Jury & criteria
All entries are reviewed by a broad jury representing UiT, ensuring a fair and balanced evaluation from multiple perspectives. The three main selection criteria are agreement with the category, photographic quality, and messages and uniqueness. Depending on the category, other characteristics such as expression, simplicity and humour will also be valued, and the geographical area of origin may be taken into consideration.
Jury 2026
Cornel Borit, Staff member in the Department of Research and Education Support at the University Library.
Mari Gaasbakk, Administrative adviser at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE), campus Harstad
Petia Mankova, Associate Professor of History at the Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology
Zoheb Mashiur, Postdoctoral research fellow at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH), and a member of the CRAFT and ENCODE research groups
Nimshi Rathnayake, Master student in Marine Biotechnology at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH)
Dilki Thrangika, Former exchange student at UiT and the overall winner of the 2024 edition of First Impressions
Ute Vogel, Senior Adviser in the Section for International Cooperation, and international coordinator for the Faculty of Health Sciences
Jury 2025
Filip Maric, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Care Sciences
Kate Maxwell,Professor, Academy of Music
Lilli Mittner, Associate Professor, Centre for Women's and Gender Research
Hege Olaussen, Assistant Professor, Department of Language and Culture
Ana Luisa Sánchez Laws, Professor, Centre for Geopolitics, Peace and Security
Jorge Santos, Professor, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Gunhild Svalastog, University Chaplain, University Chaplaincy
May Kristin Vespestad, Professor, The School of Business and Economics
Jury 2024
Melania Borit, Professor, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Zoheb Mahisur, Postdoctoral research fellow Z, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Kate Maxwell, Professor, Academy of Music
Lilli Mittner, Associate Professor, Center for Women's and Gender Research
Jorge Santos, Professor, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Gunhild Svalastog, University Chaplain, University Chaplaincy
Loïs Charles Bernard Cornil Vanhèe, Associate Professor, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science
Line Vråberg, Adviser, The Norwegian Arctic Student Welfare Organisation
Hege Kristin Widnes, Senior Adviser International Cooperation Section