Hazards, Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events

Geohazards are events related to geological features and processes that cause loss of life and severe damage to property and the natural and built environment. The most common and destructive geohazards in Norway are snow avalanches, clay-, debris- and rock slides, and floods, which together caused more than 2000 deaths during the last 150 years. Statistically, about 10 large slides and avalanches are expected to occur in Norway the next 50-100 years, each with possibly 20-100 deaths, unless preventive planning and actions are made. In addition to the loss of lives, geohazards pose a large impact on infrastructure and the daily life in many parts of Norway. A possible increase of extreme weather events in the next 50 years may lead to change in the type and frequency of slides and avalanches. The main objective of the four year research project GeoExtreme is therefore to assess the geohazard situation in Norway in a changing climate over the next 50 years. The initial step is a statistical analysis of the relationships between meteorological conditions and geohazards. To do this, a national database of slide events has been established. The time and location of these events will be compared to interpolated meteorological datasets for the last 100 years. Results of this analysis will be used in combination with climate scenarios for the next 50 years to produce a picture of possible future geohazards in Norway. The effects on the local society are studied in detail in four study areas representing different climate areas in Norway. An important part of the project is the assessment of socioeconomic consequences of geohazards in Norway, both in the past, and in the future, under the predicted climate scenarios. Important parameters here are cost related to damage by natural disasters as well as to mitigation measures, ability to learn by experience, changes in preparedness, and impact on policy makers. The first results show a high predictability of slide events by standard meteorological observations. Also the vulnerability pattern shows significant changes from hazard for residential areas to transport lines and leisure time activities. The presentation gives a general overview over the project and presents some of the first results of the analyses

Masters programmes in Norwegian teacher education

Norsk: På kort tid er det etablert et stort antall mastergradstilbud for lærere/lærerstudenter i Norge, men hva består disse av? Hvilke nye studier planlegges? Hva er ønsket utvikling på dette feltet? Høgskolen i Hedmark fikk i mai 2008 i oppdrag av Universitets- og høgskolerådet å kartlegge de ulike mastergradene som er knyttet til allmennlærerutdanningen i Norge i dag. Nasjonalt råd for lærerutdanning skisserte en rekke punkter som de ønsket å få belyst, blant annet forholdet mellom profesjonsrettede og disiplinrettede masterstudier. Grunnlaget for kartleggingen som her blir presentert, er alle høgskoler som har allmennlærerutdanning, enkelte andre høgskoler og Universitetet i Stavanger og Universitetet i Agder. Med bakgrunn i kartleggingen av mastergradsutdanningene skisseres også et forslag til en reorganisering av allmennlærerutdanningen.English: There has been a great expansion in the number of masters programmes for teachers in Norway. What is their content? In May 2008 Hedmark University College was asked by the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions to map the existing and planned masters degrees on offer for teachers in primary and secondary education. The National Council of Teacher Education specified relevant issues for the investigation. In the report results are presented along with suggestions for a new model for teacher education

Kartlegging av mastergrader i lærerutdanningene

Norsk: På kort tid er det etablert et stort antall mastergradstilbud for lærere/lærerstudenter i Norge, men hva består disse av? Hvilke nye studier planlegges? Hva er ønsket utvikling på dette feltet? Høgskolen i Hedmark fikk i mai 2008 i oppdrag av Universitets- og høgskolerådet å kartlegge de ulike mastergradene som er knyttet til allmennlærerutdanningen i Norge i dag. Nasjonalt råd for lærerutdanning skisserte en rekke punkter som de ønsket å få belyst, blant annet forholdet mellom profesjonsrettede og disiplinrettede masterstudier. Grunnlaget for kartleggingen som her blir presentert, er alle høgskoler som har allmennlærerutdanning, enkelte andre høgskoler og Universitetet i Stavanger og Universitetet i Agder. Med bakgrunn i kartleggingen av mastergradsutdanningene skisseres også et forslag til en reorganisering av allmennlærerutdanningen

Epidemiology of limb reduction defects as registered in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, 1970-2016: Population based study

Background: Following the Thalidomide disaster, the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) was established in 1967, with epidemiological surveillance of congenital anomalies as one main aim. Limb reduction defects (LRD) constitute a rare and heterogeneous anomaly group, where correct registration and classification is important for surveillance and research. We aimed at reviewing and recoding LRD cases in the MBRN using the same classification system for all years, and evaluate time trends, characteristics and risk factors, 1970–2016. Methods: After reviewing and recoding LRD cases using International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 10th version, for all years, time trends, association with major anomalies, risk factors and infant outcomes were calculated. Generalized linear models for the binomial family with log link gave relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Classification of LRD as suggested by European surveillance of congenital anomalies (EUROCAT) was attempted. Results: Overall LRD prevalence, 1970–2016, was 4.4 per 10 000, slightly increasing during 1970–1981, followed by relatively stable rates. There were more defects in upper than lower limbs. Defects in hands/fingers were most common, but unspecific descriptions prevented classification of LRD according to EUROCAT. A majority of cases had associated anomalies, the most common being other limb defects, followed by cardiac defects and anomalies in the nervous and digestive systems. From 1999, 26% of LRD cases were terminated, more than 90% of these had associated major anomalies. Stillbirth, neonatal and infant mortality were higher among infants with LRD, also related to associated anomalies. Pre-gestational diabetes was associated with a more than three times increased risk of offspring total LRD, while no association with maternal epilepsy was found. Taking folate/multivitamin supplements before and/or during pregnancy was associated with lower risk of offspring LRD (adjusted RR 0.7; 95% CI 0.6–0.9), while daily smoking did not significantly increase the risk. Conclusion: The MBRN now has information on LRD coded by ICD-10 from 1970, but information is not specific enough to use other recommended classification systems. Collecting radiographic descriptions and/or more details from hospital records would improve the quality of the registry data. Taking folate supplements before/during pregnancy may reduce the risk of offspring LRD