Ragnvald Larsen
My full name is Ragnvald Larsen. I started my journey as a geographer way back in 1992. I had been working as a localizer (translator) with the Microsoft Worldwide Product Group in Dublin Ireland for a little over four months and was on my way back to Norway for holidays. I really do not know what was so special about the landscape folding out beneath me. It could be that I had not seen my family for four months, it could be the green hills, the lazy roads along the hillsides, the very nice weather – or a combination. It made me think about geography and how it all connects – or doesn’t. I thought about why things were the way they were – in Norway and in other countries. And I thought, naively maybe, that combining computer science with geography wasn’t at all such a bad idea. It was a very good idea – as it turned out a great one!
I had a great time studying – while trying to contribute to systems and organizations which I felt were relevant for the society I was part of. It took some time… I was a member of the board of directors for the local (TT)and national hikers association (DNT) for a full ten years. Together with fellow idealists I developed SHERPA – a hiking information system. I used months and months and months on that system 
In between I had to work as well. Studying does not come cheap – particularly not when the years pass by in flashes. Finally – in 2001 I received my masters degree in geography.
I currently work with spatial data at the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management and has done so for almost five years now. Part of the job is to contribute to development aid projects.
You can find more information about me here:
Other sites where I on occasion write articles:
All postings on this page, and the other ones, reflect my personal opinions and should not be associated with any organizations.