Meet our new colleague, Erik Viberg. Erik has a deep-rooted passion for the Nordics. He originates from southwestern Sweden and has studied in both southern and northern Sweden, in Lund and Umeå. He has also worked in Copenhagen for Nordjobb and travelled extensively throughout the Nordic countries where he has found places of special meaning.

“Bornholm is the hidden gem of the Nordics,” says Erik. 

“The works of Carl Larsson and Akseli Gallen-Kallela are among my favourites”

In his everyday life, Erik enjoys reading, running, going on hikes, watching movies and being with friends. He also holds a great interest in history and art, architecture, literature and politics.

“I have made an active effort in trying to familiarise myself with Nordic culture,” he says.

By reading literature from the Nordic giants such as August Strindberg, Elias Lönnrot, Knut Hamsun, Astrid Lindgren, Selma Lagerlöf, and H.C. Andersen, Erik has gained unique insights into the different Nordic cultures. His love for the art and architecture of the Nordics, especially that of which can be described as national romantic, impressionist, and art nouveau shines through in the interview.

“The works of Carl Larsson and Akseli Gallen-Kallela are among my favourites,” says Erik.  

During his summer internship at Nordjobb, Erik visited Dalsnibba Skyline, next to Geiranger, Norway.

“The Nordic countries share a common past, present, and future“

Erik has long held a deep-rooted interest in energy and highlights its importance for societal progress:

“One can argue it is at large what drives human development, from fire and furnaces to the steam engine and nuclear power plants,” says Erik. “While energy has empowered us humans in a fantastic way, our dependency of fossil fuels has led to both human and environmental suffering. How we generate energy and what we use it for continues to be vital questions for our society’s development. This makes energy so incredibly interesting to work with. Growing up next to the largest nuclear power plant in Sweden, Ringhals, has also undeniably made an impression on me.”

Erik’s communications internship at Nordic Energy Research comes directly after a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication Science. At Nordic Energy Research, he will help manage the social media channels, write articles and newsletters, contribute to the development of the new website, and assist in the planning and execution of events. Elaborating on why he sought the internship, he says:

“With my fascination for energy and interest in Nordic cooperation, it was simply a natural inclination for me to work at Nordic Energy Research. The work we do is crucial in assisting the Nordic countries in the green transition.”

The Nordic cooperation is something that Erik returns to in his answers, especially the closeness that we feel today.

“The Nordic countries share, in large, a common past, a common present, and a common future. This strong unity of mutual understanding, cooperation, and solidarity that the Nordic countries have forged is the result of two hundred years of toil and is an ever-ongoing project, whose importance is ever increasing,” he says.

Creativity – the rewarding challenge  

Drawing on his experience as a writer for the student publication Lundagård Erik highlights some of the challenges he thinks he can face during the internship:

“The backbone of communication is the process of creation. The work that creative work equates to is simultaneously the most challenging and rewarding part of the work. It requires serious brain exercise, which isn’t always the easiest. But when the creative work results in something concrete, it’s exceedingly rewarding,” he says. 

  • Name: Erik Viberg  
  • Nationality: Swedish  
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Media and Communication Science from Lund University
  • Leisure: Hiking, running, art, movies and reading