His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited PRIO today for a series of briefings on pressing global challenges, including developments in the Middle East, emerging technologies, migration and the human consequences of war.
PRIO Acting Director Haakon Gjerløw welcomed the Crown Prince to the Institute’s headquarters in Oslo on 5 May, noting that the visit underscored the importance of connecting research to public understanding and policy dialogue.
“We live in a time of growing international tensions, a lower threshold for the use of military force, and democratic backsliding around the world. Independent research on the conditions for peaceful resolutions to our differences is more important than ever. Today's visit offers us an opportunity for an informed and constructive debate on these major challenges,” said Haakon Gjerløw.
The Crown Prince was given a tour of the Institute and met with staff members. The visit was split into three academic sessions:
The first briefing focused on the Middle East. Researchers Hilde Henriksen Waage and Jørgen Jensehaugen examined the conflict between Israel and Palestine, while Pinar Tank presented on Turkey’s evolving role in the region.
The second briefing looked at how new technologies are reshaping conflict and peacebuilding, and how they expand our capability to do research. Researchers Sonja Häffner and Simon Polichinel von der Maase presented work on conflict prediction modelling. Sebastian Schutte examined how seismic data can be used to monitor the war in Ukraine. Henrik Syse and Greg Reichberg discussed how outer space technologies can be used to create peace. Halvard Buhaug explored how future conflict may affect hunger and food insecurity:
“Food security is inherently dependent on peace. Our scenario analysis offers critical insights to policymakers and humanitarian actors on the importance of preventing and ending armed conflict for eradicating global hunger.”
The final briefing focused on the human dimensions of conflict. Researchers Jørgen Carling and Marta Bivand Erdal presented research on global migration, while Gudrun Østby discussed the impact of armed conflict on children.
At the close of the visit, the Crown Prince addressed staff at PRIO:
“It is crucial that skilled researchers dedicate themselves to their respective fields, working to interpret and make sense of what is happening in the world, and to render it understandable for the wider public. The fact that there are people continuously engaged in this work, such as those here at PRIO, is of great significance. It contributes to a more informed society, enhances our understanding of global developments, and, hopefully, enables us to make better decisions, both in our personal lives, and in political and societal contexts.”
Today’s visit marked the Crown Prince’s third visit to PRIO. He previously visited the Institute together with Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2002, and again in 2019 to attend PRIO’s Annual Peace Address featuring Steven Pinker.
