NEW HORIZONS MAGAZINE FROM UPPSALA UNIVERSITY • ISSUE 1. 2014

theme: E-SCIENCE

FROM THE CONTENT: MILLIONS OF IMAGES OF CANCER Page 10 GAME DESIGN IN RAPID DEVELOPMENT Page 26 HANS ROSLING REDRAWS THE MAP Page 36 1 NEW HORIZONS ISSUE 1. 2014

IN THIS ISSUE:

THEME: E-SCIENCE

4 Large amounts of data require new tools

8 Computers calculate how the glaciers move

9 Language is difficult för Google’s computers

10 Millions of images of cancer New tools for large amounts of data . 4 He wants to redraw the map. 36 Resources for research 12 Genetic risk More and more information is stored Meet honorary doctor Hans Rosling, who wants AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FACTOR for successful research and inn- 13 In focus: School on a downward slope digitally and is available to many. to show us our new world ovation, is the access to well-functioning research infrastructure. The research becomes more complex and dependent on different types of resources. Some 16 Positive trend for world peace of these are available at Uppsala University, others we gain access to through 20 Researcher profile: Erik Ingelssons driving force national and international collaborations. This ranges from major facilities to databases, libraries, biobanks, laboratories and data storage resources. 24 The shoal of fish is the model in studies of democracy Long-term planning and intelligent funding strategies are required in order for the research infrastructure to maintain a high level of quality. In recent 26 Report: Game design in Visby years, opportunities for external funding have declined. This means that a gre- 30 Student Kajsa Asplund: ”Psychologists are needed” ater financial responsibility for local infrastructure lies with the actual insti- tutions of higher education. We have therefore identified infrastructure as a 32 Innovation: The instrument that finds pathogens strategic priority area for the University of Uppsala in the coming years. Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) is an excellent example of a lar- 36 Alumni: Hans Rosling redraws the map ge-scale collaboration where the research infrastructures play a significant role. 38 Magician Johan Ståhl: ”Absolutely world class” It is a national centre for molecular biosciences aimed towards health and en- vironmental research. The centre is a collaboration between Karolinska Insti- tutet, the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala Fish show the way. Game design in Visby. Student of the year. University, where both technology and knowledge are to be used as a national 24 26 30 resource. Other examples of joint national initiatives, which give Swedish research new opportunities include: Max IV Lab and ESS in Lund. For a small country such as Sweden, it is important to participate in international projects that give New Horizons is Uppsala University’s magazine about research our researchers the best conditions for high quality scientific work. Providing and education. It is issued twice a year, in English and in Swedish, Nya world-class infrastructures also contributes to increased mobility by attracting horisonter. The magazine can be ordered free of charge or down- loaded as a PDF at the address: www.uu.se/new-horizons outstanding researchers from other countries, which creates attractive meeting Address: Communication and External Relations Uppsala University The flow of data is increasing places and creative environments. Factors, which in turn, have positive effects P.O. Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, SWEDEN on the quality of research and to society in general. n A FLOOD OF DATA STREAMS ACROSS THE WORLD. Environment and climate data, Editor: Annica Hulth, [email protected] electrical particles, DNA sequences and genetic information... Not to mention patient data, Editorial board: Magnus Alsne, Anders Berndt, Anneli Björkman, statistics on unemployment benefit and sickness benefit. Even web services such as Face- Eva Åkesson, Vice-Chancellor Helena Edström, Linda Koffmar, Anna Malmberg, Gunilla Sthyr, Anneli Waara. book and search engines like Google are based on the data volume. Executive editor: Urban Lindberg For research, it has meant that completely new issues can be studied and on a much Layout: Torbjörn Gozzi greater scale than before. In this issue, we discuss some examples: research on glaciers, how Printing: Danagård Litho computers can learn to understand language, the future of magnetic materials and cancer English translation: Svensk Språkservice treatment. To analyse all this data requires a wealth of computing power – both for data storage and to make calculations. In recent time resources have increased at Uppsala University, For a small country such as Sweden, it is especially for researchers in biology and medicine. With computer power researchers can investigate new questions, but also pick up old important to participate in international projects unresolved problems from the drawer. That’s according to Ingela Nyström who leads Es- By choosing this paper we have reduced our climate impact by more sence, a strategic research initiative on e-Science. This applies to many areas of research – that give our researchers the best conditions for than 35per cent. The paper is produced in Sweden, and the amount of water used in its production is uniquely low. The raw materials perhaps the majority. ‘In the future, perhaps we will not talk about e-science, but about “the Annica Hulth, editor high quality scientific work. come from “FSC forests”. science”,’ predicts Ingela Nyström. n [email protected]

2 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 3 THEME: E-SCIENCE

‘A COMPLETELY NEW working method has He adds that they have invested a lot in sup- TEXT: ANNICA HULTH PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT, STAFFAN CLAESSON emerged over the past decade,’ says Ola Spjuth. port and training. Together with SciLifeLab, they He is a researcher at Science for Life Labora- offer a course where researchers have learned tory (SciLifeLab) in Uppsala and leads the Upp- the basics of using large-scale computer systems nex project. They have built up large computing and try to log in and use Uppnex. resources for what’s known as “next-generation ‘It is usually overbooked.’Very many rese­ Large amounts of data sequencing” – i.e., large-scale gene analysis. arch groups employ bioinformaticians now, but The technology makes it possible to quickly research leaders also need to understand how it obtain the DNA sequence from samples from works.’ humans, plants and animals. It is useful in cancer Many projects are in progress for a long time. research, pharmaceutical research and biology – To map the genome of an organism, for example, REQUIRE NEW and generates lots of data. is just a starting point for further studies. Ola ‘One run on a single sample can generate bil- Spjuth envisions that the data volume will con- lions of bases (the letters A, T, C and G) and it’s tinue to increase. not like reading a book, but takes days, weeks or ‘Projects are getting bigger and more people The amount of data has in some instances months of calculations,’ says want to sequence. At the same time, the process TOOLS Ola Spjuth. is faster and we can get more and more data. increased tremendously over the past ten years. More ‘Suddenly, researchers were swimming in Projects expand 5–10 times on the drives during Ten years ago this data, hard drives were stacked up on the lab the analyses and biologists like to save all their was not possible, but and more information is stored digitally and is available benches so a decision was made to make a joint data. It’s a massive challenge to be able to scale effort to try to solve the problems.’ up storage and analyses.’ today we can do a to many. At the same time, there is a need of tools to analyse Uppmax was already in place at Uppsala Uni- lot more full-scale versity, with high-performance computers that CONSEQUENTLY, developments place new de- all this data and create new knowledge. This is especially served researchers in fields such as physics and mands on the research infrastructure. This con- experiments. chemistry. In 2010 the server room was expan- cerns both the ability to store data and to analyse true within biology, where new technology has led to an ded with Uppnex for biological research. It is the the information. part that has expanded the fastest and it’s still ‘We will need to develop new methods and explosion of data. growing. tools,’ says Ingela Nyström. INGELA NYSTRÖM She is a professor at the department of Infor- Professor at the department A NEW SERVER ROOM was recently opened at mation Technology and coordinator of Essence, a of Information Technology Ola Spjuth SciLifeLab, which is directly linked to Uppnex. strategic research initiative that is run from Upp- leads Uppnex in All in all there is currently data from over 800 sala University. Lund and Umeå Universities are Uppsala, which different projects and a storage capacity of 7 pe- also involved in the initiative. is a national tabytes, which is equivalent to 7000 times more ‘Essence assembles researchers who wish to resource for than will fit on a typical hard drive. improve their research with e-scientific methods. biologists who need to manage ‘We have recently increased the computing ca- Strong research both in the field and in method ever-increasing pacity three times and the storage capacity five ti- development are required in order for this to amounts of data mes, and apart from purchasing computers, we have work,’ says Ingela Nyström. in their research. built up a high level of expertise,’ says Ola Spjuth. She sees research being able to answer com- The new technical possibilities have led to a pletely new questions now that it’s possible to great deal of new research results, for example, process larger amounts of data. the mapping of dog and flycatcher genomes. Se- ‘But also old problems, researchers will now quencing is used in medicine to increase know- be able to readdress problems that were set aside ledge about cancer, hereditary diseases and resi- ten years ago. If previously it was possible to stu- stant bacteria. dy 100 molecules perhaps 1 million molecules In practical terms, researchers send their were needed to get a realistic picture. Ten years samples to the sequencing platform, who af- ago this was not possible, but today we can do a ter sequencing, store and analyse the results on lot more full-scale experiments.’ Uppnex. The researchers then receive a project account where they can log in. They then conti- ESSENCE PART FUNDS 25–30 different pro- nue to work on their data on Uppnex, instead of jects and invests SEK 26 million each year in re- on their own computer. search within a wide range of fields, from mate- ‘It has been successful as we have a strong fo- rial physics to linguistics. Common to all these is cus on the users. This differs from the high-per- that they make use of large amounts of data, but formance computing in physics, where the rese- also that they treat them in an advanced manner. archers are more self-sustaining. All of a sudden, ‘E-science is more than standard methods. we have hundreds of biologists, who need to use All of our researchers in Essence use one of the the technology, but do not know so much about computer centres and need more than what is computers,’ says Ola Spjuth. on the desktop.’

4 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 5 CONT. For example, computer support is needed Holmgren, professor at the department of Infor- DATA SHOULD NOT only be saved, but also research field to be developed with its own Large amounts of data to sort out what is relevant data and to quickly mation Technology. He has researched compu- made available for research. He has links to methods and tools. REQUIRE NEW find significant information. As for calculations, ter-based tools and methods for some time and the “Research Data Alliance”, a global project ‘The hard drives and the computers are the TOOLS it is a question of performing as much as pos- in recent years, needs have changed radically. If brought about to build an “internet” for resear- same, but the further you move up, the more sible in parallel and simultaneously keep track of initially it was a question of smart calculations chers where research data can be stored and si- specific different areas become. In the next few the calculations so that any errors are kept under and simulations, now it is also about how large multaneously made available to others. years we will need to develop a completely new control. amounts of data are to be managed and analysed. ‘This require data to be marked up in the type of tool, and this will demand more than a The vision for Essence is to build a “toolbox” They say “big data” and the explosion of data same manner with a common standard.’ short-term approach.’ for researchers, which can be used to customise from many different sources is a new challenge He sees serious challenges ahead, and above solutions according to the problem to be solved. for IT researchers. all, it is about working more interdisciplinary. THESE THOUGHTS are also shared by Ola And here, researchers can benefit from collabo- ‘Computer simulations are an established ac- ‘We need completely new tools and we need Spjuth at SciLifeLab. He has researched the fu- ration and sharing with each other. tivity, now we need to develop the analysis of to join the different areas of application with ture of biological research and what is required ‘If methods have been created that work for data as well as how to store and manage data. computing science and mathematics. Essence to keep up with developments. one problem, perhaps they’ll work on another,’ This requires metadata that describes the data plays an important role here.’ ‘Biologists require much more storage spa- says Ingela Nyström. and that there is agreement on how data should The actual base, research infrastructure, is the ce than traditional users. They frequently work One of the experts in the field is Sverker be marked up. It’s a whole new world!’ same in different disciplines, but requires each with a large number of smaller sub-problems that require a great deal of primary storage to Today at Uppnex there is data process. They are also more impatient, while from over 800 different projects physicists are accustomed to the time it takes, and a storage capacity of 7 petabytes, biologists want it to go fast.’ In the next few which is equivalent to 7000 times One way to store large amounts of data is to more than will fit on a typical do as Google and spread data across all compu- years we will hard drive. ters. You can then send calculations to different need to develop places and calculate in parallel. ‘Within research it is not as easy to divide in- a completely formation as much is interrelated, for example within a chromosome, so it requires more ad- new type of vanced methods in order to be useful.’ tool, and this Today researchers must keep up with deve- lopments. will demand ‘We are trying to keep at the forefront with the methods we employ. If we do not have the more than a latest software available, then Swedish resear- short-term chers will automatically fall a half year behind those at the forefront of research,’ says Ola approach.’ Spjuth. n

SVERKER HOLMGREN­ Professor at the department of Information Technology.

