Department of Geosciences – history
The University of Bergen was formally established by a parliamentary resolution on 9 April 1946. The University of Bergen Act came into force on 30 August 1946. In a European context, the University of Bergen is a young university. But its academic roots go deeper. Prior to the establishment of the university, scientific activities and teaching had long taken place at the University Museum in Bergen, which had already been established in 1825.
From Bergen Museum to modern university
The President of the Storting, Wilhelm Koren Christie (external link), was one of the founders of Bergen Museum (external link) in 1825 and today sits on his pedestal at Muséplass, looking down towards the city centre. By virtue of his position and enthusiasm, Christie was important in creating a spirit of generosity and goodwill for the new museum. The large museum buildings as they stand today were erected during the 1860s.
Already at this time, some suggested that the museum should work for "... the establishment of a scientific college for Western Norway in Bergen". The idea of a university had been planted.
In 1907, the "Sundt Chair in Zoology" was established. For the first time, Bergen Museum could offer education at university level. In 1914, the five academic leaders were given professor titles: Dr. August Brinkmann at the Zoological Department, Dr. Bjørn Helland-Hanssen at the Biological Station, Jens Holmboe at the Botanical Department, Dr. Carl Fredrik Kolderup at the Mineralogical-Geological Department and Dr. Haakon Shetelig at the Historical-Antiquarian Department. The new departments show which were the central fields of study in the Bergen community.
In 1907, the "Sundt Chair in Zoology" was established. For the first time, Bergen Museum could offer teaching at university level. In 1914, the five academic leaders were given professor titles: Dr. August Brinkmann at the Zoological Department, Dr. Bjørn Helland-Hansen at the Biological Station, Jens Holmboe at the Botanical Department, Dr. Carl Fredrik Kolderup at the Mineralogical-Geological Department and Dr. Haakon Shetelig at the Historical-Antiquarian Department. The new departments show which were the central fields of study in the Bergen community.
By the beginning of the 1940s, a solid research environment had developed at and in connection with Bergen Museum. In addition to research, the museum now offered higher education in various fields, although exams were held in Oslo.
It was natural that fields related to the weather and the sea in particular gained a strong foothold in the academic environment in the city. The Bergen Earthquake Station and the Weather Forecasting Service in Western Norway had become well-known among most Norwegians. Marine research (external link), oceanography (external link), biology, geology (external link) and meteorology were fields that had importance in Bergen.
The new University of Bergen (external link) was established in 1946, based on the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (external link), the Faculty of History and Philosophy and the Faculty of Medicine. The University of Bergen became a new, modern alternative to a more traditional university model focused on long civil service studies. Read more here.
The Kolderups and early geological research
In 1896, Carl Fredrik Kolderup (external link) was hired as a research fellow and curator of the geological collections at Bergen Museum – the first professional geologist in a permanent position in Western Norway. In 1914, as mentioned above, he was appointed professor. Kolderup's most important scientific contribution and what he is known for is his great pioneering work in mapping much of the bedrock of Western Norway. Carl Fredrik Kolderup will also be remembered as the one who, in 1904, established the first earthquake station in Norway.
His son, Niels-Henrik Kolderup (external link), was hired as an amanuensis at Bergen Museum in 1919 and completed his Ph.D. thesis in 1928. In 1939, he took over the professorship from his father. Together with his father, in 1940 he published the award-winning thesis "Geology of the Bergen Arc System (external link)". He was arrested during World War II and spent three years in German concentration camps. After the war he returned to his professorship and headed the committee that drafted the law for the new University of Bergen. In 1946 Bergen Museum became part of the new university. From 1948 to 1953 Kolderup (external link) was dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
