New Horizons Magazine from Uppsala University 2:2 2011

NEW HORIZONS MAGAZINE FROM UPPSALA UNIVERSITY 2:2 2011

THEME: A NEW WOrld

Revolution via Twitter 4 Tracking volcanic eruptions 15

Student contact in many parts of the world 24 “A patent is just a start” 28 Full blast with the Wijkman Brass 34

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 1 2011-12-15 11.43 New Horizons 2/2011 THEME: A NEW WORLD 4 Dramatic start sparked will to struggle 6 Revolution in the age of social media 8 Law – about life and death 10 Water supply – from theory to reality

UPDATE 12 Vice-Chancellor with focus on quality 13 Good grades for research 14 International experts evaluate teaching

RESEARCH 15 In Iceland you can drill deep for heat 18 Unique initiative to stop abuse 20 Interested in people 22 Quasicrystals can become batteries in Uppsala

EDUCATION 24 More foreign student can be reached via Google 26 Engineering and team spirit lead to world final 27 IT gaining ground in teaching

INNOVATION 28 Albert Mihranyan: “A patent is just a start” 29 Resourceful students saw chance

COLLABORATION 30 Record audience when researchers met children and youth 32 Efficient meetings about companies’ questions 33 Time to talk ethics

CULTURE 34 Full blast with the Wijkman Brass 35 Opera director receives honorary doctorate

ALUMN 36 She keeps an eye on state finances 38 Patrick Grimlund: “I wanted in-depth knowledge”

39 OVERHEARD 40 THE LAST WORD

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NH 2.2.11_english.indd 2 2011-12-15 11.43 Uppsala University DECEMBER 2011

New Horizons is Uppsala University’s magazine about research and education. It is issued twice a year, in English and in Swedish, Nya horisonter. The magazine can be ordered free of charge or be downloaded as a PDF at the address www.uu.se/informational-material

Address: Division of Communication and External Affairs A world Uppsala University P.O. Box 256 in flux SE-751 05 Uppsala

Editor: Annica Hulth [email protected]

Editorial board: Magnus Alsne, Anders Berndt, Helena Edström, Mia Hellström, Linda Koffmar, Rickard Källgren, Anna Malmberg, Gunilla Sthyr, Anneli Waara.

Executive editor: Urban Lindberg Layout: Södra tornet kommunikation T

and Torbjörn Gozzi D STE

English translation: DS MacQueen & Associates LLC R E

Printing: Tabergs Tryckeri LL WA Front cover: Thousands of Bahrainians wave their red L and white flags together with flags from other Arab countries. Photo: Hasan Jamali, Scanpix PHOTO: MIKAE PHOTO:

PERNILLA BJÖRK WE’RE LIVING IN CHANGING TIMES. Knowledge of basic sciences like mathe- In Northern Africa and the Middle East, matics, chemistry, and physics are key when Director of Communication several heads of state have had to relinquish a country is being developed. A project in their power in the last year as a result of Senegal has to do with water supplies. Read popular uprisings. Protests have spread from more on page 10. country to country, and the whole world is New Horizons opens the door to Upp- watching with interest – including political sala University to provide a picture of what scientists and peace and conflict researchers is going on here. A record number of stu- at Uppsala University. dents were admitted in autumn 2011. Ex- The Arab Spring is also of interest to citing collaborations were launched, such as media scholars, as new social media have U-Fold, a concerted effort to curb addiction played a key role. Tools like Twitter and to drugs and pharmaceuticals, in collabora- blogs have made it easier to avoid censor- tion with researchers, police, and authori- ship and reach others with information. ties. Some research takes place outside the Our choice of paper helps us realize our vision Hats off to technology – but without the borders of Uppsala: we followed a sidetrack of a better world. Using this paper reduces our commitment of a group of people, no to Iceland, where field work is underway climate impact by more than 35%. The paper is change would have been possible. To ad- regarding how best to extract heat from the produced in Sweden and the amount of water vance democracy takes time. earth. consumed in its production is uniquely low. The raw materials come from ‘‘FSC Forests.” Uppsala University is deeply committed Winds of change are also affecting the to global development. One example is the University. In December Anders Hallberg is International Science Programme, which retiring after some six years as Vice-Chan- for 50 years has helped research groups in cellor. We interview him about his time at developing countries bolster their research. the helm. n

Uppsala University is deeply committed to global development.

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 3 2011-12-15 11.43 THEME: A NEW WORLD Dramatic start sparked will to struggle A Tunisian vegetable vendor immolates himself in protest against the country’s government. The event launches an uprising that brings down the president, who flees the country. Less than a year later the uprising has spread to several countries in the region and many heads of state have had to step down. Social media are seen as having played a key role in these developments.

TEXT: Annette Ulvenholm Wallqvist PHOTO: HASSENE DRIDI, SCANPIX

Demonstration in Tunis in November.

How protests spread from December 2010 to November 2011:

emonstrations and demands for Tunisia – 17 December 2010 Tunisia After a suicide peaceful spread protests the country. across Egypt – 25 January 2011 all over the country. Protests – JanuaryJordan D economic and political reforms. – 22 January Yemen of demands resignation Populace president. Saudi Arabia – February The kingeconomic benefits and promises new jobs to quiet protests. – 12 February Algeria Security demonstrate in Algiers. Hundreds In April up demonstrations. the forces break reforms. promises president Bahrain – 14 February via Facebook spread Protests and Twitter.

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THERE ARE many reasons why people are revolting in countries on the Arabian Penin- sula and in North Africa. But it’s clear that social media have been key tools in their struggle for freedom, according to Samuel Taub, a research assistant at the Depart- ment of Peace and Conflict Research. Samuel Taub is busy these days. He’s working to keep tabs on what conflicts there are in North Africa and on the Arabi- an Peninsula.. Both Tunisian president Zine El Abedine Ben Ali and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak have resigned following violent protests. Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi has been killed, and in several countries on the Arabian Peninsula violent Demonstrations in Tunis under the election campaign in October. protests are underway. which spark hope among people in several dangerous to the government, says Samuel – Ultimately these protests are about the other countries, including Libya and Egypt. Taub. conditions under which people live in the – People’s successes in Tunisia were Now there will be a time of uncertainty region. But the spark that set off the Arab unexpected and showed that it is possible in the countries that have rid themselves of Spring was the Tunisian vegetable vendor to rebel against this type of oppressor. It their despotic leaders. It can be a complex who immolated himself, says Samuel Taub. awoke a will to struggle in many people. process to switch to functioning democra- Information spread rapidly via social me- cies in a short period of time. Triggering factor dia, as they represent a media flow that the – We have every reason to be optimis- On the other hand, it’s impossible to deter- powers that be have a hard time control- tic about the future. At the same time it’s mine whether it was the event in itself or ling, says Samuel Taub. not enough to get rid of key individuals and how the subsequent protests were met by believe everything will be fine. The road to the Tunisian regime that was the triggering Not a Twitter revolution democracy is not easy, and we need to real- factor for the revolts, which are referred to At the same time he objects to these de- ize it may take time, says Samuel Taub. n as the Arab Spring. velopments being called a Twitter revolu- When Tunisians began to gather in mas- tion. It’s not that simple, as he sees it. The – People’s sive protests, the country’s leaders chose to foundation and what these countries have successes in react to the uprising in the usual way. With in common is undemocratic government, Tunisia were violence. widespread unemployment, and corrup- unexpected – But that was one time too many. Peo- tion in combination with a lack of hope for and showed that it is ple were so desperate that they refused to the future among young people. possible to be suppressed, and the president was forced – Young people are a large group in these rebel. to step down, says Samuel Taub. countries, and many of them have lost their With the aid of social media, the word faith in the future. Add to this the fact that SAMUEL TAUB spread rapidly about the successful protests, they want a change, and they are suddenly

ibyan L

ibya’s former leader Qaddafi is caught andibya’s demand political reforms and democracy. demand political reforms and democracy. The kingreforms. promises – 16 March Syria when security forces spread Protests on demonstrators. open fire Egypt – 20 July Military that they council declares plan Iran – 14 February and other cities fill with in Tehran Streets Government demonstrators. quashes protests. – 15 February Libya ofHundreds all people protest the country. around – 20 February Morocco Thousands of people gather in cities and elections for new leadership in Egypt. – 20 October Libya L killed, which ends strife between and Qaddafi supporters. rebels Qatar – 1 Novembers Qatar announces elections planned for 2013. These will be the first elections in Qatar, a countrypolitical partiesforbidden. where are

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Have social media changed the conditions for uprisings and protest movements around the Revolution world? New concepts like ‘‘Twit- ter revolution” are widely used, not least about events in North Africa and the Middle East. But in the age of according to Christian Chris- tensen, professor of media and communication studies, there’s good reason to be critical of the social media role of social media. TEXT: Annbritt Ryman

– Uprisings media is our exaggerated trust in technol- need to discuss further. After all, the in- and protest ogy as such. formation gathered in social media can be movements – Uprisings and protest movements are used against citizens. Have they already for- are social social phenomena, not matters of informa- gotten our own debate about the National phenomena and tion technology. Defence Radio Establishment? not a matter But wasn’t “the Arab Spring“ accelerated How, then, should ordinary citizens of information by access to social media? view social media? technology. – Yes, there’s no doubt that it was much – Don’t forget that everything you easier to spread information and coordinate write there, each picture you upload, what CHRISTIAN CHRISTENSEN protests using social media, but the key you like or dislike – all the information you question remains: did they make it pos- put on the Net – is owned by someone else TO UNCRITICALLY ADVOCATE and sible to bring down Egypt’s Mubarek, for and can be used for any purpose whatso- promote the use of social media as driv- instance? You can tweet all you want, but ever without your consent. n ing forces for democratic development and if people hadn’t gathered on Tahrir Square, freedom of speech is problematic for multi- Mubarek would not have been forced to ple reasons, says Christan Christensen. step down. – Simply consider who owns these so- called social media. Both Facebook and Twitter are private corporations whose pri- AFTER ALL, THE INFORMATION mary concern is to make money for their GATHERED IN SOCIAL MEDIA shareholders. In Facebook, for example, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan have major CAN BE USED AGAINST CITIZENS. investments. During the first three months of the up- Christian Christensen has studied the de- risings in North Africa, the value of shares velopment of social media in general and in Facebook rose from 50 billion to 75 bil- recently the Swedish government’s support Facebook started in 2004. lion dollars. for this new form of technology in particular. Privately owned by Facebook Inc, headed by – This generates power. But who over- Mark Zuckerberg, and partly owned by the sees Facebook as a power factor? Today we Assistance for Net activism investment company Goldman Sachs. are witnessing the largest accumulation of It’s now possible to apply for grants for so- Based in Menlo Park (previously Palo Alto), information about people in history. And called Net activism. At present there’s a list California. it’s being done by private companies whose of some 100 applicants for total allocations Valued at USD 4.27 billion in 2011. 800 million users (September 2011). primary interest is making money from of EUR 5 million for this purpose. what they know about us. Why do we think – This is a policy that is well suited for the Twitter started in 2006. this is OK? wonders Christian Christensen. branding of Sweden as a pioneering coun- Privately owned byTwitter Inc, with its foun- try in the use of new technology in general der Jack Dorsey and a number of venture capitalists. Too much faith in technology and social media in particular. Whether it’s Based in San Fransisco, California. As Christian Christensen sees it, another the right way to support democratic move- Valued at USD140 million in 2010. reason for us to be sceptical towards social ments, on the other hand, is something we 200 million users (March 2011).

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NH 2.2.11_english.indd 6 2011-12-15 11.43 THEME: A NEW WORLD Symbols of the old regime live on Revolutions are no longer things of the past but rather something happening right now. Even though many people in general share the political goals of the revolutionaries, they are often not so ready to give up customs and traditions associated with the old regime. In a new book, historian Henrik Ågren describes how various governments have had to face this problem and how they have tried to deal with it.

