The Northern Scholars Lectures: Astrid Nyland In brief Date - 31 October 2025Venue - Institute of Geography, University of EdinburghSpeaker - Professor Astrid Nyland (University of Stavanger)Title - The Day the Sea Became a Monster 8200 Years Ago – Storytelling as Science Communication to a Broad Audience About the event As part of the Northern Scholars Lectures, and the Hutton Club seminars, the University of Edinburgh is pleased to welcome Professor Astrid Nyland from the University of Stavanger to give a free public talk.Abstract by Professor Astrid NylandTo make archaeology more than curiosa and stories that feels like a world apart, it is essential that we move beyond publishing for our academic peers and get results from research out to a wider audience and stake holders. My point of departure is results from a large research project concerned about the social impacts of the Storegga tsunami that hit the coast of Norway, Scotland and beyond 8200 years ago. In this project, a children’s book is a planned output. The book is called: Dagen sjøen ble et monster [The day the sea became a monster] and it is about the impact of the tsunami on a young girl and her family. I will show how research undertaken at a large research project can serve as foundation for writing stories from the past and discuss why such may be relevant for our societies today. In the talk, I will also illustrate how important the visual is when trying to capture what must have been a very dramatic, perhaps even monstrous, day. About the speaker Professor Nyland is a professor at the University of Stavanger's Museum of Archaeology and project coordinator of archaeological excavations at its department of Cultural Heritage.Her research interests include the exploration of lives and relations of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fishers of North-western Europe, and the processes of the "delayed Neolithic" of Norway.From 2021 to 2024, she was Principal Investigator of the international Life After the Storegga Tsunami project (LAST) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. How to attend This event is free and open to all. No registration is necessary. About the Northern Scholars The Northern Scholars Scheme was established at the University of Edinburgh in 1956.Its role is to foster co-operation between scholars of Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and colleagues in the University of Edinburgh.Mutual areas of interest include aspects of linguistics, and historical and other cultural studies which are common to these countries and to Scotland. Each year, the Northern Scholars Scheme Committee sponsors visits by scholars of the member countries to Edinburgh, during which time they give departmental seminars and public lectures. Find out more about the Northern Scholars Tags European Languages and Cultures Scandinavian Studies Oct 31 2025 16.00 - 17.30 The Northern Scholars Lectures: Astrid Nyland "The day the sea became a monster 8200 years ago". Join Professor Astrid Nyland from the University of Stavanger for a free public talk on storytelling as science communication - part of the Northern Scholars Lectures. Lecture Theatre 2.13 Institute of Geography Drummond Street Edinburgh EH8 9XP Find the venue: Institute of Geography
The Northern Scholars Lectures: Astrid Nyland In brief Date - 31 October 2025Venue - Institute of Geography, University of EdinburghSpeaker - Professor Astrid Nyland (University of Stavanger)Title - The Day the Sea Became a Monster 8200 Years Ago – Storytelling as Science Communication to a Broad Audience About the event As part of the Northern Scholars Lectures, and the Hutton Club seminars, the University of Edinburgh is pleased to welcome Professor Astrid Nyland from the University of Stavanger to give a free public talk.Abstract by Professor Astrid NylandTo make archaeology more than curiosa and stories that feels like a world apart, it is essential that we move beyond publishing for our academic peers and get results from research out to a wider audience and stake holders. My point of departure is results from a large research project concerned about the social impacts of the Storegga tsunami that hit the coast of Norway, Scotland and beyond 8200 years ago. In this project, a children’s book is a planned output. The book is called: Dagen sjøen ble et monster [The day the sea became a monster] and it is about the impact of the tsunami on a young girl and her family. I will show how research undertaken at a large research project can serve as foundation for writing stories from the past and discuss why such may be relevant for our societies today. In the talk, I will also illustrate how important the visual is when trying to capture what must have been a very dramatic, perhaps even monstrous, day. About the speaker Professor Nyland is a professor at the University of Stavanger's Museum of Archaeology and project coordinator of archaeological excavations at its department of Cultural Heritage.Her research interests include the exploration of lives and relations of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fishers of North-western Europe, and the processes of the "delayed Neolithic" of Norway.From 2021 to 2024, she was Principal Investigator of the international Life After the Storegga Tsunami project (LAST) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. How to attend This event is free and open to all. No registration is necessary. About the Northern Scholars The Northern Scholars Scheme was established at the University of Edinburgh in 1956.Its role is to foster co-operation between scholars of Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and colleagues in the University of Edinburgh.Mutual areas of interest include aspects of linguistics, and historical and other cultural studies which are common to these countries and to Scotland. Each year, the Northern Scholars Scheme Committee sponsors visits by scholars of the member countries to Edinburgh, during which time they give departmental seminars and public lectures. Find out more about the Northern Scholars Tags European Languages and Cultures Scandinavian Studies Oct 31 2025 16.00 - 17.30 The Northern Scholars Lectures: Astrid Nyland "The day the sea became a monster 8200 years ago". Join Professor Astrid Nyland from the University of Stavanger for a free public talk on storytelling as science communication - part of the Northern Scholars Lectures. Lecture Theatre 2.13 Institute of Geography Drummond Street Edinburgh EH8 9XP Find the venue: Institute of Geography
Oct 31 2025 16.00 - 17.30 The Northern Scholars Lectures: Astrid Nyland "The day the sea became a monster 8200 years ago". Join Professor Astrid Nyland from the University of Stavanger for a free public talk on storytelling as science communication - part of the Northern Scholars Lectures.
