered %hether su,h pro(essors should (o,us their e((orts
essentially on tea,hing. In addition_ a ne% pro(essor position should not be arranged %ithout
a ,lear strategy. It is essential (or this se,tion to move into ne% laboratories based on an
e((i,ient in(rastru,tural plan. The ,urrent premises are totally inadeguate and_ in addition_
appear to be rather empty. The mass spe,trometry eguipment is totally insu((i,ient and has
to be repla,ed_ or an e((e,tive ,ollaboration %ith the Se,tion o( 6nvironmental and Analyti,al
0hemistry has to be established_ %here modern mass spe,trometry eguipment is available.
6.2.2.3
Environmental and Analytical Chemistry
The Se,tion o( 6nvironmental and Analyti,al 0hemistry ,onsists o( three pro(essors and one
adjun,t pro(essor_ (our asso,iate pro(essors_ one postdo,toral resear,her and one additional
resear,her. There are 5L Nh.D. students and approUimately BK =.S,. students. In the
!
93
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
general ,omments on 6nvironmental 0hemistry in Nor%ay it %as noted that a substantial
(ra,tion o( the resear,h %ork (o,usses on the opportunities and threats presented to Nor%ay
through its geographi,al lo,ation. The pro(ile o( environmental ,hemistry at NTN8 is a good
eUample o( this (o,us %ith a substantial and highly regarded programme o( tra,e metals and
espe,ially mer,ury resear,h and a (o,us on pollutants in the ar,ti,. The sensor resear,h_
%hile appearing guite di((erent has similar geographi,al motivations. The se,tion is %ell
integrated into international resear,h proje,ts_ in,luding 68 (rame%ork programmes. This
integration is very important_ espe,ially as the issues have a substantial international and
transboundary dimension.
Assessment and grading
The strengths presented by the se,tion are reasonable as (ar as they are stated_ but are
rather brie( and several key strengths have been omitted or understated. The greatest
strengths are the key sta((_ %ho have a solid publi,ation re,ord %ith reasonable ,itation rates.
This is not a large resear,h group_ but given the s,ale o( resour,e available_ the involvement
in some o( the most important emerging issues relevant to Nor%ay sho%s a good strategi,
vision. This se,tion ,ould not be eUpe,ted to be involved in all issues_ the skill base and
s,ale o( the team pre,lude su,h a strategy. Instead the approa,h o( a guite narro%
spe,ialisation is a solid strategy as long as the output o( highaguality publi,ations is
maintained. The (o,us on spe,i(i, emerging areas in,luding mer,ury ,hemistry in the ar,ti,
and the long range transport and path%ays o( persistent organi, pollutants again %ith a (o,us
on the ar,ti, are important eUamples o( the innovation and sear,h (or eU,iting ne% avenues.
The links %ith international resear,h groups is very important to the se,tion.
The sel( assessment o( the %eaknesses is (airj the se,tion is too small in the absen,e o(
more postdo,s to develop a larger programme o( innovative resear,h. There is a logi,al link
bet%een the la,k o( postdo,s_ links %ith highly rated university groups and the s,ale o( the
innovative resear,h a,tivity. Nostdo,s (unded by resear,h grants/,ontra,ts in ,ollaboration
%ith the leading teams espe,ially %here there are asso,iated Nh.D. students provide an
e((e,tive me,hanism (or ,ollaboration bet%een groups.
This se,tion has maintained a (o,us on relevant issues and %ithin this area they have
developed topi,al ne% proje,ts %hi,h ,learly have a strong (uture. The past resear,h has
brought a reasonable level o( output_ as eviden,ed through the publi,ations. The publi,ation
rates are intermediate relative to other parts o( the Department o( 0hemistry and by
,omparison %ith other environmental ,hemistry resear,h groups under revie%. So there is
,learly room (or development o( publi,ation rates. It is not (ully ,lear %hether there is a
substantial guantity o( unpublished material and that the individuals la,k the time to pull the
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
data together_ analyse and %rite up the (indings_ or %hether there is a de(i,ien,y in the
supply o( ne% data. The eviden,e o( an overload o( tea,hing and administration in the
absen,e o( an adeguate postdo, ,ommunity_ to get on %ith the resear,h %ith little distra,tion_
suggests that again the la,k o( postdo,s is an important bottlene,k in the groupks
produ,tivity.
L/HpX
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L_H_LppX
'
The grading re(le,ts the levels o( publi,ation output in guality and guantityj there are some
important papers in good journals and the overall produ,tivity is reasonable given the
demands on the se,tion_ ho%ever it ,ould ,learly be improved. The so,ietal impa,t is higher
given the main (o,us on environmental ,hemistry o( pollutants. The strategy o( maintaining a
(o,us in the ,ore areas_ given the se,tionks skill base and eguipment and asso,iated
in(rastru,ture is entirely logi,al. The organisational approa,hes appear less strategi, and
more a ,olle,tion o( individuals %ith broadly similar interests. 0learly the tea,hing and
administration reguires a more rigid organisation. The ,ooperation is pat,hy %ith eUamples o(
eU,ellent ,ollaboration at international levels_ but in other areas as the se,tion notes_ the
links %ith the best university groups are missing_ and thus the overall s,ore re(le,ts these
aspe,ts. '
Recommendations
The most important re,ommendation (or this se,tion is that the overall team should be
enhan,ed by a number o( postdo,toral resear,h sta((. This is the missing ingredient in the
team_ and i( provided it %ould allo% the produ,tivity o( the se,tion to in,rease substantially_
and provide more balan,e bet%een resear,h and tea,hing_ more e((e,tive links %ith higha
guality resear,h groups else%here_ both nationally and internationally_ and in,rease the
resear,h in,ome. The guestion then is ho% to a,hieve this result_ given that there are several
di((erent solutions. The resear,h ideas generated ,an be (unded (rom national_ 68 or
industry sour,es_ all o( %hi,h ,an be utilised to support postdo,s and Nh.D. students_ some_
%here possible_ in ,ollaboration bet%een NTN8 and partner organisations. The most
important result (or this group is the se,uring o( additional postdo,s_ so it %ould seem
appropriate to develop spe,i(i, proje,ts %ithin the broad range o( eUperien,e o( the eUisting
team to a,hieve this result_ using the in(rastru,ture o( NTN8 and %ith NIs (rom the eUisting
!
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
sta((. It is un,lear to the 0ommittee %hether the !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay and other
sour,es o( (unding la,k the opportunities (or these ne% proje,t ideas_ or %hether the se,tion
has made the appli,ations but that the su,,ess rate o( resear,h proposals has been to lo% to
se,ure the additional positions.
6.2.2.4
Chemistry Dissemination Group
The group is o( very small sihe V5 pro(essor_ 5 asso,iate pro(essorX. There are ,urrently B
Nh.D. students supervised.
Assessment
The amount o( resear,h per(ormed by the group is rather limited due to the heavy servi,ing
load to s,hools and to the Institute o( Tea,her Training 6du,ation in addition to the normal
tea,hing load in the department. The resear,h addresses areas o( rather diverse ,hara,ter
like developing ele,tro,hemistry eUperiments on the one hand and the ,hemi,al analysis o(
0opti, art treasures in 6thiopia on the other hand.
The group maintains a good ,ollaboration on the national and international level. The
resear,h results are published on a regular basis in the Journal o( 0hemi,al 6du,ation_
edited by the Division o( 0hemi,al 6du,ation o( the Ameri,an 0hemi,al So,iety. In addition_
the group sho%s good international visibility due to various ,ollaborations not only in 6urope
V`elgium and DenmarkX but also in A(ri,a V6thiopia_ South A(ri,aX. Nroje,ts per(ormed are o(
,rossadis,iplinary nature.'
This group di((ers signi(i,antly (rom regular resear,h groups as it per(orms numerous
servi,es leading to less resear,h output. There(ore_ (or the grading o( the s,ienti(i, guality
and produ,tivity another standard must be applied. In addition_ the bibliometri, analysis does
not ,ontain separate in(ormation about the publi,ation re,ord. The resear,h a,tivity o( one
member o( the group is good %hereas other group members need to establish their s,ienti(i,
output_ based on the 0;s provided.
6n,ouraging young talented pupils is a task o( high relevan,e and so,ietal impa,t (or
Nor%ay. Ho%ever_ the 0hemistry Dissemination Iroup does not ,ope %ith this demand as
the resear,h (o,usses on other issues.
The group needs (o,us and a ,lear resear,h strategy (or the (uture. Although ,rossa
dis,iplinary ,ollaborations %ith other departments like history_ edu,ation and art eUist the
!
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
strong embedment in the Department o( 0hemistry seems to take a%ay (leUibility in setting
resear,h targets and setting up ,rossadepartmental ,ollaboration.
'
Recommendations
In vie% o( the diversity o( the resear,h and the very limited resear,h resour,es available the
groupks sihe appears to be suba,riti,al. Cn the other hand_ raising the interest o( pupils in
,hemistry is an issue o( nationa%ide relevan,e. 0urrently the group ,annot satis(y this
demand o( national interest (or Nor%ay. It ,ould ho%ever ,ontribute signi(i,antly to
over,oming the problem o( re,ruitment o( students i( the resour,es %ould be adapted
adeguately along %ith a (o,us o( the resear,h topi,s. In this regard_ the (ield o( ,hemistry and
its dida,ti,s may o((er huge potential (or ,hallenging resear,h. This (ield ,overs a variety o(
resear,h guestions starting (rom ctea,hingd ,hemistry in kindergarten and ending %ith %eba
based ,hemi,al eUperiments V6aLabsX. =oreover_ ,ooperation %ith so,ial s,ien,e
departments ,ould easily be set up. I( the department %ants to eUpand into this area_ a
strategi, appointment o( an internationally re,ognised resear,her in the (ield is strongly
re,ommended.
In order to optimise the limited resour,es in Nor%ay (or resear,h in ,hemi,al edu,ation the
0ommittee strongly re,ommends ,oordinating any (uture a,tivities in the (ield %ith the
Department o( 0hemistry at 8iC.
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!
Z515N' 49partI9Et'oA'&89I?=aC'#EF?E99r?EF'
In 5SSS the Department o( 0hemi,al 6ngineering obtained its present stru,ture as a result o(
a reorganisation pro,ess in the previous years. The department is organised in siU resear,h
groups_ c0atalysis and Netro,hemistryd_ c0olloid and Nolymersd_ cNro,ess Systems
6ngineeringd_ c!ea,tor Te,hnologyd_ cSeparation and 6nvironmental Te,hnologyd and cNaper
and Ribre Te,hnologyd. There are ,lose links %ith SINT6R_ in parti,ular (or the ,atalysis
group and the rea,tor group.
A major ne% (o,us o( the department resear,h is on 0CB ,apture and removal. To strengthen
this area the t%o groups c!ea,tor Te,hnologyd and cSeparation and 6nvironmental
Te,hnologyd are to be merged. In addition_ the 0CB a,tivity is supported by SINT6R and
other departments at NTN8. The main ambition is to (irmly establish the department as the
cNational 0entre (or !esear,h on 0CB !emoval.d
The department is housed in the ,hemistry buildings KK Vpartly renovated in BWWAX and KL Vto
be renovated in BWWSX_ and partly in the NRI building_ and has t%o large eUperimental halls.
The
department
has
a,guired
a
substantial
amount
o(
small
to
mediumasihed
instrumentation.
Crganisationally_ the resear,h groups are split into subgroups. In terms o( dayatoaday
leadership o( the department_ leader group meetings take pla,e regularly. The department
has a head o( the department_ %ho represents the department %ithin the (a,ulty and the
NTN8. The head is supported by an advisory ,ommittee.
The main tool (or longaterm leadership o( the resear,h is seen to be the allo,ation o(
positions and ,hoi,e o( resear,h areas (or ne% (a,ulty.
The department has been through a major and su,,ess(ul repla,ement o( its a,ademi, sta((
over the last 5W years. 5K out o( 5S o( the ,urrent (ullatime sta(( %ere hired in that period VO o(
the ne% sta(( hired %ere (rom their own =.S,./Nh.D. graduatesX.
The sta(( key data are given belo% Vdetailed in(ormation on the resear,h group level is given
in the respe,tive ,haptersX.
!
98
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
5K
W
Asso,iate pro(essor
K
5
Nro(essor II
B
O
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
5
BB
Do,toral students
A
A5
K_K
L
NY5Y'
(XY'
Te,hni,al/administrative positions
Table 5W: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grant
Age distribution has been ,onsidered as a (a,tor during the hiring pro,ess Vpro(essors and
asso,iate pro(essorsX preventing an cage plugd (or the neUt HW years. The present numbers
are given in the (ollo%ing table.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
B
K
B
5
K
B
5
B
Table 55: Age distribution among pro(essors in,luding asso,iate pro(essors in permanent positions
The number o( Nh.D. students/postdo,s joining the department is about BW annually. Due to
the lo% number o( masterks students in the department_ re,ruiting o( ne% resear,hers on an
international level is in,reasing. Runding is mainly provided by grants or based on !0N
appli,ations or industry_ in parti,ular_ sin,e (our NTN8 Nh.D. positions used as tea,hing
assistantships have been eliminated in BWWO.
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
5H
5K
5K
LH
=.S,. graduated
BH
5O
BA
YO
Table 5B: Number o( graduates
The Departmentks Strategi, Nlans %ere based on the 5SSA !0N evaluation VZeitkamp
reportX and ,hanges %ere made possible through a Strategi, !eorganisation Nroje,t BWWHa
BWWY (inan,ed by the !0N.
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!
Assessment and recommendations
This is a (undamentally strong department_ %ith_ overall_ an eU,ellent resear,h ,limate_ good
(unding_ highaguality sta((_ and a positive outlook (or (uture su,,ess. Their resear,h groups
are o( substantial sihe_ a re(le,tion o( their overall su,,ess and guality. Their resear,h is
highly re,ognised by the international resear,h ,ommunity. This is re(le,ted by their (ield
,itation indeU o( 5LA %hi,h means that the arti,les they publish have re,eived almost KW l
more ,itations than the average arti,les in the (ields the groups are a,tive in.
The department has a pivotal role in ,hemi,al engineering resear,h and edu,ation in
Nor%ay. It has a unigue position in the matter o( 0CB seguestration pro,esses and a
predominant role in petro,hemistry_ natural gas upgrading_ polymer_ and paper te,hnologies.
Strong intera,tions %ith SINT6R and many other industrial resear,h ,entres play a very
important positive role in the overall pi,ture o( the resear,h in the department. Rurther_ it is
the primary lo,ation (or highalevel edu,ation in many o( the (undamental areas o( ,hemi,al
engineering valuable (or the Nor%egian e,onomy.
Rrom the (undamental point o( vie%_ the departmentks eUpertise in rea,tor and pro,ess
design are nationally and_ in ,ertain (ields_ internationally re,ognised. Rrom the eUperimental
point o( vie%_ the department has taken good advantage o( a tenayear e((ort in eguipment
rene%al_ laboratory renovation and improvement o( in(rastru,ture_ and is bene(itting (rom the
impa,t o( those developments on its resear,h guality. The guality o( the eguipment and_
generally speaking_ o( the te,hnologies developed in the department_ along %ith the
eUpertise o( the sta(( make it su,h that some o( the groups are o(ten asked to parti,ipate in
6uropean proje,ts.
In general_ the department has satis(a,tory ,onditions (or resear,h at its disposal. There has
been a signi(i,ant improvement o( the laboratory in(rastru,ture over the last 5W years.
Cverall_ the 0ommittee %as very (avourably impressed by the resear,h in this department_
and (urther believes that the ,lose intera,tions %ith SINT6R and other resear,h entities are
highly bene(i,ial. The 0ommittee ,an there(ore make no major general re,ommendations (or
,hanges_ other than that the 0ommittee is in (avour o( maintaining ,urrent dire,tions and
plans. !e,ommendations ,on,erning spe,i(i, groupsk e((orts are outlined in the (ollo%ing
se,tions.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
6.2.3.1
Catalysis
This is a large group VL pro(essors_ 5 asso,iate pro(essor and B adjun,t pro(essors_ BL Nh.D.
students_ L postdo,sX_ largely involved in a Iemini 0entre %ith SINT6R VKin0at 0entreX. In
addition to the university group_ the Kin0at 0entre ,omprises S resear,hers (rom SINT6R.
!esear,h a,tivity ,overs a %ide range in ,atalysis: ,onversion o( natural gas Ve.g._ Ris,hera
Trops,h_ partial oUidation_ a(teratreatments o( methane ,onversions: 0CB ,aptureX_ upgrading
o( oil (ra,tions Vre(orming_ isomerisationX_ bio(uels Ve.g._ re(orming_ gasi(i,ation_ HB
produ,tionX_ environmental ,atalysis Vsulphur removalX.
The group is also ,on,erned %ith more (undamental approa,hes in ,atalysis Vsur(a,e
s,ien,e_ ,hara,terisation o( porous ,atalysts_ kineti, modellingX_ %ith some aspe,ts o(
,atalyti, materials synthesis V,arbon nano(ibres_ heolites_ et,.X and %ith rea,tor engineering
Ve.g._ membranesX.
Assessment and grading
The group has a pivotal role in applied ,atalysis and ,hemi,al engineering in ,lose
relationship %ith industrial problems. 8ndoubtedly_ the group takes advantage o( the very
good level o( eguipment in ,atalyti, rea,tors provided by the presen,e o( the Kin0at 0entre
%ith SINT6R.
SINT6R proje,ts and NTN8 proje,ts are both separate and intimately miUed. Kin0at is the
leader in Nor%ay as (ar as applied resear,h on natural gas and bio(uels is ,on,erned. It has
very good re,ognition by the international ,atalysis ,ommunity. =ore (undamental aspe,ts in
mi,rokineti,s_ modelling_ and sur(a,e s,ien,e are also at a good level even though the
strategy is al%ays Vor almost al%aysX to apply these studies dire,tly to pra,ti,al problems.
0ooperation %ith the 0atalysis Iroup o( the 8niversity o( Cslo is evoked but not detailed.
Links seem rather important %ith the inIAN 0entre. It %ould have been interesting to spe,i(y
ho% the resear,h proje,ts Vespe,ially those in ,ooperation %ith SINT6R on natural gas
,onversionX are shared bet%een the t%o groups.
Nubli,ation indi,es are good and even eU,ellent (or ,ertain members o( the group. The
youngest members have a good opportunity to (ollo% in the senior membersk (ootprints.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
!
K/HpX
K
L_K_LppX
101
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The group bene(its (rom a signi(i,ant number o( Nh.D. students and postdo,toral (ello%s_
%hi,h leads to an intense s,ienti(i, produ,tion in terms o( Nh.D. theses_ ,ontra,t reports and
publi,ations in journals. The produ,tivity is very good (or the leaders_ and should be
improved (or the youngest members. It %ould be in the sta(( membersk advantage to vary the
journals in %hi,h they publish their %orks.
The resear,h topi,s are (ully in a,,ord %ith strategi, priorities o( Nor%ay and in ,lose
,onne,tion %ith industry.
The internal organisation is ,lear_ %ith a very good ,ooperation %ith SINT6R through a
Iemini 0entre. 0ooperation %ith other national and international laboratories ,ould be
strengthened so as to o((er ne% opportunities (or the group.
Recommendations
The group has very good re,ognition (or its eU,ellent eUpertise in the ,hemi,al engineering
aspe,ts o( ,atalysis. Links %ith SINT6R through the Kin0at 0entre are very strong and allo%
the group to bene(it (rom substantial help in personnel_ eguipment and (unding. 8ndoubtedly_
the group takes advantage o( this intima,y %ith SINT6R sta(( members to develop proje,ts
having a high e,onomi,al impa,t in the (ields o( energy_ petro,hemistry_ and environmental
,atalysis. It seems ne,essary to see to it that these strong links do not hinder the emergen,e
o( eUploratory individual proje,ts.
The group is invited to publish its %ork in multidis,iplinary journals %hen possible. Although
their publi,ation indi,es are already good and even eU,ellent (or the groupvs leaders_ young
members should make additional e((orts to improve their personal data.
0ooperation %ith other groups %orking in ,atalysis should be strengthened. 0ommon
proje,ts may be developed in the (rame%ork o( inIAN or other resear,h stru,tures.
0ooperation %ith groups spe,ialised in nanomaterials and inorgani, ,hemistry should be
strengthened. Although some aspe,ts o( ,atalyst preparation are developed in the group_ it
,ould bene(it (rom the eUpertise o( inorgani, ,hemistry and materials groups in Nor%ay.
0onversely_ the group ,ould help these teams in developing models in,luding ,hemi,al
engineering steps o( the synthesis o( ne% materials.
National and international ,ooperation in rea,tion modelling and mi,rokineti,s should also be
strengthened to rea,h a very high level.
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!
6.2.3.2
Colloid and Polymers
The 0olloid and Nolymers Iroup %as heavily restru,tured and reorganised (ollo%ing the
Zeitkamp report. The ,urrent group ,onsists o( one (ull pro(essor and t%o asso,iate
pro(essors all o( %hom have been appointed sin,e BWWB through the restru,turing pro,ess_
%hi,h has been a,hieved in part %ith a Strategi, !eorganisation Nroje,t (rom !0N. The
group is ,urrently split bet%een t%o buildings_ but %ill be ,oalo,ated %hen the latest round o(
building re(urbishments is ,omplete. The group is no% organised into three subgroups_ ea,h
led by one o( the pro(essors: 0rude Cil Te,hnology Vsur(a,tants_ emulsions et,.X_ =aterials
S,ien,e/Nanote,hnology
V(un,tionalised
,olloids_
solagel
et,.X
and
Nolymer
S,ien,e/Nanote,hnology Vdrug delivery_ sel(aassembly et,.X. The group is strongly involved in
numerous industrial proje,ts_ espe,ially those ,onne,ted %ith enhan,ed oil re,overy.
Assessment and grading
The reorganisation has resulted in the ,reation o( a very dynami, and strategi,ally (o,ussed
resear,h group. The resear,h topi,s in,lude areas that dire,tly address traditional issues
(rom the petroleum re,overy industry_ but also ne% areas suggested by this industry_ and
%holly nonaoil related a,tivities that build upon the eUpertise gained in handling ,ompleU
(luids_ polymers and (un,tionalised ,olloids. The spread o( resear,h interests is broad and
,overs ongoing a,tivities in the (ield %ith an applied (o,us. The group has su,,ess(ully miUed
the applied %ork %ith more basi, %ork on developing te,hnigues (or ,reating ne% (un,tional
materials_ and this has resulted in an engagement %ith the upatoadate aspe,ts o( the (ield
and its ne% te,hnigues. The su,,ess o( the industrial %ork is attested by the good level o(
industrial support and ,ollaboration. The more basi, %ork has resulted in a substantial
number o( publi,ations_ in,luding a signi(i,ant amount in leading journals_ and these are
distributed a,ross the subgroups. The subgroups are involved in eUtensive ,ollaborations
both %ithin Nor%ay V8iCX and internationally.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/LpX
K
K_L_LppX
'
!esear,h a,tivity is uni(ormly very good a,ross the subgroups_ %ith a good number o(
publi,ations_ appearan,es at ,on(eren,es and ,ollaborations. The group is very %ell
,on(igured to per(orm basi, %ork in support o( key Nor%egian industries and the su,,ess o(
!
103
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
these asso,iations is ,on(irmed by the high level o( joint proje,ts %ith industry and institutes.
The strategy (ollo%ing the re,ent reorganisation is %ellathought out and is produ,ing a good
miU o( applied and basi, %ork. The group has good in(rastru,ture_ %hi,h %ill be (urther
improved by ,onsolidation into a single building.'
Recommendations
This group has only just been (ormed and appears to be on an eU,ellent tra,k %ith good
potential (or gro%th in the (unding environment at NTN8j thus_ cleave aloned seems
appropriate advi,e. The group ,ould ,learly bene(it (rom in,reased te,hni,al support and the
provision o( more pla,es (or graduate students. The group %ould also bene(it (rom the
emergen,e o( a good simulation group else%here in NTN8_ %hi,h %ould enable better
,onta,t %ith the ri,h developments in the theory o( ,ompleU (luids that are developing on the
%orld stage and an even broader (o,us. 6gually_ strength in stru,tural studies o( ,ompleU
(luids or opti,al manipulation %ould be bene(i,ial. A ,ontinued and ,loser link %ith the Naper
and Ribre Te,hnology Iroup is re,ommended. It %ould be a pity i( this ,onne,tion %ere
diminished by the reorganisation_ espe,ially given the ne% te,hnologies emerging (rom bioa
pro,essing o( lignin %here the eUpertise o( this group %ould be %el,ome.
6.2.3.3
Process Systems Engineering
This is a relatively large resear,h group VB pro(essors_ B asso,iate pro(essorsX a,tive mainly
in the (ield o( pro,ess modelling_ operation_ ,ontrol and optimisation. 0urrently there are t%o
postdo,s and 5L Nh.D. students in the group.
The majority o( the proje,ts deal %ith advan,ed ,ontrol systems. The ,on,ept o( csel(a
optimising ,ontrold links e,onomi, optimisation and ,ontrol. Design aspe,ts be,ome
important in those proje,ts %hi,h deal %ith ,ontrollability Vdesign (or ,ontrolX. The group
operates eUperimental eguipment starting (rom laboratory sihe up to mediumasihe pilot plants
Ve.g._ (or integrated distillation system in Kaibel or Netlyuk design or (or antiaslug ,ontrolX.
The modelling a,tivities (o,us on the development o( the obje,taoriented simulation tool
=CD6LL6! %hi,h applies a multias,ale modelling approa,h. The key idea is to (ree pro,ess
engineers (rom ,oding eguations into standard dynami, simulation tools. `ased on a
sele,tion o( ,on,epts and me,hanisms the tool automati,ally assembles the ne,essary
eguations.
As models need in(ormation on the physi,al behaviour o( the ,omponents in the system
normally eguations predi,ting a,tivity or (uga,ity ,oe((i,ients are normally implemented in a
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simulation tool. The Nro,ess Systems 6ngineering Iroup (ollo%s a di((erent strategy. In
order to improve the ,omputational per(orman,e o( the model methods have been developed
based on stru,tured eguation sets allo%ing_ e.g._ automati, generation o( gradients.
;ery re,ently the group entered the area o( systems biology by hiring a ne% (a,ulty member.
The key idea is to apply modelling approa,hes to protein synthesis and regulation. The
a,tivity is part o( a larger e((ort at the (a,ulty %hi,h involves another B (a,ulty members by the
year BWWS_ one in the Department o( `iology and one in the Department o( `iote,hnology.
Assessment and grading
The international visibility o( the Nro,ess Systems 6ngineering Iroup ,an be regarded as
eU,ellent. International ,ooperation is very strong enabling the group to take over a leading
position in 6uropean proje,ts Vlike N!C=AT0HX. 0ooperation bet%een the members o( the
group is (air_ as demonstrated by some joint proje,ts. 6ntering the ne% area o( systems
biology o((ers the opportunity to improve internal ,ooperation. 6Utensive ,ooperation %ith
SINT6R and ,ompanies like StatoilHydro and Iass,o obviously enables the group to
operate very good stateao(atheaart laboratory and pilot plant eguipment.
The overall publi,ation indi,es o( the group are eU,ellent. Ho%ever_ the per(orman,e o( the
individual group members di((ers signi(i,antly_ as %itnessed by_ e.g._ the number o( Nh.D.
students supervised. Cne member o( the group supervises 55 out o( 5L students.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
K/HpX
K
K_K_LppX
'
Individual a,tivity o( the group members di((ers signi(i,antly leading to an inhomogeneous
publi,ation output. Cne member o( the group ,overs SW l o( all publi,ations demonstrating
an eU,ellent publi,ation re,ord. Cther members o( the team ,ould improve.
The Department o( 0hemi,al 6ngineering is the only one in Nor%ay %here ,hemi,al
engineers are edu,ated. As Nor%ay needs to build and operate manu(a,turing pro,esses the
department takes over a national responsibility in training engineers %ho are prepared to
take over these jobs. Nro,ess simulation and ,ontrol is an indispensible element in the
training o( ,hemi,al engineers.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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International and national ,ooperation is very good and even eU,ellent (or ,ertain members
o( the group.
Recommendations
0urrently the ,ore ,ompeten,e o( the Nro,ess Systems 6ngineering Iroup is modelling and
the appli,ation o( models to ,ontrol and optimisation problems. The group (o,usses on
resear,h guestions dealing %ith pro,ess analysis and optimisation rather than %ith pro,ess
synthesis. It seems that the departmentks strong history in ,on,eptual design re,eived a
lo%er priority in the re,ent past. !ea,tivating the strong a,tivity ,entred on pro,ess systems
engineering N!CST as envisaged by the group ,ould provide a ,han,e to reinvest in this
resear,h area. Any (uture strategi, appointments o( ne% pro(essors should then target at
getting the best s,ientists in this (ield.
6ntering the ne% area o( systems biology should be regarded as a (irst step to%ards
trans(erring resear,h results (rom ,hemi,al industry into the (ield o( biote,hnology. =odelling
and simulation o( biotrans(ormation pro,esses in,luding the do%nstream se,tion %ould o((er
a variety o( ne% resear,h topi,s (or the group_ o( %hi,h modelling and simulation o( solids
handling pro,esses is most ,hallenging.
6.2.3.4
Reactor Technology
The rather large group VH pro(essors_ BB Nh.D. studentsX has a long su,,ess(ul history in
singlea and espe,ially multiaphase rea,tor modelling. The group ,overs the (ull range o(
s,ienti(i, areas needed to model ,hemi,al rea,tors and to validate the models against
eUperiments.
Cne basis (or rea,tor modelling is a reliable des,ription o( the physi,al and ,hemi,al
behaviour o( the mole,ules in the system. Cne other basis is the reasonably ,orre,t
des,ription o( the hydrodynami,s o( a multiaphase rea,tor system. Here_ the group re,ently
introdu,ed population balan,e (rame%orks %hi,h des,ribe the dynami, sihe ,hanges inside
the heterogeneous systems. These population balan,e eguations are ,oupled %ith models
(or bubble or droplet breakage and ,oales,en,e.
The models developed are used (or various appli,ations o( te,hni,al relevan,e like steam
re(orming or Ris,heraTrops,h rea,tors_ droplet removal (rom high pressure gas streams and
0CB ,apture pro,esses. The latter is at present the largest a,tivity in the group Vin
,ooperation %ith SINT6RX and has attra,ted ,onsiderable 68 (unds.
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The group has a large amount o( te,hni,al eguipment even up to pilot s,ale available
enabling to validate the models and assess them against eUperiments on di((erent s,ales.
To in,lude reliable physi,al property predi,tion methods in the rea,tor models the group
,ooperates %ith the Nro,ess Systems 6ngineering Iroup in the (ield o( thermodynami,s.
Assessment and grading
The group is highly visible inside the international s,ienti(i, rea,tor engineering ,ommunity.
This leading position enabled the resear,hers to take over leading positions in various 68a
(unded RNY and RNA proje,ts.
!e,ently_ the de,ision %as taken to merge the !ea,tor Te,hnology Iroup %ith the
Separation and 6nvironmental Te,hnology Iroup to implement a stru,ture %hi,h
demonstrates the already eUiting ,lose ,ollaboration bet%een the t%o groups.
0ooperation %ith industrial ,ompanies must be regarded as eU,ellent on the national as %ell
as on the international level. To supervise su,h a large number o( Nh.D. students in vie% o(
the eUperimental (a,ilities needed is only possible due to the strong link o( the group to
SINT6R and its eUtensive support.
S,ienti(i, output is good and even very good (or ,ertain members o( the group.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/HpX
K
K_K_KppX
'
The group overall sho%s a good s,ienti(i, produ,tivity %ith some members per(orming very
%ell. Due to the strong intera,tion %ith SINT6R it seems to be di((i,ult to maintain a good
balan,e bet%een applied and (undamental resear,h.
Holisti, modelling o( ,hemi,al rea,tors is a key task ne,essary (or pro,ess development. The
group at NTN8 is the only one in Nor%ay using this tool up to the te,hni,al rea,tor level. The
,hemi,al rea,tions in (o,us are highly relevant (or Nor%egian e,onomy.
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0ooperation and merger %ith the Separation and 6nvironmental Te,hnology Iroup
demonstrates a strategi, vision o( the group. In the departmentks 0CB a,tivities the group %ill
play an important role.
Recommendations
The strategy o( the group to (o,us on rea,tor modelling and the validation o( the models
against eUperiments on industrial pro,esses relevant (or Nor%egianks e,onomy is ,learly
(ormulated and thoroughly implemented. The need o( espe,ially te,hni,al support provided
by SINT6R is obvious. This strong intera,tion %ith SINT6R ho%ever might limit the s,ienti(i,
output o( the group to some eUtent. This issue should be ,onsidered %hen setting up (uture
proje,ts.
6.2.3.5
Separation and Environmental Technology
This relatively large group V5 pro(essor_ 5 asso,iate pro(essor_ B adjun,t pro(essors_ B
s,ientists_ K postdo,sX per(orms resear,h in the areas membrane separation and
,rystallisation. 0urrently S Nh.D. students are supervised.
In the (ield o( membrane separations_ the =em(o group (o,usses on the material
development_ modelling_ and simulation o( gas separation pro,esses. Appli,ations are 0CB
,apture (rom (lue gas_ natural gas s%eetening and biogas upgrading and the re,overy o( HB
(rom various miUed gas streams. In addition_ membranes (or ,hlorine separation are
developed. =ost o( the proje,ts are per(ormed in ,lose ,ooperation %ith industrial partners.
There(ore_ all resear,h e((orts a,,ount (or the (uture appli,ation o( the membranes in
produ,tion pro,esses.
The ,rystallisation subgroup %as established in BWWH by employing an asso,iate pro(essor.
0urrently t%o di((erent proje,ts are running. Cne deals %ith the pre,ipitation o( ,al,ium
,arbonate in gly,ol loops. The other one is per(ormed in ,ooperation %ith the Nor%egian
institute TelaTek VDepartment o( No%der S,ien,e and Te,hnology_ NCST60X and (o,usses
on the e((e,t o( ,rystal properties on the do%nstream (iltration step.
Assessment and grading
The =em(o subgroup sho%s a very good s,ienti(i, output %ith several patents and a
reasonable number o( international publi,ations leading to a high visibility o( the group. The
s,ienti(i, guality o( the resear,h enables them to play a major role in a large number o(
6uropean proje,ts.
