Starting in the Fall 2023, the University of Stavanger is establishing a new lecture series, named after the Norwegian-Danish-German academic Henrik Steffens.
Henrik Steffens was born in Stavanger in 1773 and became one of the most famous scientists of his time. He ended his career as Rector at the University of Berlin, where he died in 1845.
The objective of the Henrik Steffens lecture is threefold:
- To recognise and celebrate the academic, artistic and/or societal achievements of one individual, who through her or his work has made a lasting contribution to international academia, cultural and/or public life.
- To promote the free and constructive exchange of knowledge and ideas, by inviting this individual to share his or her unique insights and points of view, to the benefit of the academic community at the University of Stavanger and beyond.
- To be an expression of the ethos of the University of Stavanger, to “challenge the known and explore the unknown”, and to be a reflection of the breadth, depth and quality of the academic research and education conducted at the University.
Both staff, students and the general public may nominate speakers. The nomination deadline for 2024 has passed.
The lecture will take place in late autumn 2024.
Inaugural Steffens Lecture by Renowned Archaeologist David Wengrow
The very first Henrik Steffens Lecture was delivered by the British professor and archaeologist David Wengrow. He is also one of the authors of the book The Dawn of Everything. A New History of Humanity. Here Wengrow and his co-author argue for a new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution. The Henrik Steffens Lecture 2023 took place Wednesday 29 November at campus Ullandhaug.
Established in 2023
2023: Archaeologist, professor and author David Wengrow
The next lecture will take place in the late autumn of 2024
