/A RSS feed provided by Umeå Universityen-usWed, 01 Apr 2026 20:17:42 +0200/en/news/major-investment-in-research-at-umea-university_12168661/From total defense to polar research and AI. The Swedish Research Council recommends that the government invest millions in three strategic research areas in which Umeå University is involved. “This is proof that Umeå University delivers excellent, world-class research,” says Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at Umeå University.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:58:25 +0200<p>&nbsp;The initiative on new Strategic Research Areas (SFOs) is a government programme designed to strengthen and distinguish Swedish research in an increasingly competitive international landscape. The initiative supports research environments that are expected to achieve the highest international standards and contribute to long-term scientific excellence.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/785dd2ed8de7450f95d8824a23a099b4/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/785dd2ed8de7450f95d8824a23a099b4/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/785dd2ed8de7450f95d8824a23a099b4/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/785dd2ed8de7450f95d8824a23a099b4/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/785dd2ed8de7450f95d8824a23a099b4/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/785dd2ed8de7450f95d8824a23a099b4/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>At the end of last year, funding was announced for eight new Strategic Research Areas (SFOs). A total of 49 applications from higher education institutions across the country were submitted. International review panels have carried out an extensive evaluation process, and the Swedish Research Council has now recommended that the government provide additional support to 16 research environments. The final decision rests with the government.</p><p>Among the recommended environments is Ume&aring; University as the main applicant for one &ndash; within the area &lsquo;Crisis Preparedness and Total Defence&rsquo; &ndash; and as a partner institution for two others, in the areas of &lsquo;Polar Research&rsquo; and &lsquo;Health, Life Science and Artificial Intelligence&rsquo;.</p><p>"This announcement is, of course, extremely important for our university. Most importantly, it provides Ume&aring; University with the opportunity to develop and take part in these strong research areas," says Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.&rdquo;<br><br></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2540bd2d-6a1d-42a5-8821-e1875f647617" data-contentname="SFO eng">{}</div>/en/news/major-investment-in-research-at-umea-university_12168661//en/news/arbetslosa-vuxna-barn-okar-foraldrars-depressionsrisk_12168586/Older adults in India have almost 12% higher risk of depression when their adult children are unemployed. A new study from Umeå University shows that unemployment among younger generations increases the risk of poor mental health among parents, particularly in a society where many older adults are both economically and socially dependent on their children.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:06:53 +0200<p>The research is based on extensive data from the Longitudinal Ageing Survey of India, which includes more than 73,000 people aged over 45. The material provides a unique picture of how families are affected when adult children fall out of the labour market.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/adi-lica-ya_xlsiaygq-unsplash13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/adi-lica-ya_xlsiaygq-unsplash13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/adi-lica-ya_xlsiaygq-unsplash13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/adi-lica-ya_xlsiaygq-unsplash13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/adi-lica-ya_xlsiaygq-unsplash13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/adi-lica-ya_xlsiaygq-unsplash13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Two generations in India.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span> Adi Lica, Unsplash</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Strong link between children&rsquo;s unemployment and parents&rsquo; health</h2><p>The researchers show a clear link between adult children&rsquo;s unemployment and deteriorating mental health among parents. When the income of adult children disappears, insecurity also rises for parents, who rely heavily on support from their children in everyday life.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">First-born sons play a particularly important role</h2><p>The study finds that the risk of depression among parents increases markedly when the first-born son loses his job, while the association is considerably weaker when the first-born daughter becomes unemployed. According to the researchers, this reflects cultural norms in India, where sons &ndash; particularly the eldest &ndash; are traditionally expected to carry on the family name and support their parents in later life. These expectations mean that a son&rsquo;s unemployment has greater consequences for parents&rsquo; psychological well-being.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Social participation protect older adults&rsquo; mental health</h2><p>Despite the central role of the family, the study shows that social networks and active social engagement have a clearly protective effect. Older adults who take part in social activities have a lower risk of developing depression, even when their adult children are unemployed. For those with limited social engagement, however, the association is significantly stronger, and the risk of depression rises sharply when adult children lose their jobs.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Greatest strength of association in states with large socioeconomic inequalities</h2><p>In states with wide income disparities, older parents are particularly vulnerable. These areas are often characterised by limited access to essential public services such as education, welfare, and health care. The study shows that older adults living under such conditions have higher depression risk when their adult children becomes unemployed, compared to older adults living in low income inequality states when their adult children becomes unemployed.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/tyago_rishabh2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/tyago_rishabh2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/tyago_rishabh2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/tyago_rishabh2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/tyago_rishabh2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2cf25554425c4c769b6857b13e3a377a/tyago_rishabh2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Rishabh Tyago, postdoc vid Enheten f&ouml;r demografi och &aring;ldrandeforskning</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Silke Schulz</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Our results show how closely interconnected generations in India are, and how vulnerable many older adults become when younger generations lose their foothold in the labour market. Without social participation, the impact is felt directly by older people,&rdquo; says Rishabh Tyagi, postdoc at Centre for Demographic and Aging Research, Ume&aring; University, one of the researchers behind the study.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Key findings</h2><p>&bull; Older parents in India are clearly affected when their adult children are unemployed.<br>&bull; The association is stronger in families where children&rsquo;s economic and social support is crucial to parents&rsquo; security.<br>&bull; Unemployment among first-born sons has a greater association with parents depression risk than unemployment among first-born daughters, partly due to cultural expectations of responsibility.