Participants in the recent UW study-abroad course in Norway were, from left: back row, Xavier Waltman, Liam Devine, Alexandru Ispas, James Gallegos, Austin Quillinan, Kolten Harmsen, Anna Nielsen, Madeleine Lewis and Libby Krugerud; front row, Selena Gerace, Seth Needham, Cassidy Lolley, Christine Longnecker, Erin Phillips and Matalin Mohr. (Madeleine Lewis Photo)
The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) led its inaugural study-abroad
field course in Norway to explore energy synergies between Norway and Wyoming.
Co-led by Erin Phillips, SER’s acting senior director of research; Selena Gerace,
program manager of the energy education, leadership and careers group; and Madeleine
Lewis, an associate research scientist in the jurisprudence of underground law and
energy group, the course focused on the interdisciplinary social, economic, technical,
legal and policy frameworks that bear on the development of new energy industries
and technologies in Norway. The course also highlighted the varied energy sectors
in the country.
Stemming from Phillips’ experience as a Fulbright Scholar at the Norwegian Research
Centre (NORCE) in spring 2025, the course leveraged high-level connections with Norwegian
energy experts. It focused on pivotal sectors, including critical minerals, carbon
capture and storage, and traditional oil and gas exploration and recovery.
“Norway is an ideal location for an energy-focused study-abroad opportunity for UW
students, as Wyoming and Norway both have energy-focused economies and face similar
challenges and opportunities,” Phillips says. “Collaborative solutions to global energy
challenges begin with international education. Immersing students in Norway’s energy
and minerals industries and economy empowers them to work with global entities in
these fields, creating a pipeline of talent ready to lead the future of critical minerals
and energy innovation.”
Over the course of two weeks in late May and early June, 12 UW students explored energy
hubs in Bergen, Stavanger and Oslo. Highlights of the trip included site visits to
the Ministry of Energy and Equinor -- a Norwegian multinational energy company --
as well as technical briefings at NORCE and the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, and
a networking dinner with UW alumni living in Norway.
The visits provided an on-the-ground perspective to strengthen students’ understanding
of how Wyoming and Norway are socially, geographically and economically similar and
distinct, creating an opportunity for critical thinking about how these dimensions
inform energy development.
“Learning about energy in Norway and comparing it to Wyoming was an eye-opening experience,”
says Libby Krugerud, a senior in the Energy Resource Management and Development Program.
“I developed a new interest in carbon capture and storage and learned firsthand how
Norway’s practices connect to our own energy production. This experience gave me a
global perspective on everything from hydropower to oil and gas, proving just how
valuable international learning is in an industry that never stops evolving.
“From this opportunity, I came home with a more open mind about what energy production
is like in other countries and have found myself frequently comparing what we see
in Wyoming to what we learned in our brief time in Norway.”
Given the course’s success and continued interest in collaborating, the team hopes
to continue offering it in future years.
Participating students, listed by hometown, were:
Aurora, Colo. -- Libby Krugerud.
Casper -- Kolten Harmsen and Matalin Mohr.
Cheyenne -- Liam Devine.
Cypress, Texas -- Xavier Waltman.
Lander -- Anna Nielsen.
Laramie -- Austin Quillinan.
Littleton, Colo. -- Cassidy Lolley.
Riverton -- Christine Longnecker.
San Ramon, Calif. -- Alexandru Ispas.
Santa Fe, N.M. -- James Gallegos.
Thermopolis -- Seth Needham.
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university with the top research universities in the United States.