TEXT: Linda Koffmar, PHOTO: NIKOLAI MOSHKOV, SCANPIX

HOW DOES a revolution affect a coun- time maintaining control. And even though tions and the protestant reformation in ear- try’s traditions and history writing? Revolu- people in general share the political goals of ly 16th-century Europe show that it isn’t tions are drastic transformations in society the revolution, they are often not so ready easy to balance ideals with traditions. where an established system is replaced by to give up customs and traditions. To avoid How much worshipping of saints can a another – often with the help of violence, becoming isolated from them, the leaders good protestant tolerate? Can a communist always involving severe forms and through need to adopt parts of the old society’s cul- celebrate Christmas? Can we retain popu- conflicts that make it hard for revolutionar- tural legacy, even though it represents the lar monuments if they celebrate tyrants ies who have taken power to take a step or very system they want to turn away from. from the old regime? even look back. – Even the most orthodox revolutionar- The symbols and notions of the old re- Between ideals and traditions ies have to compromise and retain phenom- gime have no place in the new society, but In his book The Emperor’s New Clothes: The ena they would really like to get rid of. It’s they are nevertheless found everywhere as use of History and Cultural Heritage dur- hard to build a society on ideals, no matter impediments when the revolution ing Early Modern Reformation and Modern how good they are. Those wishing to win wants to create its own he- Revolution (in Swedish) historian Henrik over the people must also pay attention to roic history. At the same Ågren describes how various governments people’s need for the security of the past, time, the new regime have faced this problem and how they says Henrik Ågren. n needs the approval of have tried to deal with it. Ex- the people, otherwise amples like the French it will have a hard and Russian revolu-

Cleaning of a statue of Lenin in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 7 2011-12-15 11.43 THEME: A NEW WORLD Law – about life or death Law is most interesting when it involves human rights, as law student Mona Strindberg sees it. She took the initiative for a public lecture by the Nobel peace laureate and jurist Shirin Ebadi, who attracted more than 1,000 people to the University’s Grand Auditorium.

TEXT: Annica Hulth PHOTO: JIM ELFSTRÖM

MONA STRINDBERG is in her third year as a law student. As chair of the Student Council at the Faculty of Law she is constantly looking for interesting lecturers. She got the idea to invite Shirin Ebadi at the Mona Strindberg with her role model Shirin Ebadi (left). Law Ball, following a conversation with the jurist and UN expert Peter Nobel. – Among law students there’s a huge Ebadi in the autumn. Since then she has commitment and human rights are close to focus on commercial law, but not so much logged many hours of preparation, along- her heart. on human law. It really hit me: whatever side her full-time studies and her post as Issues of democracy also interest her at happened to people’s passion for law that student council chair. home in Sweden. is a matter of life and death? The idea of – It’s been incredible to feel the back- – Democracy is something that always administering justice, the most ancient part ing of the Department, especially the dean, needs to be renewed and cannot be tak- of the law, says Mona Strindberg. Torbjörn Andersson, and the head of de- en for granted. The democracy we enjoy She has always been fascinated by peo- partment, Olle Lundin, who have been today is something the older generation ple like Shirin Ebadi, who has struggled for truly supportive from the outset. struggled to achieve. It must always re- democracy in Iran and was awarded the main our focus, not only in the Arab world 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. Connected to experience or in Iran, but also here in Sweden, says Ebadi was a judge in Teheran but was The Uppsala Association of International Mona Strindberg. n forced to quit after the 1975 revolution. Affairs also backed the lecture, which is Today she lives in exile and has continued best summarized as a success. More than to work for human rights, especially for 1 000 people gathered in the Grand Au- From Shirin Ebadi’s speech: women and children. ditorium to listen to Shirin Ebadi’s talk I think it is too early to be talking about the about human rights, with ties to her own Arab Spring. Just because a dictatorship Open to all experience. has been toppled, does not mean that all An important role model and source of inspi- – It’s extra interesting when someone is well. Democracy must follow; the people ration, thought Mona Strindberg, and decid- speaks about human rights who has person- must form their own fate. ed to arrange a lecture for all law students. ally experience of the struggle. It’s so im- She received funding from the Univer- pressive that she has continued to be com- I would like to congratulate the three sity’s Committee for Diversity, on the con- mitted after receiving the Nobel Prize. To women that have received this years Nobel Peace Prize. It sends out an important mes- dition that the lecture would be open to her the award is not about money or pres- sage – democracy is not possible without the public. tige. I have great respect for people who are recognizing the rights of women. – The subject is relevant to everyone, so I genuine and don’t sell their soul, says Mona thought “Why not?” But I had no idea how Strindberg. We must move with the times, and hand much work would be involved, says Mona She has two years left in the Law Pro- down punishments that are compatible Strindberg. gramme. She’s not sure what she wants with the time. Justice is dynamic, and must She made her first contact with Shirin to do later, but it seems as if international change with the time.

8 New HORIzONs 2:2

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Uppsala is mustering its forces to enhance our knowledge of infectious Low levels spell diseases, antibiotics resistance, and contagion under the motto ‘‘One Health.” For instance, joint classes were recently held for students of big problems medicine and veterinary medicine, at Uppsala University and the NEW RESEARCH from Uppsala Univer- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). sity shows that antibiotics-resistant bacteria can be created at extremely low concentrations of antibiotics. Findings indicate that residual antibiotics that spread into the environment from humans and animals are aggravating the resistance problem. Until now it was thought that resistant bacteria were mainly selected in the humans and animals that were being treated with antibiotics for infections. The new findings now being published indicate, however, that the extremely low concentrations that occur in external en- Concerted action to fight vironments, such as sewers, lakes, and streams, can also contribute to selection for resistance. resistance to antibiotics – Besides the fact that the findings un- derscore the importance of a general re- TEXT: Annica Hulth, PHOTO: matton duction in the use of antibiotics, they also raise the question of whether we should be actively cleansing sewage water from anti- HUMANS AND ANIMALS are largely Preventing, fighting, and curing infec- biotics, says Dan Andersson at the Depart- susceptible to the same pathogenic viruses tious diseases is a major challenge in today’s ment of Medical Biochemistry and Micro- and bacteria. This is why we need a con- global society, where infections spread biology. n certed effort from multiple actors to fight more rapidly than in the past. infectious diseases. This is what lies behind – A new world is emerging, where we the ‘‘One Health” initiative in Uppsala. need more knowledge about how antibiot- – We want to gather the leading re- ics resistance spreads. Today we know that a Nursing advice for searchers about antibiotics resistance and great deal of resistance is spread outside the premature babies contagion and explore the possibilities of human body, so we also need an ecological funding in collaboration with industry and perspective, says Mats Larhed. THE BENEFITS OF breast milk for international groups. Together we make This autumn, for example, joint classes children both in low-income countries and Uppsala competitive, says Mats Larhed, were introduced in the programmes for in high-income countries have been repeat- professor at the Department of Medicinal medicine and veterinary medicine in Upp- edly confirmed in research. It has been seen Chemistry and Acting Vice-Rector. sala. It’s a unique initiative that has at- that breast-feeding children run a lower risk Uppsala already hosts several established tracted a great deal of attention from other of disease and illness. networks on infectious diseases. Intensive universities. The background is that paths Research also shows that breast milk has research is underway within IEEN, which of contagion for many infectious diseases many advantages for children born very ear- unites ecology and epidemiology. The glob- are the same for humans and animals and ly in pregnancy. Breast milk in the diet helps al REACT network, which disseminates that their health should therefore be taken these children develop psychomotor skills. knowledge about antibiotics resistance and up in a shared context. n In early September a conference was contagion is headquartered in Uppsala. The arranged at Uppsala University to discuss RAPID network addresses drug develop- Uppsala a revision of the WHO and Unicef pro- ment and is creating new antibiotics that already hosts grammes for breastfeeding support. Among also work on resistant bacteria. several estab- other things, the discussion involved how lished networks the guidelines could be amended also to Fighting infection on infectious comprise premature babies. One of the diseases. All of these networks are now being gath- conference organizers was the internation- ered under ‘‘One Health,” with the slogan ally acclaimed researcher on breastfeeding ‘‘Fighting Infection for Society and Health.” premature babies, Kerstin Hedberg Nyqvist SLU and the National Veterinary Institute at the Department of Women’s and Chil- MATS LARHED (SVA) are also behind the initiative. dren’s Health. n

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WATER SUPPLY – from theory to reality

TEXT: Annica Hulth, PHOTO: Mikael Wallerstedt, ILLUSTRATION: Karl Åstrand

Sometimes mathematics is closely related to real problems. Mouhamadou Samsidy Goudiabi has created a mathematical model of how the water of the Senegal River could be used more efficiently in agriculture so the country could reduce its importation of food. He is almost finished with his doctoral dissertation, which presents a possible solution to the problem.

Mouhamadou Samsidy Goudiabi is – Today there are communities using the – I thought mathematics was too theoret- in his fourth year as a doctoral student and river’s water for their crops. Despite this, ical, more theoretical than what we needed. divides his time between Uppsala Univer- masses of freshwater run into the sea and But then I realized that all real problems can sity and Gaston Berger University in St. are thus wasted, says Mouhamadou Sam- be translated into mathematical problems. Louis, Senegal. With support from the In- sidy Goudiabi. If problems can be solved mathematically, ternational Science Programme (ISP) he is – The question is whether it’s possible to there’s a good chance they can be solved in working on his doctoral dissertation on two build an artificial channel and at the same reality as well. continents, with one supervisor at his home time control the amount of water that runs Besides Mouhamadou Samsidy Gou- university and one at Uppsala University. out to the fields. How can the river water diabi, there are two other doctoral students We meet in his office in Uppsala, four be used more efficiently? We’re trying to in the project. They are studying the same flights up at the Department of Information find answers to these questions. problem from different angles at KTH Technology. Several computers crowd the This is where mathematics comes in. He (Royal Institute of Technology) in Stock- desk, because it’s on computers that he per- explains: If you have a problem, you first holm. Their doctoral studies are also being forms his calculations in numerical analysis. need to create a mathematical model and funded by the International Science Pro- In Senegal he laid the theoretical foundation try to solve the problem. If it turns out it gramme (ISP). for the thesis with Professor Abdou Sene. can be solved, you go back to the real-life – We meet often, both in Senegal and in Now he’s busy finding a good way to apply problem and apply the mathematical solu- Sweden, and our Swedish supervisors also his theories to reality, with the support of tion to reality. stay in touch. We will be completing our his supervisor, Professor Gunilla Kreiss. When he first started digging deeper dissertations at the same time, with a joint into mathematics as a master’s student, he public defence in April. Freshwater going to waste was initially sceptical about the subject. ISP was established at Uppsala Uni- The starting point for his research is a real- life problem, namely, the water supply for agriculture in Senegal. From the eastern to I THOUGHT MATHEMATICS WAS TOO the northern part of the country runs a long river, Senegal River, along the border with THEORETICAL, MORE THEORETICAL THAN Mauritania and Mali. WHAT WE NEEDED.

Senegal River

Channel alongside Floodwater is contained by Water level is adjusted the Senegal River. dam gates to be put to use. to the needs of Dam gate surrounding fields. Water flow

If farmers have different needs regarding water level and flow velocity, how can everyone’s needs be satisfied?

