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About The Institute

The Thor Heyerdahl Institute's main purpose is to further develop Thor Heyerdahl's UNESCO heritage through interdisciplinary research, international dialogue/multicultural interaction and protection of the global environment.

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    Thor Heyerdahl's childhood home in Larvik. Georg Aamodt

Contact Us

Beate Bjørge

Manager / Senior Advisor
Phone: + 47 982 31 720
Email: beate.bjorge@vestfoldmuseene.no

Kristian Juel

Project Manager
Phone: + 47 976 67 601
Email: kristian.juel@vestfoldmuseene.no

Postal Address

Vestfoldmuseene IKS
Thor Heyerdahl Institute
PO Box 1247
3205 Sandefjord

The Thor Heyerdahl International Day

The Thor Heyerdahl International Day is a conference focusing on a global theme and research dissemination on a global theme, with a focus on cultural heritage and identity. 

The conference was first held in 2006.

The conference supports the awarding of the Thor Heyerdahl Scholarship.

The Thor Heyerdahl Scholarship

The scholarship aims to stimulate interdisciplinary projects through school classes, groups or individual work.

The scholarship has been awarded since 2016.

In addition to being awarded a diploma and scholarship, the winners will have the opportunity to present their contributions at the annual conference The Thor Heyerdahl International Day.

Our Story

The Foundation in 1999

The institute was established as a non-profit foundation by Vestfold County Council in 1999. The foundation was located in Larvik - Thor Heyerdahl's birthplace. 

The foundation's purpose was to "promote knowledge of and further develop Thor Heyerdahl's research and development ideals within interdisciplinary research, international dialogue/multicultural interaction and protection of the global environment."

Part of the Vestfold Museums in 2020

In 2020 The Thor Heyerdahl Institute was incorporated into Vestfoldmuseene (The Vestfold Museums) as a separate unit.

The original purpose has been continued in the Vestfold Museums: "The Thor Heyerdahl Institute shall further develop Thor Heyerdahl's UNESCO heritage." Central to this are Thor Heyerdahl's global work for environmental and nature conservation, understanding and dialogue between people from different cultures, communication of global challenges, and his strong will to challenge debate across professional boundaries in the scientific field.

Previous projects

Thor Heyerdahl professorship
Thor Heyerdahl - summer school
Thor Heyerdahl - studies

Museum24:Portal - 2025.05.07
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