Nobel+Peace+Prize-+Ron+Olson

Fridtjof Nansen- 1922 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

__Background:__

Hailing from Store Froen, Norway, Fridtjof Nansen was a true do-it-all man for the human population during his lifetime. Born in 1861, Nansen developed into a world class skier, researcher, scientist, humanitarian, explorer, and diplomat. From being the first man to travel into the interior of Greenland, to setting the groundwork for modern neurology through his research, Nansen quite possibly accomplished everything that a single human being could ever hope to. Starting in the 1880s and 1890s, Nansen's explorations into Greenland and the Arctic North Pole put him into world fame, as he introduced efficient and effective expedition methods along with calculating invaluable meteorological, climate, and geographic data from visiting those places that few dared to go into. Because of these daring trips, Nansen is widely considered one of the greatest contributors to early oceanographical science. His distinction in science does not stop there however. Nansen's dissertation in college was on the relatively unknown field of neuroanatomy, specifically the lower central nervous system of marine animals (his major was zoology). Because of his research, and especially his new theories on the central nervous system, Nansen is known as one of the founders of modern neurology and a co-founder of modern neurological theory. Once the 20th century began, Nansen's historic life turned the page from explorer and scientist to political diplomat. Sweden and Norway had been engaged in a union since 1814, and the people of Norway were ready for their freedom by the early 1900s. Although not particularly interested in politics, Nansen decided to voice his desires for Norway's independence in 1905, and through a series of meetings abroad and consultations in his home land, Norway had its freedom by 1907. Nansen would be given the position of Ambassador to England shortly thereafter, but yearning for more exploration and scientific study, he resigned the title in 1908. From then up until World War I, Nansen continued studying oceanography and setting the foundation for Arctic research. The first world war quieted Nansen for a few years, but it was after the war's end that he did his greatest work yet. Through requests by the League of Nations and Red Cross from 1920 to 1925, Fredtjof Nansen is estimated to have helped roughly 22,000,000 (that's 22 million!) Europeans repatriate from the effects of the war and civil revolts. The creation of the "Nansen" passport was behind much of this, as it allowed for people to travel across countries legally in place of non-existent government issued passports. For his monumental and extraordinary humanitarian efforts, Nansen was awarded the 1922 Nobel Peace Prize. Although Fredtjof Nansen died suddenly in 1930, the League of Nations set up a refugee committee in his honor, and not surprisingly, this organization went on to win the 1938 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts with displaced Armenians. Later, the United Nations honored Nansen in 1954 by establishing the Nansen Medal, given annually to an individual or organization who serves refugees in an extraordinary manner. All in all, Fredtjof Nansen was an incredible individual, whose only life interest was on experiencing God's great earth, learning from it, and helping others to enjoy it.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1922/nansen-bio.html

__Instructional Activities:__

Nansen provides many, many aspects to study and learn from in a social studies classroom. In terms of geographical studies, Nansen's work covers a large portion of Europe, the Arctic, Greenland, and oceanographic material in general. In particular, as a social studies teacher, I would want students to learn from Nansen's refugee work, and his help in gaining Norway's independence. The separation of Sweden and Norway, I believe, is a relatively unknown topic in world history for middle school students. The NCSCOS calls for Europe to be learned about in sixth grade, and I think Nansen and his political implications for Norway would be an interesting topic to look at. Yet another aspect that could be looked at for Nansen is his work with Russian refugees, and their plight during the Russian Revolution following the first world war. All of these historical events, and more, could be looked at in a classroom through the context of Nansen's peace prize award. As far as how students would learn about these topics, I would expect them to do research in groups, with each group looking at a different aspect of Nansen's work (i.e. in helping Norway gain freedom, or helping Russians during the revolution) and then reporting to everybody else what they learned. The end goal would be for students to see the breadth, and depth, of all that Fredtjof Nansen did, and how global of an individual he was. Whether it was helping refugees find their way back home, or co-founding modern neurology theory, Nansen's skills and work were far-reaching, much more so than I would imagine most other Nobel Peace Prize winners. I would assess student learning most likely through a test on Nansen's overall body of work, and then possibly require students to write a few paragraphs on what their own group learned about Nansen through their given topic. Along with learning about Nansen, the main focus for a lesson on him would be for students to know more about Norway than ever before, and what some of the effects were from World War I and how they were combated by individuals like Nansen. I think I would also like to connect this all back to the United States and/or North Carolina some way, although I'm not quite sure at this point of how I would do that. I might have to explore the displacement of people in American history, and what famous individuals have helped in that category.