COMPUTER RESOURCES AT UPPSALA

UPPMAX (Uppsala Multidisciplinary Center for Advanced Computational Science) is Uppsala University’s resource for high performance computers, large-scale storage and expertise in high performance computer usage. Established in 2003 as one of six centres within the national infrastructure SNIC (Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing), which Uppsala University hosts. UPPNEX stands for “UPPmax NEXt generation sequencing Cluster & Storage”, and is a project at UPPMAX, which offers computation and storage resources as a national resource within the next-generation sequencing (NGS), primarily within Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab). eSSENCE is a strategic research programme in e-Science that is run in a collaboration between Uppsala University, Lund University and Umeå University. eSSENCE was initiated by the government to support research that was strategically important for society and industry. The vision is to lift Swedish e-Science to the highest international level, by building a creative research environment where new tools and applications are developed. eSSENCE also interacts with industry.

6 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 7 THEME: E-SCIENCE

TEXT: KIM BERGSTRÖM PHOTO: PRIVAT TEXT: KIM BERGSTRÖM PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT ILLUSTRATION: TORBJÖRN GOZZI

Computers that can speak like I feel I don´t reach you humans have existed for some But you are very close Computers calculate time in science fiction literature. Yet in reality, it has proved difficult to get computers to understand the how the glaciers move nuances of language. Joakim In order to understand how glaciers move it is Nivre is a professor of com- important to understand how they are affected Svali, a Nordic research centre studying the cli- putational linguistics and by global warming. Today’s technology allows mate environment and energy issues. researches teaching com- The development of technology has changed researchers to both access and use much more data the basis of glacier research. puters to improve their than before. However, this demands computer ‘In the beginning of your career you travelled understand of language. around and took measurements on a glacier with power to calculate and run models. an instrument and performed an analysis. Now we gather a great deal more information and INCREASED GLOBAL temperature means not conduct advance data processing that requires only that the earth’s glaciers are melting faster. It smart algorithms. Today you need to pair climate also means that those that run out into estuaries models, an ice flow model, balance models and Language is difficult will slide out faster. This in turn affects melting as databases of elevation models.’ the underside of the glaciers comes into contact with water, which is relatively warm. THE RESEARCHERS model how a glacier mo- The research team that professor Veijo Pohjo- ves in order to predict how it will move in the for Google’s computers la is active in is investigating the process when future, run the model and compare with the data glaciers slide over bedrock. His research area is they collect in the field. Input data is the gravita- JOAKIM NIVRE mainly teaches computers to ex- Of course it is important to have sufficiently fast Veijo Pohjola, Professor of Physical Svalbard. tional field from the glacier, which gives a picture plore the component parts of a sentence. He has algorithms. Geography, gathers vast amounts of ‘As global warming continues, it becomes in- of the mass distribution, how the glacier surface recently been a visiting researcher at Google to ‘If you take the software that has the world information at Svalbard which are creasingly important to take the temperature of moves and changes, the energy flow in the glacier help the company to develop improved language record for accurate analysis of English, it would then computer processed. glaciers that are changing.’ and precipitation. analysis software. take 300 years to analyse the entire Web on a The work is performed, among others, under It is running the models that demands sub- ‘The methods they use are largely based on computer. That’s what I’m working on – to pro- stantial computing power. This applies in particu- my research.’ duce sufficiently fast software without losing too lar to the ice flow measurements. They must be In the early days of search engines, keywords much accuracy.’ repeated many times with slightly different pa- were only matched against web pages. If the There is a great deal of irony in grammatical rameters. Frequently this is done in several steps, word occurred many times the page was positio- analysis. It is one of the most data and computer where researchers use the results from previous ned near the top of the search results. Now they intensive areas. However, first and foremost it is runs to improve the input of the next. This crea- want to access more of the content, i.e. to build neither storage space nor processing power that tes large amounts of data that must be analysed. question-answering systems. is biggest bottleneck. ‘The fact that we can perform more accurate ‘When asking someone “who bought Nokia?” ‘In order for the software to learn to under- analysis today, is obviously positive. We get bet- it is not enough that the computer can find do- stand the texts, we first need to feed them with ter results. But it also becomes extremely com- cuments where all keywords are present. It must example sentences marked with a grammatical plicated, so it’s not always so easy to understand also be able to determine that Microsoft is the analysis. So people need to sit and mark up a suf- the results,’ says Veijo Pohjola and laughs. subject and Nokia the object.’ ficient amount of text.’

Joakim Nivre, professor of VEIJO POHJOLA and his research group col- NOWADAYS almost all searchable texts have IN THIS WORLD of data, researchers also share computational linguistics, has been laborate with many Swedish and international undergone a grammatical analysis. large amounts of data. researching a method of teaching teams. Data exchange is an integral part of the ‘Google, for example, has its own copy of the ‘It can provide additional credits in a publica- computers grammar. research. web, which is updated daily. Information is sto- tion if you have assisted with data that the article ‘The sphere we work in is quite small and most red about the content of each page, which words is based on.’ people know each other, which means that you occur, facts are extracted and relationships map- Yet it is more difficult with data that com- trust that you will be invited as an author if the ped. Search questions and what people click on panies own, even if they are also involved in work leads to a publishable result. But if you do not are also stored and matched.’ the data exchange, and data is under copyright. know the people, it may advisable to enter into an Making a linguistic analysis of the entire web Another type of problem comes with integri- agreement about how data can be used.’ n involves managing incredible amounts of data. ty-protected data such as e-mail and SMS. n

8 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 9 THEME: E-SCIENCE re how the cells react to a broad range of cultured cells react to different pharmaceu- TEXT: ANNICA HULTH PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT treatments. For each patient, we test app- tical substances. roximately 2500 different pharmaceuticals ‘Two people never have exactly the and doses in parallel and work with about same cancer, but you can still group the a million images, something that requires a variants. plethora of computing power.’ The hope is to be able to better under- Nano-level stand the different cancer variants, but in Millions of images RESEARCHERS USE biopsies of tumours the long term, it would be fantastic if we magnetism and cultivate the cells in a 384-well mi- can use this to find new effective treat- croarray plate. There are robotic systems ments and decide which treatment would In magnetic materials the that can discharge small molecules, either be most suitable for each patient,’ says Ca- magnetic moments of the known pharmaceuticals or potential phar- rolina Wählby OF CANCER maceuticals, in the small wells. They are ‘Often it is the treatment that is so incre- atoms are usually structured then photographed with an automated mi- dibly stressful, if you can choose the right in clear, well-defined direc- No cancers are alike and different DIFFERENT PATIENTS RESPOND different- croscope. treatment from the outset you save both ly to different treatments and the treatments in All these images are then run on the com- time and suffering.’ tions. If they are forced out people need different treatment. themselves often cause a great deal of suffering. puters at Uppmax. of balance, exciting things By testing different pharmaceuticals on cultured ‘If someone should analyse the images TO PROCESS ALL the material requires Studying images of how cancer cells cells, we hope to better understand the differen- by hand, it would take several lifetimes, mathematical algorithms that can find the happen. ces between different patients,’ says Carolina while a computer cluster can do it in a few cells, measure items and group the cells ac- respond to different substances Wählby. hours. And you can always go back and look cording to the different properties. The re- OLLE ERIKSSON, professor of Theoretical She is a researcher in image analysis and colla- at the images where the computer indicates searchers can also pick out some cells that Magnetism, and his research team at Ång- increases our knowledge of how to borates with cancer researchers, pharmaceutical that something interesting has happened,’ they think shown an interesting change and ström Laboratory have a good idea of what researchers, cell biologists and biostatisticians in a says Carolina Wählby. ask the computer to find similar cells. Are happens when the structured atoms are combat the glioblastoma newly started project. Together they have exami- In addition to the images, the research- there additional patients that follow the skewed off balance. Based on theoretical ned the glioblastoma brain tumour, which makes ers have access to patient information, and same pattern? models, they create computer simulations brain tumour. up to three per cent of all cancers and is a very how they have responded to different treat- ‘It’s not as if we only use computer of how magnetic materials behave on a na- heterogeneous cancer type. ments. This, together with the genetic and analysis, we constantly try to incorporate no-level and how to affect the properties of “We use image analysis to quickly measu- molecular analysis, is coupled to how the knowledge from the medical researcher or the materials. cell biologist and utilise this knowledge, so ‘There are many applications, for ex- that we maximise the knowledge of all tho- ample within data storage. Most hard drives se involved,’ says Carolina Wählby. are made from magnetic materials and can There are several advantages in studying be made smaller, faster and more energy the variation between patients on the cul- efficient,’ says researcher Anders Bergman. tured cells. Partly it is easier from an ethical The simulations and calculations require aspect to test pharmaceuticals on cellular a lot of processing power as the researchers level outside the human body. In part you are studying great systems of millions of at- can test a large number of substances on oms. The research team is therefore using the same patient, which otherwise would computer clusters at Uppmax. More pro- have been an impossibility. cessing power not only means that larger ‘But you have to remember that these systems can be studied, it also means that cultured cells are a model of what is happe- the studies are more accurate. ning inside the body and that the cells are ‘We have a nice base for theorising in in a completely different environment than Sweden, where we have a robust infra- the human body. You must always bear in structure of supercomputers on which mind that this is a vast simplification of to run advanced calculations. This infra- what is really happening, but it can put us structure is very important to us and other on the right track.’ n theorists,’ says Olle Eriksson. A project is currently being carried out to test these theories in practice, in collabo- ration with KTH and the University of Go- thenburg. The project is led by Olle Eriksson. COLOURFUL IMAGES ‘We have made some headway as we have worked on this on a theoretical level ‘For each patient, we test In the background you can see fluorescence for a few years. Now we can also create an approximately 2500 different microscopic images of cultured neurons in pharmaceuticals and doses in which different proteins light up in different experimental environment where we hope parallel,’ says Carolina Wählby. colours with fluorescent labelled antibodies. to verify our theories,’ says Olle Eriksson. n It requires plenty of The same types of images are taken of the computing power. cultured cancer cells. ANNICA HULTH

10 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 11 THEME: E-SCIENCE IN FOCUS

TEXT: JOSEFIN SVENSSON PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT TEXT: HELENA EDSTRÖM PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT SCHOOL on a downward slope Swedish schools are on a slippery slope. Poorer results and increased inequality are a concern. Collaboration across block boundaries and Finnish pride are required to reverse the trend. That is the opinion of eminent education scientists at Uppsala University.

