About us

The Norwegian Barcode of Life (NorBOL) is a national network of research institutions for collaboration on DNA barcoding in Norway and a regional node in the International Barcode of Life Project (iBOL). We reached our goal of barcoding 20 000 species 2019 and have made data available in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). This constitutes about 30% of the estimated species diversity in Norway. The work continues, and new species and reference barcodes are continuously added to the database.

NorBOL also provides assistance to users of DNA barcoding in research and management and has a strong focus on public outreach.

The progress of NorBOL is secured through the establishment of a NorBOL-council and a smaller steering group. The council gives advice on scientific and strategic priorities and consists of representatives from all collaborators in the network. The steering group is smaller, contains representatives of the university museums of Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø and Trondheim as well as the larger research institutes, and will take decisions that influence the achievements of NorBOL. The council meets once, while the steering group normally meets 1-3 times every year.

The NorBOL steering group

• Inger Greve Alsos, The Arctic University Museum of Norway
• Torbjørn Ekrem, NTNU University Museum
• Anette Engesmo, Norwegian Institute for Water Research
• Hugo de Boer, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo
• Frode Fossøy, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
• Aino Hosia, University Museum of Bergen

The NorBOL council (in addition to the steering group)

• Tone Birkemoe, Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
• May Bente Brurberg, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
• Øivind Gammelmo, Biofokus
• Haakon Hansen, Norwegian Veterinary Institute
• Aud Larsen, NORCE
• Vetle Løveng, Helgeland Museum
• Truls Moum, Nord University
• Raul Ramirez, Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Agder
• Bjørn Arne Rukke, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
• Anna Vader, The University Centre in Svalbard
• Jon-Ivar Westgaard, Institute for Marine Research

Acknowledgements

NorBOL is funded by its partnering institutions as well as the Research Council of Norway, the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre and the Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative.