Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
	Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Established:	1996 (1910, 1760)
Type:	Public university
Rector:	Torbjørn Digernes (Professor of marine system design)
Staff:	4,300
Students:	20,000
Location:	Trondheim, Norway
Campus:	Gløshaugen; Dragvoll; Øya; Tyholt
Affiliations:	European University Association; TIME network
Website:	www.ntnu.no/english

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The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, known by its Norwegian acronym NTNU (from Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet), is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the seven universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology. In addition to engineering and the natural and physical sciences, the university offers advanced degrees in other academic disciplines ranging from the social sciences, the arts, medicine, architecture and fine art.

NTNU has several campuses in Trondheim [[2]], with Gløshaugen, for engineering and sciences, and Dragvoll, for humanities and social sciences as the main two. Other campuses include Tyholt for marine technology, Øya for medicine, Kalvskinnet for archaeology, Midtbyen for the music conservatory and Nedre Elvehavn for the art academy.

NTNU consists of seven faculties with a total of 53 departments. The university has approximately 20,000 students. Academic and administrative staff contribute 4,300 man-labour years of which 2,500 are in education and research. NTNU has more than 100 laboratories and is at any time running some 2,000 research projects.

NTNU welcomes students from all over the world, and has roughly 300 research agreements or exchange programs with 58 institutions worldwide [[3]]. More than 30 of the master’s programmes are taught in English. [[4]]PhD programs are open to qualified applicants, and are paid staff positions that give candidates specific workplace rights and benefits under Norwegian law. [[5]]

NTNU cooperates closely with SINTEF, the largest independent research institution in Scandinavia and one of the largest in Europe, and with St. Olavs University Hospital.

NTNU was formed in 1996 by the merger of the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH) (1910), the College of Arts and Sciences (AVH), the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology (VM), the Faculty of Medicine (DMF), and the Trondheim Conservatory of Music (MiT). Prior to the 1996 merger, NTH, AVH, DMF, and VM together constituted the University of Trondheim (UNiT), which was a much looser organization. However, the university's roots go back to 1760, with the foundation of the Trondheim Society, which in 1767 became the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters. A group of Trondheim-based institutions including NTNU will celebrate a 250th Jubilee in 2010 to commemorate this history. [[6]]

[edit] Student organizations

NTNU students have a clear presence in the city of Trondheim. The most famous student organization is the Studentersamfundet i Trondhjem, also known as "the red round house" after its architectural form; every second year it organizes a cultural festival UKA. Another festival organized by students is the International Student Festival in Trondheim ISFiT, which awards a student peace prize and draws internationally known speakers. The student sports organization, NTNUI, has roughly 10 000 members in its many branches [[7]], with the largest groups including orienteering, cross-country and telemark skiing, but there are also groups for sports less common in Norway, like American football and aikido. A cabin and cottage organization owns several cabins in the countryside, available for students wishing to spend a few days away. There are also student fraternities, some of which conduct voluntary hazing rituals, which provide contact with potential employers and for social interaction between students. There are also alumni associations; religious and political organizations; clubs devoted to various topics such as innovation, human rights, beer, oatmeal, anime and computers; and The Association for Various Associations, which is a parody of the university's large number of organizations.

[edit] Noted alumni

Lars Onsager - graduated 1925, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1968
Ivar Giaever - graduated 1952, Nobel Prize in Physics 1973
Asbjorn Folling - graduated 1916, Jahreprisen 1960
Jens G. Balchen, electronics engr., professor, "father of Norwegian cybernetics", IEEE fellow
Alf Egil Bogen, electronics engr., co-inventor of Atmel AVR µcontroller, co-founder of Atmel Norway
Helmer Dahl, electronics engr., WWII radar and ASDIC pioneer, research and industry mentor, technology historian
Bjarne Hurlen, mechanical engr., army officer, defence industry executive (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk 1956–1975)
Ediz Hun, biology & environmental sciences, lecturer at Marmara University, former Member of Turkish Grand National Assemble and famous Turkish actor
Ralph Høibakk, physicist, computer industry executive, mountaineer, adventurer (Seven Summits; South Pole)
Fred Kavli, physicist, innovator, business leader (sensor technology: Kavlico Corp.), and philanthropist
Olav Landsverk, electronics engr., military weapon systems computer pioneer, professor
John M. Lervik, electronics engr., co-founder and CEO of Fast Search & Transfer (FAST)
Finn Lied, electronics engr., WWII resistance agent, defence research director, Minister of Industry
Terje Michalsen, electronics engr., venture capitalist
Lars Monrad Krohn, electronics engr., industrialist (mini- and microcomputers)
Ingvild Myhre, electronics engr., telecom industry executive (Alcatel Telecom Norway, Telenor Mobil)
Venketa Parthasarathy, chemical engr., noted for work on wood pulp and two-stage oxygen delignification
Edgar B. Schieldrop, mechanical engr., student society co-founder, popular science & technology author
Rolf Skaar, cybernetics engr., industrialist (minicomputers), Norwegian Space Centre director
Berit Svendsen, telecom. engr., MTM, CTO of Telenor 2000–.
Anders Talleraas, mechanical engr., MP for 20 years, former Conservative party parliamentary leader
Vebjørn Tandberg, electronics engr., industrialist (radio, tape recording, television)
Leif Tronstad, O.B.E., chemist, nuclear chemistry scientist, planner and organiser of WWII's Operation Gunnerside
John Ugelstad, chemical engr., known for his pioneering work on monodisperse polymer beads
Tore M. Undeland, electrical engr., professor, international textbook author (Wiley), IEEE fellow
Bror With, mechanical engr., inventor of the Rottefella ski binding and Dromedille dinghy; WWII resistance agent
Vegard Wollan, electronics engr., co-inventor of Atmel AVR µcontroller, co-founder of Atmel Norway
Gjert Wilhelmsen, marine engr., co-founder of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Øystein Stray Spetalen, petroleum engr., Norwegian investor
Tor Olav Trøim, marine engr., shipping and energy industry executive (Frontline Ltd., Seadrill)