Translated by UiOGPT
- What preoccupies you at the moment?
Right now, I'm busy getting an overview of all the partners associated with UiO:Democracy and planning upcoming activities.
I took over the role of acting director of the initiative three weeks ago, and it has been very hectic since. I introduced the first democratic breakfast of the fall, and the program for the next two is almost ready. We will also start planning spring's events, and most importantly, the annual democracy conference.
Additionally, there's an upcoming roundtable conference with a network of museums working on democracy dissemination, a lunch with students who have received a democracy award for their master’s thesis work, and organizing the school's democracy day.
On top of that, there are meetings with various research projects from UiO:Democracy, and other initiatives at UiO, plus partners like Oslo Science City. It sounds like a lot to be occupied with right now, but that's how it is when I'm new in this position!
- If you were to explain to an eight-year-old what you are doing in three short sentences, what would you say?
I work for democracy. Democracy means that everyone can live safely, express their opinions, have food and clothes, and choose who will lead the country. I hope to contribute to this by letting different people meet and talk. Some of these people are those in power, others are those who discover things and write about them, or those who help people in need.
- What motivates you in your job?
What motivates me is that it is extremely important in our time to work for democracy. Democracy is threatened in various ways, by the spread of conspiracy theories, which contribute to weakening trust in politicians, media, and research. It is healthy to be critical, but dangerous when deliberate misinformation arises with the intent to undermine trust. We live in a time where one crisis follows another, creating pressure on democracy, making it easy for people to support individuals and movements that propagate simple solutions, such as in populism.
On a more daily level, I am motivated by working with skilled colleagues, the three advisors employed at UiO:Democracy, and all the talented people who contribute to our events—politicians, researchers, public intellectuals, and all our partners. They represent various entities working for democracy, for example, museums, schools, organizations, and businesses.
- If you were to become something different, what would it be?
Growing up, I dreamed of becoming a writer, living on a farm, and working as a veterinarian. These desires are still important if I were to do something else today. Nowadays, I could add working as a gardener or in the foreign service. Two quite different jobs—the first seems very harmonious, and the second incredibly exciting.
- What do you do to completely unwind?
I walk in the forest with my dog Lava, an overly joyful hunting Golden Retriever, which is a lighter and more energetic variant of the Golden Retriever. I do yoga, run, or have a pleasant dinner with family or friends. Occasionally, I also enjoy spending an evening out, starting with dinner and then going to the theater, a concert, or the cinema.