10 New HORIzONs 2:2

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Through research Mouhamadou Samsidy Goudiaby hopes more people can benefit from the water of the Senegal River.

versity 50 years ago and funds research in longer, usually a decade or more, says Peter International Science Programme mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The Sundin. During the years 2003–2010 the programme, aim is to build up competitive research in One of the thoughts behind ISP is that with annual investments averaging EUR 2 developing countries. researchers should get some of their edu- million, each year produced an average of 24 – Many groups are investing in applied cation in Sweden and then return to their doctoral dissertations, 100 master’s degrees, and 128 publications in international journals, research, in fields like environmental chem- home country. This is what Mouhamadou and arranged 42 scientific meetings. On top istry, crop genetics, and solar cells, says ISP Samsidy Goudiabi plans. of this, funding has been used for technologi- director Peter Sundin. When he returns to Senegal to defend cal equipment in various countries. his dissertation, he hopes to be able to con- Support is given for many years, and is Spread around the country tinue his research and see it realized. Us- slowly phased out only when activities are able to stand on their own. The model has ISP’s activities are largely funded by Sida ing his research findings, he wants to design been acclaimed as exemplary when it comes but also receive support from Uppsala Uni- software for organizing the supply of water to building up competence in developing versity, which hosts the programme. Super- in a more efficient way. countries. visors for students in the programme are – Today we import a lot of food in Sene- The major financiers have been Sarec and found at several universities in the country, gal, including rice and grains. Since we have Sida. Uppsala University contributes funding, and has been recently been joined in this by and one of them, Stockholm University, is this natural river of freshwater we ought to Stockholm University. also providing funding for ISP starting this be able to make better use of it and become Support targets research groups in developing year. self-sufficient in food. countries around the world, as selected by the Support is for the long term and is given – Now we have to convince the sur- government, as well as to regional research for several years, sometimes decades. rounding world that it’s possible, so they networks. The programme is directed by Uppsala University but involves other institu- – We don’t go in with grants for three will be truly motivated to help us develop tions in Sweden, the Nordic countries, and years ahead. Instead, our goal is to establish this research. If we have this opportunity, it the EU, based on the needs of programme a stable foundation for research. This takes would be a waste not to make use of it. n countries.

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Vice-Chancellor with a focus on quality

The time has come for Anders Hallberg to sum up his time as Vice-Chancellor. The quest for enhanced quality and the need to improve the work environment are two issues he has primarily addressed.

TEXT: Annica Hulth PHOTO: tommy westberg

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DURING Anders Hallberg’s time as Outstanding research and first-class educa- occur has increased. The number of newly Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University, re- tion are two areas of focus. Another has to appointed women professors has also risen. search has been evaluated by expert panels do with collaboration with the wider com- At the latest inauguration ceremony twice. A similar assessment has been initi- munity, for example by reinforcing contacts for new professors, women constituted 40 ated regarding education. There can be lit- with companies and building up the inno- per cent. Anders Hallberg inaugurated 27 tle doubt that he puts great emphasis on vation system, which has also been accom- women and 41 men as professors. quality work. plished with the founding of UU Innovation. What will you do next? – It’s always valuable to have “critical A fourth area of focus is to develop the – I’m going back to the Faculty of Pharma- friends” who review the quality of activi- University environment. As Vice-Chan- cy to continue my research, which has been ties and suggest ways to improve them. Re- cellor, Anders Hallberg has consistently neglected during my time as Vice-Chancel- search evaluations are important not least worked for good work environments, with lor. I’m going to make use of the last of my for the researchers themselves. We’ve man- satisfied associates and students. research grant from the Swedish Research aged to persuade prominent researchers – We simply cannot accept poor work Council that I got in 2009 and then try from all over the world to set aside time to environments, and systematic efforts are to get new funding from various external help us improve, says Anders Hallberg. needed to create functioning workplaces. sources. It’s a challenge, but a fun one! Two People should thrive at Uppsala University. post-docs start in December. Strategic initiatives People who feel good can work wonders. Anders Hallberg has continuously pur- The research assessments have laid a foun- sued research and published a great deal dation for more strategic commitments and Better workplaces and gender during his time as Vice-Chancellor. have enhanced the University’s capacity to equality – I’ve always found research stimulating. compete for strategic grants. For instance, Efforts to these ends include developing the It generates more energy than it consumes. Uppsala University received funding to University’s leadership training, and several I look forward to having more time for this, build up the Science for Life Laboratory in initiatives have been taken to increase gen- and 150 articles are waiting to be read over life science and the EU programme InnoEn- der equality. the Christmas holidays. ergy in the field of energy. – These effects are hard to measure. On What is your research about? When he started as Vice-Chancellor the other hand, we do know that awareness – The overarching goal is to find new ap- Anders Hallberg took part in establish- of the importance of the University offering proaches and new types of drugs for infec- ing Uppsala University’s goals and strategy a good work environment has grown, and tions. The rapid growth of antibiotics resist- documents, which were adopted in 2008. the capacity to tackle problems when they ance concerns me greatly. n Good grades for research Uppsala University research is of high quality, with more than ninety areas ranked among world leaders. This is shown in Uppsala University’s second comprehensive research evaluation, KoF11. The report will be used as a platform for strategic planning and development of the University in coming years.

– IT’S GRATIFYING to see that the Uni- articles and ongoing research. The panels versity’s research is even better than at the also identified strengths, weaknesses, and last assessment. Commitments made then areas with potential to develop. have begun to show results, says Vice- The new evaluation showed that nearly Chancellor Anders Hallberg. half of the research groups merited one of KoF11 (“Kvalitet och Förnyelse” or the top two grades on a five-grade scale, “Quality and Renewal”) is a follow-up of world leader or high international standard. the 2007 assessment, when Uppsala Uni- The University was even more success- versity, as the first in Sweden, took the ini- ful in getting research findings published in tiative for a thorough review of all research, prestigious international journals, and our to be performed by independent interna- researchers now have a 40 per cent greater tional panels of experts. “impact” than the world average, compared In 2011 a total of 25 panels with nearly with 25 per cent in 2007. 200 experts evaluated more than 500 re- In the Operational Plan for 2012 the Uni- search groups and activities. What was to versity is earmarking a total of SEK 89 mil- be reviewed was the quality of academic lion for commitments based on KoF11. n

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First-class education entails constantly developing new ways Next Vice- to teach, learn, and test. International experts will be helping Chancellor Uppsala University to assess its teaching. TEXT: Annica Hulth PHOTO: JIM ELFSTRÖM Teaching Eva Åkesson, professor of chemical physics, will be the next Vice-Chancellor, as of January under review 1, 2012. She comes from Lund University, where she has been TEXT: Helena Edström, PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Rector.

– WE’VE FOUND a person with a solid and thorough knowledge of academic leadership. She has energy and a sense of humour and can represent the University both internally and externally, says Hans Dalborg, chair of the University Board. – I’m delighted, honoured, and full of an- ticipation. I look forward to getting to know Uppsala University, says Eva Åkesson. She’s a professor of chemical physics and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Lund University. She was born and raised in Ängelholm but studied at Umeå University through her doctorate in physical chemistry. She worked in sales at Weland Tecnics before joining Lund University in 1996, where she has held leadership posts like Deputy Thomas Bull and Lars Hagborg want to share the good ideas. Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Rector. n

DURING 2012 work for educational de- In the autumn of 2011 the panel visited velopment is to be followed up. The review Uppsala to learn more about the Univer- targets both teaching in general and the sity’s teaching activities and to impart ad- Vice-Chancellor’s initiative, Creative Edu- vice and inspiration. In May 2012 the panel cational Development at Uppsala Univer- will be back, this time wearing its follow-up sity, KrUUt. eyeglasses. – It’s an effort designed to bring forward – The expert panel’s input is extremely good ideas in teaching, so they spread and important for the University in both modes, add value across the University. It’ll be ex- says Lars Hagborg, project secretary for citing to see what the experts think about KrUUt. n our work, says Thomas Bull, professor at the Department of Law and project direc- Matariki University Network tor of KrUUt. Seven universities are included in the Ma- The University is getting help from a tariki Network of Universities (MNU): Upp- panel of international experts in this follow- sala University, Dartmouth College in the up work. The panel consists of one repre- US, Durham University in the UK, Queen’s sentative from each university in the inter- University in Canada, University of Otago in New Zealand, University of Tübingen in Ger- national university network Matariki and many, and University of Western Australia. four other prominent European experts in Eva Åkesson begins in January. teaching. Read more at: www.matarikinetwork.com

14 New HORIzONs 2:2

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In the search for alternative energy it’s important to know where and how far down in the ground it’s possible to drill to exploit geothermal heat. Iceland is the perfect place to better understand geothermics and seismic activities. That’s why Professor Olafur Gudmundsson spends long periods on the island.

In the aftermath of volcanic eruptions: In Iceland you can drill deep for heat

TEXT: Annette ULVENHOLM Wallqvist PHOTO: Per Hanstorp ILLUSTRATION: Karl Åstrand

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WHERE ON THE EARTH’S CRUST is actual instruments that register the ground wind generator is spinning as it should, the best place to drill for heat, and how deep movements are securely embedded. That’s keeping the battery charged. Then he gets can you go? These are questions Uppsala all. There’s nothing to reveal that a highly to work on replacing the processor. University researchers are trying to answer. sensitive sensor is registering the slightest – I’m very satisfied with this station. We Olafur Gudmundsson is a visiting pro- movement in the ground, including our hardly ever have any problems with it. fessor at the Department of Earth Sciences footsteps. Olafur Gudmundsson says that the in Uppsala, and he runs the project together Olafur is happy to announce that the monitoring stations need service about with his Uppsala colleague Ari Tryggvason. Their work involves long stays in Iceland. Today’s schedule includes a trip out to one of the island’s metering stations. A sensor has a part that needs to be replaced. On the way out toward the Reykjanes Peninsula’s southern coast, mountains rise from the lava-covered plains. There’s hardly any soil or plants on the ground. Just a lovely silver grey moss that is slowly but surely enveloping the blackened lava-flow plains. In the distance smoke is rising from the earth, and Olafur points out some long and clearly visible fissures in the ground. – The landscape in Iceland is interesting to me as a geologist, since you can so readily see the forces in front of you. There are very few plants in the way here, he says, and smiles.

Background noise shows the way By studying seismic background noise and A sensor at one of Iceland’s monitoring stations. the velocity of the waves caused by small earthquakes, these researchers hope to find out where in the crust of the earth the warm fluid moves most readily and is KraftverkPower station för for thereby easiest to bring up. The capacity of geotermiskgeothermal värmeheat Seismograph the fluid to move is dependent on the pres- Seismograph sure and temperature in the earth. Pressure 0 km 0°C affects temperature, and if it’s warmer than 370 degree the water turns into steam. – The further down we can drill, the warmer it will be. This in turn yields more energy per unit of volume of steam. Since it’s expensive to drill, it’s worthwhile un- DrillBorrhål hole derstanding what conditions are ideal, explains Olafur Gudmundsson. 2 km 240°C In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Reykjavik Univer- FissuresSprickor sity, the Iceland Meteorological and Hydro- logical Institute, and the Geological Survey of Iceland, the researchers have placed some fifty seismographs to monitor the activity in the ground in Iceland. After a bumpy ride on a road that can Earthquake barely be discerned as tracks on the lava, we reach the monitoring station. An unas- 4 km 370°C suming wind generator that provides the PaParallelrallella fissures sprickor in i btheer ggbedrockrunden lead le da ermixture en blandnin of waterg aandv va steam.tten o cShockh ång a.waves metering instruments with the necessary from an earthquake are polarised and change velocity when they pass the fissures. energy and a small plastic barrel where the SBytötv analysingågorna thefrån waves en jo it’srdbä possiblevning to po calculatelariseras the och location ändrar and hastigh directionet när of fissures. dom passerar sprickorna. Genom att analysera vågorna kan man räkna ut sprickornas placering och riktning. 16 New HORIzONs 2:2

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once per quarter. When stations need to be periodically. To him it’s an absolute neces- checked, Olafur Gudmundsson and his re- sity to experience nature in Iceland. search associates are out for days at a time Exactly how he schedules his time is and check as many small stations as possible. largely determined by teaching. Sometimes – The stations generally work fine. Oc- it can be up to a couple of months in Ice- casionally a wind generator will break ow- land before he can return to his family in ing to the strong winds. But now we’ve in- Uppsala. stalled solar cells as a back-up, he says. – It’s not ideal to be away so much. But it’s necessary for our research. Processing information The monitoring stations will remain in Left Iceland in their youth place for another year before all the infor- Olafur Gudmundsson and his wife left mation is seriously processed. When the Iceland at an early age to have a chance to time comes for processing, researchers and pursue their respective research careers. students from the US and Sweden will also They studied in the US and then moved to be involved. Australia. But when they had children they – Researchers in the US see the project wanted to return to the Nordic countries, as a way to develop methods for extracting and moved to Lund. For the last three years heat from the earth everywhere, though in the family has lived in Uppsala. varying concentration. As an Icelander, Olafur Gudmunds- Thanks to its wide-spread use of ground son feels the cultural differences between The researchers are studying seismic heat, Sweden is already one of countries in Sweden and Iceland are great. Icelanders background noise to see where in the the world that makes the greatest use of are less bound by formalities and traditions, earth’s crust it is best to drill for heat. geothermal energy. and they have more of a pioneering spirit. – But if we learn how to drill deeper we – This fosters creativity and new think- that he has in Sweden. There’s a long tradi- can also make greater use of geothermal ing, which are important not least in re- tion of energy research, and seismological heat in Sweden. search, he says. research has a strong position in Sweden. As an Icelander, Olafur Gudmundsson At the same time he appreciates the col- – Here in Iceland it’s more a matter of appreciates the chance to work in Iceland laboration with a large team of colleagues sitting alone at your computer, he says. n

THE LANDSCAPE IN ICELAND IS INTERESTING TO ME AS A GEOLOGIST

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Drug problems create both suffering and social costs.

