CIENS – Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research

CIENS is a strategic research collaboration between four independent research institutes and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, the University of Oslo and the Oslo Metropolitan University.

CIENS has three main objectives: to disseminate research and knowledge from its partners; to place relevant, research-based topics on the national and international agenda, including through PEER; and to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development within the network. The activities are intended to create added value beyond what the partners achieve individually.

Communicating robust, interdisciplinary climate and environmental research is a core area of work. CIENS organizes seminars that both present new knowledge and highlight future research needs. Topics are selected based on users’ needs and are intended to contribute to public debate. The primary target audience is public administration and decision-makers.

Furthermore, CIENS works to strengthen dialogue with national users of climate and environmental research, complementing the partners’ own stakeholder relations.

CIENS also facilitates internal networks among researchers and communication professionals. These networks aim to promote the exchange of experience, identify opportunities for joint projects, and contribute to capacity building, particularly in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, with a focus on early-career researchers.

CIENS has four internal networks:

  • A network gathering for all communication staff in CIENS
  • CIENS Artificial Intelligence Network (CAIN)
  • CIENS Early Career Network (CECN)
  • A network of staff working with communication in EU projects (EUKOM)

Through its membership in PEER, CIENS participates in European processes, including the development of EU framework programmes for research. This collaboration aims to promote Norwegian interests in environmental, nature, and climate research in cooperation with key public authorities, as well as to facilitate project collaboration with leading European institutions.

Pål Molander, Chair of the Board of CIENS, will also serve as Chair of PEER until autumn 2027. During the same period, Audun Ruud, head of CIENS’ International Committee, will serve as head of the PEER Secretariat.

You can read CIENS’s strategy 2026 – 2030 here

Postal address

CIENS
c/o CICERO
Post office box 1129 Blindern
0318 Oslo
Email: post@ciens.no

Visiting address

CIENS
c/o CICERO
Oslo Science Park
Gaustadalléen 21
0349 Oslo

PEER member

CIENS is a member of the Partnership for European Environmental Research. PEER represents eight large, interdisciplinary environmental research centres in Europe. PEER’s vision is to be a world leader in integrating knowledge and expertise for sustainable development.

PEER member centres carry out basic and applied research combining different disciplines from natural and social sciences. Research covers all fields of the environment, particularly addressing the interaction between man and nature.

Read more about the partnership at www.peer.eu