Oskar Hellesø-Knutsen. Photo: Private

Lillestrøm Upper Secondary School

Viken
Oskar Hellesø-Knutsen

Winner of the Holberg Prize School Project

Oskar Hellesø-Knutsen from Lillestrøm Upper Secondary School came in first place in the Holberg School Programme 2023 with the research project 'Unity After a Disaster',

Oskar Hellesø-Knutsen from Lillestrøm Upper Secondary School came in first place in the Holberg School Programme 2023 with the research project ‘Unity After a Disaster – An Investigation of Unity in Gjerdrum After the 2020 Landslide’.

Hellesø-Knutsen refers to theories on crisis situations and how individuals, families and societies are affected by traumatic events. Social conditions and unity may improve after a disaster has occurred, but many who are severely affected experience a worsening of social support and conditions over time. Hellesø-Knutsen highlights that previous research mostly is concerned with the causes of the landslide and emergency planning, and not with how the landslide has affected the local community over time.

The Holberg Prize School Project

20 upper secondary schools and more than 1000 students from all over Norway participate in the Holberg School Programme each year. The students are assisted by scholars, and the projects are integrated into the students' regular curriculum. Three research projects are awarded prizes of NOK 30,000, NOK 20,000 and NOK 10,000 respectively.

The finalists are announced in mid May, and the Holberg Prize School Project Award Ceremony is held during the Holberg Week in early June each year.

The jury
All submitted projects are evaluated by the School Project's jury. In 2023 the members of the jury have been:

  • Jørn Ljunggren ( Chair)
  • Hallvard Andre Kjelen
  • Elise Farstad Djupedal
  • Tale Birkeland Engebretsen
  • Stine Helena Bang Svendsen