Jan Birger Jansen
Encyclopedia
Jan Birger Jansen was a Norwegian physician, anatomist and scientist, specializing in brain research. He played an important role in the Norwegian civil resistance during the Second World War
.
as a son of captain James Christian Jansen (1868–1912) and Ananda Kristine Jacobsen (1874–1961). In August 1925 in Frederiksvern
he married merchant's daughter Helene Sofie Schøning (1902–1976). They had the son Jan K. S. Jansen
.
his secondary education in Horten in 1917 and studied at the Royal Frederick University
, graduating with the cand.med.
degree in 1924. He was hired as a prosector
there in 1926, studied with a Rockefeller Grant under C. Judson Herrick at the University of Chicago
from 1927 to 1929, and back in Norway he took the dr.med. degree in 1931 with the thesis The brain of Myxine glutinosa. He continued as a researcher at the University of Chicago, and was a professor from 1945 to 1966. He was the Europe-based editor for the Journal of Comparative Neurology. Together with Alf Brodal
he is credited with founding the "Oslo School" of brain research. His research speciality was the cerebellum
, but in addition to the human brain, Jansen did research on cetacea
n brains. He also did research in neuropathology
and published textbooks in anatomy and histology, and published three books based on Olof Larssell's work after Larssell died.
During the Second World War, Jansen participated in the Norwegian resistance movement
from 1940 onwards. He edited the illegal newspaper Bulletinen
from 1941; from 1942 to 1944 as the sole editor, and was a member of the so-called Coordination Committee ( (KK)). He had to flee to Sweden in 1944.
In 1961 Jansen stood forward as a member of Landsforbundet for folkeavstemning
, a lobby organization which worked to include the institution of referenda
in the Norwegian Constitution.
Jansen was decorated Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1963. He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
, and an honorary doctor
of the University of Kiel
, the University of Leiden and the University of Århus.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Personal life
He was born in HortenHorten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
as a son of captain James Christian Jansen (1868–1912) and Ananda Kristine Jacobsen (1874–1961). In August 1925 in Frederiksvern
Stavern
Stavern is a small Norwegian town located in the municipality of Larvik, south of the city of Larvik in Vestfold.The port and naval base of Stavern was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Even though it was an important port it was first given its status as a town July 1, 1942...
he married merchant's daughter Helene Sofie Schøning (1902–1976). They had the son Jan K. S. Jansen
Jan K. S. Jansen
Jan Kristian Schøning Jansen was a Norwegian physiologist.He was born in Oslo as a son of professor of medicine Jan Birger Jansen and Helene Sofie Schøning...
.
Career
He finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in Horten in 1917 and studied at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, graduating with the cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree in 1924. He was hired as a prosector
Prosector
A prosector is a person with the special task of preparing a dissection for demonstration, usually in medical schools or hospitals. Many important anatomists began their careers as prosectors working for lecturers and demonstrators in anatomy and pathology....
there in 1926, studied with a Rockefeller Grant under C. Judson Herrick at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
from 1927 to 1929, and back in Norway he took the dr.med. degree in 1931 with the thesis The brain of Myxine glutinosa. He continued as a researcher at the University of Chicago, and was a professor from 1945 to 1966. He was the Europe-based editor for the Journal of Comparative Neurology. Together with Alf Brodal
Alf Brodal
Alf Brodal was a Norwegian professor of anatomy.-Career:He was born in Kristiania as a son of the doctor of engineering Peter Brodal and his wife Helene Kathrine Obenauer . He took the examen artium in 1929 and the cand.med. degree in 1937. He took the dr.med...
he is credited with founding the "Oslo School" of brain research. His research speciality was the cerebellum
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
, but in addition to the human brain, Jansen did research on cetacea
Cetacea
The order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
n brains. He also did research in neuropathology
Neuropathology
Neuropathology is the study of disease of nervous system tissue, usually in the form of either small surgical biopsies or whole autopsy brains. Neuropathology is a subspecialty of anatomic pathology, neurology, and neurosurgery...
and published textbooks in anatomy and histology, and published three books based on Olof Larssell's work after Larssell died.
During the Second World War, Jansen participated in the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
from 1940 onwards. He edited the illegal newspaper Bulletinen
Bulletinen
Bulletinen was an underground newspaper in Norway during World War II. Its first issue came in November 1940, and the publication continued until the end of the war. The name Bulletinen was adapted in November 1944...
from 1941; from 1942 to 1944 as the sole editor, and was a member of the so-called Coordination Committee ( (KK)). He had to flee to Sweden in 1944.
In 1961 Jansen stood forward as a member of Landsforbundet for folkeavstemning
Landsforbundet for folkeavstemning
Landsforbundet for folkeavstemning was a Norwegian lobby organization.-Inception:It was founded in April 1961 with the goal of including the institution of referenda in the Norwegian Constitution...
, a lobby organization which worked to include the institution of referenda
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in the Norwegian Constitution.
Jansen was decorated Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1963. He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
, and an honorary doctor
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
, the University of Leiden and the University of Århus.
Selected bibliography
- The brain of Myxine glutinosa (thesis, 1930)
- Aspects of cerebral anatomy (with Alf BrodalAlf BrodalAlf Brodal was a Norwegian professor of anatomy.-Career:He was born in Kristiania as a son of the doctor of engineering Peter Brodal and his wife Helene Kathrine Obenauer . He took the examen artium in 1929 and the cand.med. degree in 1937. He took the dr.med...
, 1954) - Das Kleinhirn (with Alf BrodalAlf BrodalAlf Brodal was a Norwegian professor of anatomy.-Career:He was born in Kristiania as a son of the doctor of engineering Peter Brodal and his wife Helene Kathrine Obenauer . He took the examen artium in 1929 and the cand.med. degree in 1937. He took the dr.med...
, 1958) - The Comparative Anatomy and Histology of the Cerebellum (based on Olof Larsell's work, 1967–1972)