HOW’S IT GOING FOR SWEDEN? Ulf P. Lund- berg, Professor of Educational Sciences at Upp- gren was asked this question in a live radio inter- sala University. view on the same day as the result of the inter- In her research, she has studied another in- national student assessment PISA was published ternational test in detail: PIRLS, Progress in In- “Risk information after a genetic test can both give false positive in December last year. ternational Reading Literacy Study. Here it is The assessment and false negative results,’ says Professor Mats G. Hansson. He had a hunch that the result would be bad, the reading comprehension of 10 year olds that shows that it is the but did not want to sound too negative. is studied and the latest result from 2011 is not ‘So instead I said: I do not know’. It then tur- pleasant reading either. Even if the Swedish 10 low performing Last autumn the ned out that not only was the result for Swedish year olds are above the EU and OECD average, students who have Centre for Research 15-year-olds bad, it was much worse than expec- the Swedish results have continuously deteriora- ted,’ says Ulf P. Lundgren, Professor Emeritus at ted during the 2000s. fallen the most. Ethics and Bioethics Genetic risk Uppsala University, who in the 1990s was a part received a grant of USING TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY, human teracting factors, it is no longer obvious that we of the team that devised OECD’s international IT IS DIFFICULT to discover the exact causes of DNA can be collected and mapped to a very lar- want to know what’s going on, or that we under- knowledge test PISA, Programme for Internatio- the development. One clue is what actually hap- SEK 36 million for ge extent. Vast amounts of money are being in- stand the information we receive. nal Student Assessment. pens in the classroom. In a recently completed an international vested in genome studies and surveys of biomar- ‘Risk information after a genetic test can both The assessment, which tests 15 year olds in research project, Caroline Liberg and her collea- kers to give information about disease processes, give false positive and false negative results. Fre- mathematics, reading and natural sciences, is gues have studied the PIRLS reading test, which According to the latest PISA research project, but also on how we respond to different types of quently we do not see the whole picture, and held every three years and is comparable over not only examines students’ knowledge, but also survey the performance of boys has deteriorated. ‘We get more medical treatment. cannot take on-board all the information. It has time and between countries. includes surveys to include teachers. which has the wor- and more student teachers with ‘You build up large knowledge bases, and also been shown that these types of tests can According to the latest assessment, the per- ‘It turns out that Sweden is one of the countri- poorer prior knowledge,’ says king title “Mind the with the help of technology produce more infor- affect the treatment when the patient starts to formance of Swedish students has deteriorated es with the smallest element of text dialogue Caroline Liberg. risk”. The project mation than perhaps we are equipped to handle. meddle with their own medications based on the compared to 2009 and for the first time, they Researchers do not always think about how they results,’ says Mats G Hansson. performed below the OECD average in all are- will involve a should communicate the information,’ says Mats as. Furthermore, the results seen over time have multidisciplinary G. Hansson, Professor of Biomedical Ethics and IN PRINCIPLE there is no research into genetic also deteriorated the most compared to all other director of the Centre for Research Ethics and risk and how it should be communicated to the participating OECD countries. research team Bioethics at Uppsala University. individual, and it was here that the idea for Mind examining the One example of the problems we face is if the Risk project was born. The working group THIS IS A DISTURBING trend that is confir- a sample that we left at a biobank is found to includes researchers from a variety of disciplines: med, but the misery does not end there. ethical aspects of indicate that we carry a genetic marker, which, psychologists, philosophers, health economists ‘The most troublesome is that inequality in genetic testing. depending on a number of factors, could result in and clinics. Together, during the first two years, Swedish schools is on the increase,’ says Ulf P. cancer. How do we want the doctor or researcher they will work with concepts such as genetic in- Lundgren. to act in this case? formation and risk. The assessment shows that it is the low per- ‘We intended to look at how patients have forming students who have fallen the most. In IF WHEN LEAVING normal samples at the understood and reacted to this type of informa- addition, the results of the boys regressed to a doctor it is revealed that we carry genetic infor- tion. We also hope to develop a new method that greater extent than girls. mation that can cause cancer, we would proba- takes into account how our decision-making ap- ‘The strongest students in the schools fell a bly be informed of the test result so that we can pears. The ultimate goal is to develop concrete little. However, this cannot be compared with prevent or cure the disease. Yet if the result is tools for both those who deliver and those who the least strong pupils – they fell considerably only an indication, depending on a variety of in- receive risk information,’ says Mats G Hansson. n and have become many more,’ says Caroline Li-

12 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 13 CONT. between teacher and student. Swedish teachers as much to assess and document student deve- According to him, there is a risk that assess- SCHOOL are well below the OECD average in terms of lopment. Feedback on student knowledge de- ments such as PISA, ill-judged, could be coun- PISA ASSESSMENT on a downward slope spending time on teaching that gives students velopment to students and parents takes 3 per ter-productive for a country’s education system. the means to absorb the text content. Instead, cent of the time and administration and practical ‘Political hullabaloo and ill-conceived new re- pupils are left to themselves for quiet reading,’ work approximately 13 per cent. forms only lead us to continue to undermine the The knowledge of 15 year olds in mathematics, reading and science are the focus of PISA, says Caroline Liberg. Another change compared to the past is that school,’ says Ulf P. Lundgren, whose advice to Programme for International Student Assessment. It is the international Organisation for Economic The result development in schools also has to a number of national tests must be sat in years 3, the political parties is to put down the battle-axes Cooperation and Development, OECD, behind the assessment, which was previously conducted do with a changing world. For example, 1990’s 6 and 9, and at secondary level. in the school question. in 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009. In 2012, a total of 65 countries, including 34 OECD members, school choice and free-school reforms. Inspiration can be taken from our neighbour took part. In Sweden close to 4700 pupils took part in the study, which consists of tests, student survey and school survey. We have had a ‘School choice has led to more homogeneous THE DEBATE ABOUT Swedish schools has Finland – who ranks highly in international tests groups of pupils. Some schools have homoge- been lively since December, when the PISA re- such as PISA and where there is a clear agre- policy that has neous strong students who challenge each other sults were presented. The school question is ex- ement on collaboration across party lines in edu- ‘I think he’s right. Swedish politicians have stripped teachers of to good results and who also have strong support pected to be one of the most important issues cation matters. through reforms already intervened in how from home. Other schools have homogeneous prior to the 2014 election and the political parti- ‘Moreover, they have a proud tradition sur- teachers must do their job. And, for example, control over their weaker groups of pupils who lack role models es are positioning themselves. The reaction tires rounding the teaching profession that historically when politicians say that we need more pulpit own profession, in school and at home. This problematic trend Professor Ulf P. Lundgren, who researches in the dates back to the Russian days when the school- teaching the subtext is that teachers are not has been highlighted, among others, in the PISA field of education policy. master was the one who carried the Finnish lang- competent, which in turn lowers the teacher’s assessments,’ says Caroline Liberg. ‘It is not a particular reform, initiative or re- uage and Finnish culture forward.’ status. It is these serious consequences we now ason behind the development. The policy has Ulf P. Lundgren quotes one of his Finnish see. We have had a policy that has stripped THE DECLINING NUMBER applying to teacher created a slippery slope for the Swedish school research colleagues: ‘In Finland, we trust our teachers of control over their own profession,’ training is another external factor that cannot be system that depends on many factors. It is naive teachers. In Sweden you distrust them. That’s says Ulf P. Lundgren. n ignored. Initially it was mainly the smaller colle- to believe otherwise.’ the difference.’ ges that recruited students with little prior know- ledge, but now it is also the major universities. ‘In essence, we get more and more student teach- ers with poorer prior knowledge,’ says Caroline Liberg. She graduated from teacher training in the early 1970s – a time when the education requi- red high admission credits and the profession had a different look. Teachers could then spend all their time on teaching and planning. Today, Professor Emeritus Ulf P Lundgren. a primary school teacher, according to a report PHOTO: LARS WALLIN from the Swedish National Agency for Educa- tion, spends on average 34 per cent of their work time on education, 10 per cent on planning and

RESULTS PISA 2012 Summary: From performing above the OECD average in PISA 2000, the results for Sweden are now well below average in all three areas of PISA 2012. None of the other 33 OECD countries in PISA 2012 had such a large drop in results as Sweden. South Korea: 554 points South Korea: 478 points Sweden: 413 points Mexico: 538 points Japan: 483 points Sweden: 424 points Mexico: 547 points Japan: 485 points Sweden: 415 points Mexico:

MATHEMATICS READING NATURAL SCIENCE ‘In essence, we get more and more Average OECD 494 points. Average OECD 496 points. Average OECD 501 points student teachers with poorer prior Sweden: 478 points. Sweden: 483 points. Sweden: 485 points knowledge,’ says Caroline Liberg. Comments: All other Nordic Comments: Seven OECD Comments: Seven OECD countries performed better countries had worse results countries performed worse than Sweden. than Sweden. than Sweden.

