Dear laureates.

Governing Mayor.

Rector of the University of Bergen.

Distinguished guests. Ladies and gentlemen.

It’s truly great being here tonight, celebrating the achievements of these young researchers and our two recipients of the Teacher’s Prize. 

It was impressive seeing you present your research projects earlier. You should all be proud of what you have achieved.

The Holberg School Programme jury is known for its high standards. In which your presentations truly display.

Tonight, we are also lucky enough to have with us some of the world’s sharpest minds.

I want to congratulate Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak for receiving this year’s Holberg Prize, for her extraordinary work within literary theory. Unfortunately, she was prevented from attending tonight's dinner.

I also want to extend my warmest regards to Dr. Daniela Alaattinoğlu for receiving her well-deserved Nils Klim Prize for her research in the fields of law. 

I actually hold a law degree myself – although I think I will stop the comparison between the two of us there..

I did however, get my law degree here at the University of Bergen. Something I can warmly recommend.

As a student, I actually lived about ten minutes away from here. I lived with three flatmates, where I was the lucky winner of "the room” out in the hallway.

Our apartment was also nicely located on the first floor, nearby two of the best bars in Bergen; Hulen, which still exists. And Garage, which sadly - some will say - do not.   

This meant that whenever we didn’t close our windows, there was always a good chance of half-finished kebabs flying into our apartment late at night. Thrown in by people done with their night food.

But except from flying kebabs, I will say that studying at the University of Bergen was some of my best years.

The hikes to Fløyen, swimming at Verftet, the atmosphere on Bryggen, - and the ever-present smell of wet pavement; Bergen will always feel like home.

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Tomorrow, we will get the final results of this year’s Holberg School Programme.

But no matter the final score - I want to recognize the hard work and dedication, it is clear, that you all have put into these research projects.

As many in this room know: To be a truly good researcher, you need stamina, you need discipline, and you need commitment.  

It is said about Thomas Edison – the man that invented the light bulb – that he conducted 40 000 experiments before he finally found the right material to make the light bulb work.

But in the middle of the process – after thousands of tries – his assistant couldn’t take it anymore. He suggested to Edison that there was no point in keep trying.  

In which, Edison responded:

“I know we have worked a long time. I know we haven’t found what we are looking for.

But the result of our work is brilliant! Because now, we have a list of over 50 000 materials we know won’t work!”

Point is: Truly important discovery takes time and hard work. It takes dedication. And it takes – I guess – a bit of optimism.

To make the world a better place, we need more people that are not afraid to explore, to experiment and to be curious about the world around them.

People like our young nominees – and many others in this very room.

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Which brings me to my second point.

Cause in a time where the simple, the categorical and the superficial, often get to dominate public discourse – you have now gotten valuable experience in something that are much harder to do.

You have sought to examine the world around you. Not by scratching the surface, but to explore it thoroughly.

You have asked important questions – and not looked for the easy answer, but for the right one - even if it’s complicated.

You have simply delved into the complex - and not been afraid of it.

That’s good research.

That’s research that contributes meaningful value to the social debate and to us as a society.

And that’s research we need to protect - especially from those who doesn’t value it.

Norwegian schools shall always be a place where we encourage our students to be curious, asking tough questions and exploring the complexity of their answers.

And Norwegian universities shall always be a place where these students can continue their pursuit of knowledge – never with any doubt that their right to free and independent thought is guaranteed.   

As we know, these are principles we cannot and – shall not - take for granted.

The Holberg Prize reminds us of the importance of acknowledging great and influential scientific work.

Thank you for your work – and thank you for stimulating interest in research among young people.

Thank you to our great teachers around the country – that we know inspire our students every day – to better understand the world around them.

And thank you to all of you in this room – who contribute to ensure – that great minds are free and independent to keep exploring, to keep asking questions and to keep delving into the complex.

Let’s raise our glass. And again, congratulations to our prize winners!

Thank you.