Hopefully everybody is back with their batteries fully charged after the summer holidays. Those of you who chose Western Norway as your destination have experienced the summer of the century, at least weather-wise. However, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and focus on the important tasks, namely to provide teaching, research and dissemination of superior quality, while hopefully leaving lesser issues and annoyances be. Hanna Kvanmo, a famous Norwegian politician once said «prioritize carefully what you are going to be annoyed about» – it is something we should all keep in mind.

Teaching was deliberately mentioned first; it is the students that define us as an academic institution and university hospital. Therefore, we must work constantly to improve its quality. The importance of teaching is emphasized by the fact that your effort in this area is one of the main arguments in the local wage negotiations – this year with a historically large local salary pot to distribute.

The teaching seminar on September 17 will focus on many important topics that you should not miss, including the new curriculum for medical students, practical exam and e-learning. We will also discuss simple, but important things such as manners and behavior. Furthermore, the annual teaching award will be announced. The seminar is compulsory for academic staff and also provides an excellent opportunity to meet your colleagues.

Wishing you an excellent teaching autumn

Eystein Husebye
Acting Head of Department

The Teaching Award at K2 will be awarded on the teaching seminar on September 17. The deadline for nominating candidates is September 1, sent by mail to Siri Smidt Giske.

The award is at 50,000 NOK.

We would like to remind all of you that the time has come to register teaching activities performed in spring 2014. You can do this here. The teaching records featured prominently during the recruitment process this spring. The K2 leadership frequently utilize the teaching records when making strategic decisions. This is the letter from the faculty regarding the registration (in Norwegian), and read instructions on how to register your teaching (In Norwegian).
NB: The database is open until September 5.

If you have any questions, please contact Tore Lillebø.

Arvid Steinar Haugen will have his public defence on Tuesday August 26, 2014.
Trial lecture: Tuesday August 26, 2014, 09:15
Topic: «Quality indicators – how to measure quality in a department of surgery.»
Public defence: Tuesday August 26, 2014, 11:15
Place: Aud. 1 (Trial lecture in aud. 4), BB-building, Jonas Lies vei 91
Title of dissertation: «Impact of a surgical checklist on safety culture, morbidity, and mortality. A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.»
1st opponent: Professor Rhona Flin, Universitetet i Aberdeen, Skottland
2nd opponent: Professor Sven Erik Gisvold, NTNU
Poster and press release (both in Norwegian)

Espen Rostrup will have his public defence on Friday August 29, 2014.
Trial lecture: Friday August 29, 2014, 09:15
Topic: «All Cause Atherogenic Disease: Contemporary Views of Dyslipidemia and Inflammation as Causes and Legitimate Intervention Targets»
Public defence: Friday August 29, 2014, 11:15
Place: Aud. 1, BB-building, Jonas Lies vei 91
Title of dissertation: «The effects of combined thermal and electric muscle stimulation (cTEMS) on fatness and fitness»
1st opponent: Professor Mark S. Nash, Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA
2nd opponent: Ph.d. Sofie Hexeberg, Dr. Hexebergs Klinikk, Sandvika
Poster (in Norwegian), press relese.

SIU is granting project funding for Norwegian institutes of higher education that wants to develop an education cooperation with Indian institutions at master and PhD level. Projects with one Norwegian and one Indian partner can apply for up to 400 000 kroner per year in support (a total of 1,2 million kroner for the project period). Deadline September 16th. For more information.

As part of the preparation for the establishment of a joint venture with Indian institutions, the Norwegian institution can also apply for up to 50 000 kroner in travel support for the purpose of getting acquainted with partners and plan joint activities. Deadline August 29th. For more information about the travel support.

Olav Thon Foundation’s national academic prize in natural sciences and medicine is awarded for the first time Thursday March 5th 2015. The scientific community is encouraged to nominate persons for the Foundation’s prize for outstanding teaching. In addition, researchers can apply for support for research projects in medicine and/or the natural sciences/mathematics. Deadline September 1st 2014.
For more information  (in Norwegian).

HSE in the Laboratory is a customised training program for employees with the laboratory as workplace. There will be a day course in radiation protection, in addition to courses in the safe use of chemicals, biological factors, systematic HSE-work, flammable goods, waste handling and ergonomics in the laboratory. All courses are held in Norwegian except for the radiation protection course which is held in both Norwegian and English.
For more information (in Norwegian).

There are still some seats available for either one, two or all three course sessions with Professor Larry K. Michalsen. The course will be held on September 18-19, and registration deadline is September 1.
For more information (in Norwegian).

The CCBIO Junior Scientist Symposium will be held August 28 at 10:00-14:00 in Auditorium 4 in the BB-building. The Symposium is open for everyone, and lunch will be served.
Program.
Registration before August 26.

The upcoming autumn’s most important day is, without a doubt, this year’s Exam and Teaching Seminar. Here is the program (in Norwegian). The seminar is mandatory for all lecturers at K2. Sign up here before August 25.