14 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 15 TEXT: ANNICA HULTH PHOTO: SCANPIX

One type of conflict cannot be predicted by FACTORS THAT AFFECT PEACE the researchers’ model: In countries such as Syria and Libya where demands for demo- cratisation create violent conflicts. • Fighting poverty and education (fewer conflicts) • Decolonisation and division of states (initially more conflicts) • UN peacekeeping operations (fewer conflicts) As we have • Democratisation (initially more, but in the long term fewer conflicts) experienced a • Growing population (more conflicts in large populations, but fewer conflicts per capita) trend of decreasing conflicts over the part of the population is poor, uneducated and changed, says Håvard Hegre. young, are more likely to enter into conflict. ‘The war between the USA and Vietnam past 20 years, you More than half of the world’s conflicts in 2012 would not have been possible today. It was only can be optimistic were in the poorest quarter of the countries. 40 years ago, but since then there has been a dra- ‘There are several reasons for this. Poverty is matic change in our attitude towards the use of about the next 40 a motivation for conflict and can lead to revolts. violence.’ years. Besides, it is easy to recruit soldiers in countries However, another kind of conflict, which with many poor and the elite lose less due to the could not be predicted by the model developed economic impact of the conflict. Therefore, the by researchers, is increasing: In countries such as reduction in poverty is one of the most impor- Syria and Libya where demands for democratisa- tant factors in our model.’ tion create violent conflicts. ‘We need to build democratisation into our ANOTHER FACTOR is the so-called “conflict model to be able to provide a better prognosis. trap”. The longer there has been peace in a coun- This means that we must be able to predict try, the less chance of war. changes in political systems in the coming years, ‘Conflicts beget conflicts and peace fosters which increases the complexity.’ peace. Five years after a conflict, the risk of a new Positive trend conflict is five times greater than before the con- IN THE LONG-TERM, democratisation is a factor flict. Every year of peace makes a difference,’ says that strengthens peace. It usually results in increa- Håvard Hegre. sed levels of education, reduced poverty and hig- A positive trend can also be seen here. In her incomes. So despite these new conflicts, the 2012, the world’s countries had on average had forecast of fewer wars in the world remains. PHOTO: UNIVERSITY IN OSLO PHOTO: for world peace 42 years of peace, as compared with the average It’s not the picture you get when you follow the The reduction in world poverty in 1960 of 27 years. news? is one of the positive trends that ‘As we have experienced a trend of decreasing ‘The media are conflict-oriented, and their Håvard Hegre highlights in his conflicts over the past 20 years, you can be opti- selection is not representative. There is a strong research. – except in new democracies mistic about the next 40 years.’ focus on the conflict in Syria, but not much is Another important factor that affect peace written about Colombia where the conflict is al- The number of armed conflicts around the world will continue is that attitudes to violence and conflict have most over,’ says Håvard Hegre. n to decline. At least according to Håvard Hegre, new professor of peace and conflict studies at Uppsala. His forecast for the next 40 20% Incidence of conflict years shows several positive trends that will strengthen peace. Observed and predicted conflicts 10% Minor (at least 25 dead/year) IN NOVEMBER last year, Håvard Hegre took more deaths per year. Major (at least 1000 dead/year) 0 over the Dag Hammarskjöld Professorship in This optimistic scenario attracted a great deal of Poverty reduction Uppsala after Peter Wallansteen. He came direct- attention both locally and internationally, expla- 100 ly from Oslo – from the Peace Research Institute ins Håvard Hegre. Infant mortality, percentage of Oslo (PRIO) and the University of Oslo – where ‘Of course it is controversial to make this 80 people without education and people 15–24-years old is decreasing. he previously in same year presented his forecast kind of forecast and naturally there are many 60 for peace and conflicts in the world, which was factors that can change, but our model is based 40 made in collaboration with Uppsala University. on extensive research and data about conflicts The forecast gives an optimistic picture: In between 1946 and 2012 from the Uppsala Con- 20 2050, the percentage of countries in conflict will flict Data Project.’ have fallen to 7 per cent from 16.5 per cent in One of the most important trends is that 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2012. Just over one per cent – two countries – poverty in the world is on the decrease. It also will be involved in conflicts that cause 1000 or means fewer conflicts, as countries where a large Infant Mortality Rate % without education % 15–24 years old

16 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 17 IN BRIEF The poor owned First dinosaur finds Carrier pigeons more than believed in Saudi Arabia finding home Why do Europeans RESEARCHERS in economic history at AN INTERNATIONAL research team has DESPITE THEIR SMALL BRAINS pigeons Uppsala University have shown, by study- found 72 million year-old dinosaur fossils are very good at navigating. In a new study tolerate milk? ing Swedish auctions during the 1700 and on the Arabian Peninsula. They have iden- Richard Mann at the department of Mathe- EUROPEANS TOLERATE MILK to a far 1800s, that the scale of the Swedish trade tified a tooth from a carnivorous dinosaur matics together with researchers from Ox- greater extent than people in other parts of has previously been grossly underestima- and a tail vertebra from a 20-metre long ford University has shown that the ability the world and the reason for this has yet ted. They have also seen that poor people dinosaur. of carrier pigeons to remember their flight to be fully uncovered. A study by, among owned many more objects than previously ‘These are the first taxonomically identi- routes is affected by the landscape below. others, Oddny Sverrisdóttir at EBC takes us thought. ‘It has often been thought that fiable dinosaurs from the Arabian Peninsula Hedges and boundaries between urban and a step closer to answering the question. during this period Sweden was a communi- that have been reported,’ says Benjamin rural areas make up ideal landmarks for the By studying the DNA of early Iberian ty lacking in objects, but that is not true at Kear, researcher in paleobiology at Uppsala pigeons to navigate. This knowledge may farmers, researchers have shown that the all,’ says Sofia Murhem. The history University. help researchers to predict the flight routes hypothesis that milk was important for the Previous research has often looked at in- Two different types of dinosaurs can of other birds – something that may well calcium absorption of our ancestors may ventories, but much of what a person buys of swearing be described based on the fossils, a bipedal benefit conservationists, birdwatchers and not have been the only explanation. It may in a life time disappears before an invento- carnivore that is distantly related to Tyran- urban planners a like. n also have been the case that starvation led ry is made of the death estate. Researchers ‘BAD WORDS’ have always existed. In a nosaurus but only six metres tall, and an to periods of very strong selection in favour have also found that there was a great rota- new book, a group of researchers from the herbivorous titanosaur that may have been of those people who could digest lactose. n tion of belongings. n Nordic countries present the latest resear- up to 20 metres long. n ch on swearing. How are swear words used and which attitudes have existed towards Porridge has Punk is no revolt men’s and women’s swearing? What words PUNK as a subculture arises not as a revolt Sleep can protect the brain did you use if you wanted to say something health benefits against injustice, but is created and defined really foul in the 17th century? NEW RESEARCH from Uppsala University A total of 15 men of normal weight par- A DIET BASED on Nordic food has several from within, irrespective of how the outsi- A group of language researchers from shows that in healthy young men it’s pos- ticipated in the two parts of the study. In positive effects, such as lowered cholesterol, de world appears. This is shown in a new Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and sible to measure, after one night of sleep one instance they had to remain awake for blood pressure and improved insulin sensi- thesis by sociologist Erik Hannerz. He has Lithuania started collaborating in 2010 to deprivation the same elevated concentra- an entire night, while in the second instance tivity. Some of the cholesterol-lowering ef- studied how punks in Sweden and Indone- promote research on swear words in the tion of substances in the blood as after acute they slept around eight hours. fects are related to the improved fat quality sia define their subcultural affiliation, both Nordic languages, a field which has previo- brain injury. The results indicate that a good ‘We found that a night with a total lack in the Nordic diet, and our Nordic break- in relation to the surrounding community usly been neglected in language research. night’s sleep can help the brain stay healthy. of sleep was followed by elevated blood fast of porridge can have unexpected positi- and to other punks. The collaboration has resulted in the book In a collaboration between Uppsala Uni- concentrations of NSE and S-100B. Blood ve effects. Viola Adamson, doctoral student ‘If subcultures such as punk occurred Swearing in the Nordic Countries. versity and Gothenburg University, resear- levels of these substances usually rise after at the Department of Public Health and due to injustices in society, we would see The authors look closely at current chers have together examined whether an acute brain injury. Consequently, our results Caring Sciences shows this in a new thesis. significant differences between countries, and historic use of swear words, attitudes acute lack of sleep affects morning values of indicate that one night of sleep deprivation Switching to a Nordic breakfast of fibre- which we do not. My study shows that it towards swearing in different age groups, two cell substances whose concentrations can increase the risk of a loss of nerve cells, ’ rich porridge can have positive effects on is the same structures and inequalities that swearing in media, as well as how swear were measured in the blood and which usu- says sleep researcher Christian Benedict, at abdominal fat and inflammation. n recur in punk in Sweden as in Indonesia,’ words are passed from one language to ally can be found in the brain’s brain cells. the Department of Neuroscience. n says Erik Hannerz. n another. “The bad words have linguistic and so- cial functions that we want to understand. Swear words reveal things about us and the Wave power in The technique is well suited to the society we live in, about our relationships waves and depth of the Baltic Sea. and values, both then and now”, says Ulla the Baltic Sea Stroh-Wollin, senior lecturer of Nordic CONDITIONS ARE GOOD for an invest- languages at Uppsala University. ment in the development of wave energy In her chapter of the book, Ulla in the Baltic Sea. This is what a two-year Stroh-Wollin discusses swearing from a EU-funded pilot study shows, which has historic perspective, based on studies of 45 now been completed. theatrical plays from the 18th, 19th and ‘You could say that the study opens up 20th centuries. The studies show that be- the Baltic Sea for wave energy. There are fore the mid-1700s it was likely worse to challenges with seasonal ice, for example, “take the Lord’s name in vain” than to use but we have managed two seasons with diabolical curses. Ulla Stroh-Wollin has also good results. Our technology has pro- seen that swearing in general was at its most ven to be very well adapted to the Baltic One night of sleep stigmatised during the late 19th century. n deprivation can increase the Sea’s wave climate and depth,’ says Erland risk of a loss of nerve cells. Strömstedt, researcher at the Ångström La- LINDA KOFFMAR boratory and principal of the study. n

18 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 19 RESEARCHER PROFILE

TEXT: MAGNUS ALSNE PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT ERIK INGELSSON

Age: 39 years Family: Wife and two children Title: Professor of Molecular Epidemiology Lives: House in Uppsala “My biggest Interest: Family, the cottage in Järvsö, music, food and fitness driving force is to When Uppsala University recruited have fun” AT 35 YEARS OLD, Erik Ingelsson was named professor at Karolinska Institu- 39-year-old Erik tet. He had previously taken a doctorate in just over two years and was ranked in 2011 by Business Week in 14th place out of Sweden’s 101 super talents. Ingelsson as professor of When Erik Ingelssons Alma mater, Uppsala University, managed to recruit him and his research team, Stellan Sandler, dean of the medical faculty, described it molecular epidemiology, as a spectacular recruitment. ‘In my field a great deal speaks for Uppsala University,’ says Erik Ingels- there was talk about a son. ‘The successful tradition within diabetes and cardiovascular research, the flagship Uppsala Clinical Research Center, the establishment of SciLifeLab spectacular recruitment. and ties to the Uppsala University Hospital. Once in place, my research team and I have been very well received and we have had a great initial period with After a first year with publications in, among others, Nature Genetics and Science.’ publications in Nature ERIK INGELSSON focuses his research on the relationships between mole- cular factors such as genes, proteins and metabolites, and – primarily – cardio- Genetics and Science and vascular disease and diabetes. These diseases are now also increasing rapidly in poor countries. Through large-scale partnerships across national borders, Erik a number of prestigious wishes to help reduce the number of sick and contribute to improved care for patients. grants there was no ‘Molecular epidemiology is a relatively new field. Good studies requi- re ample, well-characterised materials. Uppsala offers a solid base through, reason to doubt this. among others, the epidemiological initiative EpiHealth. The need of ample material also accelerates the development of global interaction. My group cur- rently works with players in a number of countries and wants to build a leading research environment here in Uppsala.’ Ambitions are high and, according to Erik Ingelsson perfectly reasonable. For him, it means conducting important studies and innovative research and the horizon is probably not too far away. ‘My group has the ability to apply new technologies in other applications and by doing so continue development. Besides, at Uppsala, we have more of the external conditions required. The challenges I see primarily concern Swedish research in general, such as career paths and funding models.’

