Erling Strand

Norwegian professor Erling Strand, who serves as Professor in physics and chemistry at Østfold University College, leads the Hessdalen long-term research project on anomalous lights. He began investigating the Hessdalen lights following a personal observation in 1982, and subsequently founded Project Hessdalen in 1983 alongside colleagues. Strand has dedicated over 40 years to studying the unexplained Hessdalen lights in the valley, conducting fieldwork since 1984 utilizing magnetometric, radiometric, and radar instruments. In 1998, he established the world's first 24/7 observatory, known as the Blue Box, and later organized the EMBLA project from 2000 to 2002 to measure electromagnetic behavior. His leadership has involved extensive collaboration in researching these phenomena, working with dozens of scientists and approximately 1,000 students. In 1994, he hosted the 1st International Conference on Unidentified Atmospheric Light Phenomena, bringing together experts from eight countries. He continues long-term monitoring, collecting high-quality data for public access.