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Having (inished the startaup pro,edure_ the re,ent publi,ation re,ord o( the ,rystallisation
group appears to (ollo% this model.
Internal as %ell as national and international ,ooperation o( the =em(o subgroup ,an be
regarded as eU,ellent. The re,ently established ,rystallisation group ,ould very mu,h bene(it
(rom the ,ooperation eUperien,e a,,umulated in the =em(o group.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/HpX
L
L_H_HppX
'
The s,ienti(i, per(orman,e o( the group is good on average and even very good (or some
members o( the group. Ho%ever_ the high industrial relevan,e o( the resear,h seems to
some%hat limit the publi,ation o( the results.
The pro,esses in (o,us are o( high relevan,e (or the Nor%egian industry. Ias separations
based on membrane pro,esses o((er huge energy savings ,ompared to other te,hnologies
like absorption or adsorption.
The Separation and 6nvironmental Te,hnology Iroup appears to %ork in t%o separated
subgroups %ith rather limited internal ,ooperation. Zhereas the strategi, (o,us on
membrane development (or gas separations o( the =em(o subgroup is ,lear the
,rystallisation subgroup needs some improvement in resear,h (o,us.
Recommendations
The internal ,ooperation o( the =em(o subgroup is %ell developed in the department. There
is a ,lear strategy visible (o,ussing on material development and modelling (or membranea
assisted gas separations. The subgroup %ill ,ertainly strengthen due to the (uture merger
%ith the !ea,tor Te,hnology Iroup and the joint 0CB a,tivities on the department level. In
the department an internal ,ooperation %ith the 0atalysis Iroup in the (ield o( ,arbon
nanotubes ,ould a,,elerate resear,h in the (ield o( material development.
The ,rystallisation subgroup %ould also bene(it (rom more intense internal ,ooperation. The
(ield o( membraneaassisted ,rystallisation pro,esses might be an area (or (uture ,ollaborative
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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resear,h. A(ter having (inalised the in(rastru,ture (or the ne% group there is a ,lear need (or a
resear,h strategy as %ell as (or the de(inition o( the (uture position in the up,oming large
group 6nvironmental_ !ea,tor and Separation Te,hnology. The role o( the subgroup in the
department ,on,entrating on 0CB a,tivities %ill be di((i,ult to identi(y. Ro,ussing on the
separation e((e,t o( ,rystallisation pro,esses Ve.g._ in bio,hemi,al pro,essesX rather than on
manipulating solidsk properties might provide an angle to de(ine a resear,h (o,us di((erent
(rom NCST60.
6.2.3.6
Paper and Fibre Technology
This is a very small group V5 pro(essor_ 5 asso,iate pro(essorX having a unigue position in
Nor%ay. !esear,h proje,ts ,over all the main topi,s in paper and pulp te,hnology: industrial
pro,esses o( paper (abri,ation_ paper blea,hing_ paper guality_ and inks. Ne% proje,ts are
being developed_ (or eUample_ %ith the 0atalysis Iroup (or the produ,tion o( bioaoils and_
more generally_ bio(uels. These ne% proje,ts deal %ith %ood_ lignin or lignoa,ellulose
deligni(i,ation and the ,hemistry o( ,arbohydrates.
In spite o( the lo% number o( sta((_ there are a signi(i,ant number o( Nh.D. students VYX and
one postdo,. The group bene(its strongly (rom a ,lose ,ooperation %ith the Naper and Ribre
!esear,h Institute VNRIX_ %hi,h is lo,ated in the same building.
Assessment and grading
This is a rather broad spe,trum o( a,tivity (or su,h a small group even though the sta((
members appear as very dynami,. It seems eUtremely important and vital (or the group to
develop good ,ooperation %ith other resear,h groups. This is already the ,ase %ith the
NTN8 0atalysis Iroup in bioaenergy proje,ts. Lignoa,ellulose and ,arbohydrate ,hemistry
may obviously lead to ,ooperation %ith resear,h teams in organi, ,hemistry.
Nubli,ation indi,es are only (air. This is essentially due to the very nature o( the topi,s_
studies on paper and pulp te,hnology being published in spe,i(i, journals %ith a limited
impa,t.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
B/BpX
L
L_H_LppX
'
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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The s,ienti(i, guality is good in terms o( Nh.D. training but the publi,ation poli,y should be
revised. 6ven i( the group is ,on,erned primarily %ith applied resear,h_ there should be
many more opportunities to publish %ork in good journals than are no% taken.
This group has a pivotal role in resear,h in the (ield o( paper and pulp industry: it is the only
group in Nor%ay %orking in this (ield_ %ith eU,eption o( ,ertain proje,ts related to %ood
,hemistry and bio(uels that are also pursued by other groups.
The group is eUtremely (ragile VB sta(( membersX. Nevertheless_ it ,onsists o( a young sta((
%ith a good longaterm strategy. The ,ollaborations established engaged in the (ield o( bioa
energy are a good indeU o( this strategy.
Recommendations
The group is en,ouraged to in,rease its level o( publi,ation. Although the group %orks in a
highly spe,ialised resear,h (ield_ e((orts should be made to publish some o( its studies in
multidis,iplinary journals.
The 0ommittee is ,ons,ious o( the (a,t that the group has to maintain a substantial eUpertise
in terms o( tea,hing. Ho%ever_ the group is too small to maintain the tea,hing o( a high
number o( ,lasses linked to the traditional paper industry.
Due to the small sihe o( the group_ good proje,ts should be developed through ,ooperation
%ith other groups. The sta(( members should take advantage o( their very good kno%ledge in
lignoa,ellulose and lignin ,hemistry to develop ne% ,ooperative proje,ts in bioaenergy. The
%illingness o( the group to go (urther in that dire,tion is strongly en,ouraged.
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Z5N' *2,-#R.,+0'3$'T#RO#2'
Z5N5(' 49partI9Et'oA'&89I?KtrQ'
The Department o( 0hemistry is one o( eight departments organised under the Ra,ulty o(
=athemati,s and Natural S,ien,es at the 8niversity o( `ergen VRig. BX. At the Ra,ulty o(
=athemati,s and Natural S,ien,es a reorganisation took pla,e during the years BWWBaBWWL.
The Department o( 0hemistry is organised in the three resear,h se,tions cCrgani,_
`iophysi,al_ and =edi,inal 0hemistryd_ cInorgani, 0hemistry_ Nanostru,tures and =odelingd_
and cNhysi,ala_ Netroleuma and Nro,ess 0hemistryd. In parti,ular_ the department intera,ts
%ith the 0entre o( Nharma,y and the 0entre (or Integrated Netroleum !esear,h V0IN!X at
the 8niversity o( `ergen. The 0entre o( Nharma,y %as established through a ,ooperation
bet%een the Ra,ulty o( =edi,ine and the Ra,ulty o( =athemati,s and Natural S,ien,es %ith
the Department o( 0hemistry as a key partner.
Rig. B: Departmental stru,ture
A,,ording to the previous re,ommendations (rom the national evaluation_ the department
has strengthened resear,h in organi, and inorgani, ,hemistry_ in parti,ular in organi,
synthesis and ,atalysis. In general_ the departmentks resear,h (o,us is building on previous
eUperien,e in promising areas su,h as nanos,ien,es_ in,luding heterogeneous ,atalysis and
modelling_ organi, synthesis_ ,hemistry o( natural ,ompounds_ sur(a,e and ,olloid ,hemistry_
,hemometri,s_ and biophysi,al ,hemistry. Rurthermore_ the department is a key partner in
t%o resear,h programmes o( importan,e (or the 8niversity o( `ergen_ the petroleum
programme_ ,entred on 0IN!_ and the nanos,ien,e programme.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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The Department o( 0hemistry has a %ide range o( s,ienti(i, eguipment installed_ e.g._
important te,hnigues su,h as N=!_ =S_ I!_ !aman and 7aray_ and many o( the major
instrument laboratories have been ne%ly installed or upgraded during the last (e% years.
Rurthermore_ the department is involved in the universityks planning o( a ne% te,hnology
building cTeknologibyggetd at the ,ampus o( the 8niversity o( `ergen. The building is
eUpe,ted to house various kinds o( largeasihe eguipment (or a series o( institutes.
As a result o( the previous !0N evaluation and the implementation o( the ^uality !e(orm in
higher edu,ation_ the department has ,hanged its organisational stru,ture. Thus_ the
appointed head o( the department is given (ull responsibility (or the personnel and (inan,ial
matters o( the department_ in,luding salaries_ and may (un,tion as head in a nonapermanent
position (or up to three (ourayear periods. The head sele,ts his/her deputy. The previous
board o( the department %as repla,ed by an advisory ,oun,il o( ele,ted sta(( members. The
se,tions are headed by se,tions leaders_ %ith %hom the head o( the department
,ollaborates.
Sin,e the last evaluation in 5SSA the permanent sta(( members employed at the department
have been redu,ed (rom BK to 5O in BWWO_ %hi,h has apparently led to a ,riti,al situation both
in a,hieving aboveathea,riti,alamass resear,h groups and sta(( members available (or
tea,hing. The sta(( situation per 5Kth o( April BWWO is given in Table 5H.
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
5O
5BX
Asso,iate pro(essor
AHX
a
Nro(essor II
a
5
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
a
Y
!esear,her
5
H
Do,toral students
5L
Te,hni,al/administrative positions
5X
H.O
LX
PN5a'
5K
a
1Z'
Table 5H: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
5X
Nro(essors in,lude also H pro(essor emeriti
BX
6mployed at 0entre (or Integrated Netroleum !esear,h_ but ,losely asso,iated %ith the
Department o( 0hemistry
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!
HX
T%o asso,iated pro(essors are employed at the 0entre o( Nharma,y_ but ,losely asso,iated
%ith the Department o( 0hemistry
LX
The numbers are the numbers o( manalabour years o( te,hni,al a,tivity_ dire,tly supporting
resear,h. No administrative positions are dire,tly supporting resear,h.
Due to the age o( a,ademi, sta(( and retirements_ a major ,hallenge %ill be to keep all the
groups above a ,riti,al mass in terms o( personnel_ in,luding plans (or better use o( te,hni,al
sta(( in the various resear,h groups. An age distribution is given in the (ollo%ing table.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
W
W
5
H
H
H
B
L
Table 5L: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
In general_ the re,ruiting situation re(le,ts the Nor%egian pi,ture. During re,ent years_ the
annual re,ruitment o( do,toral students has been in the range o( Ka5H. In order to ,ountera,t
the la,k o( lo,al ,andidates_ the available positions have been announ,ed internationally_
leading to KK l nonaNor%egians admitted to the Nh.D. programme.
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
L
5B
S
BK
=.S,. graduated
L
5L
5L
HB
Table 5K: Number o( graduates
The departmentks strategi, plan (or the years 5SSAaBWWA mat,hed to large eUtent the
re,ommendations (rom the previous national evaluation. A ne% strategy %as to be %orked
out in BWWO.
Assessment and recommendations
The Department o( 0hemistry at the 8niversity o( `ergen has responded very positively to
the ,alls to reorganise into strategi, groups. The 0ommittee observed a surprisingly high
level o( morale_ ,onsidering the re,ent redu,tions o( sta(( numbers and limited resour,es
dire,ted to%ards ,hemistry_ and a ,lear sense o( dire,tion %ithin the resear,h groups. As
detailed above_ the department is no% guite small and there are additional imminent
retirements_ so (urther resignations o( key sta(( %ould pose a major threat. The number o(
Nh.D.s and postdo,s is also lo%_ and it does not seem likely that these numbers ,ould be
in,reased sharply_ though indi,ations are that numbers are beginning to ,limb.
Ze observed good instrumentation (or resear,h_ espe,ially in 7aray_ mass spe,trometry and
N=!_ and there %ere realisti, plans (or (urther bids (or improved instrumentation. This %as
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one department that seemed to have thought through the bene(its o( ,harging (or the use o(
instrumentation. Zhere resour,es had been made available_ they had been %ell used.
Laboratory spa,e seemed good_ though the basi, eguipment level o( some o( this spa,e %as
old. Te,hni,al support (or instrumentation seemed to have sunk to a lo% level_ as a
,onseguen,e o( budgetary ,onstraints_ %ith the departmentks te,hni,ians largely involved in
the tea,hing laboratory. Due to the redu,tion in sihe_ a great deal o( sta(( time is being taken
up by tea,hing. Ho%ever_ it %as re,ognised that supporting the masterks programme %as a
key to regaining the strength o( the department by in,reasing the number o( young resear,h
%orkers. The (a,ulty des,ribed the di((i,ulties they have a,,essing s,ienti(i, databases Ve.g._
S,iRinderX. This is ,onsiderable disadvantage_ and should be solved at the university/(a,ulty
level as a basi, provision ne,essary (or the (un,tioning o( any su,,ess(ul department in
s,ien,e at a university.
8nlike NTN8 and Cslo_ the 8niversity o( `ergen does not have the advantage o( proUimity to
resear,h institutes. The university V%ith support (rom !0NX has ,reated 0entres in Nharma,y
and in Integrated Netroleum !esear,h at a high level in the organisational stru,ture. The
Department o( 0hemistry has responded %ell to the opportunities ,reated by these initiatives_
and the resear,h strategies o( t%o o( the groups re(le,ted these opportunities %ell.
0onseguently_ the resear,h in(rastru,ture and opportunities (or ,ollaboration in targeted
resear,h programmes have in,reased ,onsiderably. A kno,kaon ,onseguen,e in a small
department is that the resear,h a,tivities have be,ome strongly polarised_ sin,e pharma,y
and petroleum resear,h re(le,t a,tivities on the eUtremes o( ,hemistry. There is a threat to
the sense o( ,ohesion a,ross the department Vthere did not appear to be a seminar
programme or tea,hing programme (or Nh.D.s or a ,ommon meeting areaX and the tea,hing
a,tivity in the mainstream undergraduate ,ourse ,ould su((er.
The department does not seem to have an input into the planning o( the t%o 0entres
themselves_ as they are ,oordinated at a higher level in the universityks stru,ture. This must
be a potential %eakness as a good deal o( the departmentks o%n planning is predi,ated on
relations %ith these 0entres. Ror eUample_ the relo,ation o( all members o( the 0entre o(
Nharma,y a%ay (rom ,hemistry %ould be a major blo% to ,ohesion. The department does
not seem to have a %ay o( in(luen,ing su,h de,isions.
Although this department must be regarded as being in jeopardy_ due to its small sta((_
limited budget_ and the threat o( (urther redu,tion_ it has evolved a good stru,ture %hi,h
%ould be a sound base (or reinvestment to return to a viable sihe. The number o( graduate
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students is small. The department is targeting this issue by in,reasing the strength o( its
masterks programme and also by engagement %ith national programmes (or strengthening
graduate training. !ebuilding a broadabased ,hemistry programme by appropriate
appointments and by revitalising the undergraduate and postgraduate provision is ,learly
ne,essary to sustain an internationally re,ognisable ,hemistry programme at `ergen. This
%ill reguire a signi(i,ant investment.
6.3.1.1
Section of Organic, Biophysical and Medicinal Chemistry
In the Se,tion o( Crgani,_ `iophysi,al and =edi,inal 0hemistry %ithin the Department o(
0hemistry t%o pro(essors have retired sin,e 5Kth o( April BWWO and ,urrently the (a,ulty
members ,omprise S pro(essors_ o( %hi,h Y are (ull pro(essors and H are asso,iate
pro(essors_ one having been appointed in August BWWO. In addition_ there is one adjun,t
pro(essor and three sta(( members o( the 0entre o( Nharma,y a all asso,iate pro(essors a
%ho are asso,iated %ith this se,tion. T%o o( these latter pro(essors are (ully integrated in the
se,tionks resear,h programme. Cne o( the pro(essors o( Crgani,_ `iophysi,al and =edi,inal
0hemistry is a,tive in s,ien,e edu,ation.
!esear,h is dedi,ated to syntheti, organi, ,hemistry_ method development and %ork on
mole,ules o( medi,inal interest. There is a natural produ,t ,hemistry subgroup and three
pro(essors_ emphasising N=! spe,tros,opy. A startaup ,ompany has emerged (rom this
se,tion.
Assessment and grading
This se,tion has a good sihe and an attra,tive resear,h pro(ile. !esear,h topi,s ,over
,lassi,al organi, synthesis proje,ts and method development together %ith more
interdis,iplinary areas su,h as natural produ,t isolation and ,hara,terisation_ medi,inal
,hemistry and environmental ,hemistry. N=! resear,h has a strong visibility %ithin this
se,tion_ although the publi,ation re,ord o( this subgroup is not ,ompletely ,onvin,ing.
Spe,tros,opy in `ergen has the potential to eUpand_ ho%ever_ given that there are adeguate
premises (or a highaend N=! ma,hine_ together %ith enough suitably guali(ied te,hni,al
sta((.
Asso,iation %ith at least t%o pro(essors a((iliated %ith the 0entre o( Nharma,y is ,riti,al to
this se,tion_ both in terms o( sihe and resear,h proje,ts. The ,ompany Rluens Synthesis AS
runs its labs %ithin this se,tion. This is bene(i,ial be,ause these a,tivities on ,ontinuous (lo%
organi, synthesis may attra,t students and strengthen the intera,tion bet%een organi,
,hemistry and industry_ %hi,h is %eak throughout Nor%ay.
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There are not enough graduate students to (ully eUploit the potential o( the se,tionks
resear,h. Initiatives to attra,t more students have been started.
The premises (or this se,tion are appropriate_ as is the instrumentation_ %hi,h is guite
impressive in part. Cn,e student numbers go up again_ the se,tion %ill need more spa,e.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the se,tion
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/HpX
L
B_H_LppX
'
The leading groups in this se,tion have a very good publi,ation output_ %ith an abovea
average number o( level B publi,ations. The publi,ation re,ord o( the majority o( the se,tion
is less ,onvin,ing_ %ith less visible ,ontributions in level 5 journals. Cverall_ this rather large
se,tion should publish more. There has been the su,,ess(ul setup o( a ,ompany_ Rluens
Synthesis AS_ %hi,h raises the so,ietal impa,t and relevan,e o( the se,tion. 8n(ortunately
there is no ,urrent strategi, plan and ,onseguently the se,tionks overall organisation is not
optimal and needs improvement. International ,onta,ts and ,ollaborations are %orking and
very good at this se,tion.
Recommendations
The Se,tion o( Crgani,_ `iophysi,al and =edi,inal 0hemistry has a good sihe and promising
resear,h pro(ile. To (urther develop the resear,h pro(ile and output it seems ne,essary to
(ind a %ay o( integrating the %ork o( the asso,iated ,olleagues at the 0entre o( Nharma,y
into the se,tionks stru,ture. The 0ommittee en,ourages the (a,ulty to start a parallel
synthesis laboratory_ as planned by the Department o( 0hemistry_ as it supports and
strengthens several parti,ularly su,,ess(ul a,tivities %ithin this se,tion. It is ,riti,al_ ho%ever_
to agree on a ,ollaborative plan (or ho% to (ully utilise su,h a laboratory_ in,luding other
universities and ,ompanies. Crgani, ,hemistry resear,h_ %here it is bene(i,ial (or
environmental topi,s_ espe,ially those o( relevan,e (or Nor%ay_ should be in,luded in this
strategi, plan. The N=! subgroup has the potential to eUpand its a,tivities_ ho%ever_ it
needs more spa,e and te,hni,al sta((. Again_ (or this subgroup it %ill be ,riti,al to set up
regulations to govern the balan,e o( sel(auser_ servi,e_ and ,ollaborative o((ers and proje,ts_
together %ith a valid ,on,ept (or ,harging (or analyti,al servi,es. The 0ommittee
re,ommends that this se,tion should set up a strategi, plan_ to evaluate the abovea
mentioned a,tivities. The plan should address the (ollo%ing aspe,ts: ViX Strengthening
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!
organi, synthesis by (o,ussing on biologi,alamedi,inal and environmental ,hemistryj ViiX
Supporting eUisting ,ollaborative e((orts and identi(ying ne% ones_ both internally_ nationally
and internationallyj ViiiX Identi(ying room and sta(( (or ne% instrumentation and investments
and planning its organisation and (inan,ingj and VivX 6valuating ho% these initiatives ,an help
to attra,t more graduate students and (unding.'
6.3.1.2
Section of Inorganic Chemistry, Nanostructures and Modelling
As reported_ this is a se,tion o( reasonable sihe VK pro(essors_ 5 asso,iate pro(essor_ 5
emeritus pro(essorX. Ho%ever_ the se,tion is moving into a ne% stru,ture. T%o members
retired in BWWO %hile another one has le(t the se,tion a(ter having been appointed to a
position in Iermany V5 C,t BWWOXj he %ill be asso,iated %ith the se,tion as adjun,t
pro(essor. !esear,h proje,ts ,over three (ields: ViX stru,tural studies V,rystallographyX and
spe,tros,opy o( mole,ules and ions in solution or in adsorbed phase V7NS_ ,ollaboration %ith
Lund and %ith 0ali(ornia (or a,,ess to spe,i(i, eguipmentXj ViiX ,omputational ,hemistry and
mole,ular modellingj ViiiX inorgani, synthesis and ,atalysis. The se,tionks a,tivities appear to
be %ellathought out and strategi,ally sele,ted %ith a vie% to %hat is possible %ithin a
relatively small ,hemistry department. The areas o( a,tivity have signi(i,ant overlap and
bene(it (rom intera,tions %ith resear,h a,tivity in other departments in `ergen. The number
o( postdo,toral (ello%s VLX and o( Nh.D. students V55X is lo% by international standards.
Assessment and grading
The %ellathought out strategy presented in the sel(aevaluation %as supported by our
observations o( a strong sense o( ,oheren,e and shared purpose %ithin the se,tion_ evident
both at the presentation and the site visit. The 0ommittee %as impressed by the level o(
intera,tion and mutual understanding among the di((erent se,tion members_ together %ith the
eviden,e o( joint proje,ts. This se,tion does not have the advantage o( the other ,hemistry
se,tions o( proUimity to the resear,h ,entres VNharma,y and 0IN!X %hi,h bolster their overall
level o( a,tivity. Cn the other hand_ this does enable them to develop a more independent
resear,h strategy.
This ,oherent stru,ture is threatened by t%o re,ent retirements and by the departure o(
another pro(essor to a post else%here V%hilst retaining a BW l position in `ergenX. The latter
is a spe,ialist in sur(a,e organometalli, and nanostru,tured materials ,hemistry_ %ith
appli,ations in ,atalysis. The reputation and eguipment base (or this latter area are no%
parti,ularly strong_ %ith a (ull range o( ,hara,terisation te,hnigues %ithin the laboratory.
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The ,omputational ,hemistry is strong and has an impressively %ide range o( a,tivities_ (rom
biologi,al systems to materials. It seems to be very %ell integrated %ith the other
VeUperimentalX resear,h a,tivities %ithin `ergen_ both inside and outside ,hemistry_ and
thereby able to engage in a number o( interesting proje,ts. The ,omputational ,hemistry
e((ort makes very good use o( the national (a,ilities (or highaper(orman,e ,omputing. There is
good ,oordination %ith other theory/,omputation groups in Nor%ay and an appli,ation (or a
National Iraduate S,hool in ^uantum 0hemistry %as ,oordinated by `ergen to address the
di((i,ulty o( providing adeguate training in this area.
Stru,tural ,hemistry has an eU,ellent eguipment base_ mu,h o( %hi,h has been developed
lo,ally. In parti,ular_ the 0ommittee sa% unigue ,apabilities (or studying lo%atemperature
phase transitions.
The la,k o( te,hni,al support (or eguipment is likely to be a parti,ular problem (or this se,tion
as they must ,ontinue to use the eguipment base e((e,tively in a time %hen a,ademi, sta(( is
,hanging.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the se,tion
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/LpX
H
L_L_LppX
The remaining se,tion members Va(ter the retirements o( BWWOX have uni(ormly good
publi,ation indi,es_ %ith a good level o( a,tivity and publi,ation in guality journals.
Interestingly_ these indi,es are relatively homogeneous among the di((erent members_
attesting to the good morale %ithin the se,tion.
The members o( the se,tion are largely engaged in ,uriosityadriven resear,h and their
a,tivities are %ell re(le,ted by the normal publi,ation indi,es. There are no spe,ial Nor%egian
(a,tors.
There are many interesting aspe,ts in the resear,h strategy and organisation o( the se,tion_
%hi,h should be en,ouraged. They presented an interesting triangular stru,ture %ith
individual dis,iplines_ like stru,tural ,hemistry and ,rystallography at the api,es_ and the links
bet%een them populated by se,tion members engaged in ,ollaborative a,tivity. Analysis o(
this stru,ture had led to ,lear priorities (or (uture reguirements and to an understanding o(
ho% the di((i,ulties posed by retirements should be addressed. This strategy en,ouraged the
belie( that ne% appointments %ould be strategi,ally planned and brought into a supportive
environment. The eguipment sto,k and laboratory in(rastru,ture is very good_ though there is
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
a %eakness in the provision o( maintenan,e and te,hni,al support (or eguipment. This
in(rastru,ture ,ould support a larger number o( masterks and graduate students_ %hi,h %ould
bene(it the a,tivity levels. Cverall_ the se,tion is making a %ellathought out_ spirited and
su,,ess(ul e((ort to deal %ith the problems o( %orking in a small ,hemistry department in
Nor%ay. The se,tion members parti,ipate in numerous ,ollaborations both internally and
eUternally.
Although strategy_ organisation and ,ooperation are all given appropriately good s,ores_
these some%hat overestimate the a,tual strength due to the rapid de,rease in the number o(
sta(( %ithout (irm ,ommitments to repla,ement.
Recommendations
This is a su,,ess(ul se,tion_ %hi,h is threatened by redu,tion in sihe due to re,ent
retirementsj apart (rom a loss o( parti,ular resear,h strengths_ this in,reases the tea,hing
burden on other members o( sta(( and redu,es the amount o( time available (or resear,h.
Ne% appointments are urgently reguired to maintain the se,tionks pro(ile and a balan,ed
port(olio o( a,tivities. The development o( a ne% team spe,ialised in organometalli,
,hemistry and ,atalysis is a parti,ular priority_ as this has been a pivotal a,tivity in generating
,ollaboration %ithin the se,tion. Sin,e this has be,ome an area o( internationally re,ognised
strength_ it is important that the se,tion should be enabled to make a ne% appointment soon.
The eUpertise and in(rastru,ture relevant to this area o( a,tivity should not be lost. To
maintain strength in the longer term_ (urther appointments %ill be ne,essary_ espe,ially as a
(urther retirement is not too (ar a%ay.
In ,ommon %ith other groups_ a shortage o( graduate students is a major impediment and
the measures that have been planned to en,ourage graduate re,ruitment should be
en,ouraged.
6.3.1.3
Section of Physical-, Petroleum- and Process Chemistry
This is a se,tion o( L pro(essors and B asso,iate pro(essors. In addition there is one
pro(essor employed at 0IN! asso,iated %ith this se,tion. !esear,h topi,s are strongly
related to the ,on,erns o( the petroleum industry and ,over several (ields in petroleum and
physi,al ,hemistry: enhan,ed oil re,overy by sur(a,tants_ gas hydrates and bio(uels_
pro,esses in oil re(inery_ ,hemometri,s and pro,ess optimisation. The group is in ,lose
intera,tion %ith the 0entre (or Integrated Netroleum !esear,h V0IN!X_ %hi,h ,ontributes
strongly to the available in(rastru,ture and sense o( purpose %ithin the se,tion. The number
o( postdo,toral (ello%s VBX and Nh.D. students VSX is guite good_ but the available
in(rastru,ture_ laboratory spa,e et,. ,ould support a larger number o( graduate %orkers.
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Assessment and grading
The se,tion is (ully involved in resear,h proje,ts (unded by 0IN!_ in %hi,h enhan,ed oil
re,overy dominates all the other a,tivities. Some o( the eUperimental (a,ilities are highly
distin,tive_ in,luding the rigs (or eUamining the intera,tions o( oilare,overy ,hemi,als %ith
ro,ks and (or measuring sound speeds in suspensions. These support unigue ,apabilities
%ith major signi(i,an,e (or the petroleum industry. The group has a very good eUpertise in
,hemistry and thermodynami,s in solutions and at mi,elles and inter(a,es. The (ormation o(
gas hydrates in pipes (or oil re,overy is also a problem o( the greatest interest.
C%ing to a large number o( analyti,al tools VN=!_ I!_ !aman_ I0a=S_ L0a=SX_ the se,tion
has developed an eU,ellent eUpertise in ,hemometri,s %ith a very good reputation
throughout the %orld.
Although the individual a,tivities %ithin this se,tion are at a high level_ they are largely aimed
at parti,ular ,on,erns o( Nor%egian industry. The types o( resear,h that %ould ,urrently be
eUpe,ted under the label cphysi,al ,hemistryd in universities a,ross the %orld are not (ound.
This ,an be seen as a strategi, response to the situation o( a small department in Nor%ay.
Ho%ever_ being eUposed only to this narro% range o( topi,s must have ,onseguen,es (or the
nature o( the graduate eUperien,e_ amongst other things.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the se,tion
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/BpX
K
H_H_LppX
Ror the most part_ the members o( the se,tion have only moderate publi,ation indi,es_ %ith a
high proportion o( these appearing in highly spe,ialised journals. !esear,h programmes in
basi, topi,s and journal publi,ation did not appear to be a priority %ithin this se,tion.
!esear,h topi,s are largely linked to problems in petroleum ,hemistry and oil re,overy and
%ithin ,ertain areas o( spe,ialisation there is signi(i,ant international ,ollaboration. The
se,tion is in ,lose ,onta,t %ith industry and has a high so,ietal impa,t. The ,reation o( the
0IN! has ,reated an eU,ellent opportunity (or strengthening the petroleumarelated resear,h
and the group has restru,tured around this opportunity. Ho%ever_ the problems Ve.g._ (or the
Nh.D. programme_ and the tea,hing o( basi, ,hemistryX that arise (rom having su,h an
industriallyaoriented a,tivity at the ,entre o( the se,tion should be addressed. There did not
appear to be a strategy to improve these situations.
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Recommendations
The se,tion has three a,tivities in %hi,h it is strong_ though these are not ,ore ,hemistry
a,tivities. There is there(ore a danger o( be,oming separated (rom the rest o( ,hemistry
%ithin `ergen and (rom mainstream ,hemistry %orld%ide. In some sense_ the more
su,,ess(ul these a,tivities are_ the more this ,on,ern %ill be eUa,erbated. Zhilst re,ognising
the di((i,ulties ,aused by the small sihe_ it seems important to develop strategies to avoid
(ragmentation and the loss o( a viable identity as a ,hemistry department. In a similar vein_ it
should be guestioned %hether a su((i,iently general training (or Nh.D. students ,an be
provided %ithin this se,tion.
It seems mandatory to maintain a good eUpertise in ,hemometri,s in the se,tion. The
8niversity o( `ergen should remain the leader in this dis,ipline and maintain its eU,ellent
international re,ognition. 0hemometri,s has been an area o( strength (or Nor%ay_ %ith
a,tivity in several universities_ but %ith the e((ort at `ergen parti,ularly prominent ] though
threatened by a re,ent retirement. It remains a subje,t o( ,onsiderable interest (or
industriallyarelated resear,h a,tivity. As su,h_ it is a (ield in %hi,h resear,h ,an be,ome
overly (o,ussed on parti,ular lo,al ,on,erns_ and lose its basi, and internationally
re,ognisable dimension. It is suggested that the a,tivity in ,hemometri,s be revie%ed at a
national level %ith a vie% to identi(ying ne% resear,h priorities and targeting (uture a,tivities.
Iiven the redu,ed sihe o( the a,ademi, sta(( Vand the eUtra amount o( time individual sta((
members spend on tea,hing et,.X_ and the large amount o( eUperimental in(rastru,ture_
in,reasing the amount o( te,hni,al support (or resear,h should be ,ost e((e,tive.
It seems ,lear that a ,lose ,ooperation %ith the group o( inorgani, ,hemistry in
,hemometri,s %ould be help(ul to maintain a high level in this (ield at the 8niversity o(
`ergen.
The longaterm strategy o( the se,tion (or other a,tivities should be ,lari(ied_ there appear to
be areas o( potential overlap %ith the inorgani, ,hemistry group_ (or eUample_ %hi,h are
being overlooked.
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Z5P5(' 49partI9Et'oA'&89I?KtrQ'
The Department o( 0hemistry at the Ra,ulty o( S,ien,e is organised as L resear,h groups:
cTheoreti,al 0hemistryd_ cStru,tural 0hemistryd_ cCrgani, 0hemistryd_ and cInorgani, and
=aterials 0hemistryd. The department is the host o( national plat(orms/,entres: the 0o6
c0entre (or Theoreti,al and 0omputational 0hemistryd V0T00X and the cNor%egian Stru,tural
`iology 0entred VNorStru,tX_ and is a partner in a large national plat(orm o( the !0Nks
Run,tional Ienomi,s initiative_ and c=ab0ent ] 0entre (or =arine `ioprospe,tingd_ a 0entre
(or !esear,habased Innovation. ;aluable ,ollaboration eUists %ith (a,ulty members in
biomedi,ine_ marine resear,h and biology.
The resear,h pro(ile o( the department is ,hemi,al biologyaoriented. The eUpertise o( the
department spans a %ide range in,luding syntheti, methods_ ,hemometri,s_ theoreti,al and
,omputational ,hemistry_ stru,tural ,hemistry and biology_ protein ,hemistry_ biomole,ular
modelling_ and transition metal ,hemistry. These %ill also be the key areas o( ,ompeten,e in
the (uture (or pursuing more applied proje,ts in the (ields o( materials s,ien,e_ medi,inal
,hemistry_ drug dis,overy and design_ development o( industrially appli,able enhymes_ and
marine biote,hnology. The department has ,onsidered the initiation o( a programme o(
resear,h on (un,tional materials and nanos,ien,e in ,ollaboration %ith the Department o(
Nhysi,s.
