Cancer researcher and former principal Ole Didrik Lærum has died
University of Bergen
When Ole Didrik Lærum turned 70, he got a new job in Denmark. Now the former cancer researcher is dead, aged 82.
Ole Didrik Lærum died on 24 January, aged 82.
Ole Didrik Lærum was born in Voss in 1940. In 1965 he was educated at the University of Oslo. Four years later he had a doctorate. Lærum specialized in pathology, first at Rikshospitalet, and from 1974 at Gades Institute at the University of Bergen (UiB). He was a professor at UiB in 1980 and was then rector from 1990-95.
– He worked actively with cancer research and would persevere even if he had a life-threatening illness, Birger Norderud Lærum, his eldest son, tells Bergens Tidende.
Ole Didrik Lærum was seriously ill in the spring of 2022.
— Academic bauta
— A significant university leader has passed away, writes former rector at the University of Bergen, now at UiT Norway’s Arctic University, Dag Rune Olsen, on Twitter.
Cave same platform also uses Tore Furevik, director of the Nansensenteret, to pay tribute to Lærum:
— A brilliant researcher, mediator, social debater and a great source of inspiration has passed away. Former rector at UiB, Vossingen Ole Didrik Lærum, was an academic baut until the last moment.
Noverande UiB rector extended his greetings Facebook Friday morning. Again, there is not just one life’s work, but several, she writes.
— Ole Didrik Lærum was both a professor, cancer researcher, person of culture, author and storyteller. There are many of us who remember him with gratitude. He was an engaging communicator, a generous litigator and a brilliant researcher – admirably active and up-to-date.
— A brilliant human being
The president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences, Lise Øvreås, also has a final greeting.
— Ole Didrik Lærum was an important and respected member of our academy. He was a brilliant person and strongly committed to our business, writes Øvreås in an e-mail to Khrono.
“We are very grateful for the effort he put in, and he will be deeply missed,” she says.
Lærum was president and vice-president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences from 2005-2008. He was the Academy’s representative on the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) for several years, and I am also very active, as well as being a member of the Academy’s research ethics committee.
— Ole Didrik Lærum was a distinguished scientist, an inspiring teacher and lecturer, a committed mediator, a great cultural figure and a significant university leader. For UiB, he was a very good rector, writes former UiB rector Sigmund Grønmo The Facebook pageand at least Lærum as a good conversation partner and friend.
Move to Denmark
When Lærum turned 70, he could no longer work in Norway. Then he applied to Denmark, which cannot terminate employment due to age limits. Then Bergens Tidende met Lærum in Copenhagen in 2019, he was 78 years old, and with a large research project on brain cancer.
Lærum received several awards, including the Research Council’s dissemination award, and he was Commander of St. Order of Olav. He was also an honorary doctorate at several universities.
— He has meant so much to so many. We have traveled a lot in the family, but Voss has always been our center. It didn’t make sense that he even got his life here, says the son Birger Lærum to BT.
He said that his father’s health worsened after Christmas.
Lærum left five children, fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Updated 27.01 at 10.04am with comment from Margareth Hagen, 1.18pm with comment from Lise Øvreås and 3.53pm with comment from Sigmund Grønmo