The Fram Centre

FRAM – High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment (Fram Centre) contributes to maintaining Norway’s prominent status in the management of environment and natural resources in the North.

Research: Melting of sea ice in the Arctic greatly impacts the global climate. This flagship focuses on social and management challenges to fisheries, shipping and petroleum-related activities.Photo: Jon Aars, Norwegian Polar Institute.

The Fram Centre is the short name for FRAM - High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment. The Fram Centre is based in Tromsø, and consists of about 500 scientists from 21 institutions involved in interdisciplinary research in the fields of natural science, technology and social sciences.

Fram Centre members:

Akvaplan-niva
CICERO Centre for International Climate Environmental Research Oslo
Institute of Marine Research
National Coastal Administration
National Veterinary Institute
NGU - The Geological Survey of Norway
NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research
NINA - Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
NIKU - Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research
Nofima - The Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research
NORUT - Northern Research Institute
Norwegian Polar Institute
Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute
Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Norwegian Mapping Authority
Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science
SINTEF Group
UNIS - The University Centre in Svalbard
University of Tromsø
Associated member: Polaria.

We contribute to Norway’s sound management of the environment and natural resources in the north – and we aim at excellence in said management. With scientific research as our foundation, we communicate knowledge to management authorities, the business communities and the general public.

The centre contributes to strengthening the connection between research and education. The Fram Centre is an important arena nationally as well as internationally, and contributes with inputs on climate-related issues.

Other outreach channels from the Fram Centre in english language:

Journal: FRAM Forum 2012

This journal – FRAM Forum – is an important channel for that outreach. Here, in plain language, we will present highlights from the past year at the Fram Centre.

In compiling this first issue of FRAM Forum, the editors have had a delightful mix of topics from which to choose. But the articles we present here are mainly based on research that was initiated before the Fram Centre was established. They hint at the range of possibilities for the future but are the result of diligent work in the past.

You can order a free copy here: post@framsenteret.no

You are free to download e copy here: FRAM+FORUM+2012.pdf

Web-TV: Fram Shorts - Instant Arctic Knowhow!

Explore Polar research. High North research brought to your screen. See uniqe footage and interwievs with the resarchers on framshorts.com

Organization of the centre

The Fram Centre’s chief co-operative body is the Centre Meeting, where the 21 member institutions elect a Centre Coordinator. Common research programmes are coordinated by a Research Coordination Group elected by the Centre Meeting.

The Fram Centre has its own secretariat which coordinates cooperative research efforts and communication on research. The Fram Centre AS is a shareholding company.

In addition to the Centre-managed scientific research, the Fram Centre AS also coordinates user interests regarding the building and operates the collective services at the Fram Centre, included marketing and image-building.

Download our brochure in pdf-formate: fram_A4_engelsk_web.pdf

Flagship research programmes

Click on titles to get longer text in norwegian and english.

Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean, technology and agreements

Melting of sea ice in the Arctic greatly impacts the global climate. This flagship focuses on social and management challenges to fisheries, shipping and petroleum-related activities. New challenges and technological solutions pertaining to rescue and oil spill response are addressed.

Effects of climate change on sea and coastal ecology in the north

Research in this programme will address the multiple ways climate change impacts the physical conditions of fjords and coasts and how, in turn, habitats and food supply are affected.

Ocean acidification and ecosystems effects in Northern waters

This flagship programme will contribute to a more complete understanding of ocean acidification. This process will affect the productivity of ecosystems, impacting ecosystem-based management and the exploitation of commercial resources, especially in the cold waters of the North, where the uptake of CO2 is substantial.

Effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems, landscapes, society and indigenous peoples.

Changes in Northern terrestrial ecosystems will be highly relevant to society, in particular for agriculture, forestry, reindeer herding and nature-based industries, species and area conservation, tourism and recreation. Issues related to climate adaptation in the North, as well the significance of climate change for Sámi culture and settlement will be included this flagship.

Hazardous substances – effects on ecosystems and human health

Climate change reinforces the importance of filling the gaps in our understanding of the distribution of pollutants in the Arctic and their effects on ecosystems and human health. This flagship programme also addresses the need for this knowledge to be incorporated in international agreements and processes.