<br>&bull; Older adults who are socially active fare significantly better than those who live more isolated lives.<br>&bull; Large economic disparities between states increase the vulnerability of older parents.</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">Recommendations</h2><p>The researchers recommend strengthening support for young people in the labour market, reducing the substantial income disparities between states, and improving the state&rsquo;s capacity to deliver essential public services such as education, welfare, and health care. These measures are considered central to better protecting the psychological and social well-being of older adults.</p><h2 id="info6" data-magellan-target="info6">More about the article</h2><p>Tyagi, R.,&nbsp;Baranowska-Rataj, A., &amp; Gugushvili, A. (2026).&nbsp;Adult Children&rsquo;s Unemployment and Parental Mental Health in India: Social and Economic Heterogeneity.&nbsp;SSM-Population Health&nbsp;33 (2026) 101905,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827326000078?via%3Dihub">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2026.101905.&nbsp;</a></p><p>The project is part of a larger research project titled &ldquo;The effects of unemployment on health of family members&rdquo;&nbsp;funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under grant agreement No 802631.</p>/en/news/arbetslosa-vuxna-barn-okar-foraldrars-depressionsrisk_12168586//en/news/over-15-per-cent-increase-in-admitted-international-masters-students_12168493/Students around the world have recently received their admissions offers to Swedish universities. Umeå University continues to strengthen its international profile, with more than 15 per cent more students admitted compared with the previous year in the international master’s admission round for studies starting in the autumn.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:59:22 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d089b68f5fc544f092ecc80dc96d4f78/internationella-studenter-_6479-250902-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d089b68f5fc544f092ecc80dc96d4f78/internationella-studenter-_6479-250902-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d089b68f5fc544f092ecc80dc96d4f78/internationella-studenter-_6479-250902-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d089b68f5fc544f092ecc80dc96d4f78/internationella-studenter-_6479-250902-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d089b68f5fc544f092ecc80dc96d4f78/internationella-studenter-_6479-250902-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d089b68f5fc544f092ecc80dc96d4f78/internationella-studenter-_6479-250902-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>1,504 students have been admitted to over 45 international master&rsquo;s programmes at Ume&aring; University for the autumn 2026 semester.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We are looking forward to welcoming all new students in the autumn and we are pleased that so many have chosen a study programme at Ume&aring; University&rdquo;, says Cathrine Norberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Programmes in public health and economics continue to attract strong interest. This autumn, Ume&aring; University is launching two new master&rsquo;s programmes: Bioinformatics and Mathematical Statistics with a specialisation in Financial Engineering.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>Nathaniel Street, programme coordinator of the Master&rsquo;s Programme in Bioinformatics, comments on the new programme:<br>&ldquo;We see strong employment prospects for students in academia, clinical settings, and the biotechnology industry. The programme is designed to equip students with the practical skills these sectors require. It is also encouraging to see such substantial international interest in the very first year the programme is offered.&rdquo;</p><p>At bachelor&rsquo;s level, Ume&aring; University offers three programmes taught in English in the international admissions round: Life Science, International Business and Economics, and Industrial Design. The International Business and Economics programme continues to attract many applicants. The bachelor&rsquo;s programme in Industrial Design is being offered in English for the first time, which has already attracted strong international interest and demonstrates that the initiative meets a growing global demand for creative and sustainable design education.</p><p class="quote-center">Now the work begins to prepare the students for their studies in Ume&aring;.</p><p>Cathrine Norberg continues:<br>&ldquo;It is reassuring that interest has increased for so many of the university's programmes. Overall, we have had 40 per cent more applicants compared with last year. Now the work begins to prepare the students for their studies in Ume&aring;. Among other things, the international students will be invited to a Pre-departure webinar in the spring and will gain access to an app where they can chat with other admitted students who are also starting their studies in the autumn here at the university&rdquo;, says Cathrine Norberg.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="16e5888e-3e08-4604-b48b-f708cb3382fe" data-contentname="Master’s programmes with most number of students admitted autumn 2026">{}</div>/en/news/over-15-per-cent-increase-in-admitted-international-masters-students_12168493//en/news/when-academia-teams-up-with-industry-to-advance-microbiome-science_12168541/Collaborations between academia and industry play an important role in turning research into practical applications. Researcher Chinmay Dwibedi shared insights from his work with BioGaia AB during the recent Open up for Innovation event at Umeå University.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:51:54 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_open_up_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_open_up_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_open_up_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_open_up_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_open_up_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_open_up_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Chinmay Dwibedi is truly committed to ensuring that his research benefits society. He was one of the invited speakers at Open up for Innovation.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Tomas Ruuth</span></div></div><p>The third edition of the conference Open up for Innovation gathered researchers, industry representatives and doctoral students to explore how collaborations across sectors can accelerate scientific progress and generate value for society. The event, organised by Ume&aring; Biotech Incubator (UBI), brought together around 70 researchers and 30 participants from industry, creating a dynamic arena for matchmaking, inspiration and exchange of experiences.</p><p>One of the invited speakers was Chinmay Dwibedi, whose research focuses on understanding human gut microbes at high resolution. His group investigates how bacterial strains evolve, differ functionally and influence human health. The long-term aim is to pave the way for microbiome‑based therapies by identifying how specific microbes contribute to disease, health, and drug responses.</p><p>Chinmay Dwibedi highlighted his collaboration with the probiotic company BioGaia AB, describing the partnership as both constructive and eye-opening.</p><p class="quote-center">This real‑world perspective helps us put our academic findings into a more practical and translational context</p><p>&ldquo;They are a science‑driven company with strong respect for evidence, and very open in sharing their knowledge on strains, manufacturing and efficacy. This real‑world perspective helps us put our academic findings into a more practical and translational context, he says.</p><p>Chinmay Dwibedi was recently awarded funding from the Industrial Doctoral School at Ume&aring; University for a doctoral project in collaboration with BioGaia. He emphasised that academic&ndash;industry collaboration is essential for developing new probiotic concepts, including emerging ideas such as precision probiotics.</p><p>&ldquo;It bridges discovery and application. What we see as exciting science may not always be feasible to translate into products because of cost, production or regulation. Industry brings valuable real‑world insight from clinicians and microbiologists, ensuring new concepts are both scientifically sound and practically relevant.&rdquo;</p><p>Looking ahead, Chinmay Dwibedi sees major potential in personalised microbiome‑based therapies.</p><p>&ldquo;These therapies are not one‑size‑fits‑all. A key opportunity is identifying which one benefits the most. With better clinical trials and integration of microbial, clinical and lifestyle data, we can move toward more targeted and effective interventions.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_mfl_open_up_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_mfl_open_up_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_mfl_open_up_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_mfl_open_up_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_mfl_open_up_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6147537fb6974b109e7818dce850f6a1/chinmay_mfl_open_up_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The Open up for Innovation conference offered Chinmay Dwibedi and all other participants excellent opportunities to network.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Tomas Ruuth</span></div></div><p>He also noted the Open up for Innovation event for its inspiring atmosphere and ambitions.</p><p>&ldquo;It was great to hear about the region&rsquo;s strategic focus on investment and translational science. And it was clearly valuable for doctoral students exploring opportunities beyond academia.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/when-academia-teams-up-with-industry-to-advance-microbiome-science_12168541//en/news/from-network-science-to-a-swedish-championship-bronze-_12168395/Maja Lindström, a PhD student in network science at Umeå University, won a bronze medal in ski mountaineering during the Swedish Championship – despite never having competed in the discipline before. She credits extraordinary support from colleagues and her competitive spirit for her successful foray into a new sport.Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:05:21 +0200<p>At Ume&aring; University,&nbsp;Maja&nbsp;Lindstr&ouml;m can be found at&nbsp;IceLab, the interdisciplinary research environment Integrated Science Lab. &nbsp;She is an&nbsp;industrial PhD student&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Department of Computing Science in collaboration with Sift Lab. Her research focuses on networks&mdash;be they biological, social, or information-based&mdash;and how they are structured and clustered.</p><p>She is not only a researcher, however &ndash; she is also an active sports-loving person. Recently, upon hearing that the Swedish Championship was going to held in Ume&aring;, she decided to try a new sport: ski mountaineering, or &lsquo;skimo&rsquo; as it is also known.</p><h3>An adventurous climb into the unknown</h3><p>Maja enjoys skiing and had previously walked up and skied down mountains for fun, but had never competed in skimo, a relatively new sport which premiered at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 2026. In fact, she only trained once before the competition. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve heard about the sport, but I didn&rsquo;t know exactly how it worked &ndash; there are a lot of rules I had to learn on the same day of the competition.&rdquo;</p><p>Despite the high stakes of a national championship, Maja entered the race with an adventurous, curious spirit.&nbsp;&ldquo;I knew there were professional skiers there and I'm not professional at all when it comes to this. It was just a fun thing to do,&rdquo;&nbsp;she shared.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-82.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-82.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-82.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-82.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-82.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-82.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maja Lindstr&ouml;m, PhD student in the Department of Computing Science and IceLab, works at her desk surrounded by the signs her friends made to support her during the skimo Swedish Championship race.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>The race was quite dramatic, with the top skier, Johanna Gelfgren, losing her ski at the start and winning the race regardless. &ldquo;She was amazing!&rdquo; exclaimed Maja.</p><p>Meanwhile, Maja&nbsp;stayed focused through the exhaustion of the climb and the stress of the technical transitions &ndash; clipping in and out of the skis, removing skins, and racing downhill. After passing the fourth-place skier at the top of the mountain, she realized she was on her way to securing a bronze medal she never expected to get.</p><p>She brought that bronze medal into her workplace in IceLab on Monday and shared her excitement about the medal with her friends and colleagues &ndash; and not just because she had earned a spot on the podium. &ldquo;I was excited to see the medal was engraved by the same person who engraved the Nobel Prize medals. As a scientist, that felt extra special.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab_11.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab_11.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab_11.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab_11.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab_11.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab_11.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maja Lindstr&ouml;m shows her bronze medal to friends and colleagues in IceLab</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><h3>Crucial support from the "loudest contingent" on the mountain</h3><p>Maja&rsquo;s success was fueled by a massive wave of support from her colleagues and friends, many of whom also work in IceLab.&nbsp;Abigail Rec, a postdoc at IceLab, described the group as&nbsp;&ldquo;the loudest and most enthusiastic contingent on the mountain&rdquo;. The team spent three hours crafting signs, including a&nbsp;"Giant Maja"&nbsp;cutout. &nbsp;For Maja, this support was an inspiration that gave her energy before and during the race.</p><p>&ldquo;I saw when they came to the arena with all the signs and that was kind of amazing. It meant so much during the race because I could hear them all the way around - they were screaming so loudly! You can even hear them in the SVT recording.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13c6ca0ec00c463e94a95c7426d52752/majalindstrom_smvecka_icelab-32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maja Lindstr&ouml;m and Abigail Rec pose in front of IceLab's fish tank with some of the signs her friends created to support her during her race.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>Maja indicates that this kind of all-in support is typical of IceLab and its members. She describes IceLab as a collaborative environment where colleagues support each other&mdash;both in research and beyond. Whether it is a national sporting event or helping a colleague move house, Maja emphasizes that the IceLab community is always there for one another.</p><p>She credits this environment with giving her the final push to compete.