Centre for Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Centre for Advanced Study (CAS; in Norwegian: Senter for grunnforskning) is an independent research centre in Oslo.
Each year, CAS hosts three interdisciplinary research groups working within the fields of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
CAS was established by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1989, and has hosted more than 1,000 scholars from across the world since its opening in 1992.
About the Centre
CAS is an independent foundation led by a board appointed by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions, and the Research Council of Norway (NFR).
Each year, the board selects three projects within the fields of:
The projects are led by faculty members who hold permanent research positions at CAS' partner institutions.
Project leaders are free to invite scholars from around the world in any stage of their careers to participate in their project -- whether for an entire year or for a few weeks. Crucially, CAS projects also include one or two Ph.D. candidates and/or postdoctoral fellows, which promotes career development and mentorship. Each year, 40-45 scholars from 10-15 countries participate in the research projects.
The day-to-day operations of CAS are managed by a scientific director and an administrative team of four permanent staff members.
Partner institutions
CAS partners with nearly all universities and several university colleges in Norway. Agreements between CAS and its partner institutions ensure that the year spent at CAS is counted as an extra sabbatical year for scholars connected to the partner institutions.
The partner institutions are:
- BI Norwegian Business School
- The Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration
- The Norwegian School of Theology
- The Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- The University of Agder
- The University of Bergen
- The University of Oslo
- The University of Stavanger
- The University of Tromsø
History
Deliberations about a Norwegian Centre for Advanced Study began in 1986 when the renowned sociologist and Norway's then Minister of Church and Education, Gudmund Hernes, wrote a feature article in the Norwegian daily newspaper Dagbladet arguing that Norway needed such an institute.
Inspired by et al. The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, the Senter for høyere studier was established as a foundation; it was officially opened on September 1, 1992. Gudmund Hernes was Director of the board until he became Minister of Church Affairs, Education and Research in Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland’s third cabinet.
CAS in 2017 launched YoungCAS, a programme for postdoctoral students and other young scholars to do group-based, interdisciplinary fundamental research with colleagues from around the world during a one-week stay in Oslo.
Chair of the CAS Board of Directors
- Professor Gudmund Hernes (1989-90)
- Professor Dagfinn Føllesdal (1991)
- Professor Vigdis Ystad (1992-93)
- Professor Torstein Jøssang (1993-99)
- Professor Aanund Hylland (2000-10)
- Professor Asbjørn Kjønstad (2011-14)
- Professor Geir Ellingsrud (2014-18)
- Professor Rolf K. Reed (2018-)
Scientific Directors
- Professor Ole-Jørgen Skog (1999-03)
- Professor Willy Østreng (2003-09)
- Professor Gro Steinsland (2009-12)
- Professor Brit Solli (2012-14)
- Professor Vigdis Broch-Due (2015-18)
- Professor Camilla Serck-Hanssen (2018-)