Nordic Laboratory (NorLab)

Nordic Laboratory (NorLab) is a collaborative research group anchored at the Departments of Social Anthropology at the Universities of Bergen and Oslo. The aim is to contribute to the further development of Nordic ethnography and to strengthen networks among students and researchers with an interest in the region. Since its establishment in 2019, NorLab has launched several seminar series, workshops, and panel discussions, and has also initiated research projects and joint publications.

Building on its inter-university foundation, NorLab seeks to inspire dialogue and collaboration across research institutions, and between anthropologists both within and outside academia.

In 2025–26, NorLab’s activities are centered around the theme and working group LandBruk (external link). LandBruk is a network of researchers and students interested in anthropological perspectives on agriculture and land-use conflicts in the Nordic region. Through this initiative, we aim to develop critical anthropological theory and tools to address key challenges in agricultural production, and to shed light on alternative forms of food production and business development adapted to Nordic conditions. We are particularly interested in how political directives leave traces in the landscape, and how visions of sustainable use are realized in Nordic environments.

LandBruk hosts a seminar series throughout 2025–2026, held at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo, with all seminars also available via Zoom. We welcome everyone with an interest in anthropological studies of agriculture and land use to take part. See the full program for 2025 (external link).

LandBruk also runs a reading group that meets once a month to discuss academic literature on various forms of land use. If you are interested in joining the reading group, please send an email to Magnus Ravnå: magnus.o.n.ravna [at] ntnu.no.