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think my friends in IceLab definitely helped because they pushed me a little bit... they said, &lsquo;Of course you should do this!'&rdquo;. Her supervisor, Martin Rosvall, who is also a competitive skier, was very supportive of her participation as well.</p><h3>Moving forward in skimo and research</h3><p>The week after the race, she was back at her desk working on network models. When asked if she would enter future skimo competitions, she mentioned that the national team coach contacted her regarding a training camp next winter. &ldquo;It's always fun to try something new,&rdquo; she commented.</p><p>Not one to wait until next winter, she added that she actually skied the day after in another competition&ndash; the Br&auml;ntberget 1H, a one-hour race where participants complete as many rounds up and down Br&auml;ntberget as they can. She did ten laps and came in second &ndash; and her friends came out to support her once more.</p>/en/news/from-network-science-to-a-swedish-championship-bronze-_12168395//en/news/cooperation-key-to-resilient-societies-in-the-north_12167145/Pax Nordica 2026 gathered researchers, policymakers and practitioners in Umeå to discuss total defence and host nation support in northern regions. With perspectives from Ukraine and across the Nordic countries, the forum highlighted how cooperation, preparedness and societal resilience are central to managing crises and strengthening security in an evolving geopolitical landscape.Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:20:34 +0200<p class="quote-center">Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has made the concept of total defence tangible in a new way. It shows how closely intertwined civil and military resilience really are, and why cooperation across sectors and borders is essential.</p><p>The event opened with remarks by Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University, setting the stage for a programme that connected local, regional and international perspectives. A central theme throughout the day was how experiences from Ukraine can inform preparedness and resilience in the Nordic region.</p><p>Pax Nordica 2026 brought together a broad range of voices to examine how total defence can be developed in northern contexts, with a particular focus on host-nation support within the NATO framework. The annual forum, organised by the Department of Political Science at Ume&aring; University together with regional and national partners, has since 1994 provided a platform for dialogue on security and sustainability in Europe&rsquo;s far north.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The Arctic as a strategic logistics hub</h2><p>Early in the programme, Hans Lindberg, City Councillor in Ume&aring;, set the tone by pointing to the growing strategic importance of the Arctic region. He highlighted how northern Sweden is becoming increasingly central for logistics, infrastructure and mobility in a changing security landscape&mdash;placing new demands on preparedness and coordination across sectors and borders.</p><p>This framing underscored a key question for the day: how host nation support can function in practice in a northern context, where distances are vast, infrastructure is critical, and civil and military needs are closely intertwined.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Experiences from Ukraine set the tone</h2><p>Vitalii Bielobrov, Deputy Mayor of Kherson, offered a first-hand account of life under occupation and the challenges of recovery following de-occupation. His testimony illustrated both the human cost of war and the importance of maintaining societal functions under extreme conditions.</p><p>&ldquo;Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has made the concept of total defence tangible in a new way. It shows how closely intertwined civil and military resilience really are, and why cooperation across sectors and borders is essential,&rdquo; says Niklas Eklund, Professor of Political Science at Ume&aring; University, Arctic Six Chair and organiser of Pax Nordica.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Resilience begins in local communities</h2><p>This perspective was echoed by several speakers who emphasised the role of civil society and local communities in building resilience. Veronica Strandh, Associate Professor in Political Science, highlighted how social cohesion and everyday relationships form the foundation of a society&rsquo;s capacity to respond to crisis. Caroline Helmersson from Region V&auml;sterbotten provided a concrete example through the region&rsquo;s work on ensuring healthcare systems can operate in both peace and wartime.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Total defence as a shared responsibility</h2><p>From a military standpoint, Magnus St&aring;hl, Commander of Sweden&rsquo;s Northern Military Region, underlined that total defence begins long before a crisis occurs. He pointed to the importance of functioning, attractive societies in the north and stressed that international cooperation, particularly in light of Sweden and Finland&rsquo;s NATO membership, is essential for effective defence planning.</p><p>Municipal perspectives further reinforced the importance of coordination across levels of governance. Hans Lindberg, City Councillor in Ume&aring;, highlighted the need for stronger cross-border collaboration in the Arctic region. Toralf Heimdal, from Bardu municipality in Norway, illustrated how even smaller municipalities play a significant role, including through cooperation with international military actors.</p><p>Together, the contributions pointed to a shared conclusion: that total defence relies on well-prepared societies in which civil and military actors work seamlessly together. This includes a clear division of responsibilities, access to critical resources, and established cooperation at the local, regional, and national levels in peacetime.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">A strategic discussion for the Arctic</h2><p>As geopolitical tensions continue to shape the Arctic and northern Europe, Pax Nordica 2026 underscored the strategic importance of building resilient societies grounded in cooperation, preparedness and trust. The discussions also highlighted the need for continued dialogue across sectors and borders to ensure that total defence systems are both robust and adaptable in the face of future challenges.</p>/en/news/cooperation-key-to-resilient-societies-in-the-north_12167145//en/news/multi-million-grant-to-mims-and-wcmm_12168064/The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is awarding SEK 255 million to life sciences, with a focus on clinical research, to be shared between the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) at Umeå University. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:18:39 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University. Photo: Mattias Pettersson</p></div></div><p>&ldquo;The two research centres, WCMM and MIMS, are key drivers of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s strong research in the life sciences. This is demonstrated not least by Emmanuelle Charpentier&rsquo;s Nobel Prize in 2020 for the research she conducted during her time at MIMS in Ume&aring;. It is therefore hugely gratifying to see how the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is continuing and stepping up its support for world-leading research in this field,&rdquo; says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University, adding:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>"Expanded opportunities for combined roles for research-active doctors in partnership with the regions will strengthen both the regions and the university, as well as individual doctors, and will enable us to create excellent conditions for innovation and cutting-edge research.