Principal investigator

Prof. Marit Skivenes

Marit Skivenes is a professor at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory and the director of Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism, University of Bergen. Skivenes is recognised as a leading expert in the field of child protection systems, with numerous publications in well-regarded journals. She is also a popular lecturer and a widely used expert by the media.

Skivenes completed her PhD in Political Science at the University of Bergen in 2002. Post PhD, she worked two years as a researcher at the research institute “Fafo” in Oslo. Later she spent three years at the Centre for Child Welfare at the Faculty of Psychology (UiB), as associate professor and head of the Centre. She then continued to work three years at the Department of Social Education at Bergen University College, first as an associate professor and later as a professor.

In 2016, Skivenes received the prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council to conduct ground-breaking research on discretionary decision-making. Marit Skivenes and Katrin Kriz was awarded the ISW prize for best article published in 2015 with the article “Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives“.

Prof. Skivenes giving a short presentation on the Norwegian child welfare system (in Norwegian)

What are you working on at the moment?

Some super-interesting papers about how the European Court of Human rights justify their decision about children´s rights. One of them examines how the Court understands family relations for children that will not be reunified with their birth parents. Should they grow up in public care to at least maintain the legal bonds (de jure) between parent and child, or is their de facto relations with foster parents or adoption parents decisive. The Courts decision in these cases set a precedent for member states. We believe we see tendencies towards a more child centred court.

Where are you best able to think?

Many places. I like variation, and I have some favorite cafes in which I can have coffee and work very concentrated. But, my office at the university is a good spot and likewise my workspace at home.

What does your workspace look like?

A big mess. Always too many things going on, and I do not put things back in its place (which is hard to admit, as I would really like to be an orderly person).

How does a typical day at work look like for you?

Up early, coffee and working on a paper (fun) or answering email (less fun). Getting my boys up, dressed, breakfast, “matpakke” – it’s a wrap-around-service to get them out the door. Walking to the office at the university, and get a second wind with meetings and some more writing and reading.

 What is the best thing about your job?

Supervising students and teaching classes, working with smart and energetic research colleagues, developing new ideas and finding solutions to problems.

… and the worst?

Ha, ha, I will not go there.

Is there a specific book within your field you’d recommend?

Yes, Communicative Action by Jürgen Habermas. For me, that was a turning point in my research career.

If you had to choose a different field, what would it be?

Hmm, difficult – clearly there are many very interesting jobs. Maybe an investigative journalist, or an Ombudsman for Children, or lead the charity work of a really, really wealthy organization.

Is there a book you’ve read that you’d like to read again, and why?

I never read a book twice, except when my boys were younger and I read for them. And then there are many books to recommend, as there are so many good children´s books. After we stayed a year in California we could read books in English for a while, and we read a lot of the amazing books written by Julia Donaldson (she wrote the Gruffalo) and illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Supergood.

What show are you binging?

Well, a bit embarrassing as it is still Flash. Just now Season 4 of Flash is out on Netflix, and my sixth grader and I have parked ourselves in the sofa following a crowd of meta humans saving Central City from destruction. The stories are less, and less convincing (it is season 4), and in our opinion it is clear that this must be the last season – but we´ll hang in there to the end. Other that, it is the Late Show with Stephen Colbert – a must. However, the BIG thing this semester is coming April 14th  – Game of Thrones, and we have started the runup and are watching previous seasons.

Which podcast are you listening to right now and why?

Well, here I am in between. The Daily from New York times is good. “Politisk kvarter” keeps me oriented on the Norwegian stuff, together with Aftenpodden. And, not as often as before, I listen to Real Time with Bill Maher, WTF with Marc Maron and Here is the Thing with Alec Baldwin.

Who would you take with you on a desert island?

Actually, some years back I did end up at a deserted island, at Cuba – we were diving and were taken to an Island. Beautiful, and totally empty – not a single person – only rows of empty beach beds. Very strange, we were told that this place was only allowed for cruise boat tourists (and the occasional diver boat as us that sneaked in).

But, returning to the question, for a deserted island I would be selfish and bring all my boys, including the cats. Make it a family happening, and an opportunity for us all to build character.

Finally: Your friend sets you up on a date with someone famous – who do you hope turns up?

OMG, there are so many, so this is easy: Number one would be Ricky Gervais, he is extremely funny and has an exceptional ability to observe people’s peculiarities.

If Gervais cannot make it, I would hope for Trevor Noah, the host of the Daily Show – enormously funny and smart, and then its Jerry Seinfeld of course, and John Oliver, and Samantha Bee, and John Stewart and, not to forget my longtime favorite Stephen Colbert.

Updated Winter 2018-2019