The Inaugural St Magnus Conference

This two-day international conference will feature presentations on cultural and geographical connections between Scotland and the Nordic World, fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange between academia, government and the public. The theme of this event concerns cultural, geographical and historical links between Scotland and the Nordic World.

St Magnus Conference Programme

Venue: Orkney College, East Road, Kirkwall, 14/15 April 2011

Wednesday 13 April 2011

There shall be pre-conference drinks and registration, hosted by Orkney Islands Council in the Council Chambers, Kirkwall on the evening of Wednesday 13th April 2011.

Thursday 14 April 2011

0845: Coffee and Registration

0900: KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Judith Jesch, Professor of Viking Studies, University of Nottingham
Rognvald, Earl of Orkney - a Norwegian Poet

1000 - 1300: Parallel Sessions 1: Nordic Expressions & Settlement and Organisation

1300 - 1345: Lunch

1345: KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Frans-Arne Stylegar, Vest-Agder County Municipality, Kristiansand, Norway

Norwegian Vikings in the British Isles: the archaeological evidence

1445 - 1715: Parallel Sessions 2: Churches, Commerce and Communication & Impacts and Influences

1900: Open lecture by Professor Emeritus Magnus Fladmark

Before the lecture, the Orkney Schola, a local Gregorian Chant choir, will sing.

Professor Magnus Fladmark is Professor Emeritus of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, and is an eminent cultural heritage policy specialist, published many times.  He will be giving an evening lecture on the rich and shared cultural heritage of the Northlands on the night of Thursday 14th April, to be held in St Magnus Cathedral.

We are indebted to the Norwegian Consulate General for sponsoring the above lecture.

Friday 15 April 2011

0845: Coffee

0900: KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Steve Murdoch, Professor of History, University of St Andrews

Heavy Metals: Scotland and the Scandinavian Iron Trade

1000 - 1300: Parallel Sessions 3: Norse and Celtic Connections & Imagination and Identity

1300 - 1400: Lunch

1400: KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Jan Ragnar Hagland, Professor of Scandinavian Studies and Comparative Literature, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

---han fór first vestr til Orkneyia”. Orkney - a Literary Motif in the Sagas?

1445 - 1745: Parallel Sessions 4: Medieval Kings and Saints & The Norse Isles?

1930: Conference Dinner

The Conference will be concluded with the Conference Dinner, hosted by Centre for Nordic Studies staff in the St Magnus Centre, Palace Road, Kirkwall.

Saturday 16 April 2011

Day 3: We are able to offer delegates an optional full-day guided tour around Orkney, to include Orkney's Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site.

We would like to thank the Embassy of Sweden in London, who kindly offered a travel bursary for one Swedish participant.

For more information, visit the the Conference page on the Centre for Nordic Studies website.