The Nils Klim Committee is responsible for the scholarly assessment of nominations for the Nils Klim Prize.
The Nils Klim Committee consists of five scholars from the academic fields covered by the Nils Klim Prize, one from each of the Nordic countries. The Committee is responsible for the scholarly assessment of the nominations for the Nils Klim Prize.
The Nils Klim Committee Members
Andreas Føllesdal (Chair)
Professor of Political Philosophy, Faculty of Law
University of Oslo
Susanna Paasonen
Professor of Media Studies, Department of Media Studies
University of Turku
Jón Gunnar Bernburg
Professor of Sociology
University of Iceland
Kristian Bernt Karlson (deputy member 2026/2027)
Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology
University of Copenhagen
Ruth Mannelqvist (deputy member 2026/2027)
Professor of Law, Department of Law
University of Umeå
Hanne Warming (on leave)
Professor of Sociology and Childhood
Roskilde University
Petra Herzfeld Olsson (on leave)
Professor of Labour Law, Department of Law
Stockholm University
The Nils Klim Committee’s work
The Nils Klim Committee is responsible for assessing the nominations for the Nils Klim Prize and presenting a recommendation for the Board of the Holberg Prize. They begin their work as soon as the nomination list is ready in late August and meet in January/ February to make their final decision on a recommendation. The Board of the Holberg Prize appoints the Nils Klim Laureate. This usually happens at a board meeting shortly after the Committee has handed over their recommendation.
Members from the Holberg Prize Secretariat are often present during the Nils Klim Committee’s meetings, but do not take part in the discussions or process of selecting a recipient of the Nils Klim Prize.
Appointment of Committee Members
The Board of the Holberg Prize appoints new members to the Committee. Members are elected for an inital period of three years, with the possibility of reappointment for one additional period.
A procedure is established in which the Holberg Prize Secretariat invites academies ad leading research institutions in the Nordic countries to nominate potential committee members. In addition to scholarly and institutional achievements, variation in geography and academic fields are also important criteria for the selection process of new members. As a guideline, all five Nordic countries should be represented amongst the Committee Members.
Previous Committee Members
- Xavier Grossout (2021-2026)
- Sara Stendahl (deputy member 2021-2026)
- Michael Stausberg (2024-2025)
- Ástráður Eysteinsson (2020-2025)
- Bettina Perregaard (deputy member 2022-2023)
- Sara Heinämaa (2022-2023)
- Grete Brochmann (2020-2023)
- Auli Vähäkangas (2019-2022)
- Dorthe Staunæs (2018-2024)
- Tone Sverdrup (2014-2020)
- Lars Magnusson (2014-2020)
- Vilhjálmur Árnason (2013-2019)
- Elina Vuola (2013-2019)
- Frans Gregersen (2012-2018)
- Björn Wittrock (2008-2014)
- Kirsti Strøm Bull (2008-2014)
- Páll Skulason (2008-2013)
- Martti Nissinen (2008-2013)
- Britt Louise Gunnarsson (2005-2011)
- Troels Engberg-Pedersen (2005-2008)
- Kai Krüger (2005-2008)
- Jan Sundberg (2005-2008)