UiN is quite unique when it comes to location, fields of study and not least by being a Norwegian educational institution with an international focus. The combination of these qualities is what gives UiN its distinctive character. The symbol tells a story about how the sea and nature are inextricably linked together. This combination is at the core of this northern county, and in an academic perspective the symbol represents the location of the university and the various fields of study and disciplines build on this premise.