Monica Lian Svendsen

• Lien, Anne; Palmer, Helen; Larsen, Jorunn; Svendsen, Monica Lian; Bomark, Nils-Erik & Krakstad, Beate Fast [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Building a Scientific Skill Set: A Design-Based Research Approach to Developing a Tool for Science Education and Beyond | Journal of the International Society for Teacher Education. Journal of the International Society for Teacher Education. ISSN 1029-5968. 30(1), p. 5–22. doi: 10.26522/jiste.v30i1.5268. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Life skills like problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and creative and critical thinking are closely tied to scientific practices in science education. However, there is ongoing debate about how to define and operationalize scientific practices for implementation in schools and teacher education. In Norway, these practices are a core element of the science curriculum, but their definition remains vague. To address this, we used a design-based research approach to develop a skills-based tool for teaching and learning scientific practices in schools and teacher education. The tool highlights twelve interrelated skills that support students’ engagement in scientific practices and their reflection on scientific processes. We describe the process of designing and developing the teaching tool, our design analysis of why and how the tool evolved, and three design principles to inform the development of a skills-based teaching tool to practice science. These principles highlight three critical features of the tool: it is dynamic and flexible, initiates active learning, and provides support for teachers.

• Saure, Heidi Iren; Bomark, Nils-Erik & Svendsen, Monica Lian (2021). Modeller i kjemiundervisning- et eksempel på hvordan de kan bidra til læring og feillæring. Nordic Studies in Science Education (NorDiNa). ISSN 1504-4556. 17(2), p. 181–205. doi: 10.5617/nordina.8363. Full text in Research Archive
• Svendsen, Monica Lian; Steinnes, Eiliv & Blom, Hans Andreas (2011). Partitioning of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in organic-rich soil profiles in the vicinity of a zinc smelter. Chemical speciation and bioavailability. ISSN 0954-2299. 23(4), p. 189–200. doi: 10.3184/095422911X13103862613085. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  A five-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to organic-rich soil samples from five soil profiles situated 1–8 km from a zinc smelter. The partitioning of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu into five operationally defined fractions (exchangeable, “carbonate’’-bound, reducible, oxidizable, and residual) was studied at different soil depths down to 35cm. In the surface soil (0–1 cm) a major part of Pb and Cu was extracted in the oxidizable fraction, whereas for Zn and Cd slightly more was extracted in the ‘‘carbonate”-fraction than in the other four fractions. Extracted metal proportions in the oxidizable fraction were respectively of the order of 30%, 20%, 50%, and 80% for Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in the surface soil for all sites, but these proportions decreased with soil depth. In the surface soil less than 20% of all the elements were extracted in the residual fraction, but the proportions associated with this fraction generally increased with soil depth. In the C-horizon, differences in extracted proportions of Pb and Cu in the residual fraction were probably due to geochemical factors, whereas for Zn the low extracted proportion at a highly contaminated site (20%) may be due to Zn migration to the C-horizon at this site. For Cd the extracted proportions in the C-horizon were lower than for the other elements, generally below 20%, presumably because Cd is weaker in terms of its adsorption to the soil than the other elements studied. Total concentrations of the metals decreased strongly with increasing distance from the smelter, but less systematic differences were observed for their distributions among fractions. Potentially bioavailable metal proportions (exchangeable + “carbonate”-bound fraction) in the surface soil were about 50%, 60%, 20%, and 10% for Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu, respectively. In C-horizon soil the mobility sequence Cd>Zn>Pb = Cu was generally observed. The present results indicate that the concentrations and chemical fractionation of Zn, Pb, and Cd in these soils represent a considerable risk to natural terrestrial food chains.

• Christy, Alfred Antony; Svendsen, Monica Lian & Francis, George William (2011). Pyrolytic formation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons from steroid hormones. Food Chemistry. ISSN 0308-8146. 124(4), p. 1466–1472. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.07.109. Full text in Research Archive
• Svendsen, Monica Lian; Steinnes, Eiliv & Blom, Hans (2007). Vertical and horizontal distributions of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Hg in uncultivated soil in the vicinity of a zinc smelter at Odda, Norway. Soil & sediment contamination. ISSN 1532-0383. 16, p. 585–603. doi: 10.1080/15320380701623644. Full text in Research Archive
• Svendsen, Monica Lian; Steinnes, Eiliv & Blom, Hans Andreas (2007). Vertical and horizontal distributions of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Hg in uncultivated soil in the vicinity of a zinc smelter at Odda, Norway. Soil & sediment contamination. ISSN 1532-0383. 16(6), p. 585–603. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The variation of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Hg loading in undisturbed surface soil (0-5 cm) and vertical transport of the same metals in soil profiles, have been studied in the vicinity of a zinc smelter in Odda, Norway. Three major factors controlling the metal concentrations in soil have been assessed: 1) distance from the anthropogenic point source, 2) organic matter content, and 3) the prevailing wind directions. Moreover metal distributions in proximal soil profiles in 1972 and 2003 are compared. Current concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Hg in surface soil decrease regularly with distance in the northerly direction from the smelter. Subsurface concentration peaks of Pb, Cu, and Hg are found at greater depth in soil profiles than peaks of Zn and Cd. Levels of Zn, Cd, and Pb in surface soil seem to have decreased from 1972 to 2003, whereas for Cu the levels appear not to be significantly different.

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• Birkeland, Nils Rune; Eriksen, Stig & Svendsen, Monica Lian (2025). Lokale klimatiltak mot global klimabekymring hos ungdom. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Foredraget handler om hvordan et tverrfaglig prosjektarbeid i matematikk, naturfag og norsk, om lokale konsekvenser av klimaendringer, kan hjelpe elever på ungdomstrinnet å hanskes med global klimabekymring. Antakelsen er at elevenes forestilling om deres plass i og mulighet til å påvirke et globalt fellesskap utvikles med engasjement i lokale forhold. Analysen er inspirert av Gees skille mellom primær og sekundær diskurs og avdekker hvordan elevene i etterkant uttrykte seg om lokale og globale forhold gjennom personlige og faglig orienterte ytringer. Teoretiske perspektiver er hentet fra Klafkis kritisk-konstruktive didaktikk og Wengers forståelse av hvordan reifikasjoner får mening for den enkelte gjennom deltakelse i et praksisfellesskap. Kritisk erkjennelsesinteresse ble stimulert gjennom begreper og modeller som oppstod underveis. Prosjektgjennomføringen fordret åpenhet og aksept for det uventede, der elevenes valg av reifikasjoner og egen tolkning av disse skapte kollektiv bevissthet om mangler i lokal klimaberedskap. Det trengs imidlertid tydelig didaktisk innramming for å gi slik kritisk erkjennelsesinteresse en konstruktiv form. Dette kan skje gjennom kollektiv anerkjennelse av elevers bidrag til å bygge robuste lokalsamfunn i møte med truende klimaendringer. Slik myndiggjøring kan gi et mer realistisk syn både på globale klimaendringer og mulighetene for lokale avbøtende tiltak, og slik også bidra til å dempe fremtidsusikkerhet.

• Bomark, Nils-Erik & Svendsen, Monica Lian (2022). Modeller i kemiundervisningen. Kemilärarnas informationsbrev. Full text in Research Archive
• Saure, Heidi Iren; Bomark, Nils-Erik & Svendsen, Monica Lian (2022). Modeller i kemiundervisningen. Kemilärarnas informationsbrev. 1, p. 6–7. Full text in Research Archive
• Svendsen, Monica Lian; Steinnes, Eiliv & Blom, Hans Andreas (2005). Tungmetaller i naturlig jord i nærheten av et smelteverk i Norge. Full text in Research Archive
• Lian, Monica Ihlebæk; Steinnes, Eiliv & Blom, Hans Andreas (2005). Systemanalyse av metaller i det terrestriske miljø i Odda-området Disribution and chemical fractionation of heavy metals in natural soils near the zinc smelter in Odda. Full text in Research Archive
• Lian, Monica Ihlebæk; Steinnes, Eiliv & Blom, Hans Andreas (2005). Heavy metals in natural soils near a zinc smelter in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Svendsen, Monica Lian & Steinnes, Eiliv (2008). A study of metal contamination in a natural ecosystem affected by smelter emissions. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet. ISSN 9788247110256. Full text in Research Archive
• Svendsen, Monica Lian (2008). A study of metal contamination in a natural ecosystem affected by smelter emissions. NTNU. ISSN 9788247110256. Full text in Research Archive

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