The list of University of Oslo people includes notable academics and alumni affiliated with the University of Oslo (before 1939 the Royal Frederick University). The University of Oslo is Norway's oldest, and was its only university until 1946; hence its academics and alumni include a large number of the country's prominent academic and public figures. Academics Prior to 1990, all (full) Professors were appointed by the King-in-Council. Biology Fridtjof Nansen, appointed to a chair in zoology, 1897; in 1908 the chair was changed to a personal professorship in oceanography Michael Sars Nils Christian Stenseth Economists Ragnar Frisch Trygve Haavelmo Chemistry Odd Hassel Cato Maximilian Guldberg, pioneer in physical chemistry Peter Waage Physics Kristian Birkeland, invented the Birkeland-Eyde Process and nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times. Ivar Giaever Historians Francis Bull Halvdan Koht Geir Lundestad Peter Andreas Munch Arnved Nedkvitne Jens Arup Seip Francis Sejersted, professor of social and economic history; chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Law Johannes Andenæs, Professor of Jurisprudence, Rector of the university Mads H. Andenæs Jon Bing Anders Bratholm Sjur Brækhus Kirsti Strøm Bull Frede Castberg, Professor of Law, Rector of the university Tove Stang Dahl, pioneer of women's law Torstein Eckhoff Aage Thor Falkanger Carl August Fleischer Francis Hagerup Claus Winter Hjelm, Professor of Law, subsequently Supreme Court judge Peter Lødrup Knut Selmer Carsten Smith, Professor of Law, subsequently Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Eivind Smith Lucy Smith Tone Sverdrup Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne, Professor of Law, Rector of the university Frederik Zimmer Mathematics Niels Henrik Abel, the Abel Prize in mathematics is named in his honour Carl Anton Bjerknes Sophus Lie, pioneer in abstract algebra; largely created the theory of continuous symmetry Peter Ludwig Mejdell Sylow Carl Størmer Elling Holst Viggo Brun Axel Thue Alf Victor Guldberg Richard Birkeland Thoralf Skolem Ralph Tambs-Lyche Øystein Ore, was also Sterling Professor of Mathematics at Yale University Ingebrigt Johansson Wilhelm Ljunggren Henrik Selberg Atle Selberg, winner of the Fields Medal Ernst Sejersted Selmer Erik Alfsen Arnfinn Laudal Erling Størmer Bernt Øksendal Ola Bratteli Ragni Piene Geir Ellingsrud Ragnar Winther John Grue Arne Sletsjøe Medicine Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam Kåre Berg Carl Wilhelm Boeck Christian Peder Bianco Boeck Cæsar Peter Møller Boeck Per Brandtzæg Per Alf Brodal Øyvind S. Bruland Niels Christian Gauslaa Danbolt Per Fugelli Ivar Asbjørn Følling Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg Hjalmar Heiberg Sverre Dick Henriksen Frederik Holst Torstein Hovig Ragnvald Ingebrigtsen Anton Jervell Leiv