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Brief encounter with Karen O'Brien

Karen O'Brien is concerned about the political developments in her home country. She is soon to take early retirement from her professor position at ISS. 

Karen O' Brien

Karen O'Brien hiking in the area around Beitost?len. Photo: Private

This text has been translated from Norwegian with the assistance of GPT UiO.

– What preoccupies you at the moment?

– I am anxious about the current political situation in the United States because it has profound and long-term consequences for both people and the planet – particularly for nature and the climate.

– If you were to explain to an eight-year-old what you do at work using three short sentences, what would you say?

– I research how we can contribute to a fair and sustainable world. I teach about the relationship between the environment and society. I help people understand that they matter more than they might think.

– What motivates you in your job?

– I am motivated by a deep understanding of the impacts that climate change and the loss of biodiversity have on society, and a strong belief that we can – and must – do better, especially on behalf of young people and future generations.

– If you were to become something different, what would it be?

– Good question! I am retiring early from the university at the turn of the year to work with communities on scaling transformative change. This might involve becoming something completely different – but it's likely about doing things in a different way.

– What do you do to completely unwind?

– I enjoy running, reading, and doing puzzles. And when I really want to disconnect – especially from my phone, I go on 10-day silent retreats with meditation.

Published June 25, 2025 8:57 AM - Last modified June 25, 2025 8:58 AM