Career
He is known as the principal figure within Norwegian nuclear research after World World War World War II He was employed at the Mount Wilson Observatory from 1939 to 1940, and at the Yerkes Observatory from 1940 to 1941. From 1942 to 1945 he was a part of the Technical Committee of the Norwegian High Command, together with scientists such as Svein Rosseland, Leif Tronstad and Helmer Dahl. The Technical Committee is considered as the precursor to the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, established in 1946.
Randers worked a few years at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, but in 1948 he was hired at the newly established Institute for Energy Technology.
Together with Odd Dahl he was a leading force in building the nuclear reactor there. From 1968 to 1973 he was the assisting secretary general of research in North Atlantic Treaty Organization. From 1975 to 1980 he was the Chief Executive Officer of the company Scandpower.
He was the father of Jørgen Randers.