&rdquo;</p><h3>Operating grants for Clinical Fellows at WCMM</h3><p>WCMM is to receive SEK 50 million for up to ten operating grants for Clinical Fellows, designed to make it easier for practising doctors to conduct research. In addition, SEK 30 million has been allocated for extension grants for Clinical Fellows and SEK 60 million to Ume&aring; University for the running of WCMM.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/andrei_chabes_lab_2684_230222_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/andrei_chabes_lab_2684_230222_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/andrei_chabes_lab_2684_230222_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/andrei_chabes_lab_2684_230222_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/andrei_chabes_lab_2684_230222_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/andrei_chabes_lab_2684_230222_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Andrei Chabes, Director of WCMM and Professor at the Department of Medical Chemistry and Biophysics. Photo: Mattias Pettersson</p></div></div><p>"WCMM has meant a great deal to Ume&aring; University. Since its launch in 2016, the initiative has enabled us to recruit truly outstanding young researchers in the face of fierce international competition. &ldquo;We are delighted with this continued support from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, which gives us the opportunity to recruit outstanding young clinicians to positions offering excellent terms and good opportunities to develop their own research at Ume&aring; University,&rdquo; says Andrei Chabes, Director of WCMM and Professor at the Department of Medical Chemistry and Biophysics.</p><h3>And for MIMS&nbsp;</h3><p>As regards MIMS, SEK 55 million has been allocated to clinical activities, including Clinical Fellows, and SEK 60 million to other activities.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/billiker_oliver_9193_180905_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/billiker_oliver_9193_180905_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/billiker_oliver_9193_180905_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/billiker_oliver_9193_180905_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/billiker_oliver_9193_180905_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c431c47883c4c18a8e6eb6d973ddfa7/billiker_oliver_9193_180905_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Oliver Billker, Director at MIMS and Professor at Department of Molecular Biology. Photo: Mattias Pettersson</p></div></div><p>"Physician scientists - doctors who also do research - play a uniquely important role in connecting scientific discovery to improvements in patient care. In my experience, many clinical researchers in Sweden&nbsp;&nbsp;find it hard to maintain a dual career as physician scientists, and I hear that many doctors drop out of research due to a high clinical workload and lack of protected research time. Our clinical research fellowships aim to address this challenge by supporting early-career physician scientists at university hospitals across the country," says Oliver Billker, Director at MIMS and Professor at Department of Molecular Biology.</p><p>"We have seen great success with connecting these clinicians to the strong basic research environment of our Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine. It is encouraging to see the long-term commitment of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in supporting these efforts."</p><p>Find out more about MIMS and WCMM on their respective websites:<br><a href="/en/mims/">Visit MIMS website</a><br><a href="~/link/870f428a4f40425eb9bad91f89505343.aspx">Visit WCMM website</a></p>/en/news/multi-million-grant-to-mims-and-wcmm_12168064//en/news/new-research-explores-the-path-toward-negative-emissions_12167975/Can waste-products from forestry and agriculture become a key to reversing climate emissions? A new research project at Umeå University aims to find out. Professor Florian Schmidt at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics has been awarded SEK 12 million from the Swedish Energy Agency to investigate how low‑quality biomass can be combusted in a way that enables efficient carbon dioxide capture – and ideally leads to negative emissions.Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:42:39 +0200<p>The project is carried out in close collaboration with researchers from Lund University, Lule&aring; University of Technology, the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), and several industrial partners.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Over 25 million tonnes of negative emissions</h2><p>Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage or utilization (BECCUS) is identified as one of Sweden&rsquo;s most promising climate solutions. The potential is significant: the technology could deliver more than 25 million tonnes of negative CO₂ emissions per year &ndash; meaning it removes more CO₂ from the atmosphere than it emits (across the biomass lifecycle).</p><p>One of the most interesting methods for BECCUS is so‑called oxy‑fuel combustion, where fuel is burned in pure oxygen instead of air. This produces a flue gas with much higher concentrations of carbon dioxide, making capture, storage or reuse (for example, to produce electrofuels) considerably simpler and more cost‑effective.</p><p class="quote-center">What's unique is that we will explore how the technology could be implemented in Sweden</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Focusing on challenging fuel mixtures</h2><p>The project focuses on fluidized-bed combustion, a technology already widely used in industry and better suited than traditional methods for handling heterogeneous and difficult, ash-rich biomass. By combining fluidized-bed with oxy-fuel combustion, the researchers aim to find ways to utilize rest products from forestry and agriculture&mdash;materials that are currently often too low in quality to be used efficiently.</p><p>Over five years, the researchers will develop advanced models and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations of the complex process to better understand, among other things, how biomass behaves in a carbon dioxide&ndash;rich environment.</p><p>Advanced measurement techniques, such as laser spectroscopy, and detailed material analyses will be employed in laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to validate the simulations and study everything from chemical reactions to ash properties and the purity of the generated carbon dioxide.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">How the technology could fit into Sweden&rsquo;s energy system</h2><p>&ndash; What makes this project unique is that we, in addition to the technical studies, also include systems analyses, where researchers will explore how the technology could be implemented in Sweden under different policy scenarios, what it would cost, and what climate benefits it would provide, says Florian Schmidt, Professor at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.</p><p>The goal is to generate knowledge that enables today&rsquo;s heat and power plants to, in the future, not only produce energy &ndash; but also actively reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or utilized in other processes.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Advancing a more circular bioeconomy</h2><p>If successful, the project could help Sweden take important steps toward a more sustainable and circular bioeconomy, where waste is transformed into energy, while carbon dioxide is captured and kept out of the atmosphere.