1. travel
2. travel guides

Bid to host
IX International
Geostatistics Congress
Oslo, Norway
June 2012
Photos: Petter Abrahamsen, Erik Berg, Johan Berge/Innovation Norway, Nancy Bundt/Visit Oslo, Per Eide/Innovation Norway­, C.H./Innovation Norway, Håkon Mosvold Larsen/­Nobel Peace Center,
Øyvind Hagen/StatoilHydro, Simen Myrberget/Visit Oslo, Store Norske, Gunnar Strøm/Visit Oslo, Johan Wildhagen/Innovation Norway, Rolf Øhman.
Why Norway in 2012?
The International Geostatistical Congress has traveled the world and the time has come to return to Europe.
Oslo, the capital of Norway, offers a great scene for this event. Oslo is a city of many faces with a unique
­combination of international multicultural city life and an ­intimate village atmosphere.
Geostats in Norway
Norway has a long and strong geostatistical tradition, both in theoretical developments and in ­applications.
Norwegian geostatistics is inspired by work at Fontainebleau during the 1970s and ten years later at
­Stanford. Moreover, close ties with the traditional statistical community have influenced the developments. The Norwegian geostatistical community currently counts more than 25 researchers and ­professors
at NTNU, The ­University of Oslo, and Norwegian Computing Center. In addition, ­geostatistics is ­regularly
used in Norway’s large petroleum industry, the fisheries, meteorology, hydrology, and climate research.
Independence Day, 17th of May parade, at
the Karl Johans gate.
Bonfire at the Midsummer Night.
Why Oslo?
About Oslo
• Compact city center with
­walking distances to almost
anything. And Oslo is safe – you
can walk everywhere.
• Oslo is the biggest city in
­Norway, and has been the
country’s capital since 1814. The
Government and Parliament are
located here, and at the end of
Oslo’s main street, Karl Johans
gate, you find the Royal Palace.
• Wonderful climate in June. The
sun sets at 11.00 PM and rises at
2.30 AM.
• Friendly and multilingual
people.
• Lots of small restaurants, bistros
and eateries for low cost meals.
• World class museum and sights.
• Excellent infrastructure – a city
where everything works.
• Public transportation is
­efficient, convenient and free for
conference delegates.
• Great modern congress and
lecture rooms at the University
of Oslo.
• Good hotels in all price ranges
from € 50 in the city centre.
Cheap student accommodation
available.
• Easily accessible with
­direct flights to 40 European
­destinations and high speed
airport shuttle to Oslo city center
(20 minutes).
• Oslo is located at the head of
the Oslo Fjord, surrounded by
forested hills with fresh air and
clean water. You can drink from
water from the tap.
• The city is a great destination
for those who enjoy outdoor
activities. Even in the city centre,
the nearest park is never more
than a few blocks away.
A ten-minute boat ride from
the centre takes you to lovely
­beaches on the Oslo Fjord
islands.
Congress format
• The congress will be in the end
of June, starting Monday at noon
and ending Friday after lunch.
• Invited speakers and submitted
papers.
• Estimated c­ onference fee is
€ 900 with a s­ignificant discount
for students.
• Student dorms available for ­
€ 200 for the whole congress.
Coal mining in the Arctic.
Oslo in numbers
General information
• Oslo has every­thing you
would expect from a capital.
The city ­offers an abundance
of ­attractions, shopping
­possibilities, museums, f­ estivals,
­concerts, and a choice of
­restaurants which is unparalleled
in Scandinavia. The possibilities
are always many – whether you
want to enjoy a cold beer at the
seafront, a sumptuous meal at a
Michelin-starred restaurant, or
you prefer a swim in the sea.
• Municipality of Oslo, total area:
454 km2
• Passport is required although
most travelers within Europe
rarely have to show any ID when
entering Norway. Delegates from
some countries are required to
hold a visa.
Read more:
www.visitoslo.com
www.visitnorway.com
The new Opera House.
• Parks, sports fields etc.: 8 km2
• Major credit cards are accepted
practically everywhere and ATMs
are available in most places.
• Number of islands in the
Oslo Fjord: 40
• Local currency is Norwegian
kroner (NOK).
• Number of lakes within the
city boundaries: 343
• Electricity supply is 220 volts
50 Hz with s­ tandard European
sockets (two pins).
• Forest: 242 km2
• Length of the Oslo Fjord:
100 km
• The University of Oslo campus
is a seven minutes subway ride
from the city center.
Contact address
• We have long experience
in organising international
­conferences.
Professor Henning Omre, NTNU
Professor Arnoldo Frigessi, University of Oslo
Norwegian ­Computing Center
P. O. Box 114 Blindern
NO-0314 OSLO
www.nr.no
The Øya Rock Festival in the Medieval Park.
Gustav Vigeland’s stone monolith in the
Frogner Sculpture Park.
Visit the Grand Café where Henrik Ibsen
went every day. Painting by Eilif Peterssen
(1852–1928).
Scream with the original at the Munch
Museum or the National Gallery.
The Nobel Peace Center.
Relax above the Geiranger Fjord.
• Local time in summer is GMT +
2 hours.
• There is no need for any
vaccines or any special health
precautions.
• In April 2008 the new Opera
House opened. The architects
were the Norwegian firm
­Snøhetta who were also the
architects of the Library of
­Alexandria in Egypt.
• In 2007 Reader’s Digest ranked
Oslo as number two on a list of
the world’s greenest, most livable cities.
Research Director Petter­­Abrahamsen, Norwegian ­Computing Center
• The congress will be held at The
University of Oslo, where prices
are favourable.
Oil production in The North Sea.
• Inhabitants 2008:
Municipality of Oslo 560,000,
urban area 860,000
(Norway a­ pprox. 4.7 million)
Local committee
• The university has modern
­excellent amphitheatres of
­various sizes with the latest
audiovisual equipment.
Enjoy swimming in the Oslo Fjord.
Thor Heyerdahl’s Ra II at the ­Kon-Tiki
Museum .
The new Holmenkollen Ski Jump Tower.
White water rafting in Sjoa.
Ocean fishing.
The Jotunheimen National Park.
At the pierside in front of Oslo City Hall.
Cafés in the Oslo Cathedral backyard.
Cruiseship in Oslo harbour.