TEXT: MAGNUS ALSNE Unique effort to curb illustration: Torbjörn Gozzi

U-FOLD is a new forum where OCTOBER 5 was the date that U-FOLD, tion we need to reduce the distances, both the Forum for Research on Pharmaceutical between our own researchers and to com- Uppsala University, the city, and Drug Abuse, was inaugurated in the munity actors. And that’s just what we’re county council, police, and other Grand Auditorium in the University Main doing here and now in Uppsala, says Profes- actors focus on curbing drug and Building. Nearly 300 of the region’s leading sor Fred Nyberg, initiator and coordinator pharmaceutical abuse. researchers and practitioners were on hand for U-FOLD. to listen to an up-to-date overview of our – Uppsala has the competencies knowledge and the needs in the field, and Multiple possibilities seen needed to make a difference. Now above all to enter into new conversations Several Uppsala University researchers are we’re mustering our forces, says and establish contacts ahead of coming already playing active roles in the new net- Fred Nyberg, professor of biologi- work in this important matter. work. One of them is Mia Ramklint, sen- – Sweden has extensive problems with ior lecturer in psychiatry, who gave a brief cal research on drug dependence, drugs that lead to both suffering and social lecture on the theme of “Co-pathology - and initiator of the project. costs. If we’re to come grips with the situa- ADHD and Aspects of Addiction.”

18 New HORIzONs 2:2

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– Abuse can’t be explained by simple Speaking of U-FOLD: linear associations and theories. It’s in the Effect of cancer encounter between researchers from vari- drug studied ous disciplines and practitioners that we find new ways of asking questions and SEVERAL PROMINENT research groups methods that we can address jointly. U- are now collaborating in an advanced new FOLD’s interdisciplinary composition and study. The goal is to understand what tu- short distances to practical implementation mours will respond to treatment and find will no doubt enhance our chances of ad- out why certain cancer drugs lose their vancing care for abusers. effect after a period of use. The study is Pål Andersson, superintendent of police directed by Tobias Sjöblom, a tumour bi- in Uppsala County, shares this optimism ologist at Uppsala University. The study Anna Haid, ANDT coordinator, regarding U-FOLD and already sees many Uppsala County Council: comprises some one hundred cancer pa- practical possibilities. – If we’re to realize the ANDT strategy and tients, suffering from either cancer of the – A major share of police work involves achieve the national goals, we must have large intestine or chronic lymphatic leukae- alcohol, narcotics, and doping. Thanks to access to the latest knowledge. In U-FOLD mia. The study is made possible by funding this Uppsala University initiative we hope we gain multiple channels to the Univer- from SciLifeLab, a national resource centre to make use of research to achieve better sity’s research, which will clearly be of huge for research in medicine and bioscience. n evaluations of our methods and in the long importance in our future work. run to make police work more effective. Swedes stable in “Will create a school” U-FOLD’s first meeting also attracted some tolerating diversity visitors from afar. Spotted in the crowd THE SHARE OF SWEDES with extreme- were the government’s former narcotics ly negative attitudes towards diversity has coordinator, Björn Fries, Karolinska Insti- declined since last year. Across the board tutet’s Johan Franck, and, specially flown in the Swedish people have stable tolerant from New York and Rockefeller University, attitudes to diversity but generally do not Mary Jeanne Kreek, a pioneer in metha- socialize very much with non-European done treatment of heroin addicts: immigrants. This is shown in the 2011 Di- – Uppsala has long had first-class re- versity Barometer from the Department search and treatment in the field of addic- Christina Åkerman, director general of of Sociology at Uppsala University. The tion. With U-FOLD we now also have a su- the Medical Products Agency: Diversity Barometer is an annual country- perb model for all of these competencies to – For the Medical Products Agency, U- wide questionnaire at Uppsala University be integrated, and I’m convinced that your FOLD is both a source of knowledge to tap that surveys attitudes towards ethnic diver- initiative will create a school for the future. into and a self-evident forum for network- ing. We regard this initiative as extremely sity among the Swedish population. n Enormous potential important and believe it will be of great During the autumn U-FOLD has arranged help to us in our work to safeguard Swed- a number of well-attended meeting places ish public health. Role of omega-3 and more are coming up. Between events fats unclear Fred Nyberg and his steering committee are continuing to develop the guidelines for BEING OVERWEIGHT often involves a growing the network and for its future work. low-grade inflammation that can play a role – U-FOLD arouses enthusiasm both in in developing both diabetes and cardiovas- Sweden and abroad Several actors outside cular disease. Previously dietary omega-6 Uppsala want our collaboration to include fats were seen as increasing inflammation them as well. This has enormous potential while omega-3 fats from fish were ascribed and our inspiration and will to move forward anti-inflammatory properties. In a new dis- is greater than ever, says Fred Nyberg. n sertation, by Helena Bjermo, at the Depart- Facts about U-FOLD Erik Weiman, chairman of the board, ment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, U-FOLD stands for Forum for Research Uppsala County Council: there is no evidence that omega-3 supple- on Pharmaceutical and Drug Addiction (in – U-FOLD represents an entirely new op- ments can reduce inflammation in people Swedish). portunity for Uppsala County Council to with elevated risk of diabetes and cardio- U-FOLD brings together the University, both contribute our own competence and vascular disease. On the other hand, the municipality, county council, police, regional council, and another eight key Uppsala actors. gain from the knowledge of others to pro- findings show that vegetable omega-6 fats Read more at: www.ufold.uu.se vide even better healthcare to patients in reduce inflammation. n our county. 19

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Forestry workers in the inland north of Sweden, the games of children in Stockholm suburbs, and women’s conversations at public swimming facilities. Ella Johansson, who was inaugurated as professor of ethnology this autumn, has studied the lives of Swedes from many perspectives and found that we are more alike than we might think.

Interested in people

20 New HORIzONs 2:2

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TEXT: ANNELI WAARA, PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

– IN DEBATES WE OFTEN HEAR a con- The same differences that existed be- cern about a lack of integration, but I’ve ac- tween the resident-owned houses and the tually found strong continuity and a trans- blocks of flats in the 1970s remain. And mission of traditions from “new” and “old” children’s activities are the same. In the Swedes. We talk about the same things and Million Programme area the children have do the same things regardless of era and more freedom: they move around in large ethnic background, she says. mixed-age groups within the area and play Ella Johansson is interested in people more games than children in the villa areas. and of cultural legacies and history. How They build tree houses and play traditional do people change when society changes? Swedish games more often than the villa She has been attracted to many different children do. environments undergoing change and has – They know more games in different therefore moved around quite a bit be- variants with their own, always Swedish, tween universities in Sweden and abroad. names. They’re largely the same games as Ella Johansson studies She wrote a dissertation about forestry in the past, often games with rules, says Ella how people change when workers in northern Sweden from the 19th Johansson. society changes. century to the 1950s, and forestry districts In the villa neighbourhoods role-playing also served as the base for a large and ex- games are more common, just as in the citing interdisciplinary research project on past, and children play indoors more often, cultural constancy and transformation in- with more planning. What has happened volving both plant ecologists and cultural since the 1970s is primarily that it’s more anthropologists. common to have divorced parens and wor- – Now that I’ve moved to Uppsala from king mothers . Scania in the south I’ve got a bit closer to – It was interesting to see that most northern Sweden and the forestry regions things are the same even though most peo- again, and that feels good, she says. ple have a different background in the Mil- lion Programme. But it’s still a place where Roots in Hälsingland people have started to build up their lives Her roots are further north in Hälsing- to be part of a welfare-based society. land, though she has lived elsewhere most of the time, most recently down south in Conversations at swimming facilities Lund. But Uppsala is not entirely new: as And she has seen this continuity in “Swed- a 16-year-old she had a summer job reno- ishness“ in several other contexts. When vating the murals in Uppsala Cathedral her German students in Scandinavian stud- and had plans to become a restorer. She ies interviewed immigrant girls in Småland, climbed high up in the arched ceilings, fix- they remarked how incredibly “Swedish“ ing and touching things up, and listened to they were in their manner. And women’s P1 on the radio. conversations at suburban swimming fa- – I climbed all the way to the top of the cilities, where Ella has done fieldwork, were outside of the little spire, that’s something I about children’s parties and buying a ter- tell everybody, she says with a laugh. raced house. There are many myths about But she went to university instead and how society has changed. She can dispel has never regretted it. There’s an endless the myth that fewer and fewer Swedes can supply of interesting things for an ethnolo- swim. gist to study. – False. The numbers are record high. n With some colleagues she did a follow- up to a comparative 1970s study of villa suburbs and suburbs made up of blocks Ella Johansson of flats, from the ‘Million Programme.‘ Name: Ella Johansson. Since the previous study, virtually the en- Why in the news? New professor of ethnology tire population had been replaced in the Lives: In Svartbäcksgatan. ‘‘I have a lovely neighbourhoods, and today the Million Pro- view of the Fyris River and a picturesque walk to work”. gramme area is populated by new Swedes. In spare time: Hangs out with friends, reads Somewhat surprisingly, they found that fiction. “In the summer I like to potter about most things hadn’t changed. in the garden at my summer place in Scania.”

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The 2011 Nobel Prize for Chemistry went to the discoverer of quasicrystals, Dan Shechtman. At Uppsala University the crystallographer Cesar Pay Gómez collaborates with researchers from other fields to explore if it’s possible to store hydrogen in quasicrystals. Quasicrystals in batteries in Uppsala?

TEXT: LINDA KOFFMAR, ILLUSTRATION: CESAR PAY GÓMEZ

QUASICRYSTALS are actually poorly including doctoral students. The field is so and properties that can be tailored to our named, according to Cesar Pay Gómez, small that most people know each other, needs, says Cesar Pay Gómez. a postdoctoral fellow at the Department also internationally. of Materials Chemistry. It suggests quasi- Prominent battery researchers science or crystals that are somehow not Research in Japan There are many prominent battery scientists genuine. Pay Gómez did research in Japan before at Uppsala University. In collaboration with – A quasicrystal is by definition a crys- coming to Uppsala. He wound up there some of them, Cesar Pay Gómez is trying to tal. But even today articles and reference because a research team there found qua- determine if it’s possible to store hydrogen works describe a quasicrystal as something sicrystals in the system of rare earth met- in quasicrystals. The idea is to use the tech- between a crystal and a material with an als and cadmium that he was then study- nology for hybrid batteries and fuel cells. unordered structure. Completely wrong. A ing. Cesar Pay Gómez also got involved in According to Cesar Pay Gómez there’s quasicrystals is not part something else – it’s studying quasicrystals even though he had good reason to believe that quasicrystals a crystal, says Cesar Pay Gómez. previously avoided the field because he could function as thermoelectric materials. Thus far not many people have done re- thought it was too difficult. Such materials can convert waste heat to search on quasicrystals. At Uppsala Univer- The great challenge is to figure out electric current. For instance, the heat from sity it’s Cesar Pay Gómez and his doctoral where the atoms in quasicrystals are locat- a car engine could be used to generate elec- candidate Girma Gebresenbut. In the rest ed. Cesar Pay Gómez grows his own crys- tricity. n of Sweden there are another 6–7 scientists, tals in the lab, irradiates them with x-rays, and analyses the diffraction patterns that arise. – A quasi- But since the quasicrystal’s atoms do What are quasicrystals? crystal not recur periodically, it’s impossible to use Researchers long thought that atoms were packed inside crystals in symmetrical patterns is by traditional crystallography. Instead, high- definition a that recurred periodically. It was thought that dimensional crystallography is used, which this repetition was a necessary property of a crystal. makes the quasicrystals periodic. Then tra- crystal. In 1982 Dan Shechtman turned this ditional methods can be used again – if they accepted knowledge upside down. He found are adapted to more dimensions. regular atom patterns in a crystal that could absolutely not be repeated. His scientific – All properties of all materials have article on the discovery was delayed for two to do with their structure. A goal is to de- years because the findings were so contro- Cesar Pay Gómez vise new materials with new structures versial.

22 New HORIzONs 2:2

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Last winter’s chaos in train traffic is something traffic leaders hope Fossils from not to see again. They can’t do much about the poor maintenance of the railroads, but now Uppsala University scientists are helping them primeval seas plan and control traffic with an electronic timetable graph. NEW FINDS OF UNIQUELY well-preserved fossil calcium shells from Gotland, Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan give entirely new insight into the seas that covered the earth’s surface more than 400 million Scientists aim to years ago. New analytical methods make it possible to examine fossil shells in detail and gain insights into the oceanic chemistry of prehistoric seas. In the detailed new stud- curb train chaos ies of 400 million-year-old calcium shells from Gotland and elsewhere, scientists found the first evidence of well-preserved aragonite, a common form of calcium (calcium carbonate) in our day. But 400 million years ago it was the other form of calcium – calcite – that totally dominated the seas of the world, and no preserved aragonite calcium shells had ever been found. n R ME L

TEXT: Gunilla Sthyr, phOTO: matton S HO R A L TODAY’S TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS for a few years will be launched in full scale PHOTO: PHOTO: have a certain amount of computer sup- at two traffic control centres in the coun- Well-preserved Gotlandian fossil. port in monitoring traffic and controlling try: Norrköping, which handles parts of technology along the railways. A timetable the southern trunk line, and Boden, where, in the form of a paper graph is still used to among other things, the country’s iron ore see how trains are to run according to the is transported on the Ore Line, contributing National science original plan, and using pen and paper, traf- to the prosperity of the country. fic controllers figure out new train meetings – What’s unique is that we have built a tests under review and routes when there are distubances or system that both plans and controls train NationAL TEsTS in physics, chem- delays. They need to keep a lot of the infor- traffic, says Bengt Sandblad. istry, and biology have been given since mation in their heads. The electronic timetable graph that the 2009/2010. Now a group of Uppsala re- Bengt Sandblad, professor of human- Uppsala researchers have devised consists searchers are to find out what impact the computer interaction at Uppsala Univer- of a display image where the traffic control- tests have had on teaching. Some 800 sity, has followed train traffic controllers’ ler can successively revise the traffic plan teachers around Sweden have received a work situation for many years, in a research and then spread the information to every- questionnaire as part of the study. A selec- project funded by the Swedish Transport one who needs it, such as engine drivers and tion of teachers will also be interviewed and Administration, with earlier support from travellers who are logged in to the Swedish monitored in the classroom. Vinnova. Railway app for smart phones. The actual - The study will provide key information – We’ve long collaborated with the control is effected entirely automatically. for the discussion about the impact and Transport Authority, which has enabled The project is also part of a larger EU- development of these tests, but it will also us to test various applications. You need a funded project. serve as a support for teachers in their pro- long-term perspective when it comes to – All countries want their own solutions. fession, says Eva Lundqvist at the Depart- improving such a complex system as train The goal is to create greater uniformity in ment of Education. n traffic in the country, says Bengt Sandblad. order to better control and coordinate traf- The pilot project they’ve been running fic all over Europe. n

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 23 2011-12-15 11.44 EDUCATION More foreign students reached via Google

The introduction of tuition fees for Swedish education has stiffened the competition for foreign students. Uppsala University’s strategy is to make personal contact with as many students as possible via the Web, in social media, and sometimes directly once they’ve arrived in Sweden.

TEXT: HELENA EDSTRÖM, PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

IT’S JUST BEFORE LUNCHTIME on an A total of more than 2 500 foreign for studying in Sweden August day at Arlanda Airport. A steady students from all over the world are pur- for so-called third-country stream of travellers pass through the arrival suing international master programmes, students, that is, students from hall at Terminal 5. But it’s not just a regu- exchange programmes, other programmes countries outside the EEA and lar day at the international terminal. It’s the or single-subject courses at Uppsala Uni- Switzerland. day of arrival for many of Uppsala Univer- versity in autumn 2011. Exchange students are not af- sity’s new foreign students. fected by the new law, but the drop – They’re pretty tired after flying for may- Uppsala – the choice is easy in third-country students in the inter- be 10 hours. But they all seem to be happy One of the new foreign students for the au- national master programmes at Swedish to see us, says Lina Solander, a study infor- tumn is Görkem Gömeç from Turkey. He’s universities has been dramatic this autumn. mation officer at the Student Affairs and beaming as he lets his backpack fall with At the national level, it’s a matter of several Academic Division who is manning the wel- a thud. thousand students. come counter for new students that Uppsala – Why did I choose Uppsala? The Uni- – At Uppsala University 125 students University has set up to mark the day. versity’s academic level and ranking on have paid their tuition fees this autumn. We She and Joachim Ekström, a commu- world lists speaks for itself! And when I saw count on doubling this figure next year by nication officer at the Division for Com- your forests and rivers from the air, I was working more with scholarship funds and munication and External Relations, have even more convinced, says Görkem Gömeç, with our contact-generating network, says been on the job since six in the morning. who is taking the international master pro- Joachim Ekström. The first student came with a plane from gramme in sustainable development. For instance, for the first time Uppsala Kenya at 6:30, followed by students from Creating contact with foreign students University is placing ads on the search en- China, Taiwan, and Australia. Soon planes has come to be more and more important gine Google in South Asia, Southeast Asia, will be landing from several parts of Europe for Swedish universities. Starting with the South America, North America, Europe, and the US. autumn term 2011, there are tuition fees and Russia. The aim is to catch the attention of foreign students the moment they Master student Raphael start searching for a master programme Hanimann is welcomed by and to lead them to the Uppsala University Joakim Ekström and Website. Lina Solander. – On our Website we encourage them to leave their e-mail address, so we can stay in touch with them and provide tips about the possibility of talking to other students on the University’s pages in Facebook and other social networks. We want make them feel right away that it’s fun to study at Upp- sala University, says Joachim Ekström.

A genuine student town Thus far this strategy for generating contacts has been a success. Preliminary figures show that among the third-country students who were admitted to Uppsala Uni- versity for autumn 2011, just under half chose to pay the tuition fee of some SEK

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In autumn 2011 exchange students came to Uppsala University from 55 countries. More foreign students reached via Google The greatest number come from…

Germany 161

France 98

USA 77 Australia 53 China 49 United Kingdom 49 Finland 48 Holland 37 Spain 32 Italy 27 Canada 26

But we also have students from…

Austria Kyrgyzstan Belgium Kazakhstan Czech Republic Mongolia Denmark Bangladesh Estonia Cambodia Croatia Malaysia Hungary Philippines Ireland Singapore 100 000 and started their programme. This Iceland Taiwan is much higher than the national average of Switzerland Japan 30 per cent. Students from all over the world Lithuania New Zealand At Arlanda it’s now afternoon, a plane Total number of students registered Latvia South Korea from Belgium has just landed. Three ex- Autumn 2011: 29 330 Norway Thailand Of these, 2 546 are foreign students (by Poland Vietnam change students who got to know each oth- international master programmes, exchange Portugal Bhutan er during the flight are having a lively con- programmes, and single-subject courses) Romania India versation. One of them is Rens Van Haute, • 1 183 are pursuing Uppsala University Slovakia Iran who’s going to pursue business studies. international master programs Turkey Pakistan – To be honest, I had chosen Gothen- • 938 are exchange students from some 50 Belarus Mexico burg first, but then I heard that Uppsala countries Russia Peru is a genuine and lively student town, and • 425 are studying other programmes or Ukraine Venezuela I changed my mind immediately, he says single-subject courses Uzbekistan with a laugh. n

At Uppsala University an education costs 100 Chinese students. This commitment to Tuition fees between SEK 90 000 and SEK 135 000 per reach more students from China has also year for third-country students. A strategy resulted in a Web page about the Univer- for studies to reach students who have to pay for their sity in Chinese, with all the information education is to set up scholarship funds produced by Uppsala University. As of autumn term 2011 that pay all or part of the tuition fees. One More scholarship funds are expected. For such scholarship fund, which the Univer- one thing, the University is investigating the so-called third-country students sity started together with the Kjell and possibility of starting a fund together with outside the European Economic Märta Beijer Foundation, was opened dur- Lund University for students from India. Area (EEA) and Switzerland ing the autumn of 2011 for applications Visit the University’s Web page in Chinese: must pay a fee for higher from Chinese students wishing to study at www.cn.uu.se Uppsala University in the autumn of 2012. Read more about scholarships: education in Sweden. The fund can cover tuition fees for at least www.uu.se/scholarships

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Engineering and team spirit led to world final

How do you find your inner researcher? Eighteen Uppsala students do it by competing in synthetic biology. They went to MIT in Boston to defend not only Uppsala’s colours but also Sweden’ s and the Nordic countries’.

T ext: Helena Edström PHoto: Mikael Wallerstedt Front row from left: Lei Sun, Sibel Ciftci, Anna Gustafsson and Pikkei Yuen. Back row from left: Erik Lundin, Cherno Sidibeh and supervisor Erik Gullberg.

MORE THAN 2 000 studentS, in 160 Provides motivation for the future teams from 30 countries participated from THE IDEA IS TO But more is needed than a good idea and the start in the 2011 iGEM, International FIND THE RESEARCHER good lab results in the iGEM competition. Genetically Engineered Machine Competi- Teams need to find their own sponsors, find tion. It’s a world championship in synthetic INSIDE US. supervisory help at their university, and be biology arranged by Massachusetts Institute able to show a good capacity to collaborate. of Technology, MIT, outside Boston. Team engineering with chemistry and biology to – The idea is to find the researcher in- Uppsala was the only Nordic team to qual- build up new functions in living cells. Team side us. The situation is a lot like what it will ify for the final. Uppsala’s entry targets gene regulation, or look like for us in a few years, when we’re – It feels incredible that we made the more precisely: governing the activity of working as researchers in various projects cut, especially considering the time and en- genes with the help of light. The students and collaborations, says Sibel Ciftci, who ergy the entire team has put in as well as have introduced a certain kind of genes in is taking the master program in molecular the keen European competition, says engi- bacteria. When you illuminate the bacteria biotechnology. neering student Antonio Ascue Avalos. with light of different wave lengths, the Among other things, the University gave The team comprises eighteen students genes are put to work and start to produce them access to a lab, equipment, and materi- from the engineering programme in mo- pigments in various colours. als. In the lab they were also coached by Erik lecular biotechnology and from the master You can clearly see the results in the cul- Gullberg, a doctoral candidate at the Depart- programmes in bioinformatics and molecu- tivation dishes. Depending on which gene ment of Medical Biochemistry and Microbi- lar biotechnology. A good team make-up has been activated, the bacteria turn red, ology. He’s impressed with the enthusiasm since synthetic biology is about combining blue, or yellow. the students showed in the competition.

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The image of students who duti- fully attend lectures and pile up their textbooks at home is passé. Lectures, seminars, and videos on the Web are becoming more and more common, and students are welcoming the trend.

T ext: Helena Edström PHoto: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

IT gaining ground in teaching

– ONE MIGHT THINK that teaching via lecture hall or in a regular seminar, they the Net would be superficial, but we’re might have remained silent, says Cecilia finding it’s just the opposite. The teacher Hamfelt who hopes more teams of teach- can carefully monitor how active each stu- ers will dare to try out IT solutions in their dent is and if someone needs support and teaching. help. We sometimes get to know the stu- In full agreement is MedfarmDoIT, one dents better than in campus education, says of the entities at the University working Cecilia Hamfelt, a teacher at the Depart- full-time to help teachers to devise Web ment of Business Studies. lectures and videos in instruction, for ex- She has just been awarded the Uppsala ample. University Prize for Distinguished Teach- – Access to Web lectures might make ing in the free category, which focuses on students’ daily lives more workable, and a IT in teaching this year. She was honoured video might have an educational value that – On the one hand, they learn to col- for her teaching team’s IT solutions for dis- books or lectures can’t attain. Teachers need laborate in a group and, on the other, they tance teaching in Business Studies A and B, to have a flexible approach to communicat- learn to design, plan, and execute on their i.e. the first two full-time terms. Net-based ing with their students, says Simon Ydhag, a own. That’s a little different from course home examinations and Web seminars, multimedia technician at MedfarmDoIT. n labs where you often get a plan for what where students help each other with as- to do. signments anonymously in small groups. Besides training in being researchers, Normally a distance course is considered a Teaching support at the University taking part in this competition has given Uppsala Learning Lab (ULL) success if 30 per cent of students complete team members many other key insights. disseminates knowledge about how IT can it. With the distance versions of Business – I feel highly motivated both in my be used in teaching and research projects and Studies A and B, 70 per cent of students explores the use of new technology in higher studies and for the future. By taking part succeed. education. in this team, I’ve noticed what potential I have inside myself, what potential I have MedfarmDoIT More flexible teaching following graduation, says engineering stu- develops teachers’ skills and enhances student Since these forms of instruction are so learning with the help of IT solutions in dent Anna Gustafsson. n greatly appreciated and successful, they are teaching, like Web lectures and videos. iGEM 2011 now often used in campus-based courses in Team Uppsala didn’t win a prize in iGEM business studies. Division for Development of Teaching and 2011 but are still pleased with what their ef- Learning (PU) – Many students feel that they can more fort. Read more about the contest and Team provides training and competence develop- Uppsala: freely be active and make comments in a ment and initiates and executes educational http://2011.igem.org/Team:Uppsala-Sweden discussion when it’s in an IT setting. In the development projects.

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 27 2011-12-15 11.44 INNOVATION “A patent is just a start”

Albert Mihranyan is the kind of researcher that is constantly making discoveries and does not shy away from applying for patents for them. His hope is to see one of the materials he has invented result in real products.

TEXT: Annette Ulvenholm Wallqvist, PHOTO: Mikael WallERSTEDT

– TO ME AS A RESEARCHER it’s a great grant from the Swedish Institute. The idea privilege to pursue research and moreover was for him to be a visiting researcher for be able to test my products. Applying for a nine months at the Department of Phar- patent is a good way to mark a milestone in macy. Twelve years later, Albert Mihranyan research, says Albert Mihranyan, an associ- is still here. He’s a doctoral candidate in ate professor of nanotechnology and func- galenical pharmacy and now works at the tional materials who has applied for patents Department of Engineering Sciences. for a thickening agent, paper batteries, and cellulose in drug preparation. Prizes are Albert Mihranyan thinks it’s becoming more and more common for researchers to important for your think commercially. Applying for a patent self-confidence. and maybe starting your own company can be a way to advance your research. – I’m a pharmacist who has gone from Above all in applied materials science, pharmacy to working with materials and where it’s easy to see the potential and nanotechnology in a broader perspective, to work closely with physicians and including electrochemistry, he explains. companies. His research career has been garnished – To many researchers it’s not with multiple prizes. For instance, he re- enough simply to get published. Many ceived an award from the king for his re- want to help translate their research search. Most recently he was named one of into a product as well. A patent pro- two recipients of the Oscar Prize, which is vides the protection needed to be awarded to promising young researchers at part of the game, he says. Uppsala University. But anyone wanting to apply for – Prizes are important for your self- a patent has a lot to think about. confidence. They give you confirmation It has to be possible to register the that you’re heading in the right direction, invention and the product can’t which provides energy to go on, says Albert be too complex or expensive to Mihranyan. produce. You also have to be able to manufacture the prod- Alga with good properties uct on a large scale. The basis of the bulk of his research is a – A patent is just a start. You special kind of cellulose found in algae. It’s need a holistic approach, some- called Cladophora glomerata, which causes thing we researchers aren’t algal blooms, for instance. The cellulose in always so used to, says Albert this alga has special properties that Albert Mihranyan. Mihranyan is interested in. His dissertation was devoted to studying how the structure Started as a pharmacist of this cellulose affected drug preparations. Albert Mihranyan started his aca- This resulted in him applying for his first demic career with a pharmacy programme patent. It turned out that algal cellulose in Albert Mihranyan has gone in his home country, Armenia. He came nicotine preparations help make the nico- from pharmacy to materials. to Sweden and Uppsala with the help of a tine more stable, so it lasts longer. This is

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useful in drugs for those wishing to give up smoking. – That got the ball rolling, and one discovery has led to another, says Albert Mihranyan. During the twelve years he’s been working with algal cellulose material he has constantly found new areas of application. For instance, he has found that algal cellulose constructs gels even at very low concentrations. This is knowledge that can be used in the production of medicine, food, Christopher Okhravi, Markus Ånöstam, Gustav Spross and Joanna Murphy. and paint. Most recently he has used his knowledge of the structure of algal cellulose to create environmentally friendly paper batteries, free from any metals. The advantage is that the battery does not need Resourceful students to be recycled, merely incinerated when it’s spent. TEXT: annbritt ryman – Motorola is testing a prototype of the saw chance PHOTO: FANNI OLIN DAHL paper battery in its remote controls.

Not easy to pursue patents How can you use information technology to make the world a better Presently Albert Mihranyan has five or six place? Four young students had an idea that they’re now busy active patents. But it’s not easy to pursue them. It’s a long process that costs a lot of making reality. It’s called Lifemap and is about creating closer con- money and requires considerable marketing tact beween donors and recipients of developmental assistance funds. efforts to attract funding. – It’s hard to develop a patent. I’ve received a great deal of help from UU Inno- it all stARTED in early 2011 when they – Besides developing the system, we vation. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the heard about a competition arranged by Mi- were supposed to produce a 20-minute energy to work with my patents, says Albert crosoft called Imagine Cup. Students from promotional video to show the judges. Mihranyan. n all over the world are invited to come up That’s when we realized we needed more with ideas to help solve one of the global people on our team, says Gustav Spross. problems that the UN is focusing on in its Many business concepts eight Millennium Development Goals. Trying and educational UU Innovation helps researchers at the Uni- – We heard about the competition via They selected fellow student Joanna Murp- versity to apply for patents for inventions that the IT company Avanade in February. They hy and a recent graduate, Markus Ånöstam. are the basis for a good business concept. liked our idea and sponsored us in develop- What followed was an intensive spring, Every year between 80 and 100 research ing our entry, says one of those behind the with all four of them devoting every spare groups contact the division about an idea. effort, Gustav Spross. second to preparations and developmental Between 20 and 40 of them lead to a patent The idea is called Lifemap and is a Web work. Trying, but also educational. It’s not application. It’s important for the application platform for closer contact between donors important that their idea did not place high to be commercially justified. and recipients of assistance funds. You can up in the final field. A patent is often necessary for a companies go in and get an overview of various assis- – It’s really important to put together to dare to invest in an invention. If a research tance projects around the world and get the right team. Among you, you have to finding is released too early instead, it’s not as direct reports on how they’re going from have the skills needed but also the courage commercially interesting for companies to in- people on site. to give your all in realizing the idea, says vest in, since there will be more competitors. At first there were two people with the Gustav Spross. It’s the researcher that owns the invention idea, Gustav and his fellow student Chis- The Lifemap team is now moving on and can make money from it. At the same topher Okhravi. It was very well received with the creation of a company, assisted by time, the researcher’s success enhances the and everyone was ecstatic when they won Drivhuset (The Hothouse), a not-for-prof- name of the University, which in the long the Swedish competition. The two students it organisation financed by the business run can generate resources from industry and were chosen to represent Sweden in the fi- community and state and regional fund- other external financiers. nals that took place in New York last suming. The Website is slated to be launched Source: Patent specialist Gerald Pettersson, UU mer. From 300 000 entries, they were now in early 2012, just one year after the idea Innovation one of 300 finalists. was born. n

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TEXT: Helena Edström PHOTO: Mikael Wallerstedt

Record audience when researchers met young people

Some 60 researchers and students went into town to spread the word about research on Researchers’ Friday. The Main Square was full of activity in the research tent, and at the City Library school classes took turns in experiment workshops, science cafés, and debates.

WHEN Uppsala universitY, for the fourth year in a row, arranged Researchers’ it’s quite frustrating that no one Friday, the audience set a new record. Some seems to be able to explain how great the 1 600 people took part in the activities. A total of about 60 individuals – researchers, risks really are in nature. students, and others – helped spread the word about research. Chemicals prompt commitment − It was a matter of bringing out the joy One more flight up the tone was some- of discovery in children and young people. what more grave. In the Kerstin Ekman In every child there’s a potential researcher, Room there was a debate about chemi- and that’s what we’re trying to elicit, says cals around us. 175 upper-scondary Parts of old skeletons attracted Gunilla Sthyr, project leader for Research- pupils had seen the filmSubmis - many people in the research tent. ers’ Friday. sion in advance, about wide- In the middle of the Main Square there spread chemicals that are was a large tent full of research stations. hazardous to our health Curious onlookers were enticed in to guess and environment and in about skeleton parts, mix perfumes, and many cases wind up in test their health. At the City Library book our blood. The upper- and newspaper readers had to jostle with secondary pupils came school classes that came and went all day to the debate bursting long. In the children’s and young people’s with questions for the department in the basement, preschool panel, which consisted classes could run experiments with apples, of researchers and rep- water, and paper. One flight up, at Café resentatives from the Cardamom, a science café was arranged Swedish Chemicals for lower-secondary pupils. Researcher and Agency and the biochemist Helena Danielson mingled with chemicals in- snacking pupils and answered questions dustry. about diet and exercise. − It’s quite

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frustrating that no one seems to be able to it was useful for the experts to encounter Clinical support for explain how great the risks really are in na- their questions. ture, said Alma Hugosson, in the last year of − We should tap into young people’s 10 years the international programme at Rosendal commitment and thoughts more often. It’s School, following the debate. a field that needs more discussion. I value HOW CAN HEALTHCARE cope with The aim of the debate was to give young these people’s reflexions and deliberations today’s increased demands for evidence- people a chance to ask questions directly highly, said Christina Rudin-Snöbohm based development and better quality? This to experts. And according to one panellist, from the Swedish Chemicals Agency. n was one of the issues discussed when UCR, Uppsala Clinical Research, celebrated its 10th anniversary. In the last decade UCR has grown into an interprofessional and knowledge-intensive collaborative partner to healthcare, authorities, and industry. Here you can get help with clinical testing and healthcare development with the aid of registries and biobanks. UCR was named a National Research Centre for Quality Registries by the Municipalities and County Councils of Sweden. n New insights into US

Erik Åsard, professor of North Ameri- can Studies at Uppsala University, won this year’s Disa Prize for popular writing about academic subjects. He was awarded the prize for providing new insights into American society and problematising con- Lower-secondary pupils discussed diet and exercise with researcher ventional views. Erik Åsard is director of SI- Helena Danielsson. NAS (Swedish Institute for North American Studies). He has written many articles and several books (in Swedish) for a broad audience, in recent years Fuzzy Thinking (2006), on conspiracy theories, Hillary Rodham Clin- ton: A Political Biography (2008), and The Fragile Superpower (2010). n Pär Holmgren honorary doctor

POPULAR METEOROLOGIST Pär Holmgren has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Science and Technology. He completed his licentiate degree at Uppsala University and since then has helped educate Sweden about the atmosphere, weather, and climate in his writing, work as a TV weatherman, and media commitments. Thanks to Pär Holmgren’s Researchers efforts, more scope has been created for Tomas Edvinsson, Researcher Friday easy-to-understand weather presentations Jesper Jacobsson and Researchers’ Friday is part of the EU initiative on TV. He has also paved the way for more Researchers’ Night that was arranged in 28 Hans Karlsson comprehensive factual programmes for experiment with places in Sweden and many other parts of Europe. Read more: both children and adults with a focus on chemistry. http://uppsala.forskarfredag.se weather and climate. n

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Robert Arnell and Malin Ylvén Engman, from Munters in Kista.

Let companies themselves ask the questions. Then have researchers from various fields try to answer them together. This is the formula for AIMday, a meeting form developed at Uppsala University that has become ever more popular in academia. Efficient meetings about companies’ questions

TEXT: Annica Hulth, PHOTO: TEDDY THÖRNLUND

– IF YOU GATHER around a concrete on their operations. Companies like Vatten- others. We’re eager to collaborate with oth- question, you soon get to its core. Meet- fall and Outokumpu were matched with ers and have noticed there’s a great demand ings are truly efficient when you focus on materials scientists with varying specialisa- among other higher education institutions, one problem, says Annika Olsson, project tions. Together the researchers could help says Sara Gredemark, who was recently leader at UU Innovation. the companies move forward. employed by UU Innovation to strengthen She’s been involved from the outset, four The form of meeting was such a suc- and disseminate the AIMday concept. years ago at Ångström Laboratory in Upp- cess that it was branded under the name The latest AIMday Materials at Ång- sala. Meetings were arranged there on the AIMday (Academia Industry Meetingday), ström Laboratory attracted an unusually theme of Materials, and various companies a name now owned by Uppsala University. large number of visitors. Robert Arnell and were invited to ask concrete questions based – This is a tool we want to share with Malin Ylvén Engman from Munters in Kis-

What do you get out of AIMday Materials?

Jan-Åke Henning, from SenseAir: Jöns Hillborn, professor: Claes-Göran Granqvist, professor: – We’ve discussed plastic materials. We – This is a great interface, where I feel I – This provides me with contacts from have an optical construction where we need have something to offer regarding what can industry, and I find out what questions are to improve the stability with new, more high- be done and what can’t. Even if this doesn’t relevant today. This is a fine initiative that performance materials. lead to concrete commissions from companies, arouses great interest from both parties. For – When we sit at home, we only look at I believe they get a lot of help here. this to work you need both commitment and what’s on the market today, but here you look knowledge. We have the right people working outside the box and have a broad perspective. with this! We hope to forge contacts for the future.

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ta were there to discuss sensor technology. – We now include in our strategy that we need to hook up with competence – not all cutting-edge expertise has to be within the company, says Malin Ylvén Engman. The model has also been tried out for discussions of energy issues and cancer. Next year days are planned on the themes of diabetes, ageing, and image analysis. Now there is money set aside for continued studies and project ideas submitted during the day. Even if no concrete collaborations arise directly, the foundation has been laid. – What’s unique about AIMday is its from-the-outside-in perspective. It’s a conversation on equal terms based on openness and activity, says Annika Olsson.

Personal contacts During AIMday there are meetings in small groups of no more than ten participants, with an eye to creating personal contacts and encouraging active participation. – Meetings are what we’re all about. We Time to want the meetings to be small so everyone will shake hands and dare to call each other up afterwards. If you’re attending, we want you to participate in the group, says Sara talk ethics Gredemark. The vision is for the AIMday concept to develop at the national level, and eventu- The Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics (CRB) is launching ally internationally as well. And it’s not only an ethics blog in two versions: one in English that primarily targets in the academic community that there’s researchers and one in Swedish that enables a broader audience to such great interest. The companies at AIM- day Materials also tend to come back year discuss what’s going on in Sweden. after year. This is as good a sign as any that participating has been worth the effort, says TEXT: JOSEPINE FERNOW, PHOTO: MATTON Annika Olsson: – Today companies are swamped with opportunities for courses and seminars. The – WE NEED both TO DISCUSS ethi- blog and will be participating in the discus- difference here is that they determine the cal issues arising from research and health- sion, says Pär Segerdahl. agenda themselves. We know that compa- care and to reflect upon how we talk about Mats G. Hansson is the director of CRB, nies are really pressed for time, as are our them. It’s about ethics in a changeable and the blog was his initiative. researchers. But if they know it’s in their world, and it’s easy for us to get stuck in – Many of our research questions arise in own best interest, they’ll find the time. the past, says Pär Segerdahl, editor of the dialogue with researchers and hospital staff, Those who come here are motivated by ethics blog. and we’ve been thinking for a long time their own interest, nothing else. n Pär Segerdahl writes about both his own about how to share our findings with others. research and that of others. He’s a philoso- – The blogs will serve as a complement Record attendance at AIMday Materials AIMday Materials in October 2011 attracted pher, and in recent years his research has to the meeting places we already have. a record number of visitors: been about the language of apes, animal Here we can convey some of the knowl- 200 participants welfare, and gender, but the research group edge we have, but also the discussions we 41 research teams from CRB brings together broad expertise. have in the research group and with other 106 researchers – We have ethicists, philosophers, and researchers, he says. 9 universities and institutes 24 companies, 50 industry representatives legal scholars, but also physicians, nurses, Visit the blog at www.etikbloggen.crb. 55 workshops during 5 sessions a pharmacist, and a psychologist. Some of uu.se or the English version at: www.eth- 23 support organisations them will be appearing as writers in the icsblog.crb.uu.se n

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In the student nation-based band Wijkmanska Blecket (Wijkman Brass) the main idea is to have fun together. – It’s seen as a bonus that it also sounds great, says the Brass’s ‘‘captain” Markus Cederberg. The band has logged quite a few performances since it started 30 years ago. The nestor of the gang joined back in 1991, which can be seen from his soiled uniform.

TEXT: Annica Hulth, PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT

The number of members has varied throughout the years, and is presently IT’S WEDNESDAY EVENING and, as about 20. Most stick around for a few years usual, rehearsal in the banquet hall at Up- because of they have so much fun. land nation. A merry bunch have seated What makes it fun? themselves with their instruments – saxo- – Actually everything about it is fun. phones, clarinets, and flutes, with banjo and The first time I hear the band, I wondered: drum accompaniment. “what kind of music is that?” but it really The band jumps into a 1920s classic, in sounded great! Some of us have been play- their own rendition, and give it all they’ve ing for a long time, are talented, and knowl- got. There are lots of laughs. edgeable, while others are beginners and The joy of making music has been cen- can get help. There are no demands, but lots tral ever since the band was formed 30 years of ambition! ago. Their characteristic uniforms, basically sailor outfits, have also been part of it all Beginner from Germany these years. Although they’re beginning to One beginner is Benni Langlotz, an ex- get a bit dingy. change student from Munich in Germany – We’re not allowed to launder the uni- who is taking a 3-year programme in hu- forms. Those are the rules, though we are man-computer interaction. allowed to bathe or shower with them on, – I wanted to play in a band and asked says Emelie Perland, a master student in around at the nations. At Upland they said: biotechnology who has been playing here “We have a band where we have fun all the for nearly four years. time and you can join without being able to Showering with your uniform on was in play an instrument.” fact a necessity last summer when the band That sounded great to Benni Langlotz. toured Spain. He now accompanies the band on the banjo – Playing on the square in Seville in 44 and loves the open and relaxed atmosphere. -degree heat – that was an experience. I – The main thing is to have fun when think it’s our heat record, says Markus Ced- you play, because you play better if you’re erberg, a future teacher of history and music. having fun. When you’re having fun, you rehearse more – a virtuous circle! Anniversary recording To Emelie Perland the best thing about During the autumn the band has been cel- playing clarinet in Wijkman Brass is the en- ebrating its 30th anniversary. It’s basically a counter with the audience. wind band, but other instruments turn up – Our coolest gig is on Walpurgis Eve occasionally – such as bagpipes and fiddles. when we play on the steps up to the Uni- The repertoire is older swing and hit music, versity Library. The whole hillside is cov- with occasional forays into odd pieces. ered with students, and the feeling you get – We like to blast The Trooper – an extra just from standing there when everyone’s fun hard rock piece. Once I played a har- so happy… it’s powerful. Or when we play monica solo in that song, Markus recalls at the castle and people dance to our music, Wijkman Brass is usually called Uppsala’s with a smile. applaud, and sing along with the songs. n most colourfully eccentric student band.

34 New HORIzONs 2:2

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 34 2011-12-15 11.44 CULTURE SSON R A L PHOTO: ANNIKA PHOTO: An unusual coin has been found in Opera director Biskopskulla. Unique medieval honorary doctor coin found Stage director Wilhelm Carlsson has been awarded an honorary the archaeological research pro- doctorate from Uppsala University. After two acclaimed opera project “Riksväg Fjärdhundraland” (“Highway Fourth Hundred Land”) has found a unique ductions – Tosca and Otello – at the University, he is well known in coin during a dig in Biskopskulla outside Uppsala’s cultural life. Örsundsbro. This coin is the first that can be clearly tied to a settlement outside TEXT: Annica Hulth, PHoto: Juliana Yondt Sigtuna. It was minted in Sigtuna around 1180-1185. You’re already professor of musical drama- – At the same time we want to break - It’s an incredible find! Not just because turgy. How does it feel to receive an honor- with tradition and find new forms of address. the coin is so unusual, but it supports our ary doctorate? Opera is not something that should be going hypotheses in the research project, says An- – It’s incredibly exciting and gratifying. I on within the confines of fancy gilded frames nika Larsson, from the Department of Ar- feel honoured. I received word on a regular but rather should touch all of us. Opera can chaeology and Ancient History. n day when I was frying some sausages. be very direct in how it hits us, whether What’s it like to direct opera at a uni- you’re 16 or 17 years old or a pensioner. n versity? Medical student – It’s exciting to make contact with an Student of the Year academic environment, with such ancient legacies and traditions. It’s been unbeliev- THE Uppsala student of the able to bring people into this, to open the year is medical student Johan Bengtsson. gateways to the University and invite the The award was conferred in connection with audience in. I feel that I was extremely well the Anders Wall Lecture in the Grand Au- received. ditorium. During his first years in Uppsala – Working together with the conductor Johan Bengtsson studied linguistics. In au- Stefan Karpe and the Royal Academic Or- tumn 2007 he embarked upon the medical chestra has also been rewarding, in the en- R programme. He’s the driving force behind counter between amateur and professional student farce troupe Special Welfare Board musicians. They have an openness in their and is very active in Småland Nation. He way of being an orchestra. It infuses energy. won the prize for being a driving force in Have you encountered any special chal- BÄCKE MATS PHOTO: the broad study and cultural environment lenges? at Uppsala University. “With his versatility – Yes, it’s been interesting to use Uni- and creativity he has managed to combine versity premises and to find correspond- a commitment to education and student ences between the work and the venue. We life with successful studies,” as the award is staged Otello in the University Main Build- worded. ing, which was built the same year the The Uppsala Student of the Year award opera was written. Odd interfaces is presented by the Anders Wall Foundation arise between the work, the venue, Wilhelm Carlsson likes and consists of a scholarship that is worth and traditions. academic settings. SEK 100 000. n

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 35 2011-12-15 11.44 ALUMN

She keeps an eye on state finances

Ann Öberg is an economist who’s got it made. At the Ministry of Finance, she’s right in the thick of things. Her job – to provide a platform for Anders Borg’s finance policy.

TEXT: Annette Ulvenholm Wallqvist PHOTO: Mikael Wallerstedt

36 New HORIzONs 2:2

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 36 2011-12-15 11.45 as head of the Office of Public Finances, I understand there’s so much more to learn, Ann Öberg’s job is to keep tabs on how says Ann Öberg. much money there is in Sweden’s public finances and thereby what scope there is Examinations – a torment for reforms. Ann Öberg grew up in Gävle and started For instance, Ann and her colleagues her economic studies there. As there was no help to calculate what impact reforms have third term of studies available, she moved on income distribution, or if a tax is effec- to Uppsala. tive or not. Since she enjoyed studying, it seemed – Then it’s up to Finance Minister Anders natural to go on to research-level educa- Borg to turn our figures into politics, she says. tion. But that first year, with an exam eve- It’s virtually impossible to describe a ry fourth week, was a torment, says Ann typical workday. No two days are alike. Öberg. But that’s part of the charm, according to – But once I started writing, things were the office head. It’s evident that to enjoy completely different. That was a really en- working at the Ministry of Finance you joyable time, she recalls. have to like to work and be ready to work Her dissertation dealt with tax regula- hard. Long-term projects are mixed with tions for close companies, among other sudden assignments where figures have to things, and it was the first in a series of writ- be dug up owing to some change in the ings about the tax system. outside world. – I had a stimulating relationship with – Our work is largely determined by the my supervisor, Professor Jan Södersten, agendas of politicians and the media. We’re and it was a fun subject to write about. often expected to submit calculations to politicians at extremely short notice, says Challenges provide a kick Ann Öberg. Her first job following her graduation was with the National Institute of Economic Ready to roll up their sleeves Research. She then worked with distribu- She is assisted by seven associates who are tion analyses at the Ministry of Finance, all prepared to roll up their sleeves when followed by a stint with the Swedish Fi- work peaks occur. nancial Policy Council, before returning – I believe everyone who applies for a to the Ministry of Finance to work with job here knows what is expected. You have macro-analyses. After that Ann Öberg she to be both flexible and very interested in got another job at the National Institute of the issues, says Ann Öberg. Economic Research, this time as its direc- When New Horizons meets her, she has tor, and now she’s back at the Ministry of only been working at the ministry for a half Finance for the third time. year. To Ann Öberg the start has been ex- – What I like about working here is that citing and fun, which is largely due to the there are no lulls. The challenges we face financial unrest in the world. give us a kick. – To me as an economist, a financial cri- Both Ann Öberg and her ultimate boss sis is an interesting large-scale experiment. Anders Borg are Uppsala University al- What has happened in the world economy umns. But they don’t talk much about their There’s never a lull at the Ministry of the last few years will go down in history. university days. Finance. Ann Öberg thrives on all the All the models we usually apply become – No, I meet with him for five, ten min- challenges in her job. useless, and we need to find new solutions utes at a time. So we have to stick to what’s and tools. This is extremely stimulating, of going right now, says Ann Öberg. course, she says. She describes the Minister of Finance After upper-secondary school Ann as an extremely competent person with a Öberg chose to study economics, largely capacity she’s never seen before. Regard- Ann Öberg because she was good at mathematics. Dur- less of how large or small a question is to be Age: 37. ing her university studies she soon saw how presented, he’s always involved and knowl- Family: Husband and two girls, 2 and 5. the subject is tied to societal issues. That edgeable. Education: PhD in economics. clinched it for her, and her interest in eco- – This is much appreciated. At the same Spare time: Time with family, exercise, tries to get outdoors. nomics has grown ever stronger. time he demands just as much from us as Hidden talent: Sings well. – The more I learn, the more interested from himself. I find that both inspiring and Favourite nation: Can’t choose. Didn’t hang and stimulated I become. At the same time, edifying, says Ann Öberg. n out at the nations much.

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 37 2011-12-15 11.45 ALUMN ‘‘I wanted knowledge

TEXT: Annica Hulth

PHOTO: DANIEL OHLSSON t in depth” d ste r e ll wa

Patrick Grimlund, host of Lyxfällan on TV3, has long experience of l

coaching and leadership. The theoretical foundation was laid in his mikae doctoral programme in business studies at Uppsala. These studies PHOTO: PHOTO: provided him with his own niche. Petter remembers

P aTRICK Grimlund was a doctoral leadership coach and lecturer. Uppsala years candidate during the years 2007-2011, pur- When the time-consuming TV record- Petter Askegren hosted the recep- suing research on leadership development, ings started, he chose to interrupt his doctor- tion for new students in autumn 2011. executive coaching, and individual execu- al studies. Life went off in another direction. Visiting Uppsala University brought back tive coaching. – The production company contacted memories of his own studies at Uppsala. – I work with these issues and wanted me, and I said yes, largely out of curiosity. I – I love this venerable old environment in-depth theoretical knowledge. Coaching like to try out new things. and had the privilege of having lectures is highly popular today, but what are its ef- both in Uppsala Castle and the University fects and what do you get out of it? Demanding meetings Main Building, says Petter. Today Patrick Grimlund is one of the Though meetings with people in economic He belonged to Stockholm Nation, but advisors on the TV programme Lyxfällan crisis are demanding, and there’s a lot of was never active. On the other hand, he has (The Luxury Trap) and helps people in travelling, Patrick Grimlund nevertheless become familiar with nation life afterwards economic crisis. On the side he works as a enjoys the job. as an artist and thinks students are a fantastic – It’s fun and challenging to see how audience to play to. When he was asked to people’s lives can change in a short period host the reception, he was highly flattered. of time. In one month they’ve completely – It’s a remarkable assignment, and I changed their lifestyle. It’s not just the eco- jumped at the chance. I feel I may be part nomic side we fix. We straighten out a lot of of a trend – that the University is becom- other things as well. ing more modern, while nevertheless re- Before embarking on his doctoral stud- taining its time-honoured traditions and ies he worked as a coach for leaders, ex- festivities. n ecutives, and entrepreneurs. At the back of his mind he had the idea of continuing his studies, so he finally decided to apply for China trip yielded the doctoral programme. – I had been out in the business world many contacts for ten years after my master’s degree in Uppsala university is making major economics, so I had to change my lifestyle commitments to strengthening its contacts completely. I took it as a challenge. It wasn’t with China. In late October “Uppsala Uni- a career move but rather a matter of per- versity Day” was held at Peking University sonal development. and at Fudan University in Shanghai. In Have you found your Uppsala studies connection with this day, two well-attended useful? banquets were held for alumns and friends. – You don’t need a PhD to help people One banquet was at the Swedish embassy with their economy, but everyone benefits in Beijing in collaboration with the alumn from a critical approach and thinking out- association UU Beijing Alumni Chapter. side the box. For my work as a coach I’ve The other banquet was at the Nordic Cen- acquired in-depth knowledge that many tre in Shanghai, with Vice-Chancellor An- people in the business lack. Thanks to my ders Hallberg as host. During the dinner, a doctoral education, I’ve carved out my own foundation was laid for a new local alumn niche. n association for Uppsala University gradu- Patrick Grimlund has found his own niche. ates in Shanghai. n

38 New HORIzONs 2:2

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 38 2011-12-15 11.45 OVERHEARD

A brand new textbook in North Saami has just come out. The book was written by Cecilia Hedlund and Lars-Gunnar Larsson, who for many years have been in charge of teaching the Saami language to beginners at Uppsala University. The book text has been recorded on an accompanying CD. PHOTO: MATTON PHOTO: North Saami – not

Words like “reindeer“ play a just in the mountains very minor role in the book.

the point of departure is a bit dif- words lávvu ‘cot, hut’ and boazu ‘reindeer be confined to a ferent, as a major share of students of the (in general)’ play a very minor role in the narrow domain in Saami language at Uppsala University have book. On the other hand, there are texts a textbook but should no direct background in raising reindeer in about Indian restaurants and Arlanda Air- rather be seen as a natural the core area of the north. Instead, Swe- port. feature of life anywhere in den’s second largest Saami municipality, The very title of the book reveals its goal: Sweden, as the authors see it. Stockholm, has provided Uppsala with a Ii dušše duoddaris! means ‘Not just in the This is the second Saami textbook pub- sizable number of its students. mountains!’ A minority language with en- lished in Uppsala. The first one came out This is mirrored in the contents. The hanced status in today’s Sweden shouldn’t in 1901. n

Dag Hammarskjöld honoured Long-awaited It has now been 50 years since Dag Hammarskjöld perished in Nobel Prize a plane crash near Ndola in what was then Northern Rhodesia there was great joy when the (now Zambia). On the anniversary, September 18, his memory Swedish Academy announced that Tomas was honoured by Jan Eliasson and Crown Princess Victoria, Tranströmer had been awarded the 2011 among others. Nobel Prize for Literature. Among the most joyous was the author Staffan Bergsten, formerly with Uppsala PHOTO: MIKAEL WALLERSTEDT Jan Eliasson, Crown Princess Victoria University. He has known Tomas Tran- and Vice-Chancellor Anders Hallberg. strömer for a long time. In the mid 1970s In a public lecture in the Grand Au- they jointly designed the course ‘‘Creative ditorium Jan Eliasson spoke of his interna- Swedish” at the Department of Literature tional work with the UN, including his role in Uppsala. as special emissary to Darfur in 2006-2008. Last spring Staffan Bergsten published a Jan Eliasson started with the 2005 UN biography, just in time for the poet’s 80th declaration that its work must be based on birthday: Tomas Tranströmer – Portrait of a the three pillars of peace, development, and Poet (in Swedish). human rights. He pointed out their inter- What’s special about his poetry? relatedness and spoke also of Dag Ham- – What people usually point to is his im- marskjöld’s interest in nature and culture as agery. He has a capacity to find images that premises for diplomacy. are perfectly natural, unforced and simple, Crown Princess Victoria was one of the but yet containing something surprising guests at the Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture. and mysterious. He brings out the mystery It is an annual event arranged by the Dag of things, the innermost secrets of being. Hammarskjöld Foundation in collaboration There are no simple answers. n with Uppsala University. n

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 39 2011-12-15 11.45 The last word

PHOTO: HASAN JAMALI, SCANPIX

Li Bennich Björkman, skytte professor of eloquence and political science: Will there now be democracy in the Arab world?

The stubborn resistance of the that such leaders must have had the op- Arab world to the democratic aspirations portunity to be formed outside the state that have more and more characterized apparatus of the dictatorship. What the the surrounding world since the 1970s has authoritarian system looked like, the de- been surprising and perplexing. Through gree of suppression of pluralism, social net- the dramatic events of the spring and au- works, and cultural diversity becomes a key tumn – Mubarak’s fall, Qadaffi’s death, precondition for how well democratisation PHOTO: MARTIN CEIJE elections in Tunisia, developments in Syria will succeed. and Yemen – these countries have joined To achieve something sustainably new, the ranks of democratic ‘‘wannabees.” These what is required is a clearly positive vi- include, since the 1980s, several Latin sion of “who we are“ and “where are we American countries and, since the early headed“; it’s not enough simply to want to 1990s, Central and Eastern Europe and the overturn everything. Nor can such visions former Soviet Union, as well as countries be postponed; when political structures are in Africa and Asia. Revolutions are shaking shaken, the window of opportunity is short. up, tearing down – at least temporarily – old In Eastern Europe it was a matter of a cou- power structures, bringing together people ple of years following the fall of the Berlin in the quest for something different, and Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Un- creating historic opportunities for change. ion. Then new patterns had begun to form, This makes them extremely important. limiting the leeway for radical change. If popular mobilisation, through its The two or three years following in the energy and unity, can temporarily move wake of the Arab Spring will thus be cru- mountains and destroy dictators, it is nev- cial. The scope for political actors – both ertheless well-prepared, relatively unified, old and new – to impact developments and purposeful political leaders who will is now unusually broad. Let us hope that build a future democracy. We learned this political parties with well-reasoned visions from the transformations in Eastern Eu- step forward and carry the revolution on- rope. Transformations there also teach us ward, while the future is still open. n

the two or three years following in the wake of the arab spring will thus be crucial.

40 New HORIzONs 2:2

NH 2.2.11_english.indd 40 2011-12-15 11.45