TWO BEERS WITH EIRIK-MATHIAS BJØRNØ RUMMELHOFF
TWO BEERS WITH EIRIK-MATHIAS BJØRNØ RUMMELHOFF
- A pedagogue driven by childlike curiosity.
You probably know him as a teaching assistant, crash course instructor, and NMBU mascot. One of NMBU’s most recognizable faces and likely the Ås student with the most irons in the fire, as we discovered when trying to find a suitable time for the interview.
Journalist: Henrik Bakken
Photographer: Malene Tangen
Translator: Vegard Sjaastad Hansen
We meet Eirik-Mathias, a fifth-year Natural Science Education student, at the headquarters of the student teachers - the venerable Damgården. The building has a shoe-free zone, so the interviewee’s rock socks - one with coffee cups and the other with purple slices of bread with fried eggs - stand out, immediately giving us the feeling that this man is anything but a future boring and traditional teacher.
We can’t avoid mentioning that it took us a couple of weeks to find a suitable time for the interview. Eirik-Mathias’ commitment extends far beyond the fields of Ås. Later, on the same day as the interview, he’s set to drive to Sarpsborg to play in the semifinals of the elite floorball league. After that, he’ll swap his sports gear for the debate hat and hop on the bus to Oslo. There, he’ll participate in a panel discussion about artificial intelligence in schools, on behalf of the Student Committee in Tekna.
Anyway, here we are in a meeting room at Damgården, trying to form an image of the person most people at Ås already feel they know. Either because he has helped you through a course, provided you with some fun “student-life hacks” on NMBU’s Instagram, or you’ve encountered a too cheerful student ambassador or had coffee at the Tekna booth. In other words, the chances are high that you’ve crossed paths with Eirik-Mathias. “It’s almost a bit taboo to wear earphones on campus because suddenly you meet familiar faces.”
It’s natural to start the interview by talking about juggling as many things as he does. He then comments, “not that I quote the Bible often, but idleness is the root of all evil.” In true Petter Stordalen style, he loves Mondays: “It’s about glorifying the everyday and having a mindset for things.” “If you’re involved in a lot, it can quickly give you a lot of energy,” he says, while talking about “time alchemy,” a science he and his friend and colleague, Kathrine Frey Frøslie, practice to make ends meet.
It’s through Kathrine Frey Frøslie that he got the opportunity to write statistical articles for Store Norske Leksikon, but also to guest blog on her popular science knitting blog, Statistrikk (without the slightest idea of how to knit). Eirik-Mathias has had some unique opportunities. For example, being part of the process of hiring our new Rector, Siri Fjellheim. He did this as one of 11 members of the University Board, a position he describes as demanding but extremely educational. “There’s a lot you have to consider,” he says, “you have to set aside all your own interests but still maintain your values.” Several of the opportunities he’s had are ones he says he wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else but at Ås; precisely because of its size, compared to larger universities.
In high school, his friends were heading to Trondheim, and Eirik-Mathias considered the same, but the student body and the gray Trondheim weather helped determine his future choice of study location. A student ambassador from NMBU convinced EirikMathias to attend “Open Day,” and that was it for him. “The competitive advantage of Ås is that you’re not just one in the crowd,” he says, describing a phenomenon many in Ås can relate to. However, he admits that he’s more active on the campus part of Ås than at Samfunnet; for example, he’s never been to the Bodega in his nearly five years here in Ås. This may be because he actually doesn’t live in Ås but commutes by car from his hometown Fredrikstad, accompanied by his sister who studies Veterinary Medicine. Not moving away from home has not only been a hindrance, but also essential to continuing his favorite activity.
Even though much of his time is devoted to studying, teaching, and holding positions, Eirik-Mathias also has other interests. He’s actually among the top floorball players in Norway and plays for Norway’s oldest floorball club, Slevik, in the Norwegian elite league. It’s through this sport that he’s had the most fun both domestically and internationally. He’s not just a team player on the field but says he prefers to work with others—both when it comes to work and school. “The collective is always better than the individual.” Despite this, he also has other interests, interests that lay the foundation for him, with a twinkle in his eye, to characterize himself as “somewhat neuro-divergent”. What he means by this is his curiosity about systems. For example, he has a strong interest in Lego. Especially the largest and most advanced sets, which require a good sorting system before the building process begins. Understanding systems is also something he gets to exercise as the treasurer of Slevik Innebandy, which he finds “exciting as hell.” And the reason he wanted to be the moderator at the general assembly is that he finds procedure and formalities fun. “I’m very peculiar about some things.”
