The main event of the Life Science week is on Monday where the health industry is in focus in the auditorium followed by reception in Oslo City Hall. On Tuesday, 210 years after Darwin's birth, it is Darwin Day with lectures on modern studies of the Galapagos finches at the science library. In addition, there are a number of events around the city where some of UiO: Life Sciences's convergence environments, collaborators and others show their research and take the debate on current topics. An important goal of the initiative is to develop UiO's interaction with the outside world, including the business sector, the public sector and the general population. Thus, the Life Science week will end with a light walk in the botanical garden on Thursday, February 14, a party that last year drew 2000 Oslo citizens to the park at Tøyen. Many events still have room so just sign up.
The initiative's desire for better interaction internally and externally was also indirectly a topic at the UiO board meeting this week. The UiO:Life Science board will be expanded with three internal representatives: one from the humanities/social sciences, one student and one temporary academic employee, and two external representatives, one of whom will be chairman of the board.
In addition to health, the environment is the focus area for UiO:Life Science. The initiative therefore decided last autumn to give strategic support for UiO's participation in the Earth Biogenome Project (EBP), a worldwide project aimed at DNA sequencing all of the Earth's species. Such a commitment is achievable today thanks to the enormous efficiency improvements in sequencing technology and in the bioinformatics needed to analyze the voluminous data generated. The first human genome took 23 years to sequence and cost 2.7 billion 1991 dollars. Today, you can submit a saliva sample and have your genome sequenced and analyzed for under $ 1000 in a few weeks.
Some may have noticed the excavators working on the construction site for the Life Sciences building already. Less visible, but equally active work is being done on detailed planning of the building interior and development of a comprehensive academic vision for the life science activity at the University of Oslo. In collaboration with other actors, MN will contribute to world-leading research and education, which in the long term will give us sustainable solutions to several of our time's greatest challenges in health and the environment.