The program was started in parallel with environmental problems being given increased political priority internationally and in Norway, including the establishment of a Ministry of the Environment in Norway. SNSF was strongly linked to the supranational effects of environmental problems. Emissions from factory chimneys in England, West Germany and Eastern Europe were transported northwards to Norway with the rainfall. The short- and long-term impact was unclear, but prominent scientists both in Norway and many European countries believed the effects would be catastrophic for life in freshwater and for the forest.

An increased emphasis on environmental problems required better knowledge of the connections between acid rain and forests and fish. In this seminar we will concentrate on the impact on forests. On the one hand, there was a genuine desire to obtain knowledge in order to implement effective measures. On the other hand, there was an international and national tug-of-war to stop emissions in England, West Germany and Eastern Europe. The emissions created major problems in that the pollutants were transported with the precipitation to other countries. The best argument for stopping the emissions would be that the research showed that there were major negative effects on forests and fish.

In this research and political landscape, forest research was given high priority. But the catastrophic results did not materialize and forest research showed partly the opposite development to what politicians and many researchers had expected. We shine a spotlight on how research and researchers maneuvered in this terrain.

We also highlight how the results of researchers from 40-50 years ago stand up in the light of history. We take as our starting point, among other things, the national and European forest monitoring program that was developed in the wake of the SNSF research program. Here, among others, the head of NIBIO Nils Vagstad and dean of the MINA faculty at NMBU and former rector Hans Fredrik Hoen will be challenged to give their comments on what lessons we can draw from SNSF about how research should maneuver between politics and environmental struggle.

The seminar is free for students at NMBU and members of the Friends of Science Park. Admission is NOK 100 for others. Binding registration on the Science Park website r

Seminar program at 16.00-22.00

4:00 PM Opening of the seminar by the chairperson and leader of the Friends of the Science Park Per Harald Grue

At 4:05 PM The political and organizational plan for SNSF by the head of SNSF's steering committee, professor (em) Lars Walløe

At 4:25 PM Film and photo cavalcade from 1970-1985. In this part of the seminar, a retrospective will be given with film and photo elements that show a bit of the research, social and political situation under which the project worked.

5:00 p.m. Short break

At 5:10 PM Professor (em) Arne Stuanes, Research Director (em) Bjørn Tveite and Professor (em) Gunnar Abrahamsen: The impact of acid rain on forests. What the research at SNSF showed and what the clients expected

18:20 Follow-up of forest research in the Acid Rain program. Structure and results from the national and European forest monitoring program. Presentation by Professor Kåre Venn, Head of Department Dan Aamlid, NIBIO and Director of Department Ivar Ekanger, Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

7:00 p.m. Break with light refreshments

At 7:30 PM Professor Nils Roll-Hansen: A look back at forest research in SNSF and the discussion about research, politics and environmental struggle.

8:15 PM The relationship between research, environmentalism and politics. What can we learn from the SNSF project and what does forest research show today?

Panel discussion led by the meeting chair with CEO Nils Vagstad, NIBIO, professor and former rector Hans Fredrik Hoen, NMBU, professor (em) Lars Walløe, professor (em) Nils Roll-Hansen, professor (em) Gunnar Abrahamsen, professor (em) Arne Stuanes and professor (em) Kåre Venn

Prepared posts and discussion

10:00 PM Seminar ends

Organizer: Vitenparken Campus Ås, MINA Faculty NMBU, NIBIO and Vitenparkens Venn are