Circus Session /
Sverre Ole Drønen (NO)

    Communicating sustainability and science diplomacy

    The UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of its 2030 Agenda. These goals are both ambitious and abstract, containing a number of conflicting political interests and 169 subgoals/targets that are adding to the complexity.

    How do we as communicators on research and higher education approach the complexity of the SDGs? How do we relate to the convoluted language and terms used to make the goals understandable outside the UN system? How do we work with our researchers to engage with the goals? How is the education we offer affected by the SDGs?

    In February 2018, the University of Bergen (UiB), in collaboration with Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Research, arranged the inaugural National SDG Conference Bergen for the university sector in Norway. This is now an annual event and UiB heads the National Committee for the 2030 Agenda in the university sector.

    To underline its strong commitment to engaging with the SDGs, the UiB leadership has created the SDG Bergen initiative to promote scientific advice and science diplomacy. The SDG Bergen Task Force consists of four researchers and three administrative staff. UiB has set a goal of being climate neutral by 2030, in accordance with the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

    Circus speaker

    Sverre Ole DronenSverre Ole Drønen is a senior adviser at the University of Bergen (UiB). Before joining UiB in 2011 he worked as a journalist for several major Norwegian media outlets. He is the communications adviser for SDG Bergen.

    Website: https://www.uib.no/en/sdgbergen