NEWS
The conclusion of Linneaus2007 will be held in a memorable manner in a world of ice and snow, a world of light and sound. The journey will be to places where Linnaeus strived but never reached - to Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi. The theme of the party is the curiosity and creativity of Carl Linnaeus, combined with the ice masses of Lapland. The celebration on 15 December will be held in the presence of H.R.H. King Carl XVI Gustaf and H.R.H. Queen Silvia.
Curiosity, creativity and science combined with a spirit of enterprise are the inspiration for the conclusion of Linneaus2007. Carl Linnaeus has been celebrated throughout Sweden and the world during the year – with pomp and revelry, fantastic gardens, hundreds of Linnaeus schools and scientific and research exhibitions for the general public – just to give a few examples of what has occurred so far.
Linnaeus himself began his explorations with a journey by horse to Lapland in 1732. Therefore, it is suitable to follow in the footsteps of Linnaeus in a memorable manner, in an environment characterised by entrepreneurs and researchers.
– Our goal has been to inspire the young to devote themselves towards the sciences and research, says Secretary General Åse Berglund, Linnaeus2007. In Jukkasjärvi we are pleased to lay out thousands of working hours towards the International Polar Year, which has the same goal.
The festivities will include a science conference in Kiruna and a final celebration at the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi. Over 500 representatives in the fields of science and research, government, regional administration, descendents of Linnaeus, international guests and many of those that have worked with Linnaeus2007 have been invited. The scientific conference has the theme: The possibilities and boundaries of science. It is joint arrangement by Umeå University and the Swedish Research Council.
– It will be exciting to listen to the viewpoints of the panel participants on the delimitation of knowledge, says Gunnel Gustafsson, Deputy Director-General at the Swedish Research Council. My hope is that the conclusion of the Linnaeus year will inspire a bold combination of facts and imagination towards new pioneering which science is known for.
– It is outstanding for Umeå University to actively contribute to the conclusion of the Linnaeus year, says Göran Sandberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University. We have offensively invested in Kiruna in both education and research.
During the day of ceremony there will be a rewarding of several awards. Two gymnasium students will win a trip on the Icebreaker Oden in the ”Polar Journey” competition and a prize will be awarded to the winner of the Linnaeus Gaming programming competition which was arranged early in the year.
New leading regional partners for the festivities in Jukkasjärvi are LKAB and Boliden. LKAB is an international high-tech minerals group, one of the world’s leading producers of upgraded iron ore products for the steel industry and a growing supplier of industrial minerals products to other sectors. Boliden is one of the leading mining and smelting companies in Europe with operations in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The possibilities and boundaries of science – Then, now and in the future Science Conference
Saturday 15 December, 9.00-14.00. Place: The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) auditorium, Kiruna.
Lectures in the spirit of Linnaeus Lecturers from Umeå University begin with the work and research Linnaeus and connect his discoveries with current interests and innovative research at the university. Both humanistic and scientific perspectives will be presented.
Exciting encounters. People and places in Northern Sweden throughout the millennium Professor Lars-Erik Edlund, Department of Comparative Literature and Scandinavian Languages Passionate flowers.
On Linnaeus, botany and women Senior Lecturer Heidi Hansson, Department of Modern Languages.
Linnaeus’ flowers continue to bloom, but how do they when? Professor Ove Nilsson, Umeå Plant Science Center.
How much longer can damage be done to organisms and ecosystems? Professor Kristin Palmqvist, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science
The possibilities of science – Sweden’s first astronaut speaks about his own experiences Christer Fuglesang, Honorary Doctor at Umeå University, speaks about his very own authentic experience of the possibilities of science.
Panel discussion The conference will conclude with a panel discussion in which the conditions of science – its extensive scope but also its possible limitations – will be addressed. Participants: Göran Sandberg, Umeå University Vice-Chancellor, Christer Fuglesang, Lyndon L. Olson, former US Ambassador to Sweden, and hopefully one more Nobel Prize recipients.
The year 2007 will mark the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carl Linnaeus (in Sweden known by his noble name, von Linné). He was, of course, already in his life-time, all over Europe a famous botanist and zoologist and probably the most well-known Swede who ever walked this earth. Linnaeus developed the binary method of classifying plants that 300 years later is still in use. So it is only natural that Sweden will celebrate its perhaps most well-known son. The celebrations will, in the presence of HM the King and HM the Queen, start in the city of Växjö on January 28, 2007 and continue all over Sweden throughout the year, ending in the far north of the country on 15 December, in remembrance of Linnaeus' journey to Lapland in 1732. Read more at: www.linneaus2007.se
The International Polar Year 2007–2008 is the fourth occurrence, with more than fifty participating countries, with a focus on climate change. There, are oil, gas, minerals and other sought-after-resources. There, are people and communities whose lifestyle is already strongly affected by greenhouse gases and resource exploitation and whose future is uncertain. The first International Polar Year took place in 1882-1883, the second was held in in 1932-1933, and the third in 1957-1958, when the Kinnvika Research Station was established by a Swedish-Finish-Swiss expedition team. Read more at: www.ipy.se/index.php?artikel=71