AS A MEMBER of Sweden’s young academy, Erik Ingelsson is a clear voice in the research policy discussion. According to the academy’s website it advoca- tes a system characterised by transparency and fairness, however, at the same time primarily rewards the best researchers and research environments. ‘I think we need a structural system change in the Swedish academic world

20 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 21 IN BRIEF CONT. if we are to recruit and retain the best talent. The situation with uncertain ca- RESEARCHER PROFILE reer paths for young researchers improved when posts such as assistant lecturer A new window on the Universe Erik Ingelsson and postdoctoral research fellow were reintroduced, but a great deal of work DEEP DOWN in the ice at the South Pole, covery that has been named the physics remains and we must all do our share, especially in the recruitment process. researchers have found particles, neutrinos, breakthrough of 2013 by the British maga- Erik Ingelsson himself leads a research team of fourteen people. He anno- originating outside our solar system – a dis- zine Physics World. unces each new post openly and then appoints them with rigorous accuracy. Olga Botner, professor of physics at the ‘Today we are a team of dynamic, motivated individuals with different Ångström Laboratory, is spokesperson for backgrounds, who complement each other in the scientific discussion.’ the International Project IceCube. ‘It’s incredibly exciting.’ For the first ANOTHER ITEM on Erik’s research policy agenda concerns the model for time, we have compelling evidence that research funding. high-energy neutrinos from outer space Personally he is looking for greater focus on researcher-initiated ideas with have landed here on earth,’ she says. assessment in open competition. However, he is unsure about the current It’s not only a major scientific step, but trend with policy-driven initiatives and large collaborations. also a work victory. It has taken six years to ‘I’m definitely not questioning the good will of those governing, but there construct the research station on the South is a risk that many researchers will be forced to set up their activities in a Pole, a thousand cubic kilometre area whe- patchwork of different forms of funding.What’s more, I dare to say that if as re over five thousand optical modules have researchers we do not know what the future holds so probably it’s unlikely been lowered in the inland ice. The project that our elected do.This does not mean that the research community should be involves 280 individuals and 41 depart- left alone without evaluation, but important discoveries cannot just be forced ments from around the world. to the fore.’ Two years after the IceCube installation In 2013 he was granted, as one of nine Swedish researchers, the ERC Star- was completed, researchers have received ting Grant and was also named a Wallenberg Academy Fellow. This success confirmation that the technology works. means that Erik’s research team can follow up and deepen their acclaimed fin- The sensors have captured 28 events and dings about how our genetic inheritance affects the risk of developing obesity, Over five thousand optical modules approximately half of them are neutrinos, lipid disorders and cardiovascular disease. have been lowered into the ice. which more than likely come from space. n The subjects ate an average of three muffins ‘In addition, it increases our ability to invest in new, more daring directions, per day for seven weeks. which makes the research much more enjoyable and it is a privilege I am ex- tremely grateful for. Just having fun has always been a great motivator for me, Early violence leaves a mark both professionally and privately.’ How to combat ONE IN FIVE ADULT WOMEN in Sweden also a public health problem. It is therefo- NATURALLY, THERE IS an Erik Ingelsson outside of the research world. The- and one in twenty men have suffered se- re important to have a current survey as a abdominal fat Erik Ingelsson wants greater focus on researcher-initiated re is a chance you have seen him on stage with Orphei Drängar, Uppsala’s rious sexual violence at some time in their basis for decisions concerning measures to NEW RESEARCH from Uppsala Universi- ideas with assessment in open competition. widely known male choir that mixes sold-out auditoriums with recordings and lives. This is the result of a study from the combat violence and improve support for ty shows that saturated fat is more fattening international performances. In the autumn a concert tour of Japan is in the National Centre for Knowledge on Men’s those affected,’ says Professor Gun Heimer, and gives less muscle gain than polyunsa- pipeline, and as chair of OD his hands will be full, or? Violence Against Women (NCK) at Upp- director of NCK. turated fat. It is the first study on humans, ‘Sure, it takes some time, but our organisation is extremely well-oiled. sala University. The survey also illustrated The survey was directed to a nationally which shows that the fat composition of During high school, I actually considered a career as a musician, and sing- a clear link between exposure to violence representative sample of 10,000 women food not only affects blood cholesterol and ing in OD is probably as close to becoming professional that an amateur can and physical and mental ill health later in and 10,000 men aged 18–74 years and was the risk of cardiovascular disease, but also be. Otherwise, I spend most of my time with my family. Obviously with two life. conducted in collaboration with Statistics influences where the body fat is stored. children, life includes some juggling, but my wife and I are very eager to see ‘Violence is a serious social problem and Sweden. n In the study, thirty-nine young, nor- each other’s needs. We let each other evolve in our careers, and she is definitely mal-weight adult men and women ate 750 an inspiration to me!’ n Researchers spin threads of gold and DNA extra calories a day for seven weeks. The target was that they should go up three per BY ALLOWING DNA strands to grow to- a certain specific DNA molecule has beco- cent of their original weight. The extra ca- gether with gold, researchers at Uppsala me attached to one of the electrode surfaces. lories were ingested in the form of muffins Berzelii Technology Centre for Neurodi- ‘We believe that the incredibly strong with a high-fat content, baked in the lab by During high school, agnostics and SciLifeLab have developed a signal that we register when we succeed in Fredrik Rosqvist, doctoral student and the totally new concept of super-sensitive diag- spinning a gold wire between the electrodes I actually considered a study’s first author. Half of the participants nostics of different illnesses. The technology will be possible to convert into a diagnostic were fortunate to eat the excess calories career as a musician, is based on allowing a DNA strand to grow test with extreme sensitivity and specifici- from polyunsaturated fat (sunflower oil), and singing in OD is over a thin span between two electrodes in ty,’ says Professor Mats Nilsson, who led the while the other half received the excess ca- probably as close to an electrical circuit. The strands only grow if study. n lories in the form of saturated fat (palm oil). becoming professional ‘As the subjects of the study were eating an average of three muffins a day to gain that an amateur weight we baked over 6,000 muffins. Most can be. of the participants thought it went well, even if they tired of muffins by the end,’ says Fredrik Rosqvist. n

22 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 23 TEXT: ANNELI BJÖRKMAN PHOTO: MATTON THE IDEA OF ANALYSING human social sys- re was always a desire to model humans. I asked tems based on group behaviour in animals has myself whether I could use this type of method long interested David Sumpter at the Depart- on other questions to study, for example, deve- ment of Mathematics. He has previously studied lopment and social behaviour in humans,’ says and mathematically formulated how individual David Sumpter. animals take after the movement patterns of He contacted Peter Hedstrom at the Institute THE SHOAL OF FISH groups. Yet he and his research colleagues recent- for Futures Studies in Stockholm, who arranged ly published a report in which social movements another partner in the World Value Survey. were described and predicted with the help of differential equations, based on studies of shoals THE PROJECT really took off when the World IS THE MODEL of fish. Bank opened its databases as well as the financial ‘Fish move in two or three dimensions, which support from the Swedish Research Council and are a part of a human’s conception of up and the Riksbank. In December, David Sumpter and down, left and right,’ says David Sumpter. ‘But his colleagues’ research findings were presented in studies of democracy countries also move through a number of di- in the online publication PLoS One. At the same mensions, though these comprise of economic time, they made a video with moving illustra- growth, democracy, and infant mortality. These tions of 74 countries’ democratic and economic How do countries develop democracy and economic movements can be described using the same growth since 1981. mathematical methods.’ ‘For example, the democratic criteria is not prosperity? What factors lie behind poverty and segregation? He has collected the material from research just about whether the country holds democratic projects at Sydney University in Australia over elections. The experts who evaluated democracy For example, the Sociologists and analysts seek out traditional answers in the past five years. Mathematical models have and human rights in these countries have taken democratic criteria been based on colleagues’ biology experiments into account many aspects and then gave the social sciences and economic theories. However, in his latest with ants, grasshoppers and fish. The idea for the countries values between 0 and 1. We then used is not just about current study came three years ago. The source the mathematical models that corresponded the whether the country research Uppsala mathematician David Sumpter started of inspiration was Professor Hans Rosling’s Gap- best with the development pattern,’ says David minder company and their creative computer Sumpter. holds democratic from the movements of a shoal of fish to create mathematical simulations of development trends. Mainly it’s a question of using the countries elections. ‘I had developed methods based on a shoal that have developed democracy in the last 30 models for assumptions about democratic development. of fish, but somewhere in the background the- years in order to make assumptions about the fu- ture for others who find themselves in the same Fish move in two or three dimensions – up and position today. down, left and right. Countries also move through Interest among politicians is large, and several a number of dimensions, though these comprise of social projects are in the pipeline. economic growth, democracy, and infant mortality. ‘In one project we will try to collect data from Sweden’s municipalities and county councils about the link between mental illness and the background of pupils. In another with Institute for Futures Studies, we will study segregation in schools and residential areas, how it has changed over time and what factors lie behind the changes.’

