Ole Danbolt Mjøs
Encyclopedia
Ole Danbolt Mjøs is a Norwegian physician and politician for the Christian Democratic Party. A professor and former rector at the University of Tromsø
, he is known worldwide as the leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
from 2003 to 2008.
, he took the dr.med. degree in 1972. In 1975 he was appointed professor of physiology
at the University of Tromsø
. From 1989 to 1995 he served as rector
there.
Mjøs is also well-known outside of his academic field. He chaired Kringkastingsrådet from 1990 to 1994, and has held various political offices. From 1998 to 2000 he chaired the so-called Mjøs Committee, which delivered the Norwegian Official Report
2000:14, thus paving way for the so-called Quality Reform
.
From 2003 to 2008 he chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee
, which is awarding the Nobel Peace Prize
. Laureates during his times as chair were Shirin Ebadi
(2003), Wangari Maathai
(2004) the International Atomic Energy Agency
and Mohamed ElBaradei (2005) Muhammad Yunus
and the Grameen Bank
(2006), Al Gore
and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(2007), and Martti Ahtisaari
(2008). In 2009 he was succeeded as leader by Thorbjørn Jagland
.
Mjøs has been decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and the Order of the Lion of Finland
.
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
, he is known worldwide as the leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
from 2003 to 2008.
Career
Born in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, he took the dr.med. degree in 1972. In 1975 he was appointed professor of physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
at the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
. From 1989 to 1995 he served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
there.
Mjøs is also well-known outside of his academic field. He chaired Kringkastingsrådet from 1990 to 1994, and has held various political offices. From 1998 to 2000 he chaired the so-called Mjøs Committee, which delivered the Norwegian Official Report
Norwegian Official Report
A Norwegian Official Report is a report published by a panel or committee appointed by the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Parliament may request the government to establish such a committee....
2000:14, thus paving way for the so-called Quality Reform
Quality Reform
The Quality Reform was a reform initialized by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research after recommendation from the Mjøs committee . It was introduced in 2002-03 and changed the entire system of higher education in Norway to comply with the Bologna process...
.
From 2003 to 2008 he chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year.Its five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body.-History:...
, which is awarding the Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
. Laureates during his times as chair were Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. On 10 October 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's,...
(2003), Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Muta Mary Jo Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya...
(2004) the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
and Mohamed ElBaradei (2005) Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, an institution that provides microcredit to help its clients establish creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen received the Nobel Peace Prize...
and the Grameen Bank
Grameen Bank
The Grameen Bank is a microfinance organization and community development bank started in Bangladesh that makes small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral...
(2006), Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
(2007), and Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland , Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
(2008). In 2009 he was succeeded as leader by Thorbjørn Jagland
Thorbjørn Jagland
is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party, currently serving as the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe...
.
Mjøs has been decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and the Order of the Lion of Finland
Order of the Lion of Finland
There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...
.