National winners were Severin Bøyesen Sjømark (left), Synne Mari Pedersen and Harald Gard Halvorssønn Kjørholt. (Photo: Helge Hansen)
While Western Norway has stood out since the first contest in 2002, participation in this year's event was particularly high from the Trøndelag region.
This year's winners were Synne Mari Pedersen, Frogn upper secondary school in Akershus, and Harald Gard Halvorssønn Kjørholt together with Severin Bøyesen Sjømark from Strinda secondary school in Trondheim.
Prizes were also awarded to regional winners from Northern Norway, Central Norway, Eastern Norway and Western Norway. A total of 72 entries were received from all over the country in the form of papers on CO2 capture and storage, as well as wind power as an alternative source of energy.
Statoil's natural science award is a competition for students in the second year of upper secondary school. The goal is to increase knowledge about technology and natural science subjects, and to inspire young people to pursue education and careers in these disciplines.
The contest is carried out in collaboration with regional knowledge centres, and VilVite Bergen Science Centre was responsible for carrying out the project. The two national winners will each receive a cash prize of NOK 15,000 and a helicopter trip to one of Statoil's platforms.
A very pleased head of research in Statoil, Jens Hagen, had the honour of handing out the awards in a ceremony held in Bergen on Thursday.
"We need bold solutions to many key questions. To accomplish that, we need creative, motivated young people to drive global technological development," Hagen emphasised.