Mathematics and science are Eirik-Mathias’ life, but it’s always with a pedagogical perspective. He emphasizes that he wouldn’t engage in as much as he does if he didn’t genuinely enjoy it. With a sly smile, he adds that he has a childlike attitude toward learning. He remembers well the moment that sparked his desire to become a teacher. In junior high, he had to give a presentation on Christmas food traditions in Østfold, which ended up lasting for three quarters of an hour. He decided then and there that conveying knowledge was what he wanted to do. In high school, he got a job at the science center, INSPIRIA science center, a place he still works. There, he provides science experiences and science shows to visitors of all ages, describing it as a job where he gets paid to play. In other words, he’s been involved in knowledge dissemination since high school, and currently, he teaches two days a week at Greåker Videregående Skole in Sarpsborg. Because of this, he has also benefited from seeing synergies between high school and university.
It’s not surprising when Eirik-Mathias says that both of his parents are teachers; you could almost have guessed it. He adds, “It’s said that a burned child avoids the fire, but that’s not the case for me. This burned child smells singed.” His mother teaches math and science, and his father is a principal. When asked if he has had any of his parents as teachers, he answers with a humorous smile, “Yes, I had my mom as a substitute in sex education.” However, this trauma did not outweigh his desire to become a teacher himself. He has many opinions on teaching and pedagogy and eagerly shares his thoughts on this.
“The academic foundation must be there,” he says. He explains that if you were to compare two teachers with similar subject knowledge, it’s solely their communication and teaching ability that determines students’ experience of the teaching. For those who have seen Eirik-Mathias teach, they can attest that he possesses solid communication skills. Almost as if he teaches with curiosity and such enthusiastic involvement that it rubs off on the students. Here, the childlike approach to things flourishes.
Currently, Eirik-Mathias is writing a master’s thesis in chemistry focusing on the structure and function of LPMO enzymes. As for the future, he doesn’t have any plans set in stone yet. “I struggle to imagine next week in detail,” but he mentions an ongoing application to the Research Council that could open up some exciting opportunities here at NMBU. Regardless of what he does, the common thread is “teamwork before pursuit.” In his roles, in education, and not least in his free time in the floorball community, but of course, always with a childlike twinkle in his eye.
GREETINGS
If we were to describe a superhuman, we would describe Eirik-Mathias! No one really understands how he manages to do everything he does; he can’t possibly have the same number of hours in a day as us ordinary mortals.
You’ll search long and hard for someone as hardworking and supremely talented in absolutely everything he does. Not only that, he’s also incredibly kind, funny, and always there for others. We feel very lucky to work with him and have him as a friend.
If mythology had told of a cornucopia for positive energy, boundless enthusiasm for knowledge and learning, and an unlimited capacity for new ideas, this horn would be called Eirik-Mathias Bjørnø Rummelhoff! I’ve had Eirik-Mathias as an eager sparring partner in statistics education, pedagogical development, and dissemination, both in courses, on the blog Statistrikk.no, and in the work with snl.no. He’s a delight to work with, both personally and professionally.
Best regards from Kathrine.
Dear Eirik-Mathias,
Every day is Mondayyyyy when we’re with you. You’re the man with a bit too many hours in the day, a bit too high coffee consumption, and too little desire to live in Agraren. Most people on campus might know you as a very serious gentleman, but we know about KB and other shenanigans. You’re a man with strong opinions and an exceptionally good ability to see others despite your somewhat hectic everyday life. A message, a meme, or a Fredrikstad phrase always brightens the mood. Not to mention all the fantastic (horrible) proverbs you come up with. Thank you for being who you are and for helping us with big and small things even in your busy schedule. Now we look forward to seeing you dominate life as a master’s student and as an edutainer in the future.
Candy candy,
The entire lecture gang
Eirik is a “knakanes” (fantastic) guy, as we would say here in Fredrikstad. He’s someone who always shows up to practice with a smile on his face and incredible energy. A warrior and an extremely significant contributor to the team, but also to the club. He’s simply a jack-of-all-trades who helps out wherever needed. A key piece in how Slevik IBK will continue to develop, both on and off the field.