DATA FROM Statistics Sweden will be delayed however; one reason seems to be limited person- nel resources. Another is the ethical component that deals with the distribution of information, and to whom, says David Sumpter. Something he anticipates are reactions to the models and questions about how the results should be inter- preted. ‘It is no good if we say that this will happen in five years’ time and it does not happen. Yet if it ‘I had developed methods based is foreseeable, then I think the information is in- on a shoal of fish, but somewhere teresting and valuable to pass on.’ However, the in the background there was always Lucas critique in economics argues that a model a desire to model humans,’ says that can predict the future can be used to change mathematician David Sumpter. the model. Accordingly, there is a risk that we actually change society so that what we predic- ted does not occur.’ n

24 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 25 REPORT

TEXT: ANNICA HULTH PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT GAME DESIGN in rapid development In order to become a IN ONE OF THE HOUSES on Campus Gotland good game designer, intensive game development is in progress. We open the door slightly to one of the computer you need to grasp the halls where some first year students are gathered around a table. They were fully concentrated on latest technology – but their game projects. Alexander Westerdahl has an electric guitar also to develop as an on his lap. He’s recording sound effects for the game he and his friend Simon Strandh across the artist. A creative en- table are working on. We need the sound of a rubbish bin rolling vironment encompas- down the hill. The game is about a man who is angry with everyone and everything during a de- ses the design educa- monstration. ‘We were the first Anders Wetter sitting close by is drawing in tion in Visby, where a European university his sketchbook. He started playing computer ga- mes as a four year old and has already managed sketchbook and guitar Here there is an internationally compiled ‘your idea’. Everyone has good ideas, but a good ‘This happens around the clock,’ that participated to develop his first two games. teacher group, which increases the dynamics. idea fails with poor implementation. It’s not says Anders Wetter, who is at the Tokyo Game I’m working on my own concept while study- have their given place Two researchers from Japan come with a total of about ideas but about implementation.’ sketching a new concept. ing too. This happens around the clock,’ he adds 50 years experience, from Tokyo Institute of Tech- And to learn how to develop good game de- Show and we smiling. among the computers. nology and the research unit at Japan’s national sign you need to test, test and test again. attracted a great The others around the table nod knowingly. It television, (NHK). ‘It has never been easier than today to try to often happens that they stay here after the end the most developed games per capita. ‘They help us to make the connection develop a game, just get started! Many programs deal of attention. of day. ‘New technological opportunities emerge between research in new technologies and ga- are free. Above all, you have to stop thinking and ‘I spend more time here than at home. And every week. Our students must master today’s mes. We need to prepare the students for the fu- start developing. There are no obstacles or excu- I still go home with a smile every night,’ says technology, but above all be equipped for coming ture, so that they are used to implementing their ses anymore.’ Alexander Westerdahl, Ludwig Adam Wrange. technologies,’ says Professor Steven Bachelder. ideas with new techniques. Otherwise it will be The students develop many games during the Lindstål and Adam Wrange. The level of applicants to the education in When the programme started in 2001, it was difficult for them to assert themselves.’ course of the education, on an increasingly ad- game design at Campus Gotland is high. The Sweden’s first higher education programme in vanced level. A number also spend their leisure computer games industry is an industry of the game design and one of the first in the world. THE STUDENTS LEARN how to master the time on game projects and some of the games future in which Sweden is at the forefront, with Nowadays, the department of game design is a techniques, but above all to find new artistic part of Uppsala University, but residing in Visby. forms. Over the years, the education has garnered a ‘They must excel at the technology, but lot of international attention. In May, it’s time for technology cannot be an end in itself, it is just a the annual Gotland Game Conference, where an tool. The technical development is tangible and international panel will evaluate the games crea- affects the whole environment, but really they ted by the students. should not think about technology more than In 2013, the department participated in the an author thinks about his language. That’s the Tokyo Game Show as the first European institu- challenge.’ tion of higher education. Three games developed One of the teachers is Marcus Ingvarsson. He by students and which won awards in Swedish studied here himself from 2005 onwards. He Game Awards were shown at the stand. then worked for a number of years in Germany ‘We were the first European university that at a large games company. When a teacher va- participated at the Tokyo Game Show and we cancy arose in Visby, he moved back. attracted a great deal of attention. Japanese pro- What should a good game designer be capable of? ducers were very interested in the students, we ‘You should be open to the ideas of others were actually surprised by the actual level of in- and have the discipline to complete them. It is terest,’ says Steven Bachelder. a mistake to distinguish between ‘my idea’ and

26 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 27 TEXT: ANNELI BJÖRKMAN ILLUSTRATION: TORBJÖRN GOZZI CONT. are released on the market. complex system of problem solving? It has great GAME DESIGN ‘It’s fun to see our students so motivated. deal to do with inner motivation in a system that in rapid development Once the course assignment has been completed rewards.’ it’s a question of having the discipline to comple- te the remaining work to get the game released INITIALLY HE WAS an artist and has previously Students on the market,’ says Marcus Ingvarsson. taught at the University College of Arts, Crafts What does the future hold for the students? and Design. When he came here in the early There are several paths you can take, game desig- 2000s, it was to look into a new, unestablished ners can be employed by the major gaming com- form of culture. NEW THIS AUTUMN: teach students panies or you can start your own business and ‘Games do things that other forms of media work on more small-scale projects. There is also do not do. My question was: What’s the diffe- Music and the On the pulled down You need to realise that you will sit there a labour market within visualisation and “Serio- rence? And what is the potential, with all the projection screen is a snooze for hundreds of hours, and get stuck over us games”, says Steven Bachelder, where games development taking place? It was so interesting environment and over again, but still continue.’ are used for educational purposes, simulation or that I commuted here from Stockholm for seven alarm for mobile phones. knowledge sharing. years. Eventually I moved here. I still haven’t an- Several new programmes THE GUYS have picked up a lot of their In his research, he examines what makes ga- swered the question, so I’m still here,’ says Ste- Tired of not being able to knowledge from the net and Stanford’s mes so captivating. ven Bachelder with expectant expression. will start at Uppsala Uni- decide the length of their filmed courses of lectures on app develop- ‘What is it that gets people to sit for days on Here at Campus Gotland, he can follow de- versity next academic year. extra nap, the young stu- ment. They learned more while working on end and play something really very difficult, a velopments first hand. n the side for a company focused on schedu- Among the new program- dents have made an alarm ling. When several classmates began to ask THREE GAMES ... mes is a unique bachelor’s that is activated after two them for help, Shervin and Hampus went ... DEVELOPED BY STUDENTS to the IT section’s board “primarily to ex- ON THE GAME DESIGN EDUCATION: programme in musicology. minutes. A course in app- change ideas about a possible app-course”. lication development is in ‘Shortly thereafter a newsletter was sent King of the thrill – uses a mobile phone as a ‘IT IS THE ONLY bachelor’s programme of out announcing the course would start. We controller instead of a joystick. Several players can this kind in Sweden,’ says Malin Sigvardson, progress here with students then thought “oh, now we have to do it,’ participate. You must defend your position as ”King faculty programme director at the Faculty they laugh. of the Thrill” when faced by opponents, through both in front and behind of Arts. 30 students turned up for the first cour- accumulating “power-ups” that provide extra The programme includes courses in the lecturer’s desk. se date. The fact that the guys are appreci- strength, skills and powers. sight-reading, partitur-reading, harmony, ated cannot be mistaken. One of the par- counterpoint, ear training and music ana- SIXTEEN GUYS have gathered for the ticipants, Babak Toghiani-Rizi, developed Fly or Die – a variant of Hot Potato. One of the lysis. course, app development for smartphones the app “Cykelkompis” which then won players has a bomb that is ticking down and needs to ‘Students will not only study theories, with Hampus Iggström and Shervin Shora- the prize in the competition Idea Uppsala’s pass it on by flying into another player. The players but they will work with the music. These vi from the Master of Science Programme application category. wear Jet Packs in the form of a rucksack, which are skills that are in demand and are pre- in Information Technology. The idea came ‘They have really sacrificed their free vibrates when you have the bomb. Whoever has supposed by professionals internationally,’ to the two students two years ago. time and put in a lot of energy so that the the bomb when it explodes loses. says Malin Sigvardson. ‘We thought it would be fun if we got rest of us get to learn,’ says Babak. ‘It’s ama- Professor Steven Bachelder. The program runs for three years and is started and tested a load of things over a zing with students who wish to share their given in Uppsala. weekend. The programme gives us all the knowledge rather than competing with Little Warlock – web-based adventure game In the autumn 2014 a new bachelor’s theory we need, but there is not enough others.’ n where you create and collect cards that are used time for practical exercises,’ says Hampus. on different playing fields. To their help players have programme will start in environmental sci- Shervin nods. creatures, spells and buildings that are placed on a ence at Campus Gotland. grid. To use these, you must have the right card in ‘Environmental science issues are inclu- ‘If you want to be good at app develop- ‘Games do things your hand from your own built deck and place them ded in many other programmes, but getting ment you must be prepared to sit for eighty that other forms out in real time while the game is in progress. a holistic view of environmental science is hours a month outside of the education. something new,’ says Björn Gembert, fa- of media do not do. culty programme director at the Faculty of My question was: Natural Sciences. The programme has an interdisciplinary What’s the GROWING INDUSTRY focus on natural resource management. n difference? Swedish game development grew in 2012, and sales increased by 60 per cent to SEK 3.7 billion. As shown NEW EDUCATION by the Game Developer Index, the Computer Games Industry’s annual summary of Swedish developer’s New programmes: physiotherapy program- annual reports. me and bachelor programmes in musicology, The industry has grown by 215 per cent during 2010–2012. Swedish game developers work with some of environmental science, business administration, the world’s biggest brands, from Star Wars and Mad Max to wholly owned Swedish Battlefield, Minecraft and leadership-quality-improvement, archeology and Candy Crush Saga. Some of the world’s most played, sold and popular games were developed in Sweden. ancient history, as well as bachelor of Science in Engineering programme in quality development Source: Computer Games Industry and leadership.

28 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 29 4 QUESTIONS

TEXT: KIM BERGSTRÖM PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

“Psychologists Uppsala Student of the Year are needed!” The scholarship for Uppsala Student of the Year is awarded by the Anders Wall Foundation. The first time it was awarded was in the year 2000. The Kajsa Asplund has studied scholarship is awarded to a student at Uppsala the psychology programme, University who: • has excelled in taking good, creative initiatives and during her study days at Uppsala University and helped to develop the job • has participated in student union or student nation life, or through special initiatives has fair Psychology Day Upp- supported other students, or has developed entrepreneurship connected to the University’s sala. She is also a consul- teaching or other operations. tant at Psykologifabriken The scholarship is for SEK 100,000. AB and has worked volun- tarily for the Red Cross. PREVIOUS WINNERS 2012 JOHAN GÄRDEBO, innovative and How did you come to launch the job entrepreneurial humanities student with gre- fair Psychology Day? at commitment to improving the education ‘After studying the psychology program- for his fellow students. Co-founded the asso- me for some time, I realised that there were ciation Humanistiskt Initiativ, active within a lot of areas where psychologists were the Uppsala student union and driving force needed but where there were currently behind the student band SKAnsen. none. Some fellow students and I wanted to broaden the image of what psychologists are 2011 JOHAN BENGTSSON, medical stu- and what they can bring to the table. But we dent who has also studied linguistics. Has also discovered that there were no contact produced a well-received educational mu- points where psychologists and potential sic video for medical students, is the driving employers could meet. At the same time, the force of the student comedy group Special- department wanted a labour market event, styrelsen and has been very involved with so they were very supportive.’ Smålands nation. ‘So we set-up an association called Psychology Day, with an aim to arrange an 2010 HOA LY, psychology student who has annual job fair, including an exhibition, lectu- also studied business administration. He has res and individual talks between psycholo- also studied business administration, mana- gists and students. And of course a party!’ gement and Japanese at Keio University in The project is about talent and how Swedish Tokyo, Japan. Co-founder of Psykologifabri- What will you do after you have ken, which aims to popularise psychology. qualified? employers look for talent. There is a great deal ‘I’ll start researching at the Stockholm of talk that talent is in short supply. 2009 REBECCA ANDERSSON, psychology School of Economics. The project is about student with great commitment to educa- talent and how Swedish employers look for tional matters, including study technique talent. There is a great deal of talk that ta- for students and collaboration between pro- lent is in short supply. But what actually is ‘Nowadays clinical psychology stands In the autumn, you were “Uppsala It’s a melting pot of artists, musicians, entre- Where do you get your drive? fessions within healthcare. it? What do companies do to determine who on a much firmer ground than earlier. The Student of the Year”. What do you preneurs, researchers and others. It’s an in- ‘I think my enthusiasm comes from be- has talent and who does not? Our assess- management culture should now be next. intend to do with the money? credibly creative group.’ ing extremely curious! I want to know, both 2008 NIKLAS ELOFSSON, student with ment of people is not an objective process. In Sweden, no one is currently researching ‘It was fantastic and unexpected to recei- ‘The money will be spent on the deve- teach myself and pass knowledge on to oth- top marks in the law programme, business We all carry a lot of luggage, which affects this within psychology. So it is also a way of ve the scholarship! I feel very honoured. It’s lopment of a stress programme for middle ers. My studies have benefitted by everything administration, rhetoric and languages. Also our judgment. And how, for example, do we broadening the subject of psychology.’ not just the money, as gaining access to the management that was the basis of my thesis.’ being so stimulating. I’ve probably got this a frequent contributor in student organisa- relate talent compared to loyalty?’ Anders Wall network is worth just as much. from home. Mum was much the same.’ n tions. n

30 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 31 INNOVATION They developed a prototype to find the spo- TEXT: KIM BERGSTRÖM PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT res and within the framework of a EU project, it UNIVERSITY COUPLING was possible to test it in a live environment. The choice fell on the Prague Metro. Where a large number of people are on the move and trains Today Q-linea is led by Jonas Jarvius, who is a molecular geneticist, Jan Grawé who works push the air back and forth in the underground with cell analysis and optics, and Johan Stenberg who works with software development. facilities. All three have followed each other since they were in the same research team. ‘Our prototype was actually the only instru- Jonas Jarvius’ old supervisor Professor Mats Nilsson is also the founder of the company and ment that passed all the tests,’ says Jonas Jarvius, is involved in future strategies and Professor Ulf Landegren has always kept a watchful eye over not without pride. ‘It was great to see that the the company. All of them are active at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and instrument actually managed to measure in such Pathology at the Rudbeck Laboratory. a complex mix. It was the first time it had been shown around the world at all.’

THEY ALSO had contact with the major French company Thales Security Systems, who on behalf of the French government were engaged to de- velop a method to measure contamination in air. ‘Our prototype ‘So we got a contract with them, as the only was actually the non-French company! We were actually head- hunted’ says Jonas Jarvius and smiles. only instrument that Meanwhile, they had come to the conclusion passed all the tests,’ that health care would benefit the most from their technology. The technology could, for ex- says Jonas Jarvius, ample, be used to make quick analyses so that not without pride. doctors were able to prescribe the correct anti- biotics, for example, to people with sepsis, acute septicemia. ‘Through being able to quickly determine ex- actly what bacteria is causing the infection and it board builders, software designers, mechanics moreover find out which antibiotics are effec- and carbon fibre moulders. They have also taken tive, doctors can provide the correct treatment on young researchers, who have often started by much earlier than current technologies. For a doing a thesis and then continue to work at the patient with sepsis, mortality increases by about company. seven per cent for every hour that they receive Q-linea now has a long-term collaboration the wrong treatment, so it is very important to with Bengt Ågerup’s venture capital company be fast.’ nxt2b. The company has had continuous funding Other potential uses are for patients suffering from the Armed Forces via Thales and now to from a urinary tract infection. He hopes that the nxt2b. Without it, Jonas Jarvius is convinced that The instrument instrument can be found in our hospitals within Q-linea would not be the company it is today. a few years. ‘If we had had to look for money in the same way as many other start-ups it would have been THE COMPANY has now grown to 23 employ- much more difficult to grow. This is a huge pro- that finds pathogens ees and spans the entire production chain from blem for all small, newly started spin-off com- microbiologists and molecular biologists to circu- panies.’ n If doctors can be told quickly exactly which THE UPPSALA BASED company Q-linea is a spin-off from the university that is developing an microorganism infects a patient and which instrument that can rapidly identify microorga- antibiotics will work the likelihood of quick and nisms. The company has been listed in the so-cal- led 33 list as one of the country’s hottest techno- effective treatment increases. The risk of resistant logy companies for the second consecutive year. strains developing also decreases. The Uppsala based However, it all started ten years ago when the Swedish Armed Forces wanted equipment to company Q-linea are currently developing an quickly detect an attack with biological weapons. instrument that will do just that. The reason that the Armed Forces turned to Order from the Armed Forces the Armed from Forces Order Contact with Thales Delivered to the Armed Forces Began working for Thales Contact with Bengt Ågerups’ nxt2b Delivered to Thales Own development of the instrument the research group where Q-linea’s current CEO Jonas Jarvius publicly defends his doctoral thesis Q-linea formed Jonas Jarvius was a doctoral student was that they had a technique for identifying microorga- 2006 2006 2008 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 nisms on both protein and DNA levels.

32 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 33 IN BRIEF TEXT: KIM BERGSTRÖM PHOTO: LARS WALLIN What do you think? New Horizons asked some civil servants why it is important with continuing professional develop- “The age rich are a resource” Government employees ment and what they hope Uppsala University can contribute. SOCIETY MUST SEE “age rich” (elderly) pe- ctor, other sectors of society must become ople as a valuable resource, not as a burden,’ involved.’ Ulla Petersson Imnell, says Barbro Westerholm who will participate – LOOK HERE! communicator and coordina- in the Uppsala Health Summit on 3–4 June. What are your expectations for the tor at the Migration Board: The theme of this international meeting is Uppsala Health Summit? Last year, the University of Uppsala took over responsi- ‘At work you are usually “Health Care for Healthy Ageing”. ‘That prominence is given to knowledge bility for web-based further education for government busy with your duties, and Barbro Westerholm is member of parli- which shows age rich people are a valua- may not have time to keep ament for the Liberal Party, physician and ble resource and that the feeling of being employees. This now means the university educates more abreast of everything that happens. There- researcher. She was Director General of needed is important to one’s health.’ n fore continuing professional development public employees than any other player. the National Board of Health and Welfare ANNICA HULTH is necessary for us as an agency to maintain 1979–1985 and chair of the Swedish Asso- our level of expertise.’ ciation for Senior Citizens 1999–2005. ‘It is particularly interesting to listen to the researchers, to get a perspective from What is the position of Sweden, from people who have studied our issues from a European perspective, regarding health a different perspective than we do. At the care for the elderly? same time, the university must think about ‘From the studies I have seen and of the how they intend to reach out to the agenci- reactions I met at international conferences, es in a good way.’ I would say it is good.’ The fact that half of all people with dementia receive care and Gert Lundblad, attention around the clock, surprises repre- operations developer at sentatives from many other EU countries. Försäkringskassan: In other words, we have it good in Sweden, ‘Basic and continuing Research funding from the EU has increased. but need to get better because there are professional development flaws. are essential for good She believes questions relating to the operations. Without it you are groping in Increasing grants health of the elderly should receive more the dark. Försäkringskassan is fairly new as NUMEROUS POSITIVE trends can be seen attention outside of health and social care. Barbro Westerholm, politician, physician and Läs mer: www.krus.nu a public agency, so there is still much to do in the latest annual report from the Univer- ‘Health is not only won in the health se- researcher. when it comes to talking about how it is to sity of Uppsala. Turnover during the past UPPSALA UNIVERSITY has long been petensrådet för utveckling i staten, Krus”, be one of 240,000 civil servants.’ four years has increased by 17 per cent. An a major player when it comes to offering which was closed down. ‘It is of great value that we can be invol- important milestone in 2013 has been the further education to public employees. For ‘This means a great deal to Uppsala Uni- ved in the whole process when the courses establishment of SciLifeLab with nodes in Platform for new antibiotics the last six months the university has been versity, we have already noticed increased are developed and given. I think our work Uppsala and Stockholm, as a national cen- UPPSALA UNIVERSITY is a leading par- the aim of developing an entirely new fa- the largest player in the area in the country. interest from the outside world for our with Uppsala University will be successful.’ tre for research in the life sciences. ty in a giant project funded by Innovative mily of antibiotics is unique. The initiative The university then took over the web-ba- education programmes,’ says Mathias Blob, The focus on increased EU research Medicine’s Initiative (IMI) where academia, represents something that up until now has sed further education courses from “Kom- collaboration strategist at the department funding has yielded a good result. Among the pharmaceutical and biotechnology in- been missing: funding to collaboratively for contract education. Eva Olovsson, others, more young researchers received dustries together shall accelerate develop- develop new pharmaceuticals that are so According to him, public employees works with plain language funding from the EU and the Swedish ment of new antibiotics. dearly needed to tackle infectious diseases CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL who choose to take some of the courses will at the Swedish Language Foundation for Strategic Research pro- ‘Such a demonstration of strength with in the future,’ says Anders Karlen, one of DEVELOPMENT FOR CIVIL SERVANTS benefit immensely, in that there is now a Council: gramme “Future Research Leaders”. two scientific coordinators in the project. Courses that have been taken over from Krus: university’s full depth, width and traditions ‘Further training is very ‘These are good signs seen from a future Uppsala University has a central role in • To work for the state to gain from. In addition to the courses, the important in order to perspective and show that Uppsala Uni- the pharmaceutical platform that will take • The principles of the six core values university will offer recurring seminars and develop in one’s profession, and not stag- versity’s researchers and research stands up a number of molecules through the entire • Treatment panel discussions in the relevant fields. Tor- nate. We are many linguists, and perhaps well against the competition. Another posi- development chain and hopefully arrive at • Equality and gender sten Svensson, professor of political science, many of us do not see ourselves as public tive development is that we have become a new medicine candidate being tested on • Legal and appropriate has lectured at one of the seminars and be- servants. So it is good that there are training better at quickly putting research funding humans. The six-year project is called EN- • Legal and appropriate for you as a manager lieves it is important to preserve and deve- courses that as a public servant one is obli- to work, among others, through new recru- ABLE (European Gram Negative Antibacte- Uppsala University’s department of contract lop the professionalism of the officials. ged to do and not should do.’ itment,’ says Vice-Chancellor Eva Åkesson. rial Engine) and has funding of more than education also provides education in: ‘Many government officials are highly ‘Uppsala University is an unknown when Applicants per University place conti- SEK 750 million. • Work and work environment educated, but once you enter the workfor- it comes to these courses. However, for those nue to rise, and third stream activities have The consortium comprises a total of 32 • Behavioural sciences ce the focus is often on the routines of the of us who are purists and linguists, it sounds been intensified during 2013. Innovation partners that includes universities, biotech • Executives and leadership daily work. But reality is constantly chang- good, as we still have a lot of contacts with activity has initiated several new collabora- industry and pharmaceutical companies. • Law and the environment ing. Therefore, you need to constantly learn the academic world. I hope we can work to- tions and contract education continues to A significant part of the operations will be • Medicine and health care new things.’ n gether to develop joint training courses.’ n increase. n conducted at Uppsala University. n

34 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 35 ALUMNI PROFILE

TEXT: MAGNUS ALSNE PHOTO: JÖRGEN HILDEBRANDT HANS ROSLING

Age: 65 years Title: “Edutainer” and chair of Gapminder Lives: Terraced house in Flogsta (Uppsala) He wants to redraw the map Favourite place in Uppsala: See lives Favourite student club: Never visited a student club A person I’d like to meet: All high school students ‘I do not care what and tell them about the state of the world A day off: I play with my grandchildren people do with the “I’M NOT GIVING ANY PERSONAL PORTRAITS, OKAY! Few journalists SUDDENLY HANS draws a few rapid lines in my notepad, to show that the ask me about the world, but since I became a celebrity, all everyone wants is number of children on earth has already stopped increasing and that rapid knowledge, but we all personal portraits. The media is ineffective as a learning tool if the focus is on population growth has ceased during this century. Guided by Hans Rosling’s the teacher.’ equally characteristic as absorbing explanations, I’m soon convinced, this may need to learn the very Hans Rosling has obviously had enough of his role as the Swedish academic fix the world! However, it strikes me suddenly, what do I actually do with my world’s cover boy. But do not mistake frustration for resignation. The coffee newfound knowledge? The person who created the basics about the state of splashes when perhaps the foremost educator of our time bangs his fist on the ‘I don’t care’, grins Hans. The person who created the underground map table. The fact he will soon step onto the stage in the great hall as an honorary in London did this so travellers would understand the system, he didn’t care underground map in London did the world if we are to live doctor at his Alma mater, Uppsala University, is nothing that dampens the joy where they were travelling. I’ll give you a map of the world. How you use it this so travellers would understand of working, on the contrary. is your own business, but in my world, knowledge is the foundation of any in it. Today, most people ‘The title does not include the right to work at Uppsala University, but I’m well-functioning society, business and democracy.’ n the system, he didn’t care where thinking positive and interpreting it as compensation for the fact I never had they were travelling. have an image that better the chance to compete for a job in Uppsala. Instead, I had to commute to Solna for 20 years.’ Hans Rosling wants to increase public knowledge matches Tintin’s reality. about the state of the world. HANS ROSLING TOOK his medical degree 1975 at Uppsala University. The Meet Hans Rosling, profession took him and his wife Agneta to Mozambique, where, side-by-side, they discover Konzo the paralytic disease that affects the rural poor and later honorary doctor who formed the basis of Hans’ doctoral studies. Back in Sweden, Hans Rosling takes the initiative to the Sweden section of wishes to show us our Doctors Without Borders and starts the course Man and Nature at Uppsala University. In 1997 he moved his desktop to the Karolinska Institutet and the new world. post of professor. Eight years later, together with his son Ola and daughter in law Anna, he founded Gapminder, a foundation that develops the Trendalyzer software with the aim to illustrate statistical development over time. ‘We can no longer divide the world into only two types of countries: deve- loped and developing countries. Today the vast majority of nations find them- selves in the socio-economic mainstream, with the richest and poorest people on each side. However, the improvements occur faster than us Swedes update ourselves. Gapminder and Novus recently tested the public’s knowledge of the percentage of vaccinated children, illiterate adults and number of children per The newly appointed honorary doctor Hans Rosling woman. The answers are more like Tintin’s reality than our own and the results and his wife Agneta, at the winter promotion 2014. are often worse than chance. The problem is not a lack of knowledge, but an PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT actively enforced ignorance.’

GAPMINDER WILL SOON begin to produce and distribute information about our planet. The impact is huge. In 2012, TIME magazine voted Hans Rosling as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. The day before our meeting, IT billionaire Bill Gates praised Hans to the skies. There seems to be only one person who was not impressed: Hans Rosling. ‘The aim was never fame. The aim has been to increase the general public’s fundamental knowledge about the state of the world and which up until now is something Gapminder has failed to do. And as long as everyone, from pro- fessors to high school students, live in ignorance about these major changes, I’ll continue with my work. Gapminder has recently started to develop apps that will incorporate specific themes about countries, regions and the world. Some days ago we published a video showing how a reduction in infant mortality controls population growth, look here and you’ll see!’

36 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 37 IN BRIEF Visit Bergman UPPSALA UNIVERSITY Campus Gotland has initiated educational and research colla- boration with the Bergman Estate on Faro. The aim is to develop new programmes and to stimulate new research collaborations re- lated to aesthetics, film, art, literature, and theories of interpretation. ‘We see great potential for new initiati- ves in both research and education. Among the ideas are, for example, an international master course focusing on Bergman’s cine- matography,’ says Olle Jansson Advisers to the Vice-Chancellor at Campus Gotland. The foundation, which manages Inge- mar Bergman’s cinematic “home environ- ment”, the so-called Faro environment, has PHOTO: ZAKARY BELAMY ZAKARY PHOTO: The donor and librarian Greta Renborg, on assignment in Iowa in 1953. sought a collaboration to create a sustaina- 4 QUESTIONS ble environment for artists and researchers. Johan Ståhl studied economics Lift for personal archives Through this collaboration, the properties and marketing for three years at THE PAIR Greta and Ulf Renborg have fund will have great importance for the will be made available for seminars, cour- Uppsala University. He then bequeathed SEK 12.5 million to the Upp- knowledge and use of personal historical ses, and for researchers. The foundation will became a full-time magician and sala University Library. The newly created collections through a service that Greta also make Bergman’s library and its know- has performed throughout the world. He treated Uppsala to a “Greta Renborg fund” will be used for spe- Renborg the librarian set up with the task ledge available to the research developed magic and humour festival of cial investments in personal archives at the of working with the personal archives, both through the collaboration. n world class – Uppsala Magic manuscript and music unit. Greta Renborg in Uppsala and nationally. n

and Comedy, in April. HENRIK PILERUD PHOTO: was a colourful librarian and debater. Her “Magic happens in the heads of the audience.” Plants becomes art in Botan THE THUNBERG’S ORANGERY in the contemporary Japanese art inspired by ‘I HAVE WORKED for twelve years as a magici- and try things out on colleagues. Then you see botanical gardens will be filled with flower the plant world’s diversity. Plants from the an and during the last six years I have performed whether the trick works on an audience. Magic installations during the summer. Seven in- Swedish countryside and Linnaean Gar- a great deal abroad at conferences, festivals and happens in the heads of the audience not in the vited Japanese artists will create the works dens of Uppsala will be combined with shows. I wanted to bring this home to Sweden hands. Everything is based on how the audience on site in June. The exhibition is unique cut flowers, planted plants, rocks, roots and and to my hometown of Uppsala. It was absolu- perceives what is happening.’ in the world as the traditional Ikebana branches. The exhibition is open 14 June tely world class, I have been inspired by the top from the prestigious schools Ikenobo and to 14 September. n venues in the world,’ says Johan Ståhl. Any highlights during your career? Ohara will be shown together alongside ‘I won first prize in Las Vegas and I have a Can you give us some examples? standing invitation at the Magic Castle Hotel in ‘We had a unique show with a guy from Chi- Hollywood. I can go there whenever I want and Meeting with Japan le who performs magic for the blind. Magic is perform and that tends to be once a year. In total THE CHOIR Heimat Choir from Kyoto otherwise mostly associated with sight, but here I’ve done 122 performances there.’ University visited Uppsala and Stockholm everyone gets a blindfold and a box by their legs. ‘Last autumn, I ended up on the cover of the in March. The name of the concert was The magician then tells the audience to feel in world’s first magic magazine, it’s a bit like being Nakama, which means friend in Japanese, the box and the magic then takes place in their a photographer and ending up on the cover of and friends is just what the members of hands!’ National Geographic.’ the Heimat Choir and the Academic Or- ‘There was also a chance to see the reigning chestra are. They met in the autumn when world champion from South Korea and a stand- Have you benefited from your studies in the chapel made a highly acclaimed tour to For my part, it up comedian from the comedy series Seinfeldt economics and marketing? Kyoto, Japan. The music performed at the all started when a who has travelled here from Los Angeles.’ ‘Absolutely! It’s nothing I have directly wor- concerts was a mixture of mainly Scandina- ked with, I’ve never been an economist, but it vian and Japanese music, with music from childhood friend How did you learn to do magic? is something that I can implement every day e.g. Madame Butterfly(Puccini), European taught me how to ‘There’s really no training in magic. For my in my profession life. Above all it’s perhaps the premiere of The Light is Here (Kinoshita) part, it all started when a childhood friend taught academic, critical thinking that helps me to get and Spring Night (Stenhammar) in Japane- make a five kronor me how to make a five kronor coin disappear.’ structure in large projects such as this.’ n se. Uppsala University’s dramatic choir also coin disappear. ‘You have to read books, go to conferences ANNICA HULTH Flower installation by the japanese artist Takaya. participated. n

38 NEW HORIZONS: ISSUE 1.2014 39 PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

The last word MARIKA HEDIN Museum Director, Museum Gustanavium

Mummies and needle-made lace are a resource

WE ARE CURRENTLY rebuilding the Evo- the objects are being moved to a central lution museum’s premises on Villavägen. In location in the town this means that the the summer the Museum Gustanavium University’s collections can be used as an will move in here with pots from Asine, infrastructural resource for education and helmets from boat graves in Valsgärde, research. mummies from Egypt and of course an ex- Gustanavium has collaborated with Used correctly, quisite needle-made lace that belonged to teachers from different disciplinary rese- the material cultural the wonderful Augsburg art cabinet. arch domains in the past, and for subjects Uppsala University has truly amazing such as archaeology and art history the heritage can give collections. There are hundreds of thou- collections lie a little closer than for many unexpected sands of artefacts from various eras and cul- others. However, for the vast majority of tures, such as Uppsala’s own modern his- researchers, teachers and students at our interdisciplinary tory of science. We have exhibited a small university, this resource is unknown. Used links. part in our own museums – the Museum correctly, the material cultural heritage can of Evolution, Gustanavium and Carolina. give unexpected interdisciplinary links. For In the university hall you can visit our own example, it may be when advanced materi- fantastic coin collection, and at the castle, als technology research becomes a resource we show parts of our art collection, the se- for conservation, as in the project concer- cond largest collection of early modern art ning the ship Vasa’s support cradle, or when in Sweden (only the National Museum has DNA analysis of archaeological materials a larger collection). result in new insights about movement As a historian, it is obvious that in all patterns and family structure of ancient subjects and disciplines we need to un- humans. derstand how the past influences what we We will open the collections again in au- think and do today. In this way, the objects tumn 2014, so that teachers and research- in the collections are a link to the scientific ers at the university can discover new ways development at the University. Now that to work together with us. Welcome! n

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