Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th: Belém

After 24 hours of travelling (Venezuela-Panamá-Manaus-Belém) we finally are in Belém, Brazil. The reason for our stay was to participate in the "Research in the Amazon" seminar, regarding climate change and biodiversity. The stay started with a couple of hours with sleep, then in the afternoon we met the participants and organizers from University of Oslo to eat dinner. 

The next morning was dedicated to the seminar. Einar and other researchers held presentations about their ongoing research regarding the Amazon and biodiversity. 

Einar's talk about lichens in tropical forests

After lunch the seminar was about new research opportunities and cooperation between Norway and Brazil, which seemed very promising. In this part of the seminar the crown prince of Norway was present. Overall it was a exciting seminar, both the scientific part and the future opportunities. 

In the afternoon the governor of Pará invited some of the seminar participants to dinner, to celebrate a signing of an agreement between Norway and the state of Parà. The agreement concerned future cooperation in research, business and education. 

The crown prince of Norway holding his speech

Olve Sørensen (senior advisor in the Ministry of Education and Research) and Fridtjof Mehlum (head of research at the Natural History Museum, Oslo) with the agreement 

Torkjell Leira (NHM's project coordinator in Brazil) in the governor's hall 

Einar, Anne Karin and Sonja gracefully in the stairs 

The last day in Belém (Thursday) we spent wandering around the markets in the port of Belém.

NEXT UP: Tailandia, Moju