Professor Thor Inge Fossen is the co-editor of Parametric Resonance in Dynamical Systems together with Professor Henk Nijmeijer (Eindhoven University of Technology). The book is a compilation of articles on parametric roll and active roll damping, involving 23 contributors. In June they met in Svalbard for a workshop to further discuss the phenomenon of parametric resonance and present the book chapters of the new book that will be available in December 2011. A highlight of the workshop was when Professor Henk Nijmeijer who has contributed significantly to this field of science was knighted as the 6th Honorary Knight of the Order of the Golden Feedback Loop. Everyone who receives a doctoral degree from the Department of Engineering Cybernetic are elected to Knights of the Order of the Golden Feedback Loop (the order has about 200 knights).

Professor Nijmeijer kneels down for Professor Fossen to swear the solemn oath of Cybernetics: I, Knight of the Golden Feedback Loop promise to promote the control science in all my conduct by always behaving optimally and never entering the right half plane. Must all controllers help me in this my solemn vow.

The participants at the workshop also had time for excursions in the beautiful arctic surroundings of Svalbard. Some of the activities they could partake in were searching for fossils near the foot of a glacier, hiking in the mountains, and a kayak trip crossing the Isfjorden on the west side of Spitsbergen.

The participants enjoyed an arctic "safari" on Isfjorden. 

About the book
The book Parametric Resonance in Dynamical Systems (Springer Science) offers cross-disciplinary insight to the phenomenon parametric resonance. Parametric resonance is a phenomenon that can most easily be described as unstable motion. It can be experienced by mechanical systems, vehicles, motorcycles, aircraft and offshore platforms and ships to mention a few. For ships, parametric resonance may occur in certain conditions, causing a heavy roll motion (can reach 30-40 degrees of roll angle), and hence cause potentially dangerous conditions for the ship, the cargo and the crew. Although there are a few potential methods for controlling the parametric resonance phenomenon, the subject of parametric resonance and the passive and/or active control of it, is far from being fully understood. This new book sets out to bring together insights from the different disciplines where parametric resonance occurs. The book will discuss the detection of parametric resonance, parametric roll in ships, control of parametric resonance in ships and control of parametric resonance in mechanical systems.