It is with great sadness that we have to announce that on April 5, 2025, Professor Jon Øyvind Odland passed away. Being one of the most respected and recognized experts in Arctic epidemiology and medical sciences, he was the obvious coordinator for the Horizon Europe project ArcSolution. He also ran his own health clinic in Bodø (Norway) and was engaged as a local politician for some time.
Jon Øyvind Odland obtained his medical approbation (with honours) in 1980 and specialist as an obstetrician gynaecologist in 1990. In 2000, Jon Øyvind completed his PhD in Arctic Health Sciences at the University of Tromsø where he later worked as Professor in International Health. Prior to his retirement, Jon Øyvind was Professor in Arctic Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. Since 2024, he was affiliated with Nord University in Bodø, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA), where the ArcSolution project is located.
Throughout his carrier, Jon Øyvind was active in many international scientific organisations, such as the International Union of Circumpolar Health, Nordic Society for Circumpolar Health and Circumpolar Health Research Network. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Circumpolar Health for more than 20 years. In 2012, he was awarded the Hildes medal as a recognition of his achievements in Arctic Health.
Jon Øyvind was engaged in projects on reproductive health and persistent organic pollutants in many countries (Russia, Vietnam, South Africa, Malawi, and Brazil) , which also included the development of a birth registry for the Russian Federation. He had a close relationship to Greenland attending all NUNAMED conferences since 1994, as a keynote speaker as well as organiser of workshops and PhD courses.
Jon Øyvind was president of the Norwegian Forum for Global Health Research until 2011. He was also called to serve as national expert and member of the board for the Norwegian Research Council’s (NRC) international scholarship programme. From 2005 – 2012, he was board member and eventually chair of the NRC MLGENHEL programme. He joined the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment programme (AMAP) in its early years and led the AMAP Human Health Assessment Group for more than 10 years. Coordinating ArcSolution with its One Health perspective was a logical next step in his long-term engagement in the Arctic.
Jon Øyvind was dedicated to informing a wide audience about the risks related to chemical pollution in the Arctic. A central activity of his lifelong work was devoted to academic teaching and education of young researchers. Until his last days he was full of new ideas for the ArcSolution project and beyond.
With the passing of Professor Jon Øyvind Odland, the scientific community has lost a renowned colleague, an inspiring communicator and skilful teacher. We have also lost our knowledgeable and enthusiastic researcher and a close friend.
His legacy lives through the countless lives he touched, the knowledge he imparted, and the inspiration he provided to generations of environmental health scientists. The ArcSolution project will continue in his spirit, aiming at the highest scientific quality in a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to the complex challenges of Arctic pollution.
Roland Kallenborn, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Gert Mulvad, University of Greenland
Arja Rautio, University of Oulu
Lars-Otto Reiersen, Arctic Knowledge
Christian Sonne, Aarhus University
Katrin Vorkamp, Aarhus University
Pál Weihe, Faroese Hospital
Irene Andreasen, Nord University
Rest of the members of the ArcSolution project