The department is housed in the S,ien,e `uilding_ %hi,h is the oldest building at the
university ,ampus. The premises o( the Department o( 0hemistry do not meet modern
standards and also do not provide su((i,ient laboratory and o((i,e spa,e (or the ,urrent
a,tivities_ in parti,ular sin,e the establishment o( the 0T00. The Department o( 0hemistry
has repla,ed many o( the larger pie,es o( eguipment in re,ent years_ and has initiated a
pro,ess o( organising ,entral resear,h (a,ilities and te,hnigues into servi,e units_ e.g._ (or
N=!_ =S_ 7aray_ et,. The department has a,,ess to the national and regional
super,omputing (a,ilities VcStallodX_ the te,hnology plat(orm in proteomi,s_ and the 6uropean
Syn,hrotron !adiation Ra,ilities.
Due to the ne% stru,ture (or the s,ienti(i, and administrative leadership at the 8niversity o(
Tromsø the department leadership is in the (orm o( a head_ %ho is engaged (or (ourayear
terms o( o((i,e and has been given eUtensive eUe,utive po%er. The department board
(o,usses on ,ore a,tivities su,h as long term strategies_ annual budgets and the hiring o(
sta(( members. Sin,e the resear,h group stru,ture o( the department is mainly an
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administrative ,onstru,tion_ there is no leadership at this level. Timealimited larger initiatives_
su,h as 0T00 and NorStru,t_ have their o%n de,isionamaking and steering stru,tures.
An overvie% on the organisation is given in Rig.H.
Rector
University board
University director
Rector
Faculty director
Head of
administration
Organic!
chemistry!
Dean
Head of
Department
Inorganic!and!
materials!chemistry
Faculty board
Department
board
Structural!
chemistry
Theoretical!
chemistry!
Rig. H: Crganisation ,hart
The Department o( 0hemistry has be,ome in,reasingly international in re,ent years. SiU o(
the 5B (a,ulty members are nonaNor%egian_ and postdo,toral and do,toral (ello%s have been
largely re,ruited internationally. The sta(( situation is given in the (ollo%ing table:
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124
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
A5X
W
Asso,iate pro(essor
K
W
W.B
W.L
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
H
5B
Do,toral students
S
S
Nro(essor II
Te,hni,al/administrative positions
BX
K
N(51'
1Z5P'
A
Table 5Y: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
5X
Salary (or one person ,overed by 0T00
BX
HW l o( the administrative position is supporting resear,h
Among the (a,ulty members_ only one is (emale_ %hereas there are t%o %omen at the
postdo,toral level. The te,hni,al sta(( ,onsists o( A te,hni,ians_ %ho divide their time
bet%een servi,es to resear,h a,tivities and tea,hing laboratories.
The age distribution o( pro(essors in permanent positions is given in Table 5A.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
W
5
5
H
W
W
B
a
Table 5A: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
The department reports that re,ruitment o( guali(ied postdo,toral resear,hers is relatively
easy. Ho%ever_ they report that_ on the Nh.D. level_ evaluation o( the guali(i,ations o(
appli,ants ,oming (rom abroad is di((i,ult_ and they %ould pre(er a better balan,e bet%een
Nor%egian and (oreign students in their programme. They have there(ore ,on,luded that the
number o( potential Nh.D. ,andidates edu,ated internally has to be in,reased to address this
issue_ and spend signi(i,ant resour,es on outrea,h a,tivities to in,rease the number o(
undergraduate and masteralevel ,hemistry students and to improve the poor re,ruitment o(
students (or their Nh.D. programme.
The numbers o( graduated Nh.D. and masterks students is given in Table 5O.
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125
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
H
B
L
S
=.S,. graduated
H
W
B
K
Table 5O: Number o( graduates
The department bene(its (rom the graduate s,hool cNh.D. S,hool in =ole,ular and Stru,tural
`iologyd_ %hi,h is a joint e((ort bet%een the Ra,ulty o( S,ien,e and the Ra,ulty o( =edi,ine
led by NorStru,t.
A long term strategi, plan (or the department %as %orked out in BWWY (or the period BWWYa
BW5B. This plan is no% the main dire,tive (or the head o( the department %hen annual plans
and budgets are %orked out.
Assessment and recommendations
Taken as a %hole_ this department made a very positive impression on the 0ommittee during
their presentation and subseguent dis,ussions. They are a small group_ but are guite
dynami,. The goal o( (avouring interdis,iplinary resear,h in the department is an admirable
one_ and the (a,ulty appears to be more internationally oriented_ %ith less intelle,tual ina
breeding_ than some o( the departments intervie%ed_ a situation that (avours the in(usion o(
ne% ideas. Like many o( the other ,hemistry departments in Nor%ay_ this group has troubles
re,ruiting Nor%egian graduate students and %ould bene(it (rom ,hanges in national poli,y
,on,erning Nh.D. programmes. The (oundation (or developing a (irstarate ,hemistry
department %ith (urther investment in personnel and in(rastru,ture is ,learly present.
This department reported to the 0ommittee that they are not going to pursue ne% dis,iplines
in the immediate (uture_ a,,ording to their master plan_ but rather strengthen the dis,iplines
they ,urrently have. `ased on the guality o( the present group and the good (oundation it
provides (or (urther improvement_ the 0ommittee endorses this plan.
This department is per(orming better (rom a (inan,ial perspe,tive than many o( the
departments intervie%ed by the 0ommittee. This is due in part to the overall produ,tivity o(
the group_ but also in part is due to good management o( their human resour,es. The
0ommittee en,ourages ,ontinuation o( ,are(ul (inan,ial ,ontrol in (uture years. Although this
department reported that basi, resear,h is poorly (unded in Nor%ay_ as did all the other
,hemistry departments intervie%ed_ they do appear to have a reasonable level o( eUternal
Vi.e. nonadepartmentalX (unding. Ho%ever_ they %ould bene(it signi(i,antly (rom aggressively
pursuing 68a(unded proje,ts: Some o( the (a,ulty are ,learly ,ompetitive enough
internationally to su,,eed in that venue.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The department reports that its poli,ies en,ourage (a,ulty to take sabbati,als_ and that many
o( their (a,ulty take advantage o( this to visit international resear,h and a,ademi, institutions.
The 0ommittee supports this poli,y.
This department and other ,hemistry departments in Nor%ay ,urrently have ,entral
instrumentation (a,ilities that are (ully (inan,ially supported by the department. This
department reports that it %ill soon move to a system in %hi,h the ,osts o( running the
,entral (a,ilities are paid in (ees on a perause basis by resear,hers (rom their resear,h
(unding. The 0ommittee supports su,h a poli,y_ %hi,h is more in line %ith the international
standard (or (a,ilitiesk (unding_ but at the same time en,ourages the department to provide
some ,entral ,ost subsidy as it bene(its the most produ,tive members o( their department.
Rinally_ this department appears to be the most cspa,e starvedd o( any department in the
,ountry. Rurther_ ,urrently o,,upying three buildings_ it is very di((i,ult to maintain the kind o(
synergy bet%een resear,hers that en,ourages interdis,iplinary ,ollaboration and a sense o(
intelle,tual ,ommunity. Rinally_ the guality o( the spa,e o,,upied is (ully inadeguate (or
,urrent programmes_ hinders gro%th_ and de,reases the international ,ompetitiveness o( the
resear,h programmes. The 0ommittee there(ore strongly re,ommends_ based on its very
(avourable impression o( this department_ that a ne% ,hemistry building should be built_ a
modern (a,ility %ith spa,e adeguate (or all ,urrent (a,ulty and their resear,h groups_ and (or
(uture eUpansion.
6.4.1.1
Inorganic and Materials Chemistry Group
This is a very small group_ based on the tea,hing and resear,h o( one pro(essor. The group
has diverse resear,h interests in the general area o( inorgani, and materials ,hemistry_ and
en,ompasses both theoreti,al and eUperimental ,omponents. =ajor thrust areas are in
synthesis_ ,hemistry and modelling o( (un,tional materials_ %ith a vie% to%ards in,reased
resear,h a,tivity in rene%able energy related topi,s. International aspe,ts o( the ,ollaborative
resear,h programme are strongly emphasised. The number o( Nh.D. and masterks level
students and postdo,toral (ello%s is small_ but not unreasonable (or the group o( a single
pro(essor. This group is s,heduled to hire an additional pro(essor in BW55.
Assessment and grading
The Inorgani, and =aterials 0hemistry Iroup is eU,ellent. The group is dynami, and
insight(ul_ and is per(orming resear,h at the international standard in the (ield. The group has
diverse interests and presents an eU,ellent ,ase (or ,ombining both theory and eUperiment in
a single programme. The ,urrent resear,h thrusts and the plans (or (uture resear,h seem
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
eU,ellent. The group is ambitious and (or%ard looking and ,ould easily intelle,tually
a,,ommodate more resear,hers very produ,tively i( more personnel and (unding be,ome
available.
The graduate students in this group are strongly en,ouraged to spend some time abroad
during their graduate eUperien,e. This is a highly valuable a,tivity_ as it %ill bring ne% ideas
and te,hnigues into the group_ and more broadly into Nor%ay in general. The leader o( this
group displayed an eU,ellent grasp o( important issues in the international materials
,hemistry ,ommunity_ and the group overall has eU,ellent ,onne,tion to the (ield. '
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
L
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
L_L_KpX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
'
This group has international and ,ollaborative publi,ations %ith some o( the %orldaleading
(igures in inorgani, ,hemistry. They have an eU,ellent publi,ation re,ord_ %ith re,ent papers
in ,ompetitive journals su,h as JA0S and Inorgani, 0hemistry. This group published A
papers in BWWA and O in BWWY_ %hi,h represents a very good publi,ation rate (or the group o(
a single pro(essor. !esear,h in (un,tional materials has the potential (or substantial so,ietal
impa,t_ espe,ially in the area o( sustainability and rene%able energy. Rinally_ the very strong
international resear,h ,ooperation that this group has developed represents part o( an
eU,ellent overall resear,h strategy. Having both theoreti,al and eUperimental %ork in the
same group is a very good strategy (or su,,ess in this (ield %hen there are very limited
opportunities available (or ,ollaboration %ith other resear,h groups in the same (ield at the
same institution.
Recommendations
This group should be en,ouraged to gro% through in,reased investment in personnel and
in(rastru,ture. The ,urrent plan is (or the group to obtain more resear,h in(rastru,ture in the
(orm o( a laser !aman lab. The 0ommittee supports this in,rease in ,apabilities and (urther
believes that any (urther investment %ill be %ell justi(ied.
The group is ,learly ,ompetitive in this area on an international level and should be
en,ouraged to apply (or 68 programme grants.
The addition o( a se,ond (a,ulty member in this area in BW55 is supported by the 0ommittee.
The 0ommittee re,ommends that great ,are be eUer,ised during the hiring pro,edure to (ind
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
a person %ith ,omplementary skills to those already present and at the same time a person
%ith a broad international vie% o( the (ield to (urther enhan,e the uniguely broad vision o( the
,urrent group. It is re,ommended that the ne% (a,ulty member should be re,ruited
internationally_ building on the eU,ellent (oundation already present_ and that Nor%ay should
provide internationallya,ompetitive startaup (unding to attra,t an eU,ellent international
s,ientist to this group.
6.4.1.2
Organic Chemistry Group
This group ,onsists o( L (a,ulty members_ t%o o( S%edish_ one o( Ierman and one o(
Nor%egian ,itihenshipj one pro(essor is (emale. !esear,h in this group is dedi,ated to the
development o( syntheti, methods and the synthesis o( biologi,ally a,tive or other%ise
interesting mole,ules. National and international ,ollaborations are good and the ,onne,tions
%ithin the department are very good. !e,ruitment o( students is di((i,ult and resear,h has to
be a,,omplished %ith a limited number o( ,oa%orkers_ thus this group is ,riti,ally small. The
group has an a((iliated startaup ,ompany_ LytiU `iopharma_ and this intera,tion is bene(i,ial
(or the department.
Assessment and grading
Iiven its small sihe and limited %ork spa,e_ the organi, ,hemistry group per(orms rather
%ell. Ho%ever it su((ers (rom inadeguate premises and laboratories. !e,ruitment o( national
masterks and Nh.D. students has to be improved in order to have enough personnel (or the
ongoing resear,h programmes_ %hi,h are up to the international standard in the (ield.
0ombined %ith the %ork on the development o( syntheti, methods are proje,ts dedi,ated to
the synthesis o( ,ompounds o( medi,inal and biologi,al interest. Thus_ there is some a,tivity
in the (ield o( biologi,al ,hemistry_ %hi,h ,ombines %ell %ith the Stru,tural 0hemistry Iroup
at the same department. There are several international eU,hanges on the graduate student
level_ %hi,h are ,learly stimulating (or the group. All (a,ulty members are ambitious_ %hile
one is ,urrently su((ering (rom an overload o( duties due to maternity and her position as
deputy head. The group has eU,ellent intelle,tual potential and ,ould be more produ,tive
%ith more personnel and lab spa,e. Hosting LytiU `iopharma is bene(i,ial (or the group.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
!
L/HpX
L
L_L_LppX
129
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
'
In this small group hal( o( the personnel have a good publi,ation output %ith a good number
o( publi,ations in level B journals_ su,h as in =edi,inal Journal o( 0hemistry_ %hile the other
hal( ,learly has to improve their publi,ation re,ord. 0urrently this group has the %eakest
publi,ation re,ord %ithin the department_ ho%ever_ (rom the ongoing a,tivities improvement
o( the situation ,an be eUpe,ted. The a,tivity o( the group has resulted in the establishment
o( a su,,ess(ul small ,ompany holding K patents sin,e BWWL. The resear,h in the (ield o(
medi,inal ,hemistry ,learly has a so,ietal impa,t and_ (urthermore_ has a ,onne,tion to some
highly relevant proje,ts in the Stru,tural 0hemistry Iroup. Some re,ent proje,ts have been
dedi,ated to environmental issues. The group ,ombines its limited resour,es very %ell and
bene(its (rom its high ,ooperative and ,ollaborative standard. The group (ollo%s a strategi,
plan that has been agreed on_ re(le,ting good leadership as %ell as a very good
,olleagueship. The national and international ,onne,tions and ,ollaborations o( the group are
very good. To allo% (urther optimisation o( the groupks standards_ the premises are in urgent
need o( improvement.
Recommendations
The sihe o( this group is at its lo%est limit_ and the group needs some release o( its load in
organisational and institutional %ork to be able to ,on,entrate more on resear,h. Improved
premises are urgently needed and highly re,ommended as this %ill allo% this a,tive group to
more e((e,tively develop its interesting proje,ts_ %hi,h are at the international standard.
0ollaborations %ithin the department should be (urther strengthened to improve the ,han,e
(or grant appli,ations and (unding_ and espe,ially the inahouse eUpertise in stru,tural
,hemistry should be utilised in the (uture resear,h programmes o( this group. The high
,ooperative standard o( the (a,ulty members in the group and the good %orking atmosphere
help to attra,t students (rom abroad Vas %ell as nationallyX and should be a guideline (or
(uture a,tivities. Nh.D. mobility programmes are already %orking and need to be (urther
developed and en,ouraged. The group is en,ouraged to ,ontinue the development o( the
,urrent strategi, plan a,,ording to their vision o( the department. Strengthening the eUisting
eUpertise and programmes should have priority be(ore starting ne% areas o( resear,h.
6.4.1.3
Structural Chemistry Group
This group ,onsists o( L (a,ulty members_ three (rom Nor%ay and one %ith 8S ,itihenship.
This strong team is a major player in the Nor%egian Stru,tural `iology 0entre VNorStru,tX
providing a high visibility both nationally and internationally and operating a large number o(
,ollaborations. The situation in terms o( limited number o( graduate students is less tense
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
than at other pla,es in the department and in Nor%ay in general. The mobility o( resear,hers
in this se,tion is high. The group appears rather homogeneous. '
Assessment and grading
The stru,tural ,hemistry group is eU,ellent and per(orms up to the stateao(atheaart resear,h in
the (ield. The publi,ation re,ord is very good throughout the group. The group is eUtensively
,ollaborating %ithin the department_ %ithin Nor%ay_ and internationally_ %ithout losing sight o(
its o%n spe,i(i, aims. !esear,h is dedi,ated to the investigation o( di((erent stru,turea(un,tion
relationships and re,eptoraligand intera,tions_ %hi,h are o( high relevan,e in li(e s,ien,es
and o( broad interdis,iplinary interest.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
K/LpX
L
K_L_LppX
'
There is a relatively ,onsistent and very good publishing a,tivity in this group_ %ith a very
good paper produ,tion in level B journals. The leading publishing a,tivities in the group ,an
be regarded as eU,ellent_ espe,ially due to their high international visibility and ,itation rate.
!esear,h on stru,turea(un,tion relationships is o( (undamental importan,e (or basi,ally all
areas o( the li(e s,ien,es_ and is one o( the prevailing areas o( resear,h %ith high so,ietal
a,,eptan,e. It is o( importan,e (or Nor%ayks s,ienti(i, lands,ape that there eUist a
department that is an eUpert in protein isolation_ ampli(i,ation and stru,ture elu,idation_ %hi,h
is a ,hallenging ,ombination o( te,hnigues. A,,ordingly_ resear,h in this group is organised
so that students gain eUperien,e in all areas ,onne,ted to protein stru,ture elu,idation_ %hi,h
is a Nobelapriheaa%arded approa,h V,(. !obert HuberX. Ho%ever_ the di((erent logisti, stages
o( this resear,h are partly lo,ated in di((erent buildings. This should be improved to in,rease
e((i,ien,y and internal intera,tions. The group has very good national and international
,ollaborations.
Recommendations
To maintain its high standard in the (uture_ the group is dependent on adeguate investment_
a su((i,ient number o( te,hni,al stu((_ ample money to ,over high running ,osts and
appropriate in(rastru,ture. The potential o( this group to play the key role in stru,tural
,hemistry and biology in Nor%ay is very high. This group should be supported to maintain its
eU,ellen,e_ and (uture investments should support the ,ollaborative initiatives %ithin the
!
131
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
department as %ell as %ithin Nor%ay_ as there is the opportunity (or this group to be,ome the
leader o( a national ,entre in stru,tural biology %ith the highest international visibility. The
,ollaborative net%ork NorStru,t should be ,ontinued and supported as %ell as the National
!esear,h S,hool in Stru,tural `iology. The (inan,ial ba,kground o( the group needs
,onsolidation in order to develop into the national ,entre in stru,tural biology.
6.4.1.4
Theoretical Chemistry Group
The group involves one pro(essor and t%o re,ently appointed asso,iate pro(essors. There
are ,urrently K postdo,toral %orkers and K graduate students. The group has been greatly
strengthened by the a%ard o( the 0entre (or Theoreti,al and 0omputational 0hemistry
V0T00X jointly %ith the 8niversity o( Cslo_ %hi,h has enabled a move to ne% o((i,e spa,e
together %ith the appointment o( postdo,s and ,reation o( a visitors programme. The
established strengths o( the group are in ne% method development in the area o( guantum
,hemistry_ but one re,ent appointment is in VbioXmole,ular simulation %hi,h is very strategi,
given the strength o( the Stru,tural 0hemistry Iroup in Tromsø. Rurther details are %ell
summarised in the sel(aevaluation do,ument.
Assessment and grading
In part_ as a ,onseguen,e o( the re,ent appointment_ the a,tivities o( the group over a broad
mole,ular sihe range and their a,tivities are %ell ,oordinated %ith eUperimental groups in
inorgani, ,hemistry and stru,tural ,hemistry. The group has a range o( a,tivities that is %ell
dire,ted to%ards the opportunities (or ,omputational %ork in Nor%ay and the opportunities (or
,ollaboration %ithin Tromsø. In addition they ,ontribute to highly spe,ialised eUpert
developments in guantum ,hemistry methodology and through this have eU,ellent
,ollaborations and involvement in international net%orks. The group ,onsists o( young_ highly
guali(ied sta(( members and a high degree o( ,oheren,e and ,ollaboration is evident (rom the
sel(aevaluation and (rom the group interrelationships observed during the site visit. The group
has outstanding a,,ess to highaper(orman,e ,omputing. The prin,ipal de(i,ien,y o( the
a,,ommodation is that the group is split up and in di((erent buildings (rom the rest o(
,hemistry. The group has bene(itted ,onsiderably (rom the 0T00 %hi,h has boosted their
resour,es ,onsiderably and enabled a group o( viable sihe to be ,reated. This might
other%ise have been problemati,_ given the limited opportunities (or responsiveamode
(unding. 68 (unding opportunities are generally limited to applied %ork and this does not
really present a viable sour,e o( (unding (or theoreti,al %ork per se. The la,k o( students
,oming through the undergraduate programme is a ,lear %eakness and_ given the small total
numbers o( masterks students in Tromsø_ it %ould seem that making the Tromsø provision as
!
132
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
attra,tive as possible to international students is the only option. The group has been
involved %ith the other Nor%egian theory groups in an attempt to ,reate a joint training
programme %hi,h %ould help this pro,ess ,onsiderably.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
K/LpX
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
L/H
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L_L_KppX
'
S,ienti(i, guality and produ,tivity: some aspe,ts o( the resear,h ,ondu,ted are at an
internationally leading level and throughout the group there is a high level o( a,tivity and
publi,ation in leading journals in the (ield Vespe,ially ,onsidering the age o( the ne%
appointeesX. The number o( postdo,s and graduate students is ,onsistent %ith a very good
level o( a,tivity.
!elevan,e and so,ietal impa,t: the a,tivities o( the group are in basi, s,ien,e_ %hi,h is %ell
re(le,ted in the normal measure o( s,ienti(i, outputj there are no spe,ial (a,tors. The
,onne,tion o( the group to other theory/,omputation groups in Nor%ay is very good and
,ontributes to an eUternally per,eived national strength in the subje,t.
Strategy_ organisation_ and resear,h ,ooperation: appointments appear to have been made
highly strategi,ally to ,omplement other a,tivities in 0hemistry in Tromsø and to take
advantage o( the (unding and ,omputing in(rastru,ture available to this kind o( %ork in
Nor%ay. 0onsidering the eUtremely small numbers o( students ,oming through the
undergraduate programme in Tromsø_ the group has a,hieved a remarkable level o( strength
and visibility.
Recommendations
This group has eU,ellent in(rastru,ture and strength at the a,ademi, sta(( and postdo,toral
levels. This ,ould support a mu,h higher number o( graduate and masterks students and
,onseguently an even higher level o( a,tivity_ though this %ould eUa,erbate the spa,e
problem. As ,ommented else%here_ theory/,omputation does appear to be a Nor%egian
strength and there is a high level o( mutual understanding bet%een the groups at Tromsø_
Cslo_ `ergen and NTN8. So support (or the proposed national initiative in Nh.D. training in
the subje,t %ould ,ertainly be %ellaused and ,ould help to address the shortage o(
Nor%egian students in the area.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Z5Y' 23Rb#O,%2'*2,-#R.,+0'3$'7,$#'.&,#2&#.''
Z5Y5(' &89I?KtrQ'R9K9ar=8'OroDp'
In BWWK_ the traditional cAgri,ulture 8niversity o( Nor%ayd VNLHX %as reorganised and
a,,redited as a university and cThe Nor%egian 8niversity o( Li(e S,ien,ed V8=`X %as
established. 8=` (o,usses spe,i(i,ally on biology_ (ood_ environment_ landa and natural
resour,e management. The 8=` ,omprises O departments. 0hemistry is an important
s,ienti(i, area at 8=`_ not only (or ,hemistry as su,h_ but as a basi, dis,ipline (or s,ien,es
at other departments. The 8=` resear,h group in ,hemistry is split into t%o separate
resear,h groups organised %ithin t%o di((erent departments Vsee Rig. LX. The resear,h group
c6nvironmental 0hemistryd is part o( the Department o( Nlant and 6nvironmental S,ien,es
VIN=X_ and the resear,h group cNatural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani, AnalysisdH is part o(
the Department o( 0hemistry_ `iote,hnology and Rood S,ien,e VIK`=X. A joint (orum
VRaggruppeX (or 8=` ,hemistry is established to ,oordinate the resear,h and edu,ation
%ithin ,hemistry.
8=`
IN =
C th e r ! es ea r, h
gr ou ps
IK ` =
!e s . I rou p :
6 n v. 0 he m is try
! es . I ro up :
C r ga n i, 0 h e m istry
Y m ore d ep t
C th e r ! es ea r, h
g r ou ps
+ 8 9 '* / T ' r9 K 9a r= 8 F ro D p ?E ' & 8 9 I ?K tr Q
Rig. L: Departmental stru,ture at 8=`
In the c6nvironmental 0hemistryd group resear,h areas in,lude analyti,al ,hemistry_
radio,hemistry and environmental ,hemistry. The resear,h group o( cNatural Nrodu,t
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3
!The resear,h group cCrgani, 0hemistryd %as renamed cNatural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani,
Analysisd throughout this report as reguested by 8=`!
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!
0hemistry and Crgani, Analysisd group has a (o,us on natural produ,t ,hemistry and bioa
organi, analyti,al ,hemistry.
In general_ there is a need (or improved (a,ilities to handle highaguality ,hemi,al analysis.
IN= has eU,ellent eguipment (or radionu,lide and tra,e element analysis_ but some (a,ilities
are old and need improvement. Ra,ilities and eguipment at IK`= are su((i,ient to handle
highaguality ,hemi,al analysis. IK`= has its o%n N=! (a,ilities_ but also has a good
,ollaboration %ith N=! at 8iC.
In ,hemistry_ very (e% positions have been va,ant in the last ten years. The sta(( situation is
given in Table 5S.
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
pX
Nro(essor
L
a
Asso,iate pro(essor
Y
a
Nro(essor II
a
L
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
a
B
Do,toral students
K
5Y
Te,hni,al/administrative positionsp
S
5.K
1P'
1N5Y'
Table 5S: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
pX
!
In,luding t%o pro(essors %ith KW l positions
The age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions is summarised in Table BW.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
W
W
5
W
W
B
B
W
Table BW: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
The re,ruitment o( masterks and Nh.D. students is di((erent %ithin the t%o resear,h groups. In
the c6nvironmental 0hemistryd group re,ruitment o( Nh.D. ,andidates is very good due to
eUternally (unded proje,ts_ %hile re,ruitment o( =.S,. students is limited due to late ,onta,t
%ith the ,hemistry students in the `.S,. programme. The cNatural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and
Crgani, Analysisd group has many =.S,. students due to its edu,ational responsibility (or
8=` students in Ieneral 0hemistry_ %hile re,ruitment o( Nh.D. students is limited due to a
la,k o( (unding. The number o( graduates is given in Table B5.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
K
B
H
5W
=.S,. graduated
5B
A
55
HW
Table B5: Number o( graduates
Assessment and recommendation
This university %ith its spe,ial history and lo,ation has a potential to develop (urther and
(o,us on spe,ialised areas in ,hemistry %ithin the (rame o( environmental s,ien,es_ (ood
s,ien,e_ biote,hnology. The atmosphere o( this rural ,ampus is inspiring and there is a
beauti(ul ne% building (or tea,hing and resear,h in %hi,h the organi, ,hemistry group is also
lo,ated.
The t%o resear,h groups have di((erent resear,h areas and stru,ture and are in di((erent
departments. There is a me,hanism to allo% the t%o groups to dis,uss issues and to
integrate %here appropriate_ but it is not ,lear %hether this pro,ess a,hieves the optimum
level o( ,ooperation or integration. Iiven the di((eren,es bet%een the t%o resear,h groups
this evaluation ,onsiders ea,h group in turn.
Ror the ,hemistry a,tivities at 8=` there is a great potential (or (o,ussed ,ollaborations
%ithin the main areas o( 8=` resear,h areas. Syntheti, organi, ,hemistry should deepen its
internal 8=` intera,tions in order to spe,ialise on areas that are other%ise underrepresented
in Nor%ay_ building up ,ollaborations %ith the environmental s,ien,es and %ith
biote,hnology_ proteomi,s and protein engineering_ and (ood s,ien,e.
6.5.1.1 Environmental Chemistry at IPM
The 6nvironmental 0hemistry Iroup ,onsists o( siU a,ademi, sta((_ and %hile there have
been appointments over the last de,ade_ the turnover has been very small. This has resulted
in a stable resear,h environment. The ne% appointments have mainly been a,hieved by
appointing a guest pro(essor and making pro(essor II appointments. There has also been the
appointment o( t%o asso,iate pro(essors %ho had been departmental engineers and had
,ompleted Nh.D.s in the resear,h o( the department. Cverall the group_ %hile small_ has a
,lear (o,us. Among the main subje,t areas_ environmental radioa,tivity has been a ,ore
resear,h subje,t in %hi,h the group has an international reputation and eUtensive resear,h
links through grants_ ,ontra,ts and individual links. The other subje,t areas in,lude mu,h that
,omplements the environmental radioa,tivity %ork_ in,luding tra,e metal behaviour in the
environment and the physiologi,al e((e,ts o( a,idi(ied (resh%ater and estuarian %aters on
(ish_ again %ith the spe,iation o( metals being a key ,omponent.
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!
Assessment and grading
The produ,tivity o( the group overall is satis(a,tory %hen publi,ation statisti,s are revie%ed_
but the average per(orman,e overall ,on,eals a broad range_ %ith a (e% individuals
,ontributing substantially more to the overall output than the rest o( the group. The
publi,ation numbers have held up %ell over the last (ive years and the publi,ation rates o( the
t%o ,hemistry groups are broadly similar.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
K/HpX
K
L_H_KppX
'
The s,ien,e guality is judged by the ,hara,ter o( the resear,h output in highaguality journals_
%hi,h is very good and in some ,ases eU,ellent. The lo%er s,ore (or produ,tivity re(le,ts the
overall output_ %hi,h is intermediate. 0learly there are a (e% individuals %ho drive the
resear,h agenda and output_ and the group depends on them to maintain a satis(a,tory level
o( produ,tivity. The %ork o( the group is highly relevant a,ross the spe,trum o( resear,h_
and_ in the ,ase o( environmental radioa,tivity_ this is the leading Nor%egian group and is an
important national asset. Iiven the likely global in,rease in nu,lear generating ,apa,ity over
,oming de,ades it %ill be ne,essary in a strategi, sense to maintain the ,apability in this
important (ield. The resear,h group is small and very sensitive to ,hanges in sta((_ and in the
not too distant (uture it %ill be ne,essary to appoint ne% sta(( (rom the %ider international
,ommunity to maintain the vigour o( the resear,h.
The strategy o( the group is satis(a,tory in the short term in looking to enhan,e the
measurement ,apability and instrumentation. Ho%ever_ given the sihe o( the group and the
age stru,ture_ the longaterm development o( the group reguires a more strategi, vie% o( the
sta(( pro(ile to be internationally ,ompetitive in (ive or ten years time_ %hi,h reguires
appointments o( ne% sta(( in the neUt (e% years. The group has eU,ellent international
,ollaborative links.
Recommendations
The small resear,h group is on the boundaries o( ,riti,al mass_ ,arries a substantial tea,hing
and administrative burden_ and the eU,essive %ork load has developed in part as a
,onseguen,e o( the su,,ess o( the group in establishing this small ,entre o( eU,ellen,e. The
,apa,ity o( the group to take on more %ork is limited by sta(( numbers and this must be
limiting the overall s,ienti(i, produ,tivity and the ability o( members o( the team to take
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!
sabbati,al leave and to develop ne% lines o( resear,h. The eguipment available to the team
is very good_ although it is ,lear that the general in(rastru,ture and espe,ially the laboratories
need to be improved. The improvements reguired are ne,essary to enhan,e both the
tea,hing and resear,h (a,ilities. The student numbers at all levels have been maintained
very e((e,tively at 8=`_ and to maintain this su,,ess it is ne,essary to upgrade the
in(rastru,ture (or the group. Spe,i(i, items o( eguipment have been identi(ied to enhan,e the
resear,h ,apability o( the group. 0learly in this (ield progress at the leading edge o(
development reguires a,,ess by the group to the best eguipment_ and the ,ase (or ne%
investment in instrumentation (or this group is supported by the 0ommittee.
'
This team has maintained an important position in Nor%ay as the ,entre (or environmental
radioa,tivity resear,h and tea,hing. The %ider resear,h by the group ,omplements this
(o,us. Cverall the team is too small and should be supported in the near (uture by junior
a,ademi, sta((_ hope(ully attra,ting ne% blood (rom the international ,ommunity to bring in
(resh ideas and to shape the team and 8=` (or the longer term. This inje,tion o( younger
talent should in,lude postdo,toral resear,hers to strengthen the ,ore s,ien,e o( the group
and Nh.D. students %hi,h the group seems able to bring in very e((e,tively. This %ould
substantially in,rease the output o( highaguality s,ien,e (rom the group and provide (or the
longer term development o( the group.
There is a ,lear need to upgrade instrumentation and more importantly the general
laboratory (a,ilities (or the group_ %hi,h are not adeguate_ and are belo% the standard
eUpe,ted o( a highaguality resear,h group. In the absen,e o( these developments_ it is likely
that the only ,entre (or environmental radioa,tivity in Nor%ay %ould de,line in the not too
distant (uture to suba,riti,al sihe and an unsatis(a,tory level o( s,ienti(i, produ,tivity. The
overall upgrading o( (a,ilities and appointment o( ne% sta(( to this group is there(ore a high
priority given the unigue status o( this resear,h group (or national ,apability in environmental
radioa,tivity!
6.5.1.2 Natural Product Chemistry and Organic Analysis at IKBM
The Natural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani, Analysis Iroup at 8=` is organised %ithin the
Department o( 0hemistry_ `iote,hnology and Rood S,ien,e. It is a small_ but %ella(o,ussed
group dealing %ith modern resear,h topi,s. 0urrently it ,onsists o( t%o asso,iate pro(essors
and t%o (ull pro(essors_ one o( %hi,h is leader o( the group. Zhile one o( the pro(essors is on
leave_ there has been an additional position announ,ed very re,ently. The premises in %hi,h
the Natural Nrodu,t 0hemistry and Crgani, Analysis Iroup is lo,ated are ne% and very
good_ ho%ever_ the available spa,e is limited even (or a small group as this one. This group
!
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!
,an be ,alled a bioaorgani, group_ more than the other organi, ,hemistry groups in Nor%ay_
as its resear,h emphasis lies in the ,hemistry o( natural produ,ts and espe,ially lipids and
their biologi,al a,tivity_ on enhyme me,hanisms and analyti,al ,hemistry %ith a (o,us on
mass spe,trometry. The instrumentation o( the group is mostly very good_ ho%ever_ a ne%
standard N=! instrument is needed. There are an insu((i,ient number o( Nh.D. students and
permanent te,hni,al sta((.
Assessment and grading
This group does not appear as ,onvin,ing as the premises in %hi,h they are lo,ated. The
laboratories are ne% and mu,h o( the eguipment is o( high standard. Zhile there are a very
limited number o( pro(essors a ,urrently there are only three ,olleagues a,tive a there %ere
not enough ,ollaborative proje,ts to in,rease the visibility o( the group and only lately an
emphasis has been put on lipid resear,h. Analyti,al resear,h is (o,ussed on advan,ed =S
methods and sho%s a reasonable level o( output. The same is the ,ase (or biologi,al
,hemistry_ %hi,h has reported very interesting ,ontributions on ligandare,eptor intera,tions
and enhyme me,hanisms. Syntheti, organi, ,hemistry does not play a key role in this group_
although it ,ould make important ,ontributions to ,ollaborative proje,ts %ithin the t%o a(orea
mentioned (ields. In addition_ the intera,tion o( the group %ith the other areas at 8=` is
limited_ and there is little eviden,e o( integration o( resear,h a,tivity a,,ording to a
,onvin,ing strategi, plan. The spe,trum o( analyti,al ,apability available to this group and
the issues available (or joint resear,h %ith the environmental ,hemists present opportunities
(or integration that have not been taken. It is ,lear_ ho%ever_ that the resear,h interests o( the
t%o groups are guite distin,t_ and there is little ,ommon s,ienti(i, ground to eUpe,t broadly
based integration.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation
L/HpX
H
H_H_BppX
'
!egarding its resear,h output_ the group (alls into t%o halves. Zhile the publi,ation re,ord o(
the better hal( is very good_ the other hal( has published very little during the last (ive years_
sometimes only one paper per year. Cverall the produ,tivity o( the %hole group appears only
moderate_ %hile the proportion o( papers published in level B journals is roughly at the
Nor%egian average. The publi,ation re,ord might improve on,e the ne% (o,us on lipids is
better established. =u,h o( the published %ork has analyti,al as %ell as biologi,al
!
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
appli,ations and this might eventually have an impa,t on publi, health. Industrial
,ollaborations are not do,umented. This group does not (ollo% a strategi, plan_ %hi,h %ould
be important (or su,h a small group. A,,ordingly_ the group is not %ell organised as a %hole
and its potential ,annot be (ully utilised %ithout improved planning and leadership. The
resear,h ,ooperation %ithin the group is (air but ,ould be improved.
Recommendations
This group is lo,ated in ne% premises_ %hi,h support ,lose ,ollaboration %ithin the group.
The a,tivities o( ea,h pro(essor reguire a spe,i(i, (o,usj ho%ever_ at the same time there is a
need to %ork on ,ommon topi,s to in,rease the international visibility o( this small group.
Zith the ,ommon interest in biologi,ally a,tive natural produ,ts_ the groupks a,tivities should
(ollo% t%o ,orresponding areas_ syntheti, and analyti,al bioaorgani, ,hemistry. There must
be an agreement on the most important mole,ular targets in order to ,on,entrate the
available resour,es rather than to spread them too thinly. Zith the present status o( the
group_ su,h a ,on,entration o( (or,es ,ould %ell apply (or the lipid (ield_ as the group has
started to establish su,h as (o,us_ ho%ever_ this is not the only possibility. Zhatever the
group sele,ts as its main (o,us_ it should have a standaalone ,hara,teristi, %ithin Nor%ay.
Naturally su,h developments %ould need to be (ormally do,umented in_ (or eUample_ a
strategi, plan. It is important in this pro,ess to map the various overlaps %ithin IK`= and
(urthermore %ith 8=`. The spe,ial lo,ation o( the ,ampus and the spe,ialised s,ienti(i,
surrounding bear a great potential (or (o,ussed ,ollaborations_ and organi, ,hemistry at 8=`
has to utilise this in order to di((er (rom the other Nor%egian universities and its bigger
neighbour the 8niversity o( Cslo. !esear,h areas in,luding biote,hnology_ proteomi,s and
protein engineering represent possible ,ollaborative resear,h areas. The group has a (o,us
on =S methodology and should strengthen it. Higha(ield N=! spe,tros,opy ,an be done in
,ollaboration %ith 8iC_ ho%ever_ the group needs a good standard instrument (or daily
servi,e measurements and also to allo% (or the respe,tive ,ollaborations %ithin 8=`. As the
group is on the boundaries o( ,riti,al mass it needs more personnelj ho%ever_ any additional
appointment should be ,onsistent %ith a ,lear strategy (or resear,h %ith some ,ommon
goals. Improved leadership ,ould (a,ilitate this pro,ess.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Z5Z' 23Rb#O,%2',2.+,+*+#'$3R'%,R'R#.#%R&6''
The Nor%egian Institute (or Air !esear,h VNIL8X %as established in 5SYS as an institute
under the !oyal Nor%egian 0oun,il (or S,ienti(i, and Industrial !esear,h VNTNRX and
be,ame_ (rom 5 January 5SOY_ a private (oundation. The (oundation is led by the board o(
dire,tors_ ,onsisting o( (ive eUternal representatives_ and the dire,tor o( the institute. The
institute is organised %ith (ive operative departments. NIL8ks ,hemi,al resear,h is organised
as part o( the 6nvironmental 0hemistry Department. The (unding at NIL8 is provided by
industry V,a. 5B lX_ publi, administration V,a. HB lX_ Nor%egian pollution ,ontrol authority
V,a. 5K lX_ !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay V,a. 5Y lX_ and 68 w basi, grant w 8N w
development proje,ts V,a. BK lX. Thus_ the primary resear,h (or the Nor%egian !esear,h
0oun,il o( Nor%ay is a small (ra,tion o( the (unding base (or NIL8.
The 6nvironmental 0hemistry Department %hi,h is the only part o( NIL8 taking part in this
revie%_ Vbut is not the only part o( NIL8 engaged in ,hemistry resear,hX_ ,omprises 5L
resear,hers_ L Nh.D. students_ L engineers_ 5B te,hni,ians_ B se,retaries and 5 trainee.
There are_ in addition_ t%o part time resear,hers VBW l ea,hX_ one pro(essor at NTN8 and
one pro(essor at 8NIS. The department re,ruits resear,hers nationally and internationally.
The 6nvironmental 0hemistry Department is headed by a dire,tor and the allo,ation o(
internal (unding %ithin NIL8 is de,ided by NIL8ks dire,tor.
0urrently_ NIL8 is in the pro,ess o( establishing the instituteks strategy (or the period BWWSa
BW5B.
Assessment and grading
The 6nvironmental 0hemistry Department_ %ith 5L resear,hers and other sta(( has in
addition to the senior s,ientists %ho dire,t the proje,ts and %rite up the resear,h papers and
reports a broad range o( the te,hni,al skills ne,essary (or resear,h and monitoring_ and the
te,hni,al skills to support and operate the laboratory (a,ilities. The group ,learly has ,riti,al
mass (or its %ork in environmental ,hemistryj it has a ,lear (o,us and o,,upies a prominent
position internationally in persistent and semiapersistent pollutants in the environment. The
group has a range o( stateao(atheaart eguipment in,luding high resolution =S linked to I0_
I0N and HNL0 instruments. The team %orking and (o,ussing on a narro% range o( issues
has enabled the group to be,ome prominent in this (ield.
The group has its main base at Kjeller the NIL8 headguarters_ and an important base (or
polaraorientated resear,h and monitoring is at Tromsø. There are also important longaterm
monitoring stations on Nyaxlesund and more re,ently in the Antar,ti, at the Troll station. The
!
141
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
standard o( the analysis o( tra,e levels o( a %ide range o( analytes is eU,ellent and the high
standards o( the environmental ,hemistry at NIL8 have be,ome %idely re,ognised.
'
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation'
K/LpX
L
L_K_KppX
The grading o( this group ,omprises both an assessment o( the s,ienti(i, guality o( the %ork_
the produ,tivity o( the group and the s,ienti(i, vision and development. The publi,ation
output overall is satis(a,tory in a simple ,omparison o( papers produ,ed per resear,herj it is
not a high publi,ation rate as noted in the bibliometri, analysis provided to the 0ommittee.
Ho%ever_ the number o( resear,hers used as the denominator in the bibliometri, analysis at
5K overstates the s,ienti(i, sta(( engaged in publi,ation. A more reasonable approa,h %ould
be to use the number o( Nh.D.s and senior a,ademi,s asso,iated %ith the output. In this
,ase the publi,ation rate per resear,her %ould be ,loser to A and %ould be a high (igure
relative to the university resear,h groups %ith %hi,h it is being ,ompared. In addition the
highest publi,ation rate o( individuals %ithin the group is at the very high end o( the entire
range o( individuals ,onsidered in this evaluation. The ,itation rates are also higher than the
average in the revie%. Cverall there(ore the guality and guantity o( the s,ienti(i, output is
eU,ellent.
The so,ietal impa,t o( the NIL8 %ork is very high and the group is asso,iated %ith leading
international resear,h in this (ield_ in,luding many 68 ,ollaborations and %ider involvement
in the assessment o( global environmental ,hange. The resear,h group is highly organised
and %ell managed. The strategy o( %orking %ith the best te,hnigues and on a highly
(o,ussed area has proved su,,ess(ul_ as many o( the key s,ienti(i, developments in this (ield
have been te,hnology led_ %ith the ne% te,hnigues enabling many o( the really ne%
dis,overies. '
Recommendations
The revie% notes the threats_ in,luding the ,hallenge o( keeping up %ith the latest te,hni,al
developments in instrumentation and the very high ,ost o( repla,ing these instruments.
Ho%ever_ the 0ommittee notes that the strategy to date has been very su,,ess(ul_ and
eUpe,ts that through resear,h grants and !esear,h 0oun,il o( Nor%ay initiatives the group
%ill ,ontinue to stay at the leading edge o( developments. The ,hallenge o( delivering more
s,ien,e (rom the %ork %ithout diluting the ,lear (o,us and mission o( NIL8 ,ould be
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
addressed by involving more o( the domesti, a,ademi, ,ommunity in the large monitoring
and data ri,h environment o( NIL8. The (a,ilities_ both in instrumentation and (ields sites and
monitoring data and eUpertise_ sho% that there is mu,h that ,ould be a,hieved by greater
involvement %ith the university resear,h groups_ %ho through joint Nh.D. students and
postdo,s ,ould enable a %ider range o( s,ien,e to be ,ompleted in ,ollaboration %ith this
group. This should not be seen as a major ,hange in operation_ rather it should be seen as
harvesting more o( the potential o( the NIL8 a,tivity through the provision o( more pairs o(
hands and a slightly %ider s,ienti(i, vision and domesti, ,ollaboration
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
Z5[' *2,-#R.,+0'3$'.+%-%2O#R''
Z5[5(' 49partI9Et'oA'/at89Iat?=K'aEM'2atDraC'.=?9E=9'
Sin,e the establishment o( the 8niversity o( Stavanger in BWWK_ the Department o(
=athemati,s and Natural S,ien,e is part o( the Ra,ulty o( S,ien,e and Te,hnology. The t%o
,hemistry groups o( the department are assigned to c`iologi,al 0hemistryd and c0hemistry
and the 6nvironmentd V0T6X. In the (ield o( c`iologi,al 0hemistryd a c0entre (or Crganelle
!esear,hd V0C!6X is planned providing an environment (or doing ,hemi,al_ biologi,al and
biophysi,al resear,h %ith a (o,us on ,ellular pro,esses.
The c`iologi,al 0hemistryd group (o,usses on basi, mole,ular resear,h at the inter(a,e
bet%een ,hemistry and biology. !esear,h a,tivities in the 0T6 group are (o,ussed on
environmental engineering V%ater ,leaning and %ater analysisX_ ,orrosion_ as %ell as ,ertain
resear,h areas in organi, and biophysi,al ,hemistry.
During the last years major pie,es o( eguipment ,ould be pur,hased (rom eUternal (unds by
both the biologi,al ,hemistry group and the 0T6 group_ i.e. ,on(o,al mi,ros,ope_ isothermal
,alorimeter_ and imaging system.
The sta(( situation is given in Table BB. Nresently_ the te,hni,al assistan,e (or resear,h is
una,,eptably lo%_ i.e. one KW l te,hni,ian position is allo,ated to t%o labs. The other KW l
position is allo,ated (or tea,hing.
'
+otaC'
!oK?t?oEK'
*E?@5'
#^t9rE'
Nro(essor
Y
a
Asso,iate pro(essor
K
a
Nro(essor II
a
A
Nostdo,toral resear,h (ello%
K
K
Do,toral students
5K
K
Te,hni,al/administrative positions
B.B
a
NY51'
(['
Table BB: Numbers taken (rom the (a,tual in(ormation provided by the Department
d8niv.d u persons (inan,ed by the university
d6Uternd u persons (inan,ed by eUternal resear,h grants
!
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
The age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions is summarised in Table BH.
H5aHK
HYaLW
L5aLK
LYaKW
K5aKK
KYaYW
Y5aYK
YYaAW
W
5
5
W
B
5
5
W
Table BH: Age distribution among pro(essors in permanent positions
?oung promising resear,hers ,ould be re,ruited in parti,ular in `iologi,al 0hemistry.
Ho%ever_ re,ruitment o( masterks and Nh.D. students has been di((i,ult. =any Nh.D.
,andidates are no% re,ruited (rom abroad. A Nh.D. programme has been established in
c`iologi,al 0hemistryd.
The numbers o( graduates are given in Table BL.
OraMDat9K'
1XXY'
1XXZ'
1XX['
+otaC'
Dr. ing./Dr. s,ient. graduated
B
L
H
S
=.S,. graduated
5W
5B
B5
LH
Table BL: Number o( graduates
Assessment and recommendations
The maturing pro,ess o( the (ormer ,ollege into a university is di((i,ult and not (inished. The
department had eUpe,ted that the university %ould re,eive additional (inan,ial support %hen
re,eiving university status_ %hi,h apparently %as not given. Thus_ it %as (elt that the
university has a (inan,ial disadvantage_ a (a,t that the 0ommittee ,ould not veri(y.
In general_ the department does not have a ,ommon in(rastru,ture. There is no parti,ular
leadership at the departmental levelj ho%ever_ a ne% head o( department %as appointed
re,ently. De,isions are as yet generally made at the (a,ulty level.
Initially_ the department ,onsisted o( one group_ the `iologi,al 0hemistry Iroup. Cnly some
time later_ this setup has been ,hanged as it %as not ,ompatible %ith the interest o( all o( its
members. Thus today_ the department has to distribute its (or,es bet%een `iologi,al
0hemistry and 0T6. Ho%ever_ the `iologi,al 0hemistry Iroup is the mu,h stronger one_
mu,h more produ,tive and the a,tual home o( the universityastyle resear,h in this
department. In the very near (uture more lab spa,e %ill be provided (or the `iologi,al
0hemistry Iroup (or the establishment o( 0C!6 V0entre (or Crganelle !esear,hX %hi,h %ill
(urther strengthen this area. The members o( the 0T6 Iroup su((er (rom a too large tea,hing
load and the la,k o( a s,ienti(i, approa,h. The 0T6 Iroup basi,ally has no s,ienti(i, impa,t
and hardly a (ruit(ul overlap %ith `iologi,al 0hemistry at the same department. Thus_ it is
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guestionable %hether the t%o groups %ill ever have a (ruit(ul ,ollaborative (uture %ithin the
same department.
=oreover_ biologi,al ,hemistry has no overlap %ith the o((shore petroleum engineering_
%hi,h dominates the lo,al industry. In spite o( la,king overlap %ith lo,al industry_ the
`iologi,al 0hemistry Iroup has managed to set up a ,onvin,ing programme_ %hi,h
promises e((e,tive (uture (unding.
To (urther develop the already strong biologi,al ,hemistry at this young university_ this group
should be supported in setting up suitable ,ollaborations %ithin the university and beyond
Ve.g._ bio,hemistry and medi,ineX.
The department seems to have no strategy in developing ,hemistryarelated resear,h. As
some o( the resear,h aspe,ts are linked to the universityks strategy c6nergy_ 0limate and the
6nvironmentd_ strong leadership at the departmental level %ould be urgently needed to
en,ourage and ,oordinate ,ollaboration bet%een individual resear,hers in the 0T6 Iroup.
6.7.1.1 Biological Chemistry
The resear,h in this group is mu,h more ,on,entrated in the (ield o( bio,hemistry than any
other group that has been evaluated by the 0ommittee. The biologi,al ,hemistry topi,s are
related to the mole,ular pro,esses in ,ells_ in parti,ular in ,ell organelles and their in(luen,e
on metabolism_ development_ and environmental adaptation. There is no syntheti, ,hemistry
dealt %ith and it is not needed. The group %as (ormed already in ,ollege times by three
pro(essors_ and eUpanded to (ive pro(essors a(ter the establishment o( the 8niversity o(
Stavanger. ;ery lately a Yth ,olleague has been appointed_ supplementing the eUisting group
very %ell. In addition_ L adjun,t pro(essors II are asso,iated %ith this group. There are more
Nh.D. students and postdo,s in this group %hen ,ompared to many other ,hemistry groups
in Nor%ay o( a similar sihe.
Assessment and grading
This group has made a su,,ess(ul attempt to (orm an internationally visible group_
,ontributing signi(i,ant resear,h to the ,ommunity. The individual resear,hers have (o,ussed
their a,tivities to%ards a ,ommon strategy_ to an eUtent that is rare in Nor%egian ,hemistry
departments. The (uture strategy that has been set up is attra,tive and realisti,_ and is still
open (or (urther development. !e,ent appointments have (urther ,on(irmed the guality o( this
(ine group_ %hi,h ,an ,ount on a respe,table number o( Nh.D. students and postdo,toral
students a,,ording to Nor%egian standards.'
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!esear,h ranges (rom studies on DNA repair_ (lavonoid regulation_ ,arbon metabolism in
yeast_ me,hanism o( ,hloroplast division and ironasulphur proteins to bio,hemi,al ,lo,ks and
biophysi,al analyti,al methods. Lately the group has gained eUpertise in proteomi,s in the
(ield o( plastids and their photosynthesis. All initiatives taken together make this group the
only one o( its kind in Nor%ay %ith a high international reputation.
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation'
K/HpX
L
K_K_KppX
The publi,ation re,ord o( this group is headed by a leader group %hose output has been
eU,ellent during the last years_ %hile the rest o( the group displays a rather limited number o(
papers_ ho%ever_ o(ten in very good journals. A,,ording to the bibliometri, analysis_ this
group has the highest proportion o( publi,ations in level B journals among all the evaluated
departments and this guarantee (or a high international visibility.
To elu,idate ,ell organelle (un,tion and its regulation is o( high relevan,e (or understanding
the mole,ular basi,s o( li(e and thus this %ork has a high so,ietal impa,t and is important (or
the thriving o( this young university. It is very positive that the group has de,reed itsel( a ,lear
strategy and thus indeed appears as a %hole. The group holds regular joint group meetings_
allo%ing to identi(y internal ,ollaborations to lead to the highest possible impa,t. In addition
this %ellaorganised group has good international ,ollaborations.
Recommendations
This group should be en,ouraged by the university to (urther develop its highly relevant and
internationally ,ompetitive %ork. Starting the q0entre o( Crganelle !esear,hk %ill be help(ul in
this regard and attra,t (unding (rom the !0N. 0ollaboration %ith syntheti, ,hemistry ,ould be
very help(ul and attra,tive (or several o( the groupks proje,ts_ ho%ever_ the intera,tions %ith
the ,hemistry group in the department do not seem to be very bene(i,ial (or either o( the t%o
groups. This situation should be ,hanged on an organisational level_ and in this strategi,
evolution pro,ess the (uture tea,hing pro(ile o( the (a,ulty has to be taken into a,,ount as
%ell. As an attra,tive study programme is a pre,ondition (or re,ruitment o( students_ it is
essential (or this group to agree on an appropriate study programme port(olio at the
department level. Tea,hing and interdis,iplinary resear,h %ithin the `iologi,al 0hemistry
Iroup should be supported by the appointment o( a ,hemist a,tive in synthesis_ %ho ,an
,ollaborate %ithin and parti,ipate e((e,tively in the eUisting resear,h programme. The 0entre
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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(or Crganelle !esear,h should be supported be,ause it o((ers eU,ellent and unigue
possibilities in the ,ountry_ and ,ollaborations o( this group %ithin Nor%ay should also be
en,ouraged. Rinally the position o( this strong group at the 8niversity o( Stavanger has to be
(urther ,onsolidated and bene(i,ially embedded into a supportive ,ollaborational net%ork.'
6.7.1.2 Applied Chemistry and the Environment
The Applied 0hemistry and the 6nvironment Iroup ,omprises siU members o( sta((_ one as
(ull pro(essor and (ive as asso,iate pro(essors. The (ields o( resear,h are mainly on %ater
treatment_ %ater ,ontamination and ,orrosion ,hemistry.
Assessment and grading
The group ,learly has a (o,us_ but this is not readily ,onveyed by the broad title a something
along the lines o( capplied %ater ,hemistry resear,h groupd %ould be ,loser. Ho%ever_ this
%ould not be (ully in,lusive o( all individuals. The ,hara,ter o( the resear,h is very applied
and the %ork there(ore ,ontains mu,h that is spe,i(i, to industry_ %here the publi,ations are
o(ten reports_ not all o( %hi,h are available to the %ider ,ommunity. The (a,ilities and
eguipment (or resear,h appear to be limited to basi, tools that are used (or both tea,hing
and resear,h. There has been signi(i,ant ne% eguipment a,guired by the `iologi,al
0hemistry Iroup_ %hile the Applied 0hemistry and the 6nvironment Iroup has not been
able to (ollo% the same tra,k. The reasons (or the di((eren,es %ere not entirely ,lear but
appear to be related to the vision and resear,h (o,us o( the t%o groups.
'
S,ienti(i, ^uality and Nrodu,tivity
!elevan,e and So,ietal Impa,t
Strategy_ Crganisation and !esear,h 0ooperation
pX
(irst number leading s,ientistVsX/se,ond number the average o( the group
ppX
separate numbers (or strategy_ organisation_ resear,h ,ooperation'
B/5pX
H
5_B_BppX
'
The assessment needs to be ,onsistent a,ross the departments and institutes evaluated_
and in this ,ase the same ,riteria (or assessing the output rates and output guality o( the
publi,ations (rom the group should be used. The s,ores re(le,t the lo% publi,ation rate and
limited ,itation o( the papers produ,ed by this group. In giving these lo% s,ores_ the
0ommittee is a%are that the group has a very di((erent (o,us to most o( the resear,h groups
in the revie%. This group is in a very ne% university and has not developed %ith the same
a,ademi, (o,us. Thus it %ill take time and some signi(i,ant ,hanges in group priorities be(ore
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
similar publi,ation rates ,ould be eUpe,ted. The pra,ti,al %ork o( the team and industry (o,us
o( the %ork reguires a di((erent assessment pro,ess.
The %ork o( the group is ,learly relevant and has signi(i,ant so,ietal impa,tj the modest
s,ores re(le,t the strength o( the eviden,e provided (or a group o( this sihe. The strategy (or
the (uture is limited and the group appears as a ,olle,tion o( individuals in a broadly similar
area rather than a (o,ussed team. The 0; details %ere mu,h more in(ormative o( the
potential o( the group than the do,ument outlining a strategyj ,learly this group should have
a ,lear strategy and a plan (or delivery_ but to date it has not emerged.
Recommendations
The group %ould bene(it ,onsiderably by developing a ,lear resear,h strategy. There is a
broad (o,us and there are many issues that (it %ithin the range o( skills o( the members o( the
group. This suggests a need (or ,learer leadership among the group and a pro,ess to
develop an in,lusive strategy (or the neUt K Vor moreX years. Iiven this approa,h_ it %ould
then be possible to develop a delivery plan_ but the group must (irst de,ide the dire,tion o(
travel and the goal be(ore that be,omes possible.
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['
&*RR,&*7%'-,+%#'3$'+6#'&3//,++##'/#/T#R.'
#@aIar?9' 69QG6aLW?EK' Vp 5SKAX is (ull pro(essor o( Inorgani, 0hemistry at the Ra,ulty o(
0hemistry and =ineralogy_ 8niversitot Leiphig_ Iermany_ sin,e 5SSH.
She re,eived her diploma V5SOBX and do,toral degree V5SOHX in ,hemistry at the 8niversity o(
=arburg. She %as a guest resear,her at the 8niversity o( SusseU V5SOL/OKX_ 6ngland_ at the
8niversity o( Zestern Australia V5SOK/OYX_ Australia_ and at the Australian National 8niversity
V5SOY/OAX_ 0anberra_ Australia and obtained the venia legendi in Inorgani, 0hemistry at the
8niversity o( =arburg in 5SOO. Rrom 5SOO to 5SSW she %orked as resear,h asso,iate at the
=NI (or Solid State 0hemistry in Stuttgart_ Iermany_ and (rom 5SSW to 5SSH she %as guest
resear,her at the 8niversity o( Karlsruhe VHeisenberg IrantX and temporary le,turer at the
8niversity o( Hohenheim_ Stuttgart_ and 8niversity o( Heidelberg.
She is the author o( more than BHW publi,ations and H patents. She %as a%arded a Liebig
Irant (rom the Ronds der 0hemis,hen Industrie_ Iermany_ in 5SOLaOY_ a Heisenberg Irant
(rom the DRI_ Iermany_ in 5SSWaSL_ ;isiting Nro(essorships at Namukkale 8niversity_
Denihli_ Turkey Vby Ty`ITAKX and the 8niversitz de !ennes 5_ Rran,e VBWWAX_ and a ;isiting
6rskine Rello%ship_ 8niversity o( 0anterbury_ Ne% {ealand VBWWAX.
Among other a,tivities she is the 0oordinator and Speaker o( the 6U,ellen,e Iraduate
S,hool c`uilding %ith =ole,ules and Nanoaobje,tsd V`uild=oNaX and 0oordinator o( an 68
T6=N8S proje,t bet%een the Departments o( 0hemistry in Tetovo and Skopje_ =a,edonia_
0lujaNapo,a_ !omania_ and 8niversitot Leiphig.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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Ro;9rt'&a@a is 0hair o( the Department o( 0hemistry at Nrin,eton and the !ussell Zellman
=oore Nro(essor in 0hemistry and =aterials. He began at Nrin,eton in 5SSA a(ter %orking at
`ell Laboratories (or 5A years_ %here he %as a Distinguished =ember o( Te,hni,al Sta((. He
re,eived his Nh.D. in 0erami,s (rom =IT in 5SAO_ a(ter %hi,h he %as a National !esear,h
0oun,il Nostdo,toral Rello% at the National Institute o( Standards and Te,hnology. He is a
Rello% o( the Ameri,an Nhysi,al So,iety and the Ameri,an 0erami, So,iety_ and a member
o( the 8S National A,ademy o( S,ien,es. He has been re,ipient o( the =atthias Nrihe in
Super,ondu,tivity_ the Ne% =aterials Nrihe o( the Ameri,an 0hemi,al So,iety_ the DeaShalit
=emorial Le,tureship at the Zeihmann Institute_ the Debye Le,tureship at 0ornell 8niversity_
the !.J.N. Zilliams Le,tureship at CU(ord 8niversity_ and the John J. 0arty A%ard (or the
Advan,ement o( S,ien,e (rom the National A,ademy o( S,ien,es. At Nrin,eton_ he has been
a re,ipient o( the Nresidentks A%ard (or Distinguished Tea,hing_ the Nhi `eta Kappa
Tea,hing A%ard and three tea,hing a%ards (rom the Nrin,eton 6ngineering 0oun,il. His
resear,h is in solid state ,hemistry a emphasising the dis,overy o( ne% nonamole,ular solids
%ith interesting ele,troni, and magneti, properties.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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4aE?9C'4Dpr9d Vp 5SLKX is Nro(essor and Senior !esear,her in the Department o( 0hemistry_
0atalysis Laboratory VLA00CX o( the 8niversity o( Noitiers_ Rran,e.
He re,eived both his Diploma o( 0hemi,al 6ngineer and the =.S,. at the Nolyte,hni,um o(
Nan,y in 5SYA. He got his Nh.D. in 5SAK. Rrom 5SAY to 5SAO_ he stayed at the 6LRaTCTAL
!esear,h 0entre in Solaihe. In 5SAO_ he got a position as Junior !esear,her and Assistant
Nro(essor_ and in 5SOK as Senior !esear,her and Nro(essor at Noitiers 8niversity.
His main s,ienti(i, interests are in the (ield o( metal ,atalysis_ espe,ially in oUidation and
DeNCU rea,tions in automotive depollution_ ,atalyti, %ater treatments_ HB produ,tion and
puri(i,ation (rom hydro,arbons and bioresour,es. Cn a (undamental point o( vie%_ he has
developed the ,on,ept o( sur(a,e mobility o( a,tive spe,ies in ,atalysis by means o( spe,i(i,
te,hnigues su,h as transient H/D and 5YC/5OC isotopi, studies.
He is author or ,oaauthor o( BBW publi,ations in peerarevie%ed journals and o( 5SW oral
,ommuni,ations in National and International 0on(eren,es. He %as Deputy Dire,tor o( the
0atalysis Laboratory o( Noitiers VLA00CX (rom 5SS5 to 5SSS and Dire,tor (rom BWWW to BWWA.
Sin,e the beginning o( BWWO_ he is Dire,tor o( the Rederation |!6A8=8!| o( Noitiers. He is
,oordinator o( several resear,h programmes o( AD6=6 VRren,h 6nvironment and 6nergy
=anagement Agen,yX and o( several international ,ooperation programmes. D. Dupreh is
Nresident o( the 0atalysis Division o( the Rren,h 0hemi,al So,iety and the Rren,h
representative to the IA0S ,oun,il. He is member o( di((erent 0ommittees o( the National
!esear,h Agen,y. He is member o( the editorial board o( Applied 0atalysis `: 6nvironmental
and o( 0hemSus0hem and member o( the International Advisory `oards o( many
,ongresses throughout the %orld.
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4a@?M'$oLC9r'&T#_'$R._'$R.#' Vp 5SKWX is Senior S,ientist at the 0entre (or 6,ology and
Hydrology_ based at the 6dinburgh Laboratory and is a Nro(essor o( 6nvironmental Nhysi,s
at the 8niversity o( Nottingham. He gained his `S, and NhD in 6nvironmental Nhysi,s at the
8niversity o( Nottingham. David moved to the Institute o( Terrestrial 6,ology in 6dinburgh in
5SAK. His resear,h at 06H (o,ussed on emissions_ atmospheri, pro,essing_ deposition and
e((e,ts o( a range o( tra,e gases and aerosols through the period to 5SS5. Sin,e then his
main (o,us has been on radiatively a,tive gases_ measuring (luUes o( 0HL and NBC by
mi,rometeorologi,al te,hnigues (rom to%ers and boundary layer methods using air,ra(t. The
(o,us o( the 0HL resear,h %as on the peat %etlands o( Northern `ritain and in Rinnish
Lapland and ri,e paddies in Italy in,luding the upas,aling o( (luUes to ,ountry s,ales. 0urrent
resear,h interests are in `iogeo,hemistry_ and in parti,ular the global ,y,ling o( ,arbon_
nitrogen_ sulphur and metals and the e((e,ts o( atmospheri, pollutants on terrestrial
e,osystems. His spe,ialist area is in the eU,hange o( tra,e gases and aerosols bet%een the
atmosphere and terrestrial sur(a,es. The primary resear,h is published in BWK peer revie%ed
papers_ 5YL other papers and book ,hapters and 5KW ,ontra,t reports and books.
David %as appointed a spe,ial Nro(essor o( 6nvironmental Nhysi,s at Nottingham 8niversity
in 5SS5j ele,ted as a Rello% o( the !oyal So,iety o( 6dinburgh in 5SSS_ a Rello% o( the !oyal
So,iety o( London in BWWB_ and a%arded a 0`6 in BWWK (or servi,es to atmospheri,
s,ien,es. David has ,haired revie% groups (or 8K government departments over the last BW
years in the support o( poli,y development to produ,e e((e,tive ,ontrol strategies (or the
major atmospheri, pollutants.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
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+8?K;9' V9rKt?E' 7?EM8orKt' Vp 5SYBX is (ull pro(essor o( Crgani, 0hemistry at the Ra,ulty o(
=athemati,s and Natural S,ien,e o( 0hristiana Albertina 8niversity o( Kiel sin,e BWWW.
She studied ,hemistry at the 8niversities o( =}n,hen and =}nster_ re,eived her diploma in
,hemistry and bio,hemistry in 5SOO and her Nh.D. in Crgani, 0hemistry in 5SS5 at the
8niversity o( Hamburg. A(ter a postdo,toral stay at the 8niversity o( `ritish 0olumbia she
%orked on her habilitation and be,ame Nrivate Do,ent in 5SSO at the 8niversity o( Hamburg.
In 5SSA she %as a ;isiting Nro(essor at the 8niversity o( Ctta%a in 0anada. Sin,e BWWW she
holds a ,hair in Crgani, and `iologi,al 0hemistry in Kiel.
Her s,ienti(i, interests are in the (ield o( syntheti, organi, ,hemistry_ natural produ,ts_
biologi,al ,hemistry and espe,ially in gly,o,hemistry and gly,obiology. She is the author o(
over 5WW publi,ations and o( the teUt book c6ssentials in 0arbohydrate 0hemistry and
`io,hemistryd amongst others. Her most important a%ards are qR~rderpreis der Karla{ieglera
Sti(tung a%ardk_ q0hemiepreis der Akademie der Zissens,ha(ten hu I~ttingen a%ardk_ and
q0arlaDuisbergaIedo,htnispreis a%ardk. Her a,tivities and pro(essional responsibilities
,omprise o( positions as institute dire,tor_ head o( ,hemistry department_ representative o(
the Iesells,ha(t Deuts,her 0hemiker VID0hX in Kiel_ board member o( Liebiga;ereinigung
%ithin ID0h and she is an ele,ted member o( the DRI Rors,hungs(orum as %ell as a
re(eree (or numerous programmes and s,ienti(i, journals. She is an 6ditorial `oard member
o( Carbohydrate Research and International Journal of Carbohydrate Chemistry and
S,ienti(i, 6ditor o( Carbohydrate Periodicals %ithin the !oyal So,iety o( 0hemistry. She has
t%o ,hildren Vp5SS5_ p5SSKX and lives %ith her (amily in Kiel.
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!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
!aDC' %Et8oEQ' /aMM9E' Vp 5SLOX is Nro(essor and ele,ted as Nrovost o( ^ueenks 0ollege_
CU(ord. He got his `S, in Theoreti,al 0hemistry at SusseU 8niversity in 5SAW. Rrom 5SAWa
5SAB he obtained a predo,toral (ello%ship VRullbrightX at the 8niversity o( 0ali(ornia Los
Angeles under the supervision o( Nro(. D. Kivelson in eUperimental and theoreti,al resear,h
on mole,ular motion in liguids. ln 5SAL he got the D. Nhil at SusseU. Rrom 5SALa5SOB he
%orked as a 8niversity Demonstrator and an S6!0 Advan,ed !esear,h Rello% at the
Department o( Theoreti,al 0hemistry at the 8niversity o( 0ambridge and ,ontinued at !S!6
=alvern in the Nhysi,s Division as Nrin,ipal S,ienti(i, C((i,er. Rrom 5OOLaBWWL he %orked as
a le,turer in the Nhysi,al and Theoreti,al 0hemistry Laboratory_ CU(ord_ and he %as
appointed as Nro(essor o( 0hemistry at CU(ord in 5SSY. In BWWK Naul =adden %as appointed
to !egius 0hair o( 0hemistry_ 8niversity o( 6dingburgh_ and as Dire,tor o( the 0entre (or
S,ien,e at 6Utreme 0onditions V0S60X. In BWWY he %as ele,ted as Rello% o( the !oyal
So,iety o( 6dinburgh. Cther honours in,lude a large number o( visiting pro(essorships_ i.e.
Louis Nzel Nro(essor at 6,ole Normale Supzrieure de Lyon_ 8niversit• di =ilano_ Debye
Le,turer 8tre,ht_ 8niversity o( Sydney_ Kivelson Le,turer at 80LA_ 0N!S_ =iller visiting
Nro(essor at the 8niversity o( 0ali(ornia_ 6li `urshtein Le,turer at 8niversity o( Nhiladelphia_
and a visiting (ello% o( the Japanese So,iety (or the Nromotion o( S,ien,e. In BWWB he got the
=ulliken =edal at the 8niversity o( 0hi,ago_ and the Thermodynami,s and Statisti,al
=e,hani,s =edal o( the !S0. Naul =adden is a member o( the 6Ue,utive 0ommittee
=ole,ular Nhysi,s 6ditorial `oard o( 0hemi,al Nhysi,s and 6NS!0 0ollege member.
!
155
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
O9r8arM' .=89I;9=W9r V5SYHX is (ull pro(essor in Nlant and Nro,ess Design at the
Department o( `io,hemi,al and 0hemi,al 6ngineering_ Te,hnis,he 8niversitot Dortmund_
Dortmund_ Iermany_ sin,e BWWK. He re,eived his diploma V5SOOX as %ell as his Nh.D. V5SSBX
in 0hemi,al 6ngineering (rom Te,hnis,he 8niversitot Dortmund. During his habilitation he
%orked on ,omputer aided pro,ess synthesis and developed the so(t%are N!CS?N %hi,h is
used in ,hemi,al industry (or the ,on,eptual design o( ,hemi,al pro,esses. In 5SSS he
re,eived the venia legendi in Nlant and Nro,ess Design.
I. S,hembe,ker is ,oa(ounder o( the ,onsultan,y (irm Nro,ess Design 0entre VND0X having
o((i,es in Dortmund VDX_ `reda VNLX and San Diego V8SAX. As Nresident and 06C o( ND0 he
has %orked in more than 5WW industrial pro,ess synthesis proje,ts. I. S,hembe,ker holds
several pro,ess innovation a%ards V!udolpha0haudoireaA%ard_ Haltermann Innovation
A%ard_ Shell c=ementod A%ard (or Ienerating Nro,ess Improvement IdeasX. He is member
o( s,ienti(i, advisory boards V;DIaI;0j 08T60X and board member o( various organisations
VNro,essNet ,ommittees Process Simulation, Synthesis and Knowledge Management and
Process and Plant Technology_ {6DC 0entre (or Te,hni,al 0onsulting SystemsX.
He has published HW papers and H patents. His resear,h interests (o,us on the ,on,eptual
design and simulation o( VbioX,hemi,al pro,esses supported by eUperiments %ith spe,ial
interest in ,hromatographi, and ,rystallisation pro,esses.
!
156
!evie% o( basi, resear,h in 0hemistry in Nor%ay
!
a'
!
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!
Letter to the departments announ,ing the evaluation
!
Letter to the departments (or preparing (or the hearing meetings
!
Time S,hedule (or the hearing meetings
!
Site visits ] The 0ommittee =embers parti,ipation
157
Kjemisk institutt, Universitetet i Oslo
Institutt for kjemi, Universitetet i Tromsø
Kjemisk institutt, Universitetet i Bergen
Institutt for kjemi, NTNU
Institutt for kjemisk prosessteknologi, NTNU
Institutt for materialteknologi, NTNU
Institutt for plante- og miljøvitenskap, UMB
Institutt for kjemi, bioteknologi og
matvitenskap, UMB
Institutt for matematikk og naturvitenskap, UiS
Vår saksbehandler/tlf.
Trude Dypvik, 22 03 73 10
Vår ref.
2007/07186
Deres ref.
Oslo,
18.2.2008
Evaluering av forskningen innen kjemifagene i UoH-sektor
Vi viser til brev av 17. desember 2007 om Forskningsrådets forestående evaluering av
forskningen innen kjemifagene ved universiteter og høgskoler og fellesmøtet med
instituttlederne i Forskningsrådets lokaler den 23. januar.
Divisjonsstyret for Vitenskap har nå godkjent mandat og plan for evalueringen.
Plan for evalueringen
Tidsplan for evalueringen følger vedlagt.
Evalueringen vil bli gjennomført ved hjelp av en internasjonal ekspertkomité. Et viktig
grunnlag for komitéens arbeid vil være innsendte egenvurderinger fra
instituttene/forskningsgruppene (se under). Videre legges det opp til at evalueringskomitéen
møter fagmiljøene i perioden 15. mai -20. juni, 2008. Nærmere informasjon om dette vil bli
ettersendt når komitéen er på plass.
Når utkast til evalueringsrapport foreligger, vil instituttet/forskningsgruppen få tilsendt egen
omtale for faktakontroll før den endelige rapporten offentliggjøres. Evalueringen begrenses til
vurderinger og anbefalinger på institutt-/forskergruppenivå, og enkeltforskere vil ikke bli
omtalt ved angivelse av personnavn.
Faktaark. Frist for innsendelse 15.4.2008
Hvert institutt/forskningsgruppe skal fylle ut et faktaark. Hensikten med faktaarket er å lette
evalueringskomitéens arbeid med egenvurderingene, se vedlagte faktaark med veiledning.
Faktaarket kan lastes ned fra Forskningsrådets nettside http://www.forskningsradet.no
Som det går fram av faktaarket og veiledningen, spørres det primært etter informasjon om
stillinger/ansatte ved det aktuelle instituttet/forskningsgruppen. Personer som har sin stilling
ved annet institutt/forskningsgruppe og som i stor grad er delaktig i enhetens oppgaver/ansvar
knyttet til forskningen skal omfattes av evalueringen. Disse personene føres derfor også opp i
faktaarket med en merknad om stillingens tilhørighet.
158
Navneliste Frist for innsendelse 7.3.2008
I tillegg til faktaarket skal det settes opp en liste med navn og adresse (e-post og vanlig
adresse) for alt fast vitenskapelig personale og postdoktorstipendiater (alle de personer som
skal sende inn CV). Dette er for å kunne oppfylle Datatilsynets krav om å informere direkte
de personer som omfattes av evalueringen.
Frist for innsending av faktaark til Forskningsrådet er 15.4.2008. Frist for innsending av
navneliste til Forskningsrådet er 7.3.2008. Materialet sendes elektronisk til Bente Gjelsnes:
bg@forskningsradet.no
Egenvurdering. Frist for innsendelse 15.4.2008
Egenvurderinger fra instituttene/forskningsgruppene vil utgjøre viktig grunnleggende
informasjon for evalueringskomitéen. Det er viktig at egenvurderingen, inklusive CV-er og
publikasjonslister fra det vitenskapelige personalet, er utfyllende og kvalitetskontrollert, da
disse vil ha stor betydning for komitéens vurdering av forskningen og dens rammebetingelser
og for evalueringsrapportens samlede kvalitet.
Vi ber om at instituttene/forskningsgruppene utarbeider egenvurderinger i henhold til vedlagte
disposisjon med beskrivelse.
Egenvurderingen inkludert alle vedleggene bes innsendt på papir.
Frist for innsendelse av egenvurderingen er 15.4.2008.
Før egenvurderingen utformes anbefaler vi at vedlagte mandat leses igjennom. Videre minner
vi om at evalueringskomitéen vil foreta vurderinger på både forskergruppe-, institusjons- og
nasjonalt nivå.
Egenvurderingene vil bli gjennomgått av Forskningsrådet før materialet oversendes
evalueringskomitéen. Som tidligere nevnt, vil møter mellom komitéen og fagmiljøene etter
planen bli avholdt i løpet av våren 2008.
Nærmere informasjon
Forskningsrådet legger vekt på at hver enkelt forsker som omfattes av evalueringen, skal få
god informasjon. Vi ber derfor instituttledelsen sørge for at hver enkelt vitenskapelig ansatt
og post doc får nødvendig informasjon om evalueringen. Det vises også til Forskningsrådets
nettsider hvor informasjon om evalueringen vil bli lagt ut.
Vi står foran et utfordrende arbeid og håper at fagmiljøene vurderer den forestående
evalueringen som interessant og viktig, og at den vil være nyttig for faget og forskningen. Vi
fra vår side, vil gjøre det beste for at arbeidet skal kunne gjennomføres så greit som mulig.
Ta gjerne kontakt hvis dere har spørsmål:
159
Kontaktpersoner
Spørsmål i tilknytning til fagevalueringen kan rettes til:
!
!
Seniorrådgiver Trude Dypvik, Avdeling for naturvitenskap og teknologi, Divisjon for
Vitenskap, tlf. 22 03 73 10, e-post: tdy@forskningsradet.no
Spesialrådgiver Odd Ivar Eriksen, Avdeling for naturvitenskap og teknologi, Divisjon
for Vitenskap, tlf. 22 03 70 23, e-post: oie@forskningsradet.no
Med vennlig hilsen
Norges forskningsråd
Ole Henrik Ellestad
Avdelingsdirektør
Divisjon for Vitenskap
Avdeling for naturvitenskap og teknologi
Trude Dypvik
Seniorrådgiver
Divisjon for Vitenskap
Vedlegg:
- Faktaark med veiledning
- Disposisjon for egenvurderingen
- Mandat
- Tidsplan
Kopi av brev:
Rektor og universitetsdirektør, UiO, UiB, UiT, NTNU, UiS og UMB
Det matematisk-naturvitenskapelige fakultet, UiO/UiB/UiT
Fakultet for naturvitenskap og teknologi, NTNU
Teknisk-naturvitskapleg fakultet, UiS
160
Deadline April 15, 2008
e-mail:bg@forskningsradet.no
FACT SHEET
Department of …………
Organisation – Organisation chart
Personnel
Research
group/unit
Positions
Univ
Extern
Research
group/unit
Univ
Research
group/unit
Extern
Univ
Extern
Total
Univ
Extern
Professor
Associate professor
Professor II
Post-doctoral research fellow
Doctoral students
Technical/adm. position*
Total
”Univ” = persons financed by the university
”Extern” = persons financed by external research grants
* Technical/adm.position: Positions supporting research
Professors, associate professors and professors II
Name and title
Born
Research Name
group/unit
Born
Research
group/unit
Graduates
2005
2006
2007
Total
Dr. ing./Dr. scient graduated
Research group
Research group
Research group
M.Sc.graduated
Research group
Research group
Research group
Total
161
R&D expenditures by main source of funding (1000 NOK)
Type of expenditures
2005
2006
2007
University funding*, salaries
University funding, other costs
University funding, instruments and equipment
University funding, total
The Research Council, grants
Other national grants (public or private):
International grants( incl EU)
External funding, total
Total expenditures
External funding as % of total expenditures
*
University funding: This refers to the institutions input of own resources such as salaries for scientific
personnel (including social costs), other costs, and infrastructure.
……………………………………………………….
Date and contact person
162
Fact Sheet
Do not deviate from the template for the fact sheet!
Make sure that the personnel and organisation in the Fact Sheet corresponds to the selfevaluation.
!
Organisation – Organisation chart
Present a brief, concise description of where the department/research group fits into the
university structure. Make a simple organisation chart in Word or Power Point, for example.
Additional comments should not exceed five lines.
It is important that individual research groups should not be identified by the name of the
group leader but rather by the scientific activity of their fields of research.
!
Personnel
List the number of the different types of positions per department or research group, if the
size of the groups suggests that this would be useful. Persons who have their positions in
other departments but who take part in the department’s responsibilities regarding research
and the education of chemists, should be included. Please give a comment regarding the
number of such persons and to which departments their positions belong.
The abbreviation “Univ” refers to positions funded over a university’s basic budget, while
”Extern” refers to positions funded by external sources.
The term ”Technical/adm. positions” refers solely to positions that provide support services
for the research.
Make sure that the name and number of the research groups are in accordance with the
organisation chart.
!
Professors, associate professors and professors II
This table should include the name, title and year of birth of all the professors, associate
professors and professors II who participate in the research at the department, as well as the
research group to which they belong, if the size of the group suggests that such a division
would be useful.
!
Graduates
In the table ”Graduates”, list the number of doctoral students and M.Sc who completed their
degree over the past three years (2003 to 2005). List the numbers under the different research
groups to which they belong. Make sure that the name and number of the research groups are
in accordance with the table named Personnel.
! R & D expenditures by main source of funding (NOK 1000)
This table is intended to furnish an overview of the department’s basic grants (University
funding) and external funding over the past three years (2003 to 2005). Overhead expenses
financed by the University should be listed under University funding, other costs.
!
Date and contact person
The fact sheet should be dated, and name of person responsible for completing the sheet
should appear (“faglig ansvarlig kontaktperson”).
163
17.02.2008
SELF-EVALUATIONS
Introduction
The department’s self-evaluations provide essential information for the Evaluation
Committee. Accordingly, ensuring the high quality of this material, including CVs and lists of
publications by the scientific staff, will have a deep impact on the overall quality of the
evaluation.
The deadline for submitting the self-evaluations is April 15, 2008.
Please submit self-evaluations, including all attachments, on paper (one copy) and in a format
that can be copied directly and forwarded to the Evaluation Committee.
We recommend that you read the mandate before you fill in the self-evaluations.
All self-evaluations will be reviewed by the Research Council before the material is
forwarded to the Evaluation Committee. Meetings between the Evaluation Committee and the
research units are scheduled to take place in the period 15.05-20.06, 2008. Once the
Evaluation Committee has completed the draft report, the relevant sections will be sent to
each department to check the facts before the final report is published. The evaluation is
limited to assessments and recommendations at the department/research group level, and
individual researchers will not be mentioned by name.
Fact sheet
In addition, a fact sheet for the institute/unit should be submitted electronically by April 15,
2008 to Bente Gjelsnes at the following email address: bg@forskningsradet.no . The fact
sheet form can be downloaded from the Research Council’s website.
------------------------
Please use the following outline. You will find a more detailed description of the content
required under the various points.
164
Outline of the self-evaluation
A Department level
1. Organisation of the department
2. The recruitment of researchers
3. Leadership of the research
4. The strengths and weaknesses of the department
5. Previous evaluation of basic research in chemistry
6. Strategy and plans for the future
7. Infrastructure (including major pieces of equipment)
8. General conditions for research
9. Other information of relevance to the evaluation
B Research groups
1. Description of research activities
2. Research collaboration (national, international, industry/public sector)
3. Strategy and organisation
4. Recruitment and mobility of researchers
5. Other information of relevance to the evaluation
Attachments to be included in the self-evaluation
!
!
Brief CV and list of publications for all staff members in academic positions (professor I,
professor II, associate professor) and all post-doctoral fellows, see p. 5
Doctoral graduates, see p. 5
165
Details about the self-evaluation and the attachments
English is the working language for the evaluation. This means that the self-evaluation and
attachments must all be written in English. Make sure that the self-evaluation and the fact
sheet can be compared.
The self-evaluation should be 10 to 30 pages long, depending on the size of the
department. The attachments come in addition. Use font size 12, Times New Roman.
A Department level
1. Organisation of the department
Describe how the department is organised. Give a brief historical overview, with emphasis
on organisational changes of significance. Include any ongoing reorganisation and
planned changes, and the reasons they are being implemented.
2. The recruitment of researchers
Describe the recruitment of doctoral and post-doctoral fellows to the department over the
past five years (2003-2007).
If the recruitment situation is difficult, discuss the reasons. Have any special initiatives
been implemented? What strategy is the department pursuing in this context? Is there a
strategy to obtain an equal balance between men and women in research?
Do the doctoral students spend time at international research institutions and are
researchers recruited internationally?
Are doctoral students offered opportunities related to future oriented industrial research
challenges?
3. Leadership of the research
Describe briefly the steering structure, how the research is organised and led, and
allocation of resources and decision-making responsibilities at the department.
4. The strengths and weaknesses of the institute/unit
Give a brief evaluation of the professional, financial and organisational strengths and
weaknesses of the department. List them as bullet points.
5. Previous evaluation of basic research in chemistry
A previous evaluation of basic chemistry research in Universities and Colleges was
performed in 1996/1997 and was followed up by a national strategic plan.
Were the evaluation and the national strategic plan useful for the department and in which
way? How has the previous evaluation and the strategic plan been used by the department
in its own strategic plans?
6. Strategy and plans for the future
Present the department’s strategy and plans for the future (max. 2 pages).
What are the department’s visions and plans for research, and how are they expressed in
the strategy for the years ahead? How does this perspective compare with the
department’s strengths and weaknesses? List the high-priority areas, scientifically
speaking, envisaged for the future. Describe also the extent to which the future plans will
affect how research is organised at the department. Please identify any needs associated
with the equipment situation and major operating expenses.
166
7. Infrastructure (including major pieces of equipment)
Describe major infrastructure and in particular investments made in recent years,
including descriptions of items of equipment costing more than NOK 700,000 or major
operating expenses. Report any need for upgrades or new equipment, including potential
sources of funding, and discuss these needs in relation to section 7 ”Strategy and plans for
the future”.
8. General conditions for research
Discuss briefly the department’s resources (human, monetary, time), emphasising the
latitude the framework offers for basic research. Compare the evaluation with the
department’s ambitions. What is done to ensure that the rightful proportion of working
time is spent on research?
9. Other information of relevance to the evaluation
Include any other information you consider relevant to the evaluation, but which does not
fit in as a natural part of the other sections.
B Research groups
1. Description of research activities
Describe the various research activities and the research profile of the group.
Discuss briefly the extent and output of the research activities in relation to the resources
and the number of researchers in the group.
Does the group cover an adequate range of research activities in relation to its
responsibilities as a university institution?
2. Research collaboration (national, international, industry/public sector)
This section should describe the activities of the group with respect to formal national and
international research collaboration, collaboration across faculty divisions, and
collaboration with industry and public sector.
The term ”research collaboration” refers to collaboration with a view to publication,
project co-operation, staff researchers hosted by other departments and hosting guest
researchers.
The point is not to provide a list of partners, but rather to evaluate the impact of national
and international collaboration on the research performed.
3. Strategy and organization
Describe strategies for the research, and to what extent the strategies are implemented.
Describe briefly how the research is organised and led, and decision-making within the
research group.
4. Recruitment and mobility of researchers
Do the doctoral students spend time at international research institutions and are
researchers recruited internationally?
5. Other information of relevance to the evaluation
Include any other information you consider relevant to the evaluation, but which does not
fit in as a natural part of the other sections.
167
Attachments required for the self-evaluation
CV
For each tenured academic employee (professor I, professor II, associate professor) and for
each post-doc fellow. Max 4 pages excluding appendix!
Please use the following outline:
Name:
Born:
Nationality:
Present position:
Degrees:
Work experience:
Membership in academic and professional committees:
Present doctoral students supervised:
Selected academic and professional publications 2003-2007 ( max two pages)
! Peer-reviewed journals
! International conference proceedings
Fields of interests and present research activities (max one page)
Appendix:
The two most important publications 2003-2007 (enclosed copies)
In addition, please submit up to two pages of text that corroborate and complement the
publication list, i.e. a brief discussion/evaluation of the thematic contents, scientific
significance of the issues at hand and of the results brought to light.
Doctoral degrees
Please supply a list of doctoral degrees completed over the past five years (20032007). The list should include each person's name, title of doctoral thesis, and the
name of his/her supervisor.
168
Review of basic research in Chemistry in Norway
Mandate for the evaluation committee
I
INTRODUCTION
The Division of Science at the Research Council of Norway has decided to evaluate basic
research activities in Chemistry in Norwegian universities and colleges.
The objective of the evaluation
The objective of this evaluation is to review the overall state of basic research in Chemistry in
Norwegian universities and colleges.
Specifically, the evaluation process will:
! Offer a critical review of the strengths and weaknesses of chemistry research in
Norway, both nationally and at the level of individual research groups and academic
departments, and review the scientific quality of basic research in an international
context.
!
Identify research groups which have achieved a high international level in their
research, or which have the potential to reach such a level.
!
Identify areas of research that need to be strengthened in order to ensure that Norway
in the future will possess necessary competence in areas of importance for the nation.
And, as one aspect of this, enable the Research Council of Norway to assess the
impending situation regarding recruitment in important fields of Chemistry.
The long-term purpose of the review
The evaluation will provide the institutions concerned with the knowledge they require to
raise their own research standards. They will be provided with feedback regarding the
scientific performance of individual research groups, as well as suggestions for improvements
and priorities.
The evaluation will improve the knowledge base for strategic decision-making by the
Research Council, function as a platform for future work on developing Chemistry and
represent a basis for determining future priorities, including funding priorities, within and
between individual areas of research.
The evaluation will reinforce the role of the Research Council as advisor to the Norwegian
Government and relevant ministries.
169
Methods
An international Evaluation Committee will be appointed. The Evaluation Committee should
base its assessments on self-evaluations provided by the departments/research groups as well
as meetings with the various departments and research groups with oral presentations. The
Evaluation Committee will decide a program for site visits to the institutions. A part of the
self-evaluations will be information about the department’s organisation and resources,
development and future plans, as well as CVs and publication lists of the scientific staff. The
Committee is requested to write a report with a set of specific recommendations. A
preliminary report will be sent to the departments for comments. The Committee’s final report
will be submitted to the Research Council’s Board of the Division for Science.
II
MANDATE
Based on the self-assessments provided by the institutions and site visits the Evaluation
Committee is expected to present the evaluation in a written report with a set of specific
recommendations for the future development of the field, including means of improvement
when required. The Committee is requested to evaluate scientific activities with respect to
their quality, relevance and international and national collaboration. The Committee is further
requested to evaluate the way in which Chemistry research is organised and managed.
The institutions are very different with regard to scientific staff, resources and research
activities. The evaluation and the Committee’s recommendations must take these differences
into consideration.
The conclusions of the committee should lead to a set of recommendations concerning the
future development of research in Chemistry in Norway.
Specific aspects to be considered:
1. General aspects
!
Which fields of research in Chemistry have a strong scientific position in Norway and
!
which have a weak position? Is Norwegian research in Chemistry being carried out in
fields that are regarded as relevant by the international research community? Is
Norwegian research in Chemistry ahead of scientific developments internationally
within specific areas?
!
Is there a reasonable balance between the various fields of Norwegian research in
Chemistry, or is research absent or underrepresented in any particular field? On the
other hand; are some fields overrepresented, in view of the quality or scientific
relevance of the research that is being carried out?
!
Is there a reasonable degree of co-operation and division of research activities at
national level, or could these aspects be improved?
!
Do research groups maintain sufficient contact with industry and the public sector?
170
2. Academic departments
!
Are the academic departments adequately organised?
!
Is scientific leadership being exercised in an appropriate way?
!
Do individual departments carry out research as part of an overall research strategy?
!
How is the balance between men and women in academic positions?
3. Research groups
!
Do the research groups maintain a high scientific quality judged by the significance of
contribution to their field, prominence of the leader and team members, scientific
impact of their research?
!
Is the productivity, e.g. number of scientific and Ph. D. thesis awarded, reasonable in
terms of the resources available?
!
Do the research groups have contracts and joint projects with external partners?
!
Do they play an active role in dissemination of their own research and new
international developments in their field to industry and public sector?
!
Do they play an active role in creating and establishing new industrial activity?
!
Is the international network e.g. contact with leading international research groups,
number of international guest researchers, and number of joint publications with
international colleagues, satisfactory?
!
Do they take active part in international professional committees, work on
standardization and other professional activities?
!
Have research groups drawn up strategies with plans for their research, and are such
plans implemented?
!
Is the size and organization of the research groups reasonable?
!
Is there sufficient contact and co-operation among research groups nationally, in
particular, how do they cooperate with colleagues in the research institute sector?
!
Do the research groups take active part in interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research
activities?
171
!
How is the long term viability of the group evaluated in view of future plans and ideas,
staff age, facilities, research profile, new impulses through recruitment of researchers
?
!
What roles do Norwegian research groups play in international co-operation in
individual subfields of Chemistry? Are there any significant differences between
Norwegian research in Chemistry and research being done in other countries?
!
Do research groups take part in international programmes or use facilities abroad, or
could utilisation be improved by introducing special measures?
4. Research infrastructure incl. scientific equipment
!
How is the status and future needs with regard to laboratories and research infrastructure?
!
Is there sufficient co-operation related to the use of expensive equipment?
5. Training and mobility
!
Does the scientific staff play an active role in stimulating the interest for their field of
research among young people?
!
Is recruitment to doctoral training programs satisfactory, or should greater emphasis be
put on recruitment in the future?
!
Is there an adequate degree of national and international mobility?
!
Are there sufficient educational and training opportunities for Ph. D. students?
6. Future developments and needs
The Committee’s written report is expected to be based on the elements and questions above.
The assessments and recommendations should be at research group-, department-,
institutional and national level.
7. Miscellaneous
Are there any other important aspects of Norwegian research in Chemistry that ought to be
given consideration?
172
Evaluering av forskningen i kjemifagene – Tidsplan
Dato
Milepæler
17.12.07
Brev til institusjonene (innspill til komitémedlemmer, evt. kommentarer)
23.01.08
Møte mellom Forskningsrådet og institusjonene
06.02.08
Godkjenning av mandat og plan for evalueringen i Divisjonsstyret
15.02.08
Brev til institusjonene (egenevaluering, faktaark)
07.03.08
Innsendelse av lister med navn på vitenskapelig ansatt og post docs som
omfattes av evalueringen
medio mars 08
Sammensetningen av komitéen er avklart
15.04.08
Innsendelse av faktaark og egenevaluering fra institusjonene
15.05.-20.06.08
Møter/site visits
01.09.08
Utkast til evalueringsrapport foreligger, til institusjonene for faktakontroll
og kommentarer
10.09.08
Fagplanutvalg og opplegg for fagplan behandles i DSV
01.10.08
Tilbakemeldinger fra institusjonene
01.11.08
Endelig evalueringsrapport foreligger
12.11.08
Behandling av evalueringsrapporten i DSV
medio mars 09
Fagplanen for kjemi ferdigstilles og behandles i DSV
173
Separate letters sent by e-mail to the departments in June 2008
To the Head of Department
Evaluation of chemical research in Norway
Hearing meetings in Trondheim - Time schedule and guidelines for the
departments/research groups preparations
We refer to the announced week of hearing meetings in Trondheim.
Enclosed you will find the time schedule for the meetings with the Evaluation Committee.
Each department is responsible for checking out day and time for the meetings. As already
announced, the meetings will be held from Monday September 1 to Thursday September 4 at
Britannia Hotel in Trondheim.
The Departments` Preparation for the Meetings – SWOT-analysis
Each meeting will follow the same structure: introduction and presentation by the department
or research group and questions by the Committee.
The ratio between introduction and questions should be about 20 – 80. If the time set for the
meeting with the department is two hours, the introduction should take maximum 24 minutes
of the available time (including the presentations of the different research groups). To secure
enough time for questions, the Committee is entitled to interrupt speakers who do not keep the
time schedule.
In the self evaluations the department/research groups have already described weaknesses and
strengths. We suggest that the presentation concentrate on these and in addition on the
strengths and weaknesses you see for your activity in a longer perspective. Together this will
constitute a SWOT-analysis (Strengths and Weaknesses (to day), Opportunities and Threats
(in the future).
In the presentations, do not repeat what the Committee already know from the self
evaluations.
The presentation from the Head of department should not take too much of the available time,
approximately 15 minutes would do. Please make sure there will be enough time for the
presentations from the research groups and for questions from the Committee.
We recommend bringing presentations on a memory stick. Please bring also with you 10
handouts for the Committee during the presentation. The handouts should be copied in the
Power Points format “Støtteark”, with 3 slides per page. All presentations must be written and
held in English.
Information from the meetings should be regarded as additional information to the written
material that the Committee has already received, and which is regarded as the main material
for the evaluation.
174
Summary, guidelines:
! Avoid repeating the written self-evaluation
! Focus on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT- analyses)
! The ratio between presentation and questions from the panel should be 20 -80 %
Participation
Please forward a list of the department’s participations in the meeting (name and title)
together with a plan for the presentations to Trude Dypvik, tdy@forskningsradet.no
before August 15. Of practical reasons only a limited number of researchers can participate in
the meeting with the Committee. The Research Council might require you to reduce the
number of participants if the group is regarded to be too large.
The Research Council will cover travel cost for 6 participants from UiO.
The Committee chair asks you specifically to include a junior researcher among the
participants. If necessary it might be possible to cover the travel cost for an additional
participant to the meeting providing this is a junior researcher, this will have to be approved
by the Research Council before you do the travel arrangements.
Practical matters
All meetings will take place at Britannia Hotel in Trondheim. The Air Shuttle Bus stops close
to the hotel. All travel expenses in connection with the meeting will be reimbursed for the
number of participants stated above. We do not expect that overnights in Trondheim will be
necessary.
If you have any questions, please contact:
! Senior adviser Trude Dypvik, phone + 47 22 03 73 10 , e-mail
tdy@forskningsradet.no
! Project coordinator Malena Bakkevold, phone + 47 64 97 28 72/95 75 05 33,
e-mail: post@malena.no
For practical matters, please contact:
! Consultant Bente Gjelsnes, + 47 2203 , e-mail bg@forskningsradet.no
The Committee and The Research Council look forward to an important and hectic week and
thank you in advance for your contributions.
Yours sincerely
The Research Council of Norway
Odd Ivar Eriksen
Acting Director
Division of Science
Trude Dypvik
Senior Adviser
Division of Science
175
2008
Sept 1
Monday
Date
Break
Department of Chemistry cont.
Lunch
Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Chemistry
The Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (NTNU)
Institution and Department
Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU)
1545-1645 Environmental Chemistry Department
1645 -1700 Break
1700 –1730 Committee’s 30 minutes
1930 Dinner
1400-1415 Break
1415-1530 Department of Chemical Engineering cont.
1530-1545 Break
1000-1015
1015 -1130
1130 -1230
1230 -1400
0830–1000
Time
Evaluation of Norwegian research in Chemistry
Time schedule for the Hearing Meetings and Site Visits in Trondheim
Aug 20
2008
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Catalysis Group
Colloid and polymer Group
Proces Systems Engineering Group
Reactor technology group
Separation Group
Pulp and paper Group
Environmental and Analytical Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Chemistry Dissemination Group
Participants and Research groups
176
2008
Sept 2
Tuesday
Date
1100 -1115 Break
1115– 1215 Department of Chemistry cont.
1215- 1315 Lunch
1315-1515
Department of Chemistry cont.
1515-1530
Break
1530 -1730
Department of Chemistry cont.
1730 -1800 Committee’s 30 minutes
1930 - Dinner
University of Oslo
0900- 1100 Department of Chemistry
Time
Institution/department
0830 -0900 Committee’s 30 minutes
Evaluation of Norwegian research in Chemistry
Time schedule for the Hearing Meetings and Site Visits in Trondheim
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Synthesis and Molecular Structure
Analysis and Environment
Nuclear Chemistry
Functional Inorganic Materials
Catalysis
Polymers-organic Materials
Quantum Mechanics, Structure and Dynamics
School laboratory
Participants and Research groups
177
2008
Sept 3
Wed
Date
Institution/department
Meeting with PhD-students
1920 - 1930 Departure
1930 Visit at Ringve National museum of music and musical
instruments and dinner with RCN
1645-1800
1630-1645 Break
Lunch
1400 - 1500 Department of Chemistry cont.
1500 -1630 University of Tromsø
1300 -1400
0815-0845 Departure for site visit at NTNU
0845-1030 Site visit: Department of Chemistry and Department of
Chemical Engineering
1030-1100 Departure for interviews at the hotel
University of Bergen
1100– 1300 Department of Chemistry
Time
Evaluation of Norwegian research in Chemistry
Time schedule for the Hearing Meetings and Site Visits in Trondheim
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Structural Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Inorganic and Materials Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Organic, Biophysical and Medicinal Chemistry
Physical-, Petroleum- and Process Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry, Nanostructures and
Modelling
Research groups
178
2008
Sept 4
Thur
Date
Departure for site visit at NTNU
1330 –1430 Site visit: Department of Material Sciences and Engineering
1430-1500 Departure for interviews at the hotel
1500-1600
University of Life Sciences
1600-1700 Final meeting of Committee
Departure for the Airport for site visits (Tromsø, NILU, UMB)
Department of Mathematics and Natural Science
1145-1300 Lunch
1300- 1330
1045 –1145
University of Stavanger
1030-1045 Break
0900- 1030 Department of Materials Science and Engineering
NTNU cont.
Time
Institution/department
0830 –0900 Committee’s 30 minutes
Evaluation of Norwegian research in Chemistry
Time schedule for the Hearing Meetings and Site Visits in Trondheim
!
!
!
!
!
!
Environmental Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Biological Chemistry
Chemistry and Environment
Inorganic Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Participants and Research groups
179
Site visits – The Committee Members participation
September
September 3 and 4:
" Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim
" Department of Chemistry: David Fowler
Thisbe Lindhorst
Paul Madden
" Department of Chemical Engineering:
Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
Robert Cava
Paul Madden
Daniel Duprez
Gerhard Schembecker
" Department of Material Science and Engineering:
September 5:
" University of Tromsø:
Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
Robert Cava
Daniel Duprez
Gerhard Schembecker
Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
Thisbe Lindhorst
Paul Madden
" Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås:
David Fowler
" Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU, Kjeller: David Fowler
October
October 6:
" University of Bergen:
Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
Paul Madden
Thisbe Lindhorst
October 7:
" University of Oslo: Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
Paul Madden
Thisbe Lindhorst
Daniel Duprez
" Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås:
October 8:
" University of Stavanger:
Thisbe Lindhorst
Evamarie Hey-Hawkins
Daniel Duprez
180
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183
Evaluation of Chemistry in Norway
Bibliometric analysis
Dag W. Aksnes
NIFU STEP
Oslo
SEPTEMBER 2008
1
Preface
This report presents a bibliometric analysis of chemistry research in Norway and is a
background report of the evaluation of the discipline. The report is written on the commission
of the Research Council of Norway by senior researcher Dag W. Aksnes at the Norwegian
Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU STEP).
2
Table of contents
Preface........................................................................................................................................ 2
Table of contents ........................................................................................................................ 3
1 Introduction: Bibliometric indicators ..................................................................................... 5
1.1 The ISI-database........................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Citation indicators ........................................................................................................ 6
1.3 What is measured through citations? ........................................................................... 6
1.4 Some basic citation patterns......................................................................................... 8
1.5 Limitations ................................................................................................................... 8
1.6 Bibliometric indicators versus peer reviews .............................................................. 10
1.7 Co-authorship as an indicator of collaboration .......................................................... 11
2 Data and methods .................................................................................................................. 14
2.1 Data ............................................................................................................................ 14
2.2 Methods...................................................................................................................... 16
3 Norwegian chemistry in international comparison ............................................................... 21
3.1 Scientific publishing................................................................................................... 21
3.2 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 31
3.3 Collaboration indicators ............................................................................................. 33
4 University of Oslo ................................................................................................................. 36
4.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 36
4.2 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 38
4.3 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 40
5 Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)................................................ 41
Department of Material Science and Engineering ........................................................... 41
5.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 41
5.2 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 43
5.3 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 44
Department of Chemistry ................................................................................................. 46
5.4 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 46
5.5 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 48
5.6 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 49
Department of Chemical Engineering.............................................................................. 50
5.7 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 50
5.8 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 52
5.9 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 53
6 University of Bergen (UiB)................................................................................................... 55
6.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 55
6.2 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 57
6.3 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 58
7 University of Tromsø (UiT) .................................................................................................. 59
7.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 59
7.2 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 61
7.3 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 62
8 University of Stavanger (UiS)............................................................................................... 63
8.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 63
8.2 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 65
8.3 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 66
9 Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) ................................................................... 67
9.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................... 67
3
9.2 Journal profile ............................................................................................................ 69
9.3 Citation indicators ...................................................................................................... 70
10 Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) .................................................................... 71
10.1 Productivity indicators ............................................................................................. 71
10.2 Journal profile .......................................................................................................... 73
10.3 Citation indicators .................................................................................................... 74
Appendix – “Level 2” journals................................................................................................. 75
References ................................................................................................................................ 76
4
1 Introduction: Bibliometric indicators
Publication and citation data have increasingly been applied as performance indicators in the
context of science policy and research evaluation. The basis for the use of bibliometric
indicators is that new knowledge – the principal objective of basic and applied research – is
disseminated to the research community through publications. Publications can thereby be
used as indirect measures of knowledge production. Data on how much the publications have
been referred to or cited in the subsequent scientific literature can in turn be regarded as an
indirect measure of the scientific impact of the research.
This report presents the results of a bibliometric study of the institutions included in
the evaluation of chemistry research in Norway. Both the institution/department level and the
research group level are analysed. In addition the report contains a macro analysis of
Norwegian chemistry research in international comparison.
The analysis is based on two data sources: Publication lists submitted by the
researchers encompassed by the evaluation (i.e. self-reported publication data) and data
provided by Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), the producer of the most important
database for bibliometric purposes (now Thomson Scientific). In this first chapter we will
provide a general introduction to bibliometric indicators, particularly focusing on analyses
based on the ISI-database.1
1.1 The ISI-database
The ISI database covers a large number of specialised and multidisciplinary journals within
the natural sciences, medicine, technology, the social sciences and the humanities. The
coverage varies between the different database products. According to the website of the
Thomson Scientific company, the most well-known product the Science Citation Index today
covers 3,700 journals, and the expanded version of this publication database (Science Citation
Index Expanded) 5,800 journals. The online product Web of Science covering the three
citation indexes Science Citation Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Arts &
Humanities Citation Index includes 8,500 journals. Compared to the large volume of
scientific and scholarly journals that exist today, this represents a limited part. The selection
of journals is based on a careful examination procedure in which a journal must meet
particular requirements in order to be included (Testa, 1997). Even if its coverage is not
complete, the ISI database will include all major journals within the natural sciences,
1
This introduction is based on Aksnes (2005).
5
medicine and technology and is generally regarded as constituting a satisfactory
representation of international mainstream scientific research (Katz & Hicks, 1998). With
respect to the social sciences and humanities the coverage is more limited, and this issue will
be further discussed below.
From a bibliometric perspective, a main advantage of the ISI database is that it fully
indexes the journals that are included. Moreover, all author names, author addresses and
references are indexed. Through its construction it is also well adapted for bibliometric
analysis. For example, country names and journal names are standardised, controlled terms. It
is also an advantage that it is multidisciplinary in contrast to most other similar databases
which cover just one or a few scientific disciplines.
1.2 Citation indicators
Citations represent an important component of scientific communication. Already prior to the
19th century it was a convention that scientists referred to earlier literature relating to the
theme of the study (Egghe & Rousseau, 1990). The references are intended to identify earlier
contributions (concepts, methods, theory, empirical findings, etc.) upon which the present
contribution was built, and against which it positions itself. Thus, it is a basic feature of the
scientific article that it contains a number of such references and that these references are
attached to specific points in the text.
This ISI-database was originally developed for information retrieval purposes, to aid
researchers in locating papers of interest in the vast research literature archives (WelljamsDorof, 1997). As a subsidiary property it enabled scientific literature to be analysed
quantitatively. Since the 1960s the Science Citation Index and similar bibliographic databases
have been applied in a large number of studies and in a variety of fields. The possibility for
citation analyses has been an important reason for this popularity. As part of the indexing
process, ISI systematically registers all the references of the indexed publications. These
references are organised according to the publications they point to. On this basis each
publication can be attributed a citation count showing how many times each paper has been
cited by later publications indexed in the database. Citation counts can then be calculated for
aggregated publications representing, for example, research units, departments, or scientific
fields.
1.3 What is measured through citations?
Because citations may be regarded as the mirror images of the references, the use of citations
as indicators of research performance needs to be justified or grounded in the referencing
behaviour of the scientists (Wouters, 1999). If scientists cite the work they find useful,
6
frequently cited papers are assumed to have been more useful than publications which are
hardly cited at all, and possibly be more useful and thus important in their own right. Thus,
the number of citations may be regarded as a measure of the article’s usefulness, impact, or
influence. The same reasoning can be used for aggregated levels of articles. The more
citations they draw, the greater their influence must be. Robert K. Merton has provided the
original theoretical basis for this link between citations and the use and quality of scientific
contribution. In Merton’s traditional account of science, the norms of science oblige
researchers to cite the work upon which they draw, and in this way acknowledge or credit
contributions by others (Merton, 1979). Such norms are upheld through informal interaction
in scientific communities and through peer review of manuscripts submitted to scientific
journals.
Empirical studies have shown that the Mertonian account of the normative structure of
science covers only part of the dynamics. For the citation process, this implies that other
incentives occur, like the importance of creating visibility for one’s work, and being selective
in referencing to create a distance between oneself and others. Merton himself already pointed
out the ambivalence of the norms, for example that one should not hide one’s results from
colleagues in one’s community, but also not rush into print before one’s findings are robust.
Merton also identified system level phenomena like the “Matthew effect”: to whom who has
shall be given more. Clearly, a work may be cited for a large number of reasons including
tactical ones such as citing a journal editor’s work as an attempt to enhance the chances of
acceptance for publication. Whether this affects the use of citations as performance indicators
is a matter of debate (Aksnes, 2003b).
The concept of quality has often been used in the interpretation of citation indicators.
Today, however, other concepts – particularly that of “impact” – are usually applied. One
reason is that quality is often considered as a diffuse or at least multidimensional concept. For
example, the following description is given by Martin and Irvine (1983): “’Quality’ is a
property of the publication and the research described in it. It describes how well the research
has been done, whether it is free from obvious ‘error’ […] how original the conclusions are,
and so on.” Here, one sees reference to the craft of doing scientific research, and to the
contribution that is made to the advance of science.
The impact of a publication, on the other hand, is defined as the “actual influence on
surrounding research activities at a given time.” According to Martin and Irvine it is the
impact of a publication that is most closely linked to the notion of scientific progress – a paper
creating a great impact represents a major contribution to knowledge at the time it is
published. If these definitions are used as the basis it is also apparent that impact would be a
more suitable interpretation of citations than quality. For example, a ‘mistaken’ paper can
nonetheless have a significant impact by stimulating further research. Moreover, a paper by a
7
recognised scientist may be more visible and therefore have more impact, earning more
citations, even if its quality is no greater than those by lesser known authors (Martin, 1996).
1.4 Some basic citation patterns
De Solla Price showed quite early that recent papers are more cited than older ones (Price,
1965). Nevertheless, there are large individual as well as disciplinary differences. The citation
counts of an article may vary from year to year. Citation distributions are extremely skewed.
This skewness was also early identified by Solla Price (Price, 1965). The large majority of the
scientific papers are never or seldom cited in the subsequent scientific literature. On the other
hand some papers have an extremely large number of citations (Aksnes, 2003a; Aksnes &
Sivertsen, 2004).
Citation rates vary considerably between different subject areas. For example, on
average papers in molecular biology contain many more references than mathematics papers
(Garfield, 1979b). Accordingly, one observes a much higher citation level in molecular
biology than in mathematics. Generally, the average citation rate of a scientific field is
determined by different factors, most importantly the average number of references per paper.
In addition, the percentage of these references that appears in ISI-indexed journals, the
average age of the references, and the ratio between new publications in the field and the total
number of publications, are relevant.
1.5 Limitations
In addition to the fundamental problems related to the multifaceted referencing behaviour of
scientists, there are also more specific problems and limitations of citation indicators. Some of
these are due to the way the ISI database is constructed. First of all, it is important to
emphasise that only references in ISI-indexed literature count as “citations”. For example,
when articles are cited in non-indexed literature (e.g. a trade journal) these are not counted.
This has important consequences. Research of mainly national or local interest, for example,
will usually not be cited in international journals. Moreover, societal relevance, such as
contributions of importance for technological or industrial development, may not be reflected
by such counts. Because it is references in (mainly) international journals which are indexed,
it might be more appropriate to restrict the notion of impact in respect to citation indicators to
impact on international or “mainstream” knowledge development.
There is also a corresponding field dimension. For example, LePair (1995) has
emphasised that “In technology or practicable research bibliometrics is an insufficient means
of evaluation. It may help a little, but just as often it may lead to erroneous conclusions.” For
similar reasons the limitations of citation indicators in the social sciences and humanities are
8
generally more severe due to a less centralised or a different pattern of communication. For
example, the role of international journals is less important, and publishing in books is more
common: older literature has a more dominant role and many of the research fields have a
“local” orientation. In conclusion, citation analyses are considered to be most fair as an
evaluation tool in the scientific fields where publishing in the international journal literature is
the main mode of communication.
Then there are problems caused by more technical factors such as discrepancies
between target articles and cited references (misspellings of author names, journal names,
errors in the reference lists, etc.), and mistakes in the indexing process carried out by
Thomson Scientific (see Moed, 2002; Moed & Vriens, 1989). Such errors affect the accuracy
of the citation counts to individual articles but are nevertheless usually not taken into account
in bibliometric analyses (although their effect to some extent might “average out” at
aggregated levels).
While some of the problems are of a fundamental nature, inherent in any use of
citations as indicators, other may be handled by the construction of more advanced indicators.
In particular, because of the large differences in the citation patterns between different
scientific disciplines and subfields, it has long been argued by bibliometricians that relative
indicators and not absolute citation counts should be used in cross-field comparisons
(Schubert & Braun, 1986; Schubert & Braun, 1996; Schubert, Glänzel, & Braun, 1988;
Vinkler, 1986). For example, it was early emphasised by Garfield that: “Instead of directly
comparing the citation counts of, say, a mathematician against that of a biochemist, both
should be ranked with their peers, and the comparison should be made between rankings”
(Garfield, 1979a). Moed et al. (1985) similarly stressed that: “if one performs an impact
evaluation of publications from various fields by comparing the citation counts to these
publications, differences between the citation counts can not be merely interpreted in terms of
(differences between) impact, since the citation counts are partly determined by certain fielddependent citation characteristics that can vary from one field to another”.
A fundamental limitation of citation indicators in the context of research assessments
is that a certain time period is necessary for such indicators to be reliable, particularly when
considering smaller number of publications. Frequently, in the sciences a three-year period is
considered as appropriate (see e.g. Moed et al., 1985). But for the purpose of long-term
assessments more years are required. At the same time, an excessively long period makes the
results less usable for evaluation purposes. This is because one then only has citation data for
articles published many years previously. Citation indicators are not very useful when it
comes to publications published very recently, a principal limitation of such indicators being
that they cannot provide an indication of present or future performance except indirectly: past
performance correlates with future performance (Luukkonen, 1997). It should be added,
9
however, that this time limitation does not apply to the bibliometric indicators based on
publication counts.
1.6 Bibliometric indicators versus peer reviews
Over the years a large number of studies have been carried out to ascertain the extent to which
the number of citations can be regarded as a measure of scientific quality or impact. Many
studies have also found that citation indicators correspond fairly well, especially in the
aggregate, with various measures of research performance or scientific recognition which are
taken as reflecting quality. On the other hand, there have been several studies challenging or
criticising such use of citations.
One approach to the question is represented by studies analysing how citations
correlate with peer reviews. In these studies judgements by peers have been typically regarded
as a kind of standard by which citation indicators can be validated. The idea is that one should
find a correlation if citations legitimately can be used as indicators of scientific performance
(which assumes that peer assessment can indeed identify quality and performance without
bias – a dubious assumption). Generally, most of the studies seem to have found an overall
positive correspondence although the correlations identified have been far from perfect and
have varied among the studies (see e.g. Aksnes & Taxt, 2004, Aksnes, 2006).
Today most bibliometricians emphasise that a bibliometric analysis can never function
as a substitute for a peer review. Thus, a bibliometric analysis should not replace an
evaluation carried out by peers. First a peer-evaluation will usually consider a much broader
set of factors than those reflected through bibliometric indicators. Second, this is due to the
many problems and biases attached to such analyses. As a general principle, it has been
argued that the greater the variety of measures and qualitative processes used to evaluate
research, the greater is the likelihood that a composite measure offers a reliable understanding
of the knowledge produced (Martin, 1996).
At the same time, it is generally recognised that peer reviews also have various
limitations and shortcomings (Chubin & Hackett, 1990). For example, van Raan (2000)
argues that subjectivity is a major problem of peer reviews: The opinions of experts may be
influenced by subjective elements, narrow mindedness and limited cognitive horizons. An
argument for the use of citation indicators and other bibliometric indicators is that they can
counteract shortcomings and mistakes in the peers’ judgements. That is, they may contribute
to fairness of research evaluations by representing “objective” and impartial information to
judgements by peers, which would otherwise depend more on the personal views and
experiences of the scientists appointed as referees (Sivertsen, 1997). Moreover, peer
assessments alone do not provide sufficient information on important aspects of research
productivity and the impact of the research activities (van Raan, 1993).
10
Citations and other bibliometric indicators have been applied in various ways in
research evaluation. For example, such indicators are used to provide information on the
performance of research groups, departments, institutions or fields. According to van Raan
(2000), “the application of citation analysis to the work – the oeuvre – of a group as a whole
over a longer period of time, does yield in many situations a strong indicator of scientific
performance, and, in particular, of scientific quality”. As a qualifying premise it is
emphasised, however, that the citation analysis should adopt an advanced, technically highly
developed bibliometric method. In this view, a high citation index means that the assessed
unit can be considered as a scientifically strong organisation with a high probability of
producing very good to excellent research.
In this way a bibliometric study is usually considered as complementary to a peer
evaluation. Van Raan has accordingly suggested that in cases where there is significant
deviation between the peers’ qualitative assessments and the bibliometric performance
measures, the panel should investigate the reasons for these discrepancies. They might then
find that their own judgements have been mistaken or that the bibliometric indicators did not
reflect the unit’s performance (van Raan, 1996).2
In conclusion, the use of citations as performance measures have their limitations, as
all bibliometric indicators have. But a citation analysis when well designed and well
interpreted will still provide valuable information in the context of research evaluation.
Performance, quality and excellence can also be assessed through peer review, but in spite of
their widespread use, these have problems as well. A combination of methods, or better,
mutual interplay on the basis of findings of each of the methods, is more likely to provide
reliable evaluation results.
1.7 Co-authorship as an indicator of collaboration3
The fact that researchers co-author a scientific paper reflects collaboration, and co-authorship
may be used as an indicator of such collaboration. Computerised bibliographic databases
make it possible to conduct large-scale analyses of scientific co-authorship. Of particular
importance for the study of scientific collaboration is the fact that the ISI (Thomson
Scientific) indexes all authors and addresses that appear in papers, including country as a
controlled term.
2
Van Raan (1996) suggests that in cases were conflicting results appear, the conclusion may depend on the type
of discrepancy. If the bibliometric indicators show a poor performance but the peer’s judgement is positive, then
the communication practices of the group involved may be such that bibliometric assessments do not work well.
By contrast, if the bibliometric indicators show a good performance and the peers’ judgement is negative, then it
is more likely that the peers are wrong.
3
This section is based on Wendt, Slipersæter, & Aksnes (2003).
11
By definition a publication is co-authored if it has more than one author,
internationally co-authored if it has authors from more than one country. Compared to other
methodologies, bibliometrics provides unique and systematic insight into the extent and
structure of scientific collaboration. A main advantage is that the size of the sample that can
be analysed with this technique can be very large and render results that are more reliable than
those from case studies. Also, the technique captures non-formalised types of collaboration
that can be difficult to identify with other methodologies.
Still, there are limitations. Research collaboration sometimes leads to other types of
output than publications. Moreover, co-authorship can only be used as a measure of
collaboration if the collaborators have put their names on a joint paper. Not all collaboration
ends up in co-authorship and the writing of co-authored papers does not necessarily imply
close collaboration (Katz & Martin, 1997; Luukkonen, Persson, & Sivertsen, 1992; Melin &
Persson, 1996). Thus, international co-authorship should only be used as a partial indicator of
international collaboration (Katz and Martin 1997). As described above there are also
particular limitations with the ISI database, represented by the fact that regional or domestic
journals, books, reports etc. are not included.
Smith (1958) was among the first to observe an increase in the incidence of multiauthored papers and to suggest that such papers could be used as a rough measure of
collaboration among groups of researchers (Katz and Martin 1997). In a pioneering work,
Derek de Solla Price also showed that multiple authorship had been increasing (Price, 1986).
These findings have later been confirmed by a large number of similar studies (e.g. (Merton &
Zuckerman, 1973; National Science Board, 2002). In the natural sciences and medicine the
single-author paper is, in fact, becoming an exception to the norm. In the case of Norway, 86
% of ISI-indexed papers were co-authored in 2000, compared to 66 % in 1981.
Scientific collaboration across national borders has also significantly increased over
the last decades. According to Melin and Persson (1996) the number of internationally coauthored papers has doubled in about fifteen years. In Norway every second paper published
by Norwegian researchers now has foreign co-authors compared to 16 % in 1981. Similar
patterns can be found in most countries. Bibliometric analysis thus provides evidence to the
effect that there is a strong move towards internationalisation in science and that the research
efforts of nations are becoming more and more entwined.
The move toward internationalisation is also reflected in the publishing practices of
scientists: English has increasingly become the lingua franca of scientific research, and
publishing in international journals is becoming more and more important, also in the areas of
social science and the humanities.
As might be expected, nations with big scientific communities have far more
collaborative articles than have smaller countries (Luukkonen, Tijssen, Persson, & Sivertsen,
12
1993), though one finds a trend to the effect that the proportion of internationally co-authored
papers increases along with decreasing national volume of publications (see e.g. Luukkonen,
Persson et al. 1992, National Science Board 2002), hence international collaboration is
relatively more important in smaller countries. This is probably a consequence of researchers
from small countries often having to look abroad for colleagues and partners within their own
speciality. Size is, however, not the only factor with bearing on the extent of international
collaboration; access to funding, geographical location, and cultural, linguistic and political
barriers are other important factors (Luukkonen, Persson et al. 1992, Melin and Persson
1996).
Bibliometric techniques allow analysis of structures of international collaboration. For
almost all other countries, the United States is the most important partner country; this reflects
this country’s pre-eminent role in science. In 1999, 43 % of all published papers with at least
one international co-author had one or more U.S. authors. For Western Europe the share of
U.S. co-authorship ranged from 23 % to 35 % of each country's internationally co-authored
papers (National Science Board 2002). Generally, one also finds that most countries have
much collaboration with their neighbouring countries (e.g. collaboration among the Nordic
countries). Over the last decade we find a marked increase in co-authorship among western
European countries; this probably mainly reflects the EU framework programmes.
13
2 Data and methods
This chapter gives an overview of the data and the methodology applied in the study.
2.1 Data
The study is based on two sources of data: Publication lists (provided by the researchers
themselves) and ISI-data.
As part of the evaluation procedure the researchers submitted their CVs/publications lists
to the Research Council of Norway. The tenured academic employees (professor I, professor
II, associate professor) and post doc fellows included in the evaluation were asked by the
Research Council (in letter dated 2 February 2008) to list their academic and professional
publications for the past five years (i.e. 2003 – 2007) in the following categories4:
!
Peer-reviewed journals
!
International conference proceedings
Since this study has been based on the submitted publication lists we cannot provide a
complete analysis of the publication output of researchers. Publications not covered by the
above categories are not included (for example material such as popular science articles,
reports, feature articles, book reviews are outside the scope of the categories given above). It
appeared difficult to analyse the publications listed as conference proceedings. Based on the
information given in the publication lists it was often impossible to determine whether a
conference contribution had been published or not, or whether it had been published as an
abstract or a full paper. Most of the listed publications were probably in the category of
published abstracts/extended abstracts. We therefore decided to omit these
publications/contributions from the analysis. Although an abstract may contain interesting
original information, the value of an abstract is highly transient, and will usually be
superseded by a more extensive report published in a journal (Seglen 2001).
This means that the analysis is limited to the journal articles. In chemistry, journals
represent the channel were the principal and large majority of the original research results are
published. In some of the analyses we have however also included other international
contributions listed by the researchers (books, articles in edited books).
4
In the original letter the Research Council requested a “selected” publication list of max two pages. However,
later in a follow-up e-mail the researchers were asked to submit their complete publication list in the above
mentioned categories. These publication lists have been used in the analysis.
14
It is common to apply a distinction between national and international journals. These
literatures form distinct, yet partially overlapping worlds, each serving a different purpose.
The international journals comprise internationally oriented, largely English language peer
reviewed articles. National journals on the other hand, communicate with a local scholarly
community. In chemistry, only a very small number of the publications represent items being
published in national journals – at least in Norway. These publications have therefore been
excluded. Thus the analysis only includes articles in international journals (and
“international” books, and book articles with scientific content).
As described above the analysis is based on the self-reported publication data. Some
publications were multiply reported. The reason is that when a publication is written by
several authors it will appear on the publication lists of all the authors, and will accordingly
occur more than one time. In order to handle this problem we removed all the multiply
reported items, i.e. only unique publications were left.
Separate analyses were provided for the tenured (i.e. professor and associate
professors) and the non-tenured personnel (i.e. post. docs and researchers). Persons who had
retired during the period analysed were not included. We decided to exclude professor IIs
(and associate professor IIs) from the publication analysis (persons with 20 % appointments),
since their research for the most part is financed and carried out elsewhere. Their research
papers co-authored with tenured staff would appear on the publication lists of the latter
anyway.5
From the Research Council of Norway we obtained information on the name of the
persons encompassed by the evaluation. We used each researcher’s submitted publication lists
as a reference standard for the inclusion and deletion of articles. Various search techniques
had to be applied in order to identify the correct articles, although most of them were
identified by simple searches based on author names. The bibliographic details of the articles
were collected, including the number of citations. We considered only publications classified
as regular articles and reviews. Editorials, meeting abstracts, letters, corrections are not
included.
We applied ISI-databases which NIFU STEP has purchased from Thomson Scientific.
One basic database is the National Citation Report (NCR) for Norway, containing
bibliographic information for all Norwegian articles (articles with at least one Norwegian
author address). Data for each paper include all author names, all addresses, article title,
journal title, document type (article, review, editorial, etc.), field category, year by year and
5
Since professor IIs are usually appointed on the basis of their scientific merit, they can be very productive, and
may account for a major fraction of a group’s scientific production if they were included.
15
total citation counts and expected citation rates (based on the journal title, publication year
and document type). The 2008 edition of NCR, with data covering 1981-2007 was used.
In addition, the National Science Indicators (NSI) database containing aggregated
bibliometric data at country and field/subfield level was used. This database was mainly
applied for the purpose of creating reference standards.
A small fraction of the articles were not published in ISI-indexed journals. These
articles are therefore not included in some of the analyses (analyses of citation rates and
collaboration).
2.2 Methods
In the study the individual researcher represents the basic unit, and the data were subsequently
aggregated to the level of departments/units. We have used the group/section structure
described in the factual information reports the departments have submitted to the Research
Council of Norway. Here the departments have listed the persons that are included in the
evaluation and their group/section affiliations. In other words, we have applied a personnel
based definition where a department or group is delimited according to the scientific staff
included in the evaluation.6 In should be noted that some of the “groups” represent more
informal structures where other “groups” correspond to formal subdivisions within the
departments. We have included all publications of the individuals examined, even if it
included work done before they became affiliated at the respective departments. The scientific
production of post doc. fellows and non-tenured scientific personnel (researchers) associated
with the departments are analysed separately. We have not calculated productivity indicators
for the latter group since these persons may not have been active (employed) as researchers
during the entire period analysed.
2.2.1 Publication output
Scientific productivity can in principle be measured relatively easy by the quantification of
published material. In practice it is more difficult, since a number of issues have to be faced.
In particular the choice and weighting of publication types and the attribution of author credit
are important questions to consider. Many publications are multi-authored, and are the results
of collaborative efforts involving more than one researcher or institution. There are different
principles and counting methods that are being applied in bibliometric studies. The most
common is “whole” counting, i.e. with no fractional attribution of credit (everyone gets full
credit). A second alternative is “adjusted counting” where the credit is divided equally
6
Research assistants are not included. We have included professors with emeritus positions if these have been
listed among the staff in the factual reports. We have not included persons who have retired.
16
between all the authors (Seglen, 2001). For example, if an article has five authors and two of
them represent the department being analysed, the department is credited 2/5 article (0.4).
One can argue that these counting methods are complementary: The whole or integer count
gives the number of papers in which the unit “participated”. A fractional count gives the
number of papers “creditable” to the unit, assuming that all authors made equal contributions
to a co-authored paper, and that all contributions add up to one (Moed, 2005). As described
above in this study possible double occurrences of articles have been excluded within each
unit. This means that papers co-authored by several researchers belonging to the same
department are counted only once (but when fractionalised publication counts have been
calculated, each persons is credited their publication share).
2.2.2 Citation indicators
It is the individual articles and their citation counts that represent the basis for the citation
indicators. As described above citation counts are only available (at least in a systematic way)
for the ISI-indexed articles. In the citation indicators we have used accumulated citation
counts and calculated an overall (total) indicator for the whole period. This means that for the
articles published in 2003, citations are counted over a 5-year period, while for the articles
published in 2006, citations are counted over a 2-year period (or more precisely a 1-2 year
period: the year of publication, and 2007). It is generally not advisable to use citation
windows of only one or two years. Nevertheless, we have also included the recently published
articles in the citation analysis. It is “expected” that the articles then are uncited or very poorly
cited. It is worth noting that in the citation indicators the oldest publications will have
relatively more weight than the recent publications. This is due to the fact that the 2003
publications, for example, will have assembled citations over a longer time period than
articles published in 2007. Nevertheless, our method has some advantages compared to the
alternatives. In particular, it reduces the problem of the poor reliability of citations as
indicators when very short time periods are considered. It is, however, important to notice that
the citation indicators presented here hardly reflect the citation rate of the more recent
publications. The method adopted here is commonly applied in similar bibliometric
performance analyses (see for example Moed & Velde, 1993; van Raan, 1996).
The problem of crediting citation counts to multi-authored publications is identical to
the one arising in respect to publication counts. In this study the research groups and
departments have received full credit of the citations – even when for example only one of
several authors represents the respective research groups or department. This is also the most
common principle applied in international bibliometric analyses. There are however
arguments for both methods. A researcher will for example consider a publication as “his/her
own” even when it has many authors. In respect to measuring contribution, on the other hand,
17
(and not participation) it may be more reasonable to fractionalise the citations, particularly
when dealing with publications with a very large number of authors.
As described above the average citation rate varies a lot between the different
scientific disciplines. As a response, various reference standards and normalisation procedures
have been developed. The most common is the average citation rates of the journal or field in
which the particular papers have been published. An indicator based on the journal as a
reference standard is the Relative citation index – journal (also called the Relative Citation
Rate). Here the citation count of each paper is matched to the mean citation rate per
publication of the particular journals (Schubert & Braun, 1986). This means that the journals
are considered as the fundamental unit of assessment. If two papers published in the same
journal receive a different number of citations, it is assumed that this reflects differences in
their inherent impact (Schubert & Braun, 1993). Below the indicators are further described.
For the Relative citation index – journal we used the mean citation rate of the
department’s journal package, calculated as the average citation rate of the journals in which
the group/department has published, taken into account both the type of paper and year of
publication (using the citation window from year of publication through 2007). For example,
for a review article published in a particular journal in 2005 we identified the average citation
rates (2005–2007) to all the review articles published by this journal in 2005. ISI refers to this
average as the Expected Citation Rate (XCR), and is included as bibliometric reference value
for all publications indexed in NCR. For each department we then calculated the mean
citation rate of its journal package, with the weights being determined by the number of
papers published in each journal/year. The indicator was then calculated as the ratio between
the average citation rate of the department’s articles and the average citation rate of its journal
package. For example, an index value of 110 would mean that the department’s articles are
cited 10 % more frequently than “expected” for articles published in the particular journal
package.
A similar method of calculation was adopted for the Relative citation index – field
(also termed the Relative Subfield Citedness (cf. Vinkler, 1986, 1997). Here, as a reference
value we used the mean citation rate of the subfields in which the department has published.
This reference value was calculated using the bibliometric data from the NSI-database. Using
this database it is possible to construct a rather fine-tuned set of subfield citation indicators.
The departments are usually active in more than one subfield (i.e. the journals they publish in
are assigned to different subfields). For each department we therefore calculated weighted
averages with the weights being determined by the total number of papers published in each
subfield/year. In ISI’s classification system some journals are assigned to more than one
subfield. In order to handle this problem we used the average citation rates of the respective
subfields as basis for the calculations for the multiple assigned journals. The indicator was
then calculated as the ratio between the average citation rate of the department’s articles and
18
the average subfield citation rate. In this way, the indicator shows whether the department’s
articles are cited below or above the world average of the subfield(s) in which the department
is active.
The following example can illustrate the principle for calculating relative citation
indexes: A scientist has published a regular journal article in Acta Chrystallographica E in
2004. This article has been cited 3 times. The articles published in Acta Chrystallographica E
were in contrast cited 1.74 times on average this year. The Relative citation index – journal is:
(3/1.74)*100 = 172. The world-average citation rate for the subfield which this journal is
assigned to is 3.7 for articles published this year. In other words, the article obtains a lower
score compared to the field average. The Relative citation index – field is: (3/3.7)*100 = 81.
The example is base on a single publication. The principle is, however, identical when
considering several publications. In these cases, the sum of the received citations is divided by
the sum of the “expected” number of citations.
It is important to notice the differences between the field and journal adjusted relative
citation index. A department may have a publication profile where the majority of the articles
are published in journals being poorly cited within their fields (i.e. have low impact factors).
This implies that the department obtains a much higher score on the journal adjusted index
than the field adjusted index. The most adequate measure of the research performance is often
considered to be the indicator in which citedness is compared to field average. This citation
index is sometimes considered as a bibliometric “crown indicator” (van Raan, 2000). In the
interpretation of the results this indicator should accordingly be given the most weight.
The following guide can be used when interpreting the Relative citation index – field:
Citation index: > 150: Very high citation level
Citation index: 120-150: High citation level, significant above the world average.
Citation index: 80-120: Average citation level. On a level with the international average of the
field (= 100).
Citation index: 50-80: Low citation level.
Citation index: < 50: Very low citation level.
It should be emphasised once more that the indicators cannot replace an assessment carried
out by peers. In the cases where a research group or department is poorly cited, one has to
consider the possibility that in this case the citation indicators do not give a representative
picture of the research performance (for example due to limited coverage of the publication
literature). Moreover, the unit may have good and weak years. Citations have highest validity
in respect to high index values. But similar precautions should be taken also here. For
19
example, in some cases one highly cited researcher or one highly cited publication may
strongly improve the citation record of a group or even a department.
2.2.3 Journal profiles
We also calculated the journal profile of the departments. As basis for one of the analyses we
used the so called “impact factor” of the journals. The journal impact factor is probably the
most widely used and well-known bibliometric product. It was originally introduced by
Eugene Garfield as a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has
been cited. In turn, the impact factor is often considered as an indicator of the significance and
prestige of a journal. In the standard product the impact factor is calculated as the mean
number of citations in a given year, to journal items published during the preceding two years.
This time period used as basis for the calculation of impact factor is however often considered
to be too short. In this analysis we have therefore instead used a three-year period.
20
3 Norwegian chemistry in international comparison
This chapter presents various bibliometric indicators on the performance of Norwegian
chemistry research. The analysis is mainly based on the database National Science Indicators
(cf. Method section), where Chemistry is a separate field category and where there also are
categories for particular subfields within Chemistry.
3.1 Scientific publishing
In 2007 Norwegian scientists published 516 articles in journals classified within the field
Chemistry. This is almost identical to the numbers for the two previous years 2006 and 2005
(509 and 537, respectively).
The universities account for the large majority of the scientific journal publishing
within Chemistry. This can be seen from Figure 3.1, where the article production during the
period 2005-07 has been distributed according to institutions/sectors. The basis for this
analysis is the information available in the address field of the articles.
Figure 3.1 The Norwegian profile of scientific publishing in Chemistry. Proportion* of the
article production 2005-2007 by institutions/sectors.
Other HE
institutions
7%
Industry
7%
Institute sector
15 %
Univ Tromsø
7%
Univ Bergen
10 %
Univ Oslo
26 %
Norw Univ Sci &
Techn
28 %
*) In the calculations each article has been fractionalised according to relative contributions (number of
addresses).
21
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is the largest contributor (28 %)
followed by the University of Oslo (26 %). The Institute sector (private and public research
institutes) accounts for 15 % of the production. It should be noted, however, that the incidence
of journal publishing in this sector is generally lower than for the universities due to the
particular research profile of these units (e.g. contract research published as reports). The
industry accounts for 7 % of the Norwegian scientific journal production in Chemistry. In a
similar way, only a very limited part of the research carried out by the industry is generally
published. This is due to the commercial interests related to the research results which mean
that the results cannot be published/made public.
In figure 3.2 we have shown the development in the annual production of articles in
Chemistry for Norway and three other Nordic countries for the period 1998-2007. While more
than 500 articles were published annually by Norwegian researchers in the years 2005-2007,
the production fluctuated between 350 and 400 in the period 2000-2004. Thus, in terms of
productivity there is a notable positive trend the recent years. However, part of this increase is
probably due to increased database coverage. This can be seen from the reference line “world
index”, which is the world production of articles in Chemistry divided by 100. (The world
production in Chemistry increased by 13 % from 2004 to 2005, the Norwegian production by
27 %.). In this figure we can also observe a marked decrease in the Norwegian production
from 1998/1999 to 2000. This is probably due to the fact that the journal Acta Chemica
Scandinavica, which published a significant number of Norwegian articles, ceased to exist as
an independent journal in January 2000.7
7
The journal was merged with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s inorganic and organic journals. Although the
Norwegian contributions in these journals increased subsequently, the increase was not strong enough to
compensate for the loss of Acta Chemica Scandinavica.
22
Number of articles
Figure 3.2 Scientific publishing in Chemistry 1998-2007 in four Nordic countries.
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Sweden
World-index*
Finland
Denmark
Norway
Norway -fractionalised
numbers**
*) The “world index” is a reference line, calculated as the world production of articles in Chemistry divided by
100.
**) For Norway we have also shown the publication counts using a fractionalised calculation method. Here, each
article is fractionalised according to the number of author addresses.
As described in Chapter 2 many publications are multi-authored, and are the results of
collaborative efforts involving researchers from more than one country. In the figure we have
used the “whole” counting method, i.e. a country is credited an article of it has at least one
author address from the respective country. For Norway we have also shown the publication
counts using a fractionalised calculation method. Here, the credit is divided equally between
all the addresses. For example, if an article has five addresses and two of them represent
Norwegian institutions, Norway is credited 2/5 article (0.4). As expected, the line representing
fractionalised article counts follows the trends of whole-count line, albeit at a lower level.
Among the four Nordic countries shown in the figure, Norway is the smallest
contributor. Sweden is by far the largest nation in terms of publication output while Denmark
and Finland make almost equal contributions. In 2007 the two latter countries produced 818
and 871 articles, respectively. Over the entire 10-year period Finland has the largest increase
in the scientific production in Chemistry, 46 %, and Denmark the lowest, 8 %. The increase
for Norway is 22 % (19 % using fractionalised publication counts).
In 2007 Chemistry accounted for 7.3 % of the Norwegian scientific and scholarly
journal publishing (ISI-indexed). This proportion has been fairly constant over the ten year
23
period. In other words, Chemistry has maintained its relative position among the disciplines in
Norway.
In a global context Norway is a very small country science-wise. In Chemistry, the
Norwegian publication output represented 0.33 % of the world production of scientific
publications (measured as the sum of all countries’ publication output). This proportion has
also been fairly stable during the ten-year period with small annual variations. In comparison
Norway has an overall publication share of 0.58 (national total, all fields). This means that
Norway contributes much less to the global scientific output in Chemistry than it does in other
fields. In order to reach the national average the number of articles in Chemistry would have
to be increased by 75 %.
There are no international data available that makes it possible to compare the output
in terms of publications to the input in terms of number of researchers. Instead, the
publication output is usually compared with the size of the population of the different
countries – although differences in population do not necessarily reflect differences in
research efforts. Measured as number of articles per million capita, Norwegian scientists
published 112 articles in Chemistry in 2007. In Figure 3.3 we have shown the corresponding
publication output for a selection of other countries (grey bars). Here Sweden has the highest
relative number of articles followed by Finland with publication counts of 191 and 166,
respectively. However, Switzerland has an even higher number, 284 (not shown in the figure
for visibility reasons). Norway ranks as number 12 among the 16 nations shown in this figure.
In other words, Norway has a relative publication output in Chemistry which is among the
lowest found in these Western countries.
24
Figure 3.3 Scientific publishing per capita in 2007 in selected countries,* Chemistry and all
disciplines.
200
180
Number of articles
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
ly
US
A
Ita
UK
No
rw
a
Po y
rtu
ga
l
Ire
la
nd
Sw
ed
en
Fi
nl
an
Be d
lg
iu
De m
nm
ar
k
Sp
ai
n
G
er
m
an
Ca y
na
da
Au
st
Ne
ria
th
er
la
nd
s
Fr
an
ce
0
Number of articles in 2007 per mill. capita - Chemistry
Number of articles in 2007 per 100 000 capita - All disciplines (national totals)
*) Switzerland has a publication output in Chemistry of 284 per mill capita but been omitted from the figure of
visibility reasons.
In Figure 3.3 we have also shown the production (per 100,000 capita) for all disciplines
(national totals) (black line). This can be used to assess whether Chemistry has a higher or
lower relative position in the science system of the countries than the average. For example,
for Norway Chemistry clearly ranks far below the national average, while the opposite is the
case for the Spain.
In order to provide further insight into the profile of Norwegian chemistry we have
analysed the distribution of the articles at subfield levels. This is based on the classification
system of Thomson Scientific where the journals have been assigned to different categories
according to their content (journal-based research field delineation). There is a separate
category for journals covering multidisciplinary (chemistry) topics.
25
Category descriptions
Analytical Chemistry: Covers resources on the techniques that yield any type of information about chemical
systems. Topics include chromatography, thermal analysis, chemometrics, separation techniques, pyrolysis,
and electroanalytical and radioanalytical chemistry. Some spectroscopy resources may be included in this
category when focusing on analytical techniques and applications in chemistry.
Applied Chemistry: Covers resources that report on the application of basic chemical sciences to other
sciences, engineering, and industry. Topics include chemical engineering (catalysis, fuel processing,
microencapsulation, and functional polymers); food science and technology (cereals, hydrocolloids, and food
additives); medicinal chemistry (pharmacology); dyes and pigments; coatings technology; and cosmetics.
Chemical Engineering: Covers resources that discuss the chemical conversion of raw materials into a variety
of products. This category includes resources that deal with the design and operation of efficient and costeffective plants and equipment for the production of the various end products.
Crystallography: Covers resources that report on the study of the formation, structure, and properties of
crystals. This category also includes resources on X-ray crystallography, the study of the internal structure of
crystals through the use of X-ray diffraction.
Electrochemistry: Covers resources that deal with the chemical changes produced by electricity and the
generation of electricity by chemical reactions. Applications include dry cells, lead plate, storage batteries,
electroplating, electrodeposition (electrolysis), purification of copper, production of aluminum, fuel cells, and
corrosion of metals.
Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry: Includes resources on both inorganic and nuclear chemistry. Chemistry,
Inorganic covers resources that are concerned with non-carbon elements and the preparation, properties, and
reactions of their compounds. It also includes resources on the study of certain simple carbon compounds,
including the oxides, carbon disulfide, the halides, hydrogen cyanide, and salts, such as the cyanides,
cyanates, carbonates, and hydrogencarbonates. Resources on coordination chemistry and organo-metallic
compounds (those containing a carbon-metal bond) are also covered in this category. Chemistry, Nuclear
includes resources on the study of the atomic nucleus, including fission and fusion reactions and their
products. This category also covers radiochemistry resources focusing on such topics as the preparation of
radioactive compounds, the separation of isotopes by chemical reactions, the use of radioactive labels in
studies of mechanisms, and experiments on the chemical reactions and compounds of transuranic elements.
Medicinal Chemistry: Includes resources emphasizing the isolation and study of substances with therapeutic
potential. Topics of interest are quantitative structure-function relationships, structural characterization and
organic syntheses of naturally occurring compounds, and chemical and analytical techniques used in rational
drug design.
Multidisciplinary (Chemistry): Includes resources having a general or interdisciplinary approach to the
chemical sciences. Special topic chemistry resources that have relevance to many areas of chemistry are also
included in this category. Resources having a primary focus on analytical, inorganic and nuclear, organic,
physical, or polymer chemistry are placed in their own categories.
Organic Chemistry: Includes resources that focus on synthetic and natural organic compounds their
synthesis, structure, properties, and reactivity. Research on hydrocarbons, a major area of organic chemistry,
is included in this category.
Physical Chemistry: Includes resources on photochemistry, solid state chemistry, kinetics, catalysis,
quantum chemistry, surface chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical thermodynamics, thermophysics, colloids,
fullerenes, and zeolites.
Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical: Includes resources concerned with the physics of atoms and
molecules. Topics covered in this category include the structure of atoms and molecules, atomic and
molecular interactions with radiation, magnetic resonances and relaxation, Mossbauer effect, and atomic and
molecular collision processes and interactions.
Polymer Science: Includes all resources dealing with the study, production, and technology of natural or
synthetic polymers. Resources on polymeric materials are also covered in this category.
Spectroscopy: Covers resources concerned with the production, measurement, and interpretation of
electromagnetic spectra arising from either emission or absorption of radiant energy by various sources. This
category includes resources that report on any of several techniques for analyzing the spectra of beams of
particles or for determining mass spectra.
Source: Thomson Reuters
26
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Ph
ys
i
ca
lC
An
he
m
a
Ch
ly
tic
em
Ph
C
ica
he
ys
lE
,A
m
ng
to
i
m
ne
ic ,
er
M
in
g
ol
&
Ch
O
em
rg
an
ic
M
C
he
ul
tid
m
isc
ip
lin
Ap
ar
In
y
pl
or
i
e
ga
d
ni
Ch
c
em
&
Nu
c
Po
C
lym
he
m
er
Sc
ie
Sp
nc
e
ec
tr o
sc
Cr
op
ys
y
ta
llo
g
M
ra
ed
ph
ic
y
in
al
Ch
em
El
ec
tro
ch
em
Number of articles
Figure 3.4 Scientific publishing in Chemistry fields, Norway, total number of articles for the
period 1998-2007.
Figure 3.4 shows the distribution of articles for the 10-year period 1998-2007. Physical
chemistry is by far the largest category, and 650 articles have been published within this
subfield by Norwegian researchers during the period, which is 23 % of the overall publication
output in Chemistry. Then follow Analytical chemistry and Chemical engineering with 340
and 330 articles, respectively.
The particular distribution of articles by subfields can be considered as the
specialisation profile of Norwegian Chemistry. In order to further assess its characteristics, we
have compared the Norwegian profile with the global average distribution of articles. The
results are shown in Figure 3.5. As can be seen, Norway has a much higher proportion of
articles in Physical chemistry than the world average (respectively 23 and 17 %). Also for
Analytical chemistry the Norwegian proportion (13 %) is significantly higher than the world
average (9 %). On the other hand, Norway has lower proportions in Organic chemistry and
Polymer science than the world average (7 vs. 10 % and 5 vs. 7 %). It should be noted
however, that the world average should not be considered as a normative reference standard.
For a country, particularly a small one like Norway, there may be strong reasons for
specialising in some fields and not in others. Thus, the analysis is primarily interesting for
providing insight into the particular characteristics of Norwegian chemistry.
27
Figure 3.5 Relative distributions of articles on Chemistry subfields, Norway and the world
average, based on publication counts for the period 1998-2007.
24 %
Proportion of articles
22 %
20 %
18 %
16 %
14 %
12 %
10 %
8%
Norway
World
6%
4%
2%
Ph
ys
ica
M
lC
ul
he
tid
m
isc
i
p
O
lin
rg
ar
an
y
ic
A
C
Ch
n
he
em aly t
Ph
m
i
c
ys
i
C
, A cal
En hem
to
m
gi
ic ,
ne
er
M
in
ol
g
Po
&
C
lym
In
h
or
em
er
ga
Sc
ni
c
ie
&
nc
Nu
e
c
C
Ap
he
pl
m
ie
d
Cr
Ch
ys
em
ta
llo
g
ra
Sp
ph
ec
y
tr o
M
sc
ed
op
ic
in
y
al
Ch
El
em
ec
tro
ch
em
0%
The Norwegian contributions in the field Chemistry during the ten-year period 1998-2007
were distributed on more than 360 different journals. Table 3.1 gives the annual publication
counts for the most frequent journals. On the top of the list we find the Journal of Chemical
Physics with 157 entries, followed by Journal of Physical Chemistry A (115) and Journal of
Molecular Structure (112). The table shows how the Norwegian contribution in the various
journals has developed during the time period. From the list of journals one also gets an
impression of the overall research profile of Norwegian chemistry research.
28
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Total
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MONITORING
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
ACTA CHEMICA SCANDINAVICA
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND
FOOD CHEMISTRY
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS
IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION AACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION
EINDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL
PHYSICS
CHEMOMETRICS AND INTELLIGENT
LABORATORY SYSTEMS
JOURNAL OF DISPERSION SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN
CHEMICAL SOCIETY
CHEMICAL PHYSICS LETTERS
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
BIOMACROMOLECULES
JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY
JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES APHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING
ASPECTS
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE
SCIENCE
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION
C-CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
COMMUNICATIONS
APPLIED CATALYSIS A-GENERAL
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL
SOCIETY
CATALYSIS TODAY
JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE
TETRAHEDRON LETTERS
SURFACE SCIENCE
TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA
JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND
NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
COMPUTERS & CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
MACROMOLECULES
LANGMUIR
ORGANOMETALLICS
OTHER JOURNALS
TOTAL
1998
Table 3.1 The most frequently used Chemistry journals for the period 1998-2007, number of
articles Norway
18
5
21
8
15
10
27
7
12
11
8
10
11
6
23
8
10
13
8
9
21
8
5
9
22
8
8
9
16
18
4
9
17
20
3
18
15
16
5
8
157
115
112
95
14
6
6
6
12
10
10
7
10
81
4
44
7
35
3
1
5
3
9
9
15
13
13
81
80
2
5
3
5
5
2
7
16
19
14
78
3
5
6
4
9
9
7
13
12
9
77
11
9
14
10
15
8
9
76
5
2
6
4
11
7
8
9
14
66
4
9
7
9
6
8
6
9
8
66
10
11
8
8
5
5
4
2
11
64
5
8
4
1
1
5
3
14
15
7
63
4
4
7
10
9
2
5
7
9
4
61
13
1
6
6
2
1
10
2
6
2
3
5
3
8
3
2
3
3
1
3
5
6
6
4
8
6
2
7
1
7
5
6
3
14
7
2
6
7
10
9
3
5
4
7
11
6
10
54
53
48
48
47
6
6
3
6
2
5
2
3
8
4
45
5
7
6
7
4
1
4
4
2
40
2
5
6
6
5
2
5
2
2
4
39
4
3
2
3
3
1
5
9
6
3
39
5
5
2
2
6
3
3
2
7
3
38
3
4
5
5
5
3
1
6
3
4
9
6
2
2
3
1
4
3
2
5
4
4
1
2
3
1
2
6
3
2
3
19
10
3
3
3
7
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
3
8
9
2
7
5
4
7
3
2
5
1
37
37
37
36
36
35
34
34
30
4
8
6
3
3
6
5
3
7
2
4
3
4
3
2
4
1
1
5
1
6
2
2
4
2
6
2
8
2
1
1
30
1
2
3
1
2
2
2
5
3
1
4
3
2
3
2
6
7
4
3
2
29
29
3
2
2
6
1
1
6
5
1
2
29
3
3
1
2
195
431
3
5
1
2
192
351
1
2
3
2
180
391
1
8
3
4
191
424
3
2
1
3
1
3
2
191
400
2
4
5
2
218
509
10
2
4
7
243
537
2
1
3
5
264
516
28
28
27
27
2047
4313
3
1
165
350
208
404
Norway has recently implemented a bibliometric model for performance based budgeting of
research institutions. The funding of the higher education institutions is now partially based
29
on the measurement of their scientific and scholarly publishing (see Sivertsen, 2006). In this
system journals are divided into two levels. The highest level (level 2) is giving extra weight
and includes only the leading and most selective international journals (accounts for about 20
% of the world’s publications), see Appendix for an overview. The national councils in each
discipline participate annually in determining and revising the highest level under the
guidance of the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions.
In our analysis we identified the journal production at this highest level of journals.
Figure 3.6 shows the results of this analysis. As can be seen, both the number and proportion
of articles in these journals have increased markedly during the time period. In 2006 38 % of
the international journal production appeared in leading journals, although this proportion
decreased to 30 % in 2007. It can be concluded that the ambitions when selecting journals for
publication has increased. Moreover, in order to appear in these journals it can reasonably be
assumed that the quality of the research is generally very good. Thus, the analysis suggests
that the ambitions and quality has increased in recent years.
Figure 3.6 Number and proportion of articles in leading Chemistry journals – “level 2”*,
Norway 1998-2007.
225
40 %
200
35 %
30 %
150
25 %
125
20 %
100
15 %
75
Proportion
Number of articles
175
10 %
50
25
5%
0
0%
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Number of articles - level 2
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Proportion of articles - level 2
*) Cf. the guidance of the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions.
30
3.2 Citation indicators
As described in Chapter 2, the extent to which the articles have been referred to or cited in the
subsequent scientific literature is often used as an indicator of scientific impact and
international visibility. In absolute numbers the countries with the largest number of articles
also receive the highest numbers of citations. It is however common to use a size-independent
measure to assess whether a country’s articles have been highly or poorly cited. One such
indicator is the relative citation index showing whether a country’s scientific publications
have been cited above or below the world average (=100).
Figure 3.7 shows the relative citation index in Chemistry for a selection of countries,
based on the citations to the publications from the four year period 2003-2006. The
publications from the USA, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland are all very highly
cited, approximately 40 and 50 % above world average. Norway ranks as number 15 among
the 17 countries shown in this figure with a citation index of 98. In other words, the
performance of Norwegian Chemistry in terms of citations is rather poor compared to these
countries. Although the Norwegian citation index is still only slightly below world average,
this average does not represent a very ambitious reference standard as it includes publications
from countries with less developed science systems. The Norwegian index in Chemistry is
also significantly lower than the Norwegian total (all disciplines) for this period which is
above 120.
Figure 3.7 Relative citation index in Chemistry for selected countries (2003-2006).*
160
150
Relative citation index
140
130
120
110
World average
100
90
80
UK
G
er
m
an
Ca y
na
d
Be a
lg
iu
m
Au
st
ria
Sp
ai
n
Fr
an
ce
Ita
ly
No
rw
a
Fi y
nl
an
Po d
rtu
ga
l
Ne US
A
th
er
la
n
De d s
nm
Sw
a
itz rk
er
la
n
Sw d
ed
en
Ire
la
nd
70
*) Based on the publications from the period 2003-2006 and accumulated citations to these publications through 2007.
The category Chemistry does not include the subfield Chemical engineering. In this subfield Norway has a citation index of
143.
31
We have also analysed how the citation rate of the Norwegian Chemistry publications has
developed over the period 1998-2006. The results are shown in Figure 3.8. Also the
respective averages for the Nordic countries, the EU-27 and the world (=100) have been
included in this figure. With the exception of an outlier year (2002)8 the Norwegian
publications have been cited below the world average and far below the Nordic average
during the entire period. However, there is a positive trend and the index has improved from
92 in 1998 to 99 in 2006.
Figure 3.8 Relative citation index in Chemistry for Norway compared with the average for the
Nordic countries, the EU-27 and the world for the period 1998-2006.
125
120
Relative citation index
115
110
Nordic
EU-27
105
World
Norway
100
95
90
85
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
*) Based on annual publication windows and accumulated citations to these publications. The category Chemistry does not
include the subfield Chemical engineering. In this subfield Norway has an average citation index of 143 in the period 200306.
The overall citation index for Chemistry does however disguise important differences at
subfield levels. This can be seen in figure 3.9 where a citation index has been calculated for
each of the Chemistry subfields for the 2003-2006 publications. In fact, Norway performs
very well in several of the subfield, notably Applied chemistry, Spectroscopy, and Chemical
Engineering with index values of above 140. Lowest citation rate is found for Organic
chemistry (88).
8
It is a general phenomenon that annual citation indicators, particularly at subfield levels, may show large
annual fluctuations. In particular, this may be due to variations in the importance of highly cited papers.
32
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
World average
Ap
pl
ie
d
Ch
Sp
em
Ch
ec
tr o
em
Ph
sc
ica
op
ys
lE
y
,A
n
to
gi
ne
m
ic,
er
in
M
g
ol
&
Ch
em
El
ec
tro
M
ch
ed
em
ic
in
al
Ch
M
ul
em
tid
isc
ip
lin
Ph
ar
ys
In
y
ica
or
ga
lC
ni
he
c
&
m
Nu
c
Po
C
he
lym
m
er
Sc
ie
An
nc
e
al
yt
ic
C
Cr
he
ys
m
ta
llo
gr
ap
O
hy
rg
an
ic
C
he
m
Relative citation index
Figure 3.9 Relative citation index in Chemistry subfield (2003-2006)*
*) Based on the publications from the period 2003-2006 and accumulated citations to these publications through 2007.
3.3 Collaboration indicators
This chapter explores the Norwegian publications involving international collaboration
(publications having both Norwegian and foreign author addresses). As described in Chapter
1, increasing collaboration in publications is an international phenomenon and is one of the
most important changes in publication behaviour among scientists during the last two
decades.
In Figure 3.10 we have shown the development in the extent of international coauthorship for Norway in Chemistry and for all disciplines (national total). In Chemistry 54 %
of the articles had co-authors from other countries in 2007. This is on par with the national
average (55 %). Thus, more than every second paper published by Norwegian researchers in
2007 has foreign co-authors.
The proportion in Chemistry has varied between 45 and 57 % in the 10 year period.
The national total has increased steadily during the period from 43 % in 1998 to 55 % in
2007.
33
Figure 3.10 The proportion of international co-authorship, 1998-2007, Norway.
Proportion internationally co-authored papers
60 %
55 %
50 %
45 %
Chemistry
40 %
All disciplines
35 %
30 %
25 %
20 %
15 %
10 %
5%
0%
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Which countries are the most important collaborative partners for Norway in Chemistry, and
has this profile changed during the recent decade? In order to answer this question we
analysed the distribution of co-authorship. Figure 3.11 shows the distribution of co-authorship
in the countries that comprise Norway’s main collaborative partners from 1998 to 2007.
The USA, Sweden, Germany, France, UK, Denmark, Italy and Russia are the most
important countries in terms of collaboration with Norway in Chemistry. A main finding is
that collaboration with US scientists has decreased during the period. In 1997/98 12 % of the
Norwegian Chemistry articles had co-authors from USA, this proportion was only 7 % in the
most recent period (2006-07). For the other countries, there is a mixed picture: Some have had
an increase (UK, France, Germany) while other a decrease (Sweden, Russia). Thus, the
importance of collaboration with USA has decreased, while the relative importance of
collaboration with the some of the EU-countries, excluding the Nordic countries, has
increased. This change is probably related to Norwegian participation in the EU Framework
Programmes. In addition the collaboration profile of Norway has broadened in the recent
decade and now includes co-authorship with scientists in most countries that are active in
research. The category for other countries (i.e. countries not shown in the figure) increased
from 26 % in 1998/99 to 31 % in 2006/07.
34
Figure 3.11 Collaboration by country 1998-2007, proportion of the Norwegian article production in
Chemistry involving international co-authorship.
13 %
Proportion of articles involving co-authorship
12 %
11 %
10 %
USA
9%
Sweden
8%
Germany
7%
France
6%
UK
Denmark
5%
Russia
4%
Italy
3%
2%
1%
0%
1998-99
2000-01
2002-03
2004-05
2006-07
35
4 University of Oslo
Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo is the largest chemistry department in
Norway, both in terms of staff and number of publications. Below we present an analysis of
this department, based on the publications during the period 2003 to 2007.9
4.1 Productivity indicators
The analysis shows that the tenured staff at the Department of Chemistry published 744
publications in the period 2003-2007. This includes for the large part articles in international
journals, but also some scientific publications in the category of books and book chapters.
Table 4.1 Number of publications 2003-2007, Department of Chemistry, UiO.
Quantum mechanics,
structure and dynamics
Synthesis and molecular
structure
Post docs/researchers
Tenured personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Analysis and environment
Catalysis
Functional inorganic
materials
Nuclear chemistry
Polymers – organic
materials
Number of
Number of
Publications Publications - publications fractional counts
persons
- whole
fractional
incl.
counts
counts
per person
36
744
239.1
6.6
5
84
27.2
5.4
4
64
19.2
4.8
6
197
60.7
10.1
3
41
6.6
2.2
5
63
19.3
3.9
6
197
62.9
10.5
7
107
43.3
6.2
32
372
116.5
–
Table 4.1 shows various publication indicators for the department and its research groups.
When fractionalised for co-authorship contributions, the 744 publications corresponded to
239.1 publications. This represents 6.6 publications (fractional counts) per staff member.
This is significantly above the national average for the population of staff included in this
9
Notes on the persons included:
Tenured staff: One person who recently has left the department is not included in this analysis. The School
laboratory at the Department of Chemistry is not included.
Post docs/researchers: This category also includes post docs/researchers affiliated with Centre for Materials
Science and Nanotechnology (SMN). Two persons who recently have left the department are not included in this
analysis.
36
evaluation (4.6). Compared to the other departments it is the second highest average. In other
words, the productivity at the department is very good.
There are, however, large differences among the various research groups/subdivisions.
The two research groups, Functional inorganic materials and Quantum mechanics, structure
and dynamics, have the highest levels, 10.1 and 10.5 respectively. For the first group this is
particularly due to one person with an exceptionally high productivity, while for the latter
groups there are several persons with very high levels. This is evident from Figure 4.1 which
shows the number of publications per person. The Nuclear chemistry group, on the other
hand, has the lowest productivity level, 2.2 publications per person.
There is a significant number of post docs and other researchers affiliated with the
department. As can be seen from Table 4.1, there are 32 persons within this category. They
contributed to 337 publications (116.5 publications when fractionalised for co-authorship).
Figure 4.1 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Department of Chemistry, UiO.
26
24
22
Number of publications
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Persons
Legends: 1-5 Analysis and environment. 6-9: Catalysis.10-15: Functional inorganic materials.16-18: Nuclear
chemistry.19-23: Polymers - organic materials. 24-29: Quantum mechanics, structure and dynamics. 30-36:
Synthesis and molecular structure
In the period 2003-2007 the annual number of publications has been fairly stable, but with a
positive trend, cf. Figure 4.2.
37
Number of publications
Figure 4.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Department of
Chemistry, UiO.
54
51
48
45
42
39
36
33
30
27
24
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
4.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 4.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
The tenured personnel at the department have published 38 % of their journal articles
in level 2 journals, which is close to the national average for the population of persons
encompassed by this evaluation (39 %). The proportions at group levels vary from 28 %
(Synthesis and molecular structure) to 62 % (Catalysis). Since the productivity differs among
the various groups, one gets a complementary picture by looking at the average number of
level 2 articles per person. Then we find that the groups Functional inorganic materials,
Quantum mechanics, structure and dynamics and Catalysis have the highest levels, 12.7, 10.3
and 9.3 articles per person respectively. There are not large differences in the average impact
factors among the groups, with the exception of Catalysis (8.2). Based on these figures one
can conclude that Catalysis has a very strong journal record, and Synthesis and molecular
structure the weakest.
38
Table 4.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry UiO.
Numb.
of
Numb. of Numb. of Prop. of
persons articles articles articles incl.
level 1
level 2
level 2
38 %
36
445
270
40 %
5
50
34
4
23
37
62 %
Avg. numb.
of articles level 2 per
person
7.5
6.8
9.3
Avg. journal
citation rate
(impact
factor)*
5.3
4.7
8.2
Tenured personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Analysis and environment
Catalysis
Functional inorganic
6
111
76
41 %
12.7
materials
Nuclear chemistry
3
25
16
39 %
5.3
Polymers – organic
5
42
21
33 %
4.2
materials
Quantum mechanics,
6
122
62
34 %
10.3
structure and dynamics
Synthesis and molecular
7
76
29
28 %
4.1
structure
32
204
148
42 %
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 4.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
Table 4.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Department of Chemistry, UiO (tenured personnel).
Group/section
Analysis and
environment
Journal
JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
Catalysis
JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY
Functional inorganic
materials
PHYSICAL REVIEW B
JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
Nuclear chemistry
PHYSICAL REVIEW C
Polymers - organic
materials
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
Quantum mechanics
structure and
dynamics
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
Synthesis and
molecular structure
RADIOCHIMICA ACTA
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
BIOMACROMOLECULES
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION ESTRUCTURE REPORTS ONLINE
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION CCRYSTAL STRUCTURE COMMUNIC.
Numb.
Journal citation
of
rate (impact
articles factor)*
Level
13
5.1
2
10
7.0
2
6
4.7
1
10
8
8.1
8.6
2
2
6
16.0
2
26
21
14
8
4
9
9
8
39
29
14
6.0
4.5
2.8
6.2
2.4
4.5
8.1
8.2
6.0
5.9
2.8
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
15
1.3
1
11
2.1
1
6
5.0
1
TETRAHEDRON LETTERS
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
39
4.9
5.5
5.5
5.3
4.9
5.6
4.3 Citation indicators
Finally, we have analysed the citation rate of the journal publications. The results are given in
Table 4.4. Altogether the articles published by the tenured personnel in the period 2003-2007
have received more than 4000 citations. This corresponds to a field citation index of 131. In
other words, the articles have been cited 31 % more than the corresponding field average.
Compared to the citation average for the journals where the articles have been published the
index value is 116. Thus, in terms of citation rates the department performs well. There are,
nevertheless, large differences among the various units. The Polymer – organic materials
group has a rather poor citation record and their publications are cited significantly below
average. The Catalysis group, on the other hand, has obtained very high citation rates, with a
citation index – field of 207.
Table 4.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
UiO.
Tenured personnel
Number of Total number
Unit
articles*
of citations
TOTAL
716
4060
84
409
Analysis and environment
Catalysis
60
534
Functional inorganic
188
834
materials
Nuclear chemistry
41
275
Polymers – organic
63
216
materials
Quantum mechanics,
184
1306
structure and dynamics
Synthesis and molecular
105
509
structure
Post docs/researchers
359
2131
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Citation index journal
116
117
121
Citation index field
131
123
207
106
120
105
130
73
82
138
143
120
114
101
120
40
5 Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Three departments from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) are
included in the evaluation, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Department of
Chemistry and Department of Chemical Engineering. In this chapter we present the analysis
for the departments.
Department of Material Science and Engineering
From department of Material Science and Engineering only two sections are included in the
evaluation, Electrochemistry and Inorganic chemistry (there are two additional sections which
are not included, Physical Metallurgy and Process Metallurgy).
5.1 Productivity indicators
There are 11 persons (tenured personnel, professor IIs excluded) in the two sections
encompassed by the evolution, 7 in the Inorganic chemistry group and 4 in the
Electrochemistry group. In total these persons published 131 publications during the period
2003-2007, or 45.4 publications fractionalised for co-authorship, cf. Table 5.1. This is 4.1
fractionalised publications per person, slightly below the national average for the population
of staff included in this evaluation (4.6). The average productivity is however higher for the
Inorganic chemistry croup than for the Electrochemistry group, 4.9 and 2.7 publications per
person, respectively.
Table 5.1 Number of publications 2003-2007. Department of Material Science and Engineering,
NTNU.
Number of
persons
Publications incl.
whole counts
Unit
Tenured
personnel
TOTAL
Electrochemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Post docs/researchers
Publications fractional
counts
Number of
publications fractional counts
per person
11
131
45.4
4.1
4
7
5
39
92
31
10.7
34.6
8.9
2.7
4.9
–
Figure 5.1 shows the productivity of the individual persons included in the evaluation.
41
Figure 5.1 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Department of Material Science and Engineering, NTNU.
14
13
12
Number of publications
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Persons
Legends: 1-4: Electrochemistry. 5-11: Inorganic chemistry
Although the productivity for the entire period 2003-2007 is below the national average, there
is a marked increase in the annual numbers of publications during the time period. This is
evident from figure 5.2. Particularly the Inorganic chemistry group has contributed to this
increase.
42
Figure 5.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Department of
Material Science and Engineering, NTNU.
16
15
14
13
Number of publications
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
5.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 5.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
The tenured personnel at the department published 47 % of their journal articles in
level 2 journals, which a high proportion. However, we find large differences in this
proportion among the two groups, 68 % for Electrochemistry and 39 % for Inorganic
chemistry. In comparison the national average is 39 % (average for the set of persons included
in this evaluation). However, measured as number of level 2 journal articles per person, there
are not significant differences among the two groups. Moreover, the average journal citation
rate is higher for the Inorganic chemistry group than for the Electrochemistry group (4.6 and
3.6, respectively). Thus, the picture of the journal profile of the groups is somewhat mixed.
43
Table 5.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Material
Science and Engineering, NTNU.
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Electrochemistry
Numb. of Numb. of Numb. of Prop. of
persons
articles articles articles incl.
level 1
level 2
level 2
11
63
55
47 %
4
10
21
68 %
Avg.
numb. of
articles level 2 per
person
5.0
5.3
Avg. journal
citation rate
(impact
factor)*
4.3
3.6
7
53
34
39 %
4.9
4.6
Inorganic Chemistry
5
23
7
23 %
4.6
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 5.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
Table 5.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Department of Material Science and Engineering, NTNU (tenured
personnel).
Journal citation
Numb. of rate (impact
Group/section
Journal
factor)*
Level
articles
7
3.6
2
CORROSION SCIENCE
Electrochemistry JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
7
4.6
2
3
2.6
1
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY
13
2.8
2
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
Inorganic
1
–
13
JOURNAL OF LIGHT METALS
Chemistry
9
4.5
1
SOLID STATE IONICS
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
5.3 Citation indicators
We have also analysed the citation rates of the journal articles, the results are given in Table
5.4. The analysis shows that the articles (105 ISI-indexed publications) published by the
tenured personnel have received approximately 250 citations. This corresponds to a field
citation index of 96, which is the lowest index value of all the departments included in the
evaluation. In terms of citation rates, there are not large differences among the two units.
44
Table 5.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Material
Science and Engineering, NTNU.
Number of
articles*
Unit
Tenured
personnel
105
TOTAL
Electrochemistry
31
Inorganic Chemistry
74
Post docs/researchers
30
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Total number
of citations
Citation index journal
Citation index field
253
88
96
78
175
274
101
83
218
99
94
207
45
Department of Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry at the NTNU is the third largest department in terms of number
of tenured personnel included in the evaluation (24). There are three sections: Organic
chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Environmental and Analytical Chemistry (including
Chemistry Dissemination).
5.4 Productivity indicators
In total the 24 staff members published 276 publications during the period 2003-2007, or 85.3
publications fractionalised for co-authorship, cf. Table 5.5. The productivity per person is 3.6
publications for the five-year period (fractionalised counts), which is below the national
average for the population of staff included in this evaluation (4.6). As can be seen from
Table 5.5 the number of publications per person is particularly low at the Organic chemistry
section (1.9).
Table 5.5 Number of publications 2003-2007, Department of Chemistry, NTNU.
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Environment
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Post docs/researchers
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications persons
Publications - fractional
fractional counts
per person
incl.
whole counts counts
24
276
85.3
3.6
9
127
40.6
4.5
6
43
11.5
1.9
9
112
33.2
3.7
2
4
0.9
–
At the individual levels we find two persons with exceptionally to very high productivity of
publications, while a large number of the staff is not very active in terms of publishing
activity. This is evident from Figure 5.3.
46
Figure 5.3 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Department of Chemistry, NTNU.
24
22
Number of publications
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Persons
Legends:1-9: Environment. 10-15: Organic chemistry. 16-24: Physical chemistry
We also find that the annual publication counts have been decreasing during the period 20032007, cf. Figure 5.4.
Number of publications
Figure 5.4 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Department of
Chemistry, NTNU.
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
47
5.5 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 5.6. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
The department has a lower proportion of articles in level 2 journals (30 %) than the
national average for the population of persons included in the evaluation (39 %). But there are
large differences among the units. The lowest proportion is found for Environment (17 %) and
the highest for Physical chemistry (45 %). The latter group also has the highest number of
articles in level 2 journals per person (5.4). This is identical to the corresponding national
average of 5.4. The average journal citation rates show a similar picture. Based on the figures,
one can conclude that Environment and Organic chemistry have a weak journal record, while
Physical chemistry has a good.
Table 5.6 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
NTNU.
Tenured
personnel
Numb.
Avg. numb. Avg. journal
of
Numb. of Numb. of Prop. of of articles - citation rate
persons articles (impact
articles articles - level 2 per
incl.
level 1
level 2
level 2
person
factor)*
Unit
24
181
79
30 %
3.3
4.6
TOTAL
9
95
20
17 %
2.2
3.6
Environment
Organic Chemistry
6
32
10
24 %
1.7
4.1
9
60
49
45 %
5.4
5.9
Physical Chemistry
2
1
2
67
%
6.2
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 5.7 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
48
Table 5.7 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Department of Chemistry, NTNU (tenured personnel).
Numb. of
articles
Group/section
Journal
Environment
JOURNAL DE PHYSIQUE IV
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR
CHEMISTRY
Journal citation
rate (impact
Level
factor)*
9
0.4
1
1
8
1.1
8
5.7
1
5
1.4
1
JOURNAL OF HETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY
Organic
Chemistry
1
4
2.1
MOLECULES
15
5.9
1
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
Physical
Chemistry
2
13
8.1
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
ELECTROANALYSIS
5.6 Citation indicators
The analysis of the citation frequencies shows that the 260 articles published by the tenured
personnel (ISI-indexed) have received almost 1300 citations cf. Table 5.8. This corresponds to
a field citation index of 109. In other words, the articles have been cited 9 % more than the
world average in the fields where the department is active. This is an intermediate position
among the departments included in the evaluation. At group levels, the Physical chemistry
unit has a good citation record, while the Organic chemistry unit has a weak.
Table 5.8 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
NTNU.
Tenured
personnel
Number of Total number
Unit
articles*
of citations
TOTAL
260
1282
Environment
115
563
Organic Chemistry
42
139
Physical Chemistry
109
597
Post docs/researchers
4
6
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Citation index journal
109
123
105
98
48
Citation index field
109
98
72
132
64
49
Department of Chemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical Engineering at NTNU has 19 persons included in the evaluation
(tenured personnel, professor IIs excluded). The department is organised in six research
groups: Catalysis, Colloid and polymer chemistry, Paper and fibre technology, Process
systems engineering, Reactor technology, Separation and environmental technology.
5.7 Productivity indicators
During the period 2003 to 2007 the tenured personnel published 319 publications, or 126.4
items when fractionalising for co-authorship. This is 6.7 fractionalised publications per person
and the highest average among the departments included in the evaluation. Particularly the
group for Colloid and polymer chemistry has a high average number of publications per
person (9.5).
Table 5.9 Number of publications 2003-2007, Department of Chemical Engineering, NTNU.
Tenured personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Catalysis
Colloid
Process
Pulp/Paper
Reactor
Separation
Post docs/researchers
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications persons
Publications - fractional
fractional counts
per person
incl.
whole counts counts
19
319
126.4
6.7
5
105
35.4
7.1
3
79
28.5
9.5
4
53
26.3
6.6
2
24
8.3
4.2
3
46
18.9
6.3
2
19
8.8
4.4
20
92
26.9
–
However, at individual levels we find large differences in the number of publications. This is
evident from Figure 5.5. There are three persons with exceptionally to very high number of
publications and a few persons with low publication levels.
50
Figure 5.5 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Department of Chemical Engineering, NTNU.
24
22
Number of publications
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Persons
Legends:1-5 Catalysis. 6-8: Colloid. 9-12: Process. 13-14: Pulp/paper. 15-17: Reactor. 18-19: Separation
The annual number of publications has been increasing remarkably during the period, cf.
Figure 5.6. Particularly the research groups Catalysis, Colloid and polymer chemistry and
Reactor technology have contributed to this positive trend.
51
Number of publications
Figure 5.6 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Department of
Chemical Engineering, NTNU.
38
36
34
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
5.8 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 5.10. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
The tenured personnel at the department have published 32 % of their journal articles
in level 2 journals, which is lower than the national average for the population of persons
encompassed by this evaluation (39 %). The proportions at group levels vary from 0 %
(Pulp/paper) to 46 % (Process). Since the productivity differ among the various groups, one
gets a complementary picture by looking at the average number of level 2 articles per person.
Then we find that groups Colloid, Process, and Catalysis have the highest levels, 6.7, 5.8 and
5.4 articles per person respectively. The average impact factors (journal citation rates) for all
the groups are lower than the corresponding national average (5.4). Based on these figures
one can conclude that the journal record of the department is not particularly strong.
52
Table 5.10 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemical
Engineering, NTNU.
Avg.
numb. of
articles level 2 per
person
4.6
5.4
6.7
5.8
0.0
5.0
3.0
Avg.
journal
citation
rate
(impact
factor)*
Tenured personnel
Numb.
Numb. of Numb. of
Prop. of
of
articles articles persons articles incl.
Unit
level 1
level 2
level 2
19
191
88
32 %
3.6
TOTAL
5
57
27
32 %
5.0
Catalysis
Colloid
3
51
20
28 %
3.6
4
27
23
46
%
2.7
Process
Pulp/Paper
2
23
0
0%
1.3
Reactor
3
27
15
36 %
2.9
Separation
2
10
6
38 %
4.4
20
40
38
49 %
5.1
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 5.11 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the
journal citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
Table 5.11 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Department of Chemical Engineering, NTNU (tenured personnel).
Group/section
Journal
CATALYSIS TODAY
Catalysis
TOPICS IN CATALYSIS
Colloid
STUD SURF SCI CATAL
JOURNAL OF DISPERSION SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
Process
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
RESEARCH
COMPUTERS & CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
JOURNAL OF PROCESS CONTROL
Pulp/Paper
NORDIC PULP & PAPER RESEARCH JOURNAL
JOURNAL OF PULP AND PAPER SCIENCE
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
RESEARCH
Journal citation
Numb. of rate (impact
factor)*
Level
articles
18
4.6
1
12
4.4
1
12
0.7
1
38
5
1.8
5.2
15
9
5
13
6
3.3
2.4
2.7
1.3
1.3
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
1
16
3.3
Reactor
6
3.7
2
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
2
4
2.4
COMPUTERS & CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Separation
4
5.7
2
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
5.9 Citation indicators
In terms of citation rates, the department performs very well. The 279 articles (ISI-indexed)
published by the tenured personnel in the period 2003-2007 have received more than 1100
53
citation. This corresponds to a field citation index of 147. In other words, the articles have
received almost 50 % more citations than the average articles in the fields where the
department is active. This is the third highest index value among the departments included in
the evaluation. At group level, the Pulp/paper unit has the highest index value, although the
number of citations is very low (due to poor citation rates in the field). The groups, Colloid,
Reactor and Catalysis have also very high index values, while Separation does not perform
well in terms of citation rates.
Table 5.12 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemical
Engineering, NTNU.
Tenured personnel
Number of Total number
Unit
articles*
of citations
TOTAL
279
1129
Catalysis
84
322
Colloid
71
471
Process
50
181
Pulp/Paper
23
38
Reactor
42
112
Separation
16
37
Post docs/researchers
82
501
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Citation index journal
138
124
172
121
154
148
68
117
Citation index field
147
146
162
130
180
156
84
161
54
6 University of Bergen (UiB)
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Bergen is the second largest department in
terms of number of tenured personnel included in the evaluation (26, professor IIs
excluded).10 The department is organised in three sections: Inorganic chemistry,
nanostructures and modelling (ICNM), Physical-, petroleum- and process chemistry (PPPC),
and Organic, biophysical and medicinal chemistry (OBMC). The latter section also includes
associate members from Centre of Pharmacy at the University of Bergen.
6.1 Productivity indicators
In total the 26 staff members published 244 publications during the period 2003-2007, or 92.8
publications fractionalised for co-authorship, cf. Table 6.1. The productivity per person is 3.6
publications for the five-year period (fractionalised counts), which is below the national
average for the population of staff included in this evaluation (4.6). As can be seen from
Table 6.1 the number of publications per person is particularly low at the PPPC section (2.1).
Table 6.1 Number of publications 2003-2007, Department of Chemistry, UiB.
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
ICNM
OBMC
PPPC
Post docs/researchers
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications persons
fractional counts
Publications - fractional
incl.
whole counts counts
per person
26
244
92.8
3.6
7
97
34.9
5.0
11
106
41.8
3.8
6
38
12.8
2.1
10
62
17.6
–
Figure 6.1 provides background data by showing the number of publications per person. At
the department there are three persons with very high productivity levels (two in the ICNM
group and one in the OBMC group).
10
Notes on the persons included:
Tenured staff: Two persons employed at Centre for Pharmacy but closely associated to Dep. of Chemistry are
included in the analysis (in the OBMC group). One person employed at Centre for Integrated Petroleum
Research (CIPR) at the University of Bergen is also included in the analysis. One person is not assigned a group
in the factual report (is included in the total).
55
Figure 6.1 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Department of Chemistry, UiB.
12
11
10
Number of publications
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Persons
Legends: 1-7: ICNM. 8-18: OBMC. 19-24: PPPC
In the period 2003-2007 the annual numbers of publications have varied between 14 and 26
(fractionalised counts), but with a positive trend, cf. Figure 6.2.
Figure 6.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Department of
Chemistry, UiB.
26
24
22
Number of publications
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
56
6.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 6.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
For the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bergen we find that 53 % of the
journal articles are published in level 2 journals. This is the second highest average among the
departments included in the evaluation. Also the average impact factor (journal citation rate)
of the journals (6.7) is significantly above the national average for the units encompassed by
the evaluation (5.4). There are, however, large differences among the three sections. The
ICNM group has an extraordinary strong journal record, with 68 % of the articles in level 2
journals and an average of 9.3 such papers per person. Also the journal profile of the OBMC
group is very good, with a proportion of level 2 articles of 56 %. The PPPC group, on the
other hand, does not perform well on these measures, with a proportion of level 2 journal
articles of 29 %, and only 1.7 such papers per person.
Table 6.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
UiB.
Tenured
personnel
Numb.
Avg. numb. Avg. journal
of
Numb. of Numb. of Prop. of
of articles - citation rate
persons articles level 2 per
(impact
articles articles incl.
level 1
level 2
level 2
person
factor)*
Unit
53 %
4.5
26
102
117
6.7
TOTAL
ICNM
7
31
65
68 %
9.3
7.8
OBMC
11
38
48
56 %
4.4
6.8
PPPC
6
25
10
29 %
1.7
4.6
8.3
10
12
45
79 %
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 6.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
57
Table 6.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Department of Chemistry, UiB (tenured personnel).
Journal citation
rate (impact
Group/section Journal
Level
factor)*
9
7.7
2
ORGANOMETALLICS
ICNM
9
17.3
2
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
8
7.8
2
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
9
4.5
2
PHYTOCHEMISTRY
7
10.8
2
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
OBMC
2
6
4.9
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL & FOOD CHEMISTRY
2
6
7.8
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
1
4
4.3
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
PPPC
2
3
6.3
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
3
10.5
2
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Numb. of
articles
6.3 Citation indicators
Finally, we have analysed the citation frequencies of the publications. The results are given in
Table 6.4. The analysis shows that the 219 articles published by the tenured personnel (ISIindexed) have received more than 1100 citations. This corresponds to a field citation index of
108. In other words, the articles have been cited 8 % more than the world average in the fields
where the department is active. This is an intermediate position among the departments
included in the evaluation. At group levels, the ICNM unit has a strong citation record, while
the OBMC unit has a weak. Because the staff at the department tend to publish in high impact
journals, the journal based citation index is significantly lower than the field based citation
index.
Table 6.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
UiB.
Tenured
personnel
Number of Total number
Unit
articles*
of citations
TOTAL
219
1162
ICNM
96
592
OBMC
86
353
PPPC
35
156
Post docs/researchers
57
326
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Citation index journal
90
105
66
105
99
Citation index field
108
153
72
104
148
58
7 University of Tromsø (UiT)
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Tromsø has 12 persons included in the
evaluation (excluding professor IIs). The department has four research groups: Organic
chemistry, Inorganic and materials chemistry, Structural chemistry and Theoretical
chemistry.11
7.1 Productivity indicators
In total the tenured staff encompassed by the evaluation published 212 publications during the
period 2003-2007, or 73.4 publications fractionalised for co-authorship, cf. Table 7.1. This is
6.1 fractionalised publications per person, significantly above the national average for the
population of staff included in this evaluation (4.6). The average productivity is however
much higher for the Theoretical chemistry group (10.2) than for the two other sections (4.6
and 3.8).
Table 7.1 Number of publications 2003-2007, Department of Chemistry, UiT.
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Organic chemistry
Structural Chemistry
Theoretical chemistry
Post docs/researchers
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications persons
fractional counts
Publications - fractional
incl.
whole counts counts
per person
12
212
73.4
6.1
4
39
15.1
3.8
4
73
18.4
4.6
2
62
20.4
10.2
13
88
24.3
–
From Figure 7.1 we can see that there are two persons at the department with extraordinary
high publication rates, and they contribute significantly to the high average for the
department. Moreover, there are no members of the tenured personnel that are inactive in
terms of publication activity.
11
Notes on the persons included:
Tenured staff: The inorganic and materials chemistry group consists of only one tenured staff member. Separate
figures are not shown for this person. One person is assigned two groups in the factual report, theoretical
chemistry and structural chemistry. Both persons are only included in the total.
59
Number of publications
Figure 7.1 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Department of Chemistry, UiT.
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Persons
Legends:1-4: Organic chemistry. 5-8: Structural chemistry. 9-10: Theoretical chemistry. 11-12: Other
We also find that the annual publication counts have varied during the period 2003-2007, cf.
Figure 7.2.
Number of publications
Figure 7.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Department of
Chemistry, UiT.
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
60
7.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 7.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
The tenured personnel at the department published 34 % of their journal articles in
level 2 journals. There are some differences in this proportion among the three groups, 39 %
for Structural chemistry, 31 % for Organic chemistry and 21 % for Theoretical chemistry. In
comparison the national average is 39 % (average for the set of persons included in this
evaluation). Also measured as number of level 2 journal articles per person, there are
significant differences among the two groups, the lowest level is found for Organic chemistry
(2.8 articles). The staff tend to publish in journals with above average impact factors. Overall,
the Structural chemistry group at the department appears as the strongest in terms of journal
record with good scores on all the different measures.
Table 7.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
UiT.
Tenured
personnel
Avg.
Numb.
Numb.
numb. of
Avg. journal
articles of
of
Numb. of Prop. of
citation rate
persons articles - articles level 2 per (impact
articles incl.
level 1
level 2
level 2
person
factor)*
Unit
34 %
5.7
12
132
68
6.9
TOTAL
Organic chemistry
4
24
11
31 %
2.8
5.5
Structural Chemistry
4
43
27
39 %
6.8
6.7
Theoretical chemistry
2
46
12
21 %
6.0
5.6
7.2
13
52
32
38 %
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 7.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
61
Table 7.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Department of Chemistry, UiT (tenured personnel).
Group/section
Organic
chemistry
Numb. of
articles
Journal
JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION ESTRUCTURE REPORTS ONLINE
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION ESTRUCTURE REPORTS ONLINE
Journal citation
rate (impact
Level
factor)*
4
4.1
1
4
10.5
2
4
1.3
1
1
16
1.3
2
9
10.0
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
2
6
11.9
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
1
25
5.9
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
Theoretical
2
5
6.0
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
chemistry
5
4.6
1
CHEMICAL PHYSICS LETTERS
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Structural
Chemistry
7.3 Citation indicators
In terms of citation rates, the department performs well. The 200 articles (ISI-indexed)
published by the tenured personnel in the period 2003-2007 have received more than 1500
citations. This corresponds to a field citation index of 129. In other words, the articles have
received almost 30 % more citations then the average articles in the fields where the
department is active. This is the fourth highest index value among the departments included in
the evaluation. Nevertheless, we find large differences at group levels. The Theoretical
chemistry group has obtained exceptionally high citation rates, while the two other groups do
not perform well on this indicator.
Table 7.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Department of Chemistry,
UiT.
Tenured
personnel
Number of Total number
Unit
articles*
of citations
TOTAL
200
1523
Organic chemistry
35
131
Structural Chemistry
70
368
Theoretical chemistry
58
593
Post docs/researchers
85
571
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Citation index journal
110
79
82
174
96
Citation index field
129
77
80
184
113
62
8 University of Stavanger (UiS)
Two units from the Department of Mathematics and Natural Science at the University of
Stavanger are included in the evaluation: Biological Chemistry and Chemistry and
Environment. In total 11 persons (tenured personnel, professor IIs excluded) are encompassed
by the analysis.
8.1 Productivity indicators
During the period 2003-2007 the staff members have published 72 publications,
corresponding to 27.2 items when fractionalising for co-authorship. This amounts to 2.5
fractionalised publications per person. This is the lowest average productivity level of all the
departments included in the evaluation. The number of publications per person is particularly
low at the Chemistry and environment group (1.2). It should be noted, however, that the
University of Stavanger has obtained its university status quite recently (in January 2005).
Until then the school was a state university college with teaching as the main activity, and has
gradually developed a research agenda to obtain university status.
Table 8.1 Number of publications 2003-2007, University of Stavanger (UiS).
Tenured
personell
Unit
TOTAL
Biological Chemistry
Chemistry and
Environment
Post docs/researchers
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications persons
fractional counts
Publications - fractional
incl.
whole counts counts
per person
11
72
27.2
2.5
5
53
20.1
4.0
6
8
19
36
7.2
11.2
1.2
–
Figure 8.1 provides background data by showing the number of publications per person. As
can be seen, there is one person with a high publication rate, while the majority of the
personnel have rather poor publication records.
63
Figure 8.1 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. University of Stavanger (UiS).
10
9
Number of publications
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Persons
Legends:1-5: Biological chemistry. 6-11: Chemistry and environment
There is, however, a positive development and the annual number of publications has been
increasing during the period 2003-2007, cf. Figure 8.2
64
Figure 7.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. University of
Stavanger (UiS).
8
7
Number of publications
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
8.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 8.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
For the University of Stavanger we find that 63 % of the journal articles are published in level
2 journals. This is the highest average among the departments included in the evaluation. Also
the average impact factor (journal citation rate) of the journals (9.9) is significantly above the
national average for the units encompassed by the evaluation (5.4). The two chemistry groups
at the University both have very high proportions of level 2 articles – the proportion for the
Biological chemistry group is 67 % and for the Chemistry and environment group, 53 %.
However, on the two other journal measures the latter group obtains significantly lower scores
than the other group, and only 1.3 level 2 journal articles are published per person.
65
Table 8.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). University of Stavanger (UiS).
Numb.
of
Numb. of Numb. of
Prop. of
persons articles articles articles incl.
level 1
level 2
level 2
11
22
38
63 %
5
15
30
67 %
Avg.
numb. of
articles level 2 per
person
3.5
6.0
Avg. journal
citation rate
(impact
factor)*
9.9
11.6
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Biological Chemistry
Chemistry and
6
7
8
53 %
1.3
4.5
Environment
11.3
8
14
19
56 %
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 8.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
Table 8.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, University of Stavanger (UiS) (tenured personnel).
Numb. of
articles
Journal citation
rate (impact
factor)*
Level
5
12.3
2
4
20.6
2
Group/section Journal
Biological
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
Chemistry
PLANT CELL
Chemistry and JOURNAL OF ORGANOMETALLIC
1
Environment
CHEMISTRY
5
5.2
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
8.3 Citation indicators
In terms of citation rates, we find a polarised picture. The 45 articles (ISI-indexed) published
by the tenured staff at the Biological chemistry group have received more than 600 citations,
which corresponds to a field citation index of 200. The articles associated with the Chemistry
and environment group, on the other hand, are hardly cited at all.
Table 8.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). University of Stavanger
(UiS).
Tenured
personell
Number of Total number
articles*
of citations
Unit
TOTAL
60
627
Biological Chemistry
45
619
Chemistry and
Environment
15
8
Post docs/researchers
33
356
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
Citation index journal
100
105
Citation index field
187
200
21
86
31
164
66
9 Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) has two research groups included in the
evaluation: The environmental chemistry group at the Department of Plant and Environmental
Sciences and The organic chemistry group at the Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology
and Food.
9.1 Productivity indicators
There are 11 persons (tenured personnel, professor IIs excluded) in the two sections
encompassed by the evaluation, 7 in the Environmental chemistry group and 4 in the Organic
chemistry group. In total these persons published 118 publications during the period 20032007, or 38.7 publications fractionalised for co-authorship, cf. Table 9.1. This is 3.5
fractionalised publications per person, below the national average for the population of staff
included in this evaluation (4.6). The average productivity does not differ much between the
two groups (3.7 and 3.5).
Table 9.1 Number of publications 2003-2007, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB).
Environmental chemistry
Post docs/researchers
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Organic chemistry
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications fractional counts
persons
Publications - fractional
incl.
per person
whole counts counts
11
118
38.7
3.5
4
50
12.6
3.1
7
2
68
19
26.2
5.0
3.7
–
At the individual levels, there are significant variations in the number of publications per
person, cf. Figure 9.1, but both groups mainly consist of persons with low to moderate
publication output.
67
Figure 9.1 Productivity of the tenured personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB).
7
Number of publications
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Persons
Legends: 1-4: Organic chemisty. 5-11: Environmental chemistry
We find that the annual publication counts have varied during the period 2003-2007, cf.
Figure 9.2.
Figure 9.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Norwegian
University of Life Sciences (UMB).
11
10
Number of publications
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
68
9.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 9.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
The department has a slightly lower proportion of articles in level 2 journals (34 %)
than the national average for the population of persons included in the evaluation (39 %). On
this parameter there are not large differences among the two chemistry groups at the
University. However, the Organic chemistry group has a higher number of articles in level 2
journals per person (4.3) than the Environmental chemistry group (2.6). Moreover the average
impact factor is significantly higher for the Organic chemistry group. Thus, this group has the
strongest journal record of the two chemistry units at the University.
Table 9.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Norwegian University of Life
Sciences (UMB).
Numb.
of
persons
incl.
11
4
Numb.
of
articles level 1
68
30
Numb.
of
Prop. of Avg. numb. of
articles - articles - articles - level 2
level 2
level 2
per person
35
34%
3.2
17
36 %
4.3
Avg. journal
citation rate
(impact
factor)*
4.9
6.3
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Organic chemistry
Environmental
7
38
18
32 %
2.6
3.7
chemistry
3.2
2
11
4
27 %
–
Post docs/researchers
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
Table 9.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the journal
citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
69
Table 9.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) (tenured personnel).
Group/section
Organic
chemistry
Journal citation
rate (impact
factor)*
Numb. of
articles
Journal
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD
CHEMISTRY
5
Level
4.9
2
3
3.4
1
3
6.0
2
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
14
1.7
1
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY
Environmental
8
5.0
2
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
chemistry
4
8.2
2
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
CARBOHYDRATE RESEARCH
9.3 Citation indicators
Finally, we have analysed the citation rate of the journal publications. The results are given in
Table 9.4. Altogether the articles (ISI-index) published by the tenured personnel in the period
2003-2007 have received more than 450 citations. This corresponds to a field citation index of
101. In other words, the articles have been cited equal to the corresponding field average. This
is the second lowest level among the departments included in the evaluation. In terms of
citation rates, the Environmental chemistry group performs slightly better than the Organic
chemistry group.
Table 9.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Norwegian University of
Life Sciences (UMB).
Tenured
personnel
Unit
TOTAL
Organic chemistry
Number of Total number
articles*
of citations
103
458
47
208
Environmental chemistry
56
Post docs/researchers
15
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included
250
27
Citation index journal
101
88
Citation index field
101
91
116
73
111
67
70
10 Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU)
From Norwegian Institute for Air Research staff from two departments is included in the
evaluation: Environmental Chemistry Department (MILK) (15 persons) and the Atmospheric
and Climate Change Department (ATMOS) (1 person). 12
10.1 Productivity indicators
The analysis shows that the staff included in the evaluation published 207 publications in the
period 2003-2007.
Table 10.1 Number of publications 2003-2007, Norwegian Institute for Air research (NILU).
Unit
TOTAL
MILK
Number of
Number of
Publications - publications fractional counts
persons
Publications - fractional
incl.
per person
whole counts counts
17
207
46.9
2.8
15
182
40.7
2.7
Table 10.1 shows various publication indicators for the institute and its research group MILK.
When fractionalised for co-authorship contributions, the 207 publications corresponded to
46.9 publications. This represents 2.8 publications (fractional counts) per staff member. This
is significantly below the national average for the population of staff included in this
evaluation (4.6). It should be noted, however, that NILU represents a different kind of unit
than the other departments encompassed by the evaluation. For institutes like NILU, which is
part of the Norwegian institute sector, the mission and research profile differ from the Higher
Education Institutions. As a consequence of an applied research profile (contract research)
one typically finds a publication profile consisting of many reports (not included in this
evaluation).
From Figure 10.1 which shows the number of publications per person we find: There
is one person at the institute with a very high productivity of publications, a few persons with
high to moderate levels, and a significant number of persons with few publications.
12
Notes on the persons included:
One person is not assigned a group in the factual report. The ATMOS group consists of only one tenured staff
member. Separate figures are not shown for this person. Both persons are only included in the total.
71
Figure 10.1 Productivity of the personnel. Number of publications per person 2003-2007,
fractionalised counts.). Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU).
14
13
12
Number of publications
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Persons
Legends: 1-15: MILK. 16-17: Other Units
Figure 10.2 shows that the annual publication numbers have varied from 8 to 11
(fractionalised items) during the period 2003-2007.
72
Figure 10.2 Number of publications per year, 2003-2007, fractionalised counts. Norwegian
Institute for Air Research (NILU).
12
11
10
Number of publications
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
10.2 Journal profile
We have analysed the distribution of journal articles from the period 2003-2007. The results
are given in Table 10.2. The table shows the number of articles (whole counts) for the
department and groups in the two categories of journals applied in the UHR’s bibliometric
funding model for performance based budgeting of research institutions. The highest level
(level 2) includes only the leading and most selective international journals. We have also
calculated the proportion of level 2 articles and the average number of such articles per
person. Moreover, we have calculated the average citation rate (impact factor) for the journals
the staff have published their articles in (weighted average).
We find that 42 % of the journal articles have been published in level 2 journals,
which is good, and slightly above the national average for the departments encompassed by
the evaluation (39 %). The average impact factor (journal citation rate) is also above the
corresponding national average (5.5).
Table 10.2 Journal profile, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Norwegian Institute for Air
Research (NILU).
Numb. of
persons
incl.
Numb. of Numb. of
Prop. of
Avg. numb. of
Avg. journal
articles - level 2 citation rate
articles articles articles level 2
per person
(impact factor)*
Unit
level 1
level 2
42 %
4.8
17
112
82
6.1
TOTAL
42 %
4.7
15
100
71
6.2
MILK
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
73
Table 10.3 shows which journals the staff most often published their articles in and the
journal citation rates and levels of the respective journals.
Table 10.3 The most frequently used journals, number of publications (whole counts) 2003-2007
by groups/sections, Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU).
Group/section
Journal
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCHATMOSPHERES
Numb. of
articles
37
Journal citation
rate (impact
factor)*
Level
6.2
2
26
9.8
1
9
4.6
1
MILK
8
5.3
1
CHEMOSPHERE
8
8.2
2
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
8
7.0
2
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
*) The average journal citation rate is here based on the 2005 articles published in the respective journals and
their citation rates in the period 2005-2007 (the “standard” journal impact factor is calculated in a different way).
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
10.3 Citation indicators
The number of citations received during the period 2003-2007 is exceptionally high. The 194
articles (ISI-indexed) have received almost 2000 citations. This corresponds to a field citation
index of 217. In other words, the articles have received 117 % more citations then the average
articles in the fields the Institute is active. With this the Institute ranks far above the other
departments included in the evaluation. The distribution is, however, very skewed and one
person accounts for a significant number of these citations.
Table 10.4 Citation indicators, 2003-2007 publications (whole counts). Norwegian Institute for
Air Research (NILU).
Number of Total number
Unit
articles*
of citations
TOTAL
194
1996
MILK
171
1739
*) Only articles in ISI-indexed journals are included.
Citation index journal
177
179
Citation index field
217
214
74
Appendix – “Level 2” journals
List of ”level 2” journals within chemistry and related fields (material science,
nanotechnology, process technology, energy and environmental technology)*
Accounts of Chemical Research
Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Science
Acta Materialia
Advanced Materials
AIChE Journal
Analytical Chemistry
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Annual Review of Materials Research
Applied Catalysis A : General
Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing
Biomaterials
Chemical Communications
Chemical Engineering Science
Chemical Reviews
Chemical Society Reviews
Chemistry - A European Journal
Chemistry of Materials
Combustion and Flame
Combustion Science and Technology
Composites Part B: Engineering
Composites Science And Technology
Coordination chemistry reviews
Corrosion
Corrosion Science
Electrochimica Acta
Energy & Fuels
Environmental Modelling & Software
Environmental Science and Technology
European Journal of Organic Chemistry
Experimental heat transfer
Fluid Phase Equilibria
Fuel
Heat and Mass Transfer
Heat Transfer Engineering
IEEE transactions on nanotechnology
Inorganic Chemistry
International Journal of Fatigue
International journal of plasticity
International Materials Reviews
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry
Journal of applied crystallography
Journal of Biomechanics
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
Journal of Catalysis
Journal of Chromatography A
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Journal of hydrologic engineering
Journal of magnetic resonance
Journal of Materials Chemistry
Journal of Membrane Science
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Journal of Organic Chemistry
Journal of Physical Chemistry A
Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Journal of Separation Science
Journal of The American Ceramic Society
Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Journal of the European Ceramic Society
Langmuir
Macromolecules
Mass spectrometry reviews (Print)
Materials Science & Engineering: A
Materials Science and Technology
Materials transactions, JIM
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A
Metallurgical and materials transactions. B
Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
MRS bulletin
Nano letters (Print)
Nanostructured materials
Nanotechnology
Natural product reports (Print)
Nature
Nature Materials
Organic Letters
Organometallics
Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics
Proceedings of the Combustion Institute
PNAS
Progress in Materials Science
Science
Scripta Materialia
Tetrahedron
Trends in Food Science & Technology
*) Journals accredited as level 2 journals by UHR’s National Councils (ref. 1.1.2008). In the analysis also “level
2” journals in other subjects are included.
75
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