Successful alumni gathering under the auspices of the TMF-UiB career program

Over 50 younger researchers have advanced their research careers at UiB with the help of the TMF Starting Grant over the past 20 years. Many are today internationally recognized top researchers and contribute strongly to the university’s international reputation. UiB therefore organizes an annual TMF Starting Grant alumni gathering under the auspices of the TMF-UiB career program to honor these researchers, offer opportunities for networking and learning. UiB’s rector Margareth Hagen leads the TMF-UiB career program.

Hilde Margrethe Moen Selstø explains about the exotic plants in the greenhouses. Photo: Eivind Senneseth

This year’s gathering got underway on 14 May and started with a walk in the Museum garden led by the garden’s operations manager Hilde Margrethe Moen Selstø. Among other things, she showed an almost 100-year-old perennial golden cress from the mountain areas of South America which thrives in Bergen and has bloomed every year for almost one century. The participants were also given exclusive access to the greenhouses, which had been closed for several years for renovation and will reopen to the public in June 2024.

Work psychologist Stian Midtgårdt then gave an introduction to a technique called motivational interviewing for academic supervisors. The aim of this method is to motivate others to change their behavior by looking at the person’s internal motivation to make a change. The interactive lecture led to lively discussions among the guests.The sunny evening ended with a joint dinner and good conversations at Café Christie.

Work psychologist Stian Midtgårdt explains the technique motivational interviewing. Photo: Eivind Senneseth

Starting Grant winner Gabriele de Seta and Mathias Ziegler, one of the programs scientific advisers test the technique. Photo: Eivind Senneseth

All photos on this page and in the ingress: Eivind Senneseth