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">External partners</h2><p>Lund university<br>Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE)<br>Lule&aring; University of Technology<br>Kraftringen Energi AB<br>Ume&aring; Energi AB<br>Valmet AB<br>Smurfit Westrock<br>Billerud AB<br>Bothnia Bioindustries Cluster (BOBIC)<br>Liquid Wind AB</p>/en/news/new-research-explores-the-path-toward-negative-emissions_12167975//en/news/old-crops--new-answers-for-swedens-food-preparedness_12167894/Around thirty participants gathered on 2 March at Tráhppie, the Sámi Cultural House in Umeå, for Arctic Forum Food 2026 - an event that combined research, Indigenous knowledge and hands‑on food traditions. Tráhppie, the low white building beside historic Sävargården, offered a welcoming setting, with participants often stepping outside during breaks to warm themselves by the fire under brilliant early spring sun.Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:32:43 +0100<p>The day opened with keynote presentations. Associate Professor Christina Storm Mienna, Director of V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research, shared insights from the cross‑border project M&aacute;htut, weaving research findings with personal reflections from her life in a reindeer‑herding S&aacute;mi community. Joining online from Australia, Patricia Ann Ellis, a Brinja Yuin elder and cultural knowledge holder, contributed perspectives on cultural stewardship and Indigenous education in navigating crisis situations within a changing climate.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Local Food Perspectives</h2><p>After morning workshops and a shared lunch, the afternoon programme continued with guest speakers who brought the local and global together. Angelika Schindler‑Egl from the Vindel&auml;lven‑Juhtt&aacute;tahkka Biosphere Reserve highlighted how pollination and biodiversity form the ecological foundations of local food systems. The final keynote, Dr. Adrianne Lickers Xavier of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Canada, spoke about Indigenous food security and land connections- drawing parallels to the experiences described earlier by Storm Mienna.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Potluck dinner</h2><p>The event concluded with a lively potluck dinner featuring flavours from across the world and the circumpolar north: reindeer soup, vegan soup, blood dumplings, musk ox sausage from Greenland, honey from the Stavanger Airport runways and more. As darkness fell, participants gathered once more around the fire in the L&aacute;vvu, rounding off a day devoted to knowledge, community and the future of Arctic food&nbsp;</p><p>It was a truly inspiring day, says organiser Danielle Wilde, professor at Ume&aring; Institute of Design and Arctic Six chair. The energy, the generosity in sharing experiences, and the strong commitment to sustainable and culturally grounded futures &ndash; where food, reflection and dialogue intertwine &ndash; made the gathering very special.</p>/en/news/bright-spring-weather-framed-arctic-forum-food-gathering-in-umea_12167195//en/news/umea-will-host-a-major-digital-humanities-conference_12166894/In 2027, Umeå University will host the international DHNB conference, which brings together researchers from across the Nordic and Baltic regions. The theme will be “Human(ities) in the Loop,” highlighting the role of the humanities and humanity at the center of technological development.Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:54:35 +0100<div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="463f3e20-1a41-47b5-917a-a91dd9ea2678" data-contentname="DHNB bildspel">{}</div><p>Last week, a delegation from Humlab, together with two affiliated researchers, participated in the 10th edition of the Digital Humanities in the Nordic and Baltic Countries (DHNB) conference in Aarhus. During the conference, the team presented both papers and posters, and contributed to several discussions on current research in digital humanities (DH).</p><p>At the closing ceremony, Professor Copp&eacute;lie Cocq and Dr. Evelina Liliequist, Deputy Director of Humlab, announced that Humlab has been appointed to host DHNB 2027. The conference will take place on 1&ndash;5 March 2027 at Ume&aring; University.</p><p class="quote-center">We are honored to have the opportunity to welcome the Nordic and Baltic DH community to Ume&aring;.</p><p>The theme for the 2027 conference is <em>Human(ities) in the Loop</em>. It draws on the concept of &ldquo;human in the loop,&rdquo; which highlights the role of humans in AI development, but broadens the perspective to include the importance of the humanities in technological and societal systems.</p><p>&ldquo;Through this theme, we want to emphasize how humans and the humanities play a central role in technological development,&rdquo; said Evelina Liliequist and Copp&eacute;lie Cocq</p><p>The focus is on the loops and structures in which the humanities are inherently embedded, whether before, during, or beyond the age of AI.</p>/en/news/umea-will-host-a-major-digital-humanities-conference_12166894//en/news/canadas-ambassador-visited-umea-university_12166868/Canada’s Ambassador to Sweden, H.E. Robert Sinclair, visited Umeå University on 11–12 March. Over two intensive days, he met with researchers and university leadership to discuss the Arctic in a time marked by rapid geopolitical change, growing climate challenges, and increasing international interest in the region.Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:03:22 +0100<p>The discussions focused on sustainable development, Indigenous perspectives, and the role of research in an Arctic where both Canada and Sweden are advancing their strategies, and where the balance between climate, security, and international cooperation is becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, the visit to Ume&aring; provided a valuable opportunity to explore how research, policy, and international collaboration can contribute to sustainable and resilient societies in the Arctic.</p><p class="quote-center">The Arctic is at the centre of major global transformations. Addressing these challenges requires research, international cooperation, and close dialogue between academia and society.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Arctic Centre &ndash; a hub for interdisciplinary Arctic research</h2><p>At the Arctic Centre, examples of the broad interdisciplinary Arctic research conducted at Ume&aring; University were presented. The presentations ranged from health and register-based medical research to sustainable food systems, education, and reconciliation processes in the Arctic. The discussions also addressed how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital systems are shaping issues of governance, law, and sovereignty in the region, as well as how artistic research, international collaboration, and cultural exchange contribute to understanding the Arctic from a broader societal perspective and global context, at a time when multiple interests are converging on the region.</p><p>&ndash; The Arctic is at the centre of major global transformations. Addressing these challenges requires research, international cooperation, and close dialogue between academia and society. In this, Ume&aring; University plays an important role as a meeting place for knowledge and perspectives from across the Arctic, says Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre.</p><p>During the visit, the work of the European Polar Board (EPB) was also presented. The organisation brings together European actors in polar research. Its Secretariat is hosted at Ume&aring; University, alongside the European Polar Coordination Office, which works to strengthen coordination of European polar research.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Indigenous perspectives and research collaboration in focus at V&aacute;rdduo</h2><p>The second day of the visit began at V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research. Deputy Director Kristina Sehlin MacNeil presented the centre&rsquo;s activities and its role within Ume&aring; University, as well as nationally and internationally. V&aacute;rdduo is the only unit of its kind at a Swedish university and serves as an important hub for S&aacute;mi and other Indigenous research in S&aacute;pmi.</p><p class="quote-center">V&aacute;rdduo has long had successful collaborations with the Canadian Embassy, and we look forward to developing these further.</p><p>Kristina then provided an overview of the research conducted at the centre, followed by in-depth presentations of ongoing projects. Krister Stoor spoke about the work of the Truth Commission for the S&aacute;mi people. Patrik Lantto presented his research on S&aacute;mi political mobilisation, and Peter Sk&ouml;ld described his long-standing experience of scientific collaboration across the Arctic region.</p><p>&ndash; V&aacute;rdduo has long had successful collaborations with the Canadian Embassy, and we look forward to developing these further. Canada has also played an important role, for example in NordForsk&rsquo;s major calls for research projects on Indigenous themes, and we had a valuable discussion on this today, says Kristina Sehlin MacNeil, Deputy Director of V&aacute;rdduo.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Strategic discussions with university leadership</h2><p>During the visit, the Ambassador also met with Ume&aring; University Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Patrik Danielson. A joint lunch brought together Canadian researchers based at the university, providing a concrete illustration of the close academic ties between Canada and Ume&aring; University.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/3f308ab65cd94bdab82aff6e2472f06f/kanadas-ambassador-5108_260312_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3f308ab65cd94bdab82aff6e2472f06f/kanadas-ambassador-5108_260312_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3f308ab65cd94bdab82aff6e2472f06f/kanadas-ambassador-5108_260312_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/3f308ab65cd94bdab82aff6e2472f06f/kanadas-ambassador-5108_260312_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3f308ab65cd94bdab82aff6e2472f06f/kanadas-ambassador-5108_260312_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3f308ab65cd94bdab82aff6e2472f06f/kanadas-ambassador-5108_260312_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Back row: Paul Davis, Professor at Department of Psychology, Luke Laframboise, Doctoral student in Sami studies, Department of Language Studies, Peter Sk&ouml;ld, advisor on Arctic issues to the Vice-Chancellor, Dale Corkery, Staff scientist, Department of Chemistry, Claude Dion, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Jean-Francois Boily, Professor at Department of Chemistry, Insa Wemheuer, analyst, Planning Office, Front row: Maria Stenberg, Trade Commissioner, Canadian Embassy, Maria Grigoratou, Executive Secretary, European Polar Board, Maria Arizaleta, Kempe/WISE postdoctoral fellow, Department of Chemistry, Patrik Danielson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, H.E. Robert Sinclair, Ambassador, Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor, Meghan Lau, Counsellor Political and Public Affairs, Canadian Embassy, Bethany van Guelpen, Professor, consultant (attending) physician at Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Section: Oncology.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Discussions at the lunch centred on experiences of living and working in Sweden, where several participants highlighted how similarities between the countries foster a strong sense of belonging. At the same time, challenges related to migration regulations and mobility were identified, issues with direct implications for international research collaboration and the ability to attract and retain talent.</p><p>In meetings with university leadership, discussions also returned to the role of Arctic research in a changing geopolitical landscape, where science diplomacy, international programmes such as the EU&rsquo;s Horizon Europe, and the interplay between climate and security issues are becoming increasingly important. Overall, the visit underscored both the strength of existing collaborations and the need to further deepen relations between Ume&aring; University and Canada at a time of growing global engagement in the Arctic.</p>/en/news/canadas-ambassador-visited-umea-university_12166868//en/news/experiences-of-sami-and-migrants-to-provide-new-perspectives-on-democracy_12166515/The new research project “Reassembling Democracy in Sweden” aims to offer new perspectives on the challenges facing democracy by studying the experiences and practices of migrants and Sámi people in Sweden.Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:28:44 +0100<p>New perspectives on democracy will be explored in the project &ldquo;<em>Reassembling Democracy in Sweden: Trans-Disciplinary Research on Minority Narratives,</em><br><em>Civic Imagination, and Participatory Futures in Sweden and Beyond</em>.&rdquo; The newly launched project examines the challenges of democratic societies and how democracy can be strengthened by drawing on the experiences of groups that are not fully included in political processes.<br><br>The researchers will work together with migrants and S&aacute;mi communities in Sweden to understand how their experiences and practices relate to prevailing democratic values and norms. The project will use several different methods to study how democracy is created through language and participation. Funding from the Swedish Research Council makes it possible to carry out this extensive and in‑depth study of democratic processes.<br><br><strong>The Project Will Provide Important New Knowledge</strong><br>Kristina Sehlin MacNeil, Associate Professor and Deputy Director at V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research, is part of the project:</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/e98fd48f0bdc414cbf072fdc4e91a72b/sehlin_macneill_kristina_3643_220615_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e98fd48f0bdc414cbf072fdc4e91a72b/sehlin_macneill_kristina_3643_220615_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e98fd48f0bdc414cbf072fdc4e91a72b/sehlin_macneill_kristina_3643_220615_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/e98fd48f0bdc414cbf072fdc4e91a72b/sehlin_macneill_kristina_3643_220615_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e98fd48f0bdc414cbf072fdc4e91a72b/sehlin_macneill_kristina_3643_220615_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e98fd48f0bdc414cbf072fdc4e91a72b/sehlin_macneill_kristina_3643_220615_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Kristina Sehlin MacNeil, Associate Professor and Deputy Director at V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;For my own research, the funding means I can continue developing transdisciplinary methods in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, and that I have the opportunity to work closely with the communities involved. For the research field as a whole, the project provides an important contribution, it highlights how democratic practices are shaped within groups that are often underrepresented, and how their experiences can contribute to more inclusive democratic processes, both in Sweden and internationally.&rdquo;<br><br>In her previous work, Kristina has focused on matters that affect Indigenous communities including power relations, conflicts and participation. She has extensive experience studying how S&aacute;mi and other Indigenous groups navigate power structures despite limited political influence.<br><br>&ldquo;This project connects to themes I have researched before. I&rsquo;m really excited to further develop my work at the intersection of Indigenous studies, migration research, and democracy studies, together with other dedicated researchers from different fields,&rdquo; Kristina says.<br><br><strong>Highlighting Voices and Perspectives Rarely Heard</strong><br>The project builds on a growing body of international research showing that democracy is not static but shaped through people&rsquo;s actions and relationships. The researchers hope to contribute new knowledge by foregrounding the perspectives of S&aacute;mi people and migrants &mdash; two groups whose experiences are often missing from discussions about democracy.<br><br>&ldquo;By working transdisciplinarily and incorporating Indigenous methodologies, the project introduces new ways of understanding democratic processes. It complements and deepens existing research by highlighting voices and forms of knowledge that have traditionally existed outside established democratic institutions and research fields,&rdquo; Kristina explains.<br><br>One of the project&rsquo;s goals is to gather knowledge about how migrants and S&aacute;mi people participate, or are prevented from participating in democratic processes, and to shed light on what changes are needed to create a more inclusive and sustainable democratic society.<br><br>&ldquo;Our hope is that the project will contribute new insights into how democracy is actually practiced in people&rsquo;s everyday lives, and how it can be strengthened by including more voices and perspectives. We also want to contribute to a discussion about democracy as something dynamic and evolving, rather than a fixed set of institutions and rules,&rdquo; Kristina concludes.</p>/en/news/experiences-of-sami-and-migrants-to-provide-new-perspectives-on-democracy_12166515//en/news/how-stroke-outcomes-can-be-predicted_12166757/An unusually rapid and severe outbreak of meningitis is currently spreading in Kent, England, where around twenty people have fallen ill in just one week. Urban Johansson Kostenniemi, infectious disease physician and researcher at Umeå University, studies this type of illness in his daily work and is keeping a close eye on the situation.Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:51:09 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/16def7f7d6ae47818f7e847489f3d7f7/urban_johansson_kostenniemi_-_region_vasterbotten_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/16def7f7d6ae47818f7e847489f3d7f7/urban_johansson_kostenniemi_-_region_vasterbotten_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/16def7f7d6ae47818f7e847489f3d7f7/urban_johansson_kostenniemi_-_region_vasterbotten_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/16def7f7d6ae47818f7e847489f3d7f7/urban_johansson_kostenniemi_-_region_vasterbotten_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/16def7f7d6ae47818f7e847489f3d7f7/urban_johansson_kostenniemi_-_region_vasterbotten_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/16def7f7d6ae47818f7e847489f3d7f7/urban_johansson_kostenniemi_-_region_vasterbotten_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Urban Johansson Kostenniemi, infectious‑disease physician and researcher at Ume&aring; University, describes an outbreak where both the speed of transmission and the severity of disease raise serious concerns, and where early symptoms are easily mistaken for something far more benign.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Region V&auml;sterbotten</span></div></div><p>One of Johansson Kostenniemi&rsquo;s key questions is whether the outbreak has reached its peak or is only just beginning. We asked him a series of follow‑up questions to better understand his view of the situation.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">How serious is the current outbreak in Kent from a medical perspective?</h2><p>&ldquo;The outbreak in Kent is very serious for two reasons: the infection is spreading quickly, and those who fall ill develop severe, life‑threatening disease.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The bacterium <em>Neisseria meningitidis</em> (meningococci) causes two major forms of serious infection: meningitis, where the bacteria attack the brain, and sepsis, where a massive immune response leads to a cytokine storm and life‑threatening organ failure. The risks are significant, one in ten patients dies, and among survivors, long‑term disabilities such as brain injury, epilepsy, memory problems, and reduced concentration are common.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;What is most alarming is how fast it has moved. In just one week, 20 people have developed severe meningococcal disease, two of whom have died, and we may not have seen the end of the outbreak yet. Most of those affected have connections to the local university, which is roughly half the size of Ume&aring; University.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Why do university and upper‑secondary environments get hit so quickly?</h2><p>&ldquo;The bacteria spread through respiratory droplets and through saliva. This means transmission occurs among people who spend time close together in confined spaces, for example, living in cramped student corridors or socializing in crowded nightclubs. Student parties add an additional risk: because saliva is involved, the bacteria can spread when young people kiss or share drinks, e‑cigarettes, or similar items.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;This dual transmission route explains why outbreaks often occur in preschool‑aged children and in young adults aged 15&ndash;25, and why settings ranging from international scout camps and religious gatherings to military conscript groups can be affected. Another factor that accelerates spread is that most people who carry the bacteria never become ill themselves. These "asymptomatic carriers" can unknowingly pass the bacteria on to many others.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Which symptoms are easily misinterpreted and why?</h2><p>"Early symptoms include headache, fatigue, and fever. These resemble everything from influenza or COVID‑19 to a hangover, and are therefore often mistaken for something harmless. It is only when more specific symptoms appear; severe fatigue, neck stiffness, reduced consciousness, or seizures, that it becomes clear something far more serious is happening.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The next challenge is speed: deterioration can happen terrifyingly fast, from the first symptoms to a state beyond rescue in just hours, or at most a day. If you know you've been exposed and develop a fever, you must seek medical care immediately. Otherwise, stay alert for fever combined with headache, and seek care promptly if more severe symptoms occur.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">How quickly must one act with suspected meningitis, and what treatments work best?</h2><p>"The disease can be prevented with vaccines. We have several different vaccines, and they provide up to 90 percent protection against illness. Their high effectiveness makes them a powerful tool during outbreaks and is the reason why people in affected areas are being offered vaccination.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;For individuals who have already been exposed, the vaccine does not take effect quickly enough. Instead, prophylactic antibiotics are given to eliminate the bacteria before disease develops. As a preventive measure, antibiotics are highly effective.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;For those who have already developed meningitis or sepsis, the situation is far more critical. Antibiotics are given intravenously, and patients are often treated in intensive care. Despite maximal efforts, mortality remains high.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">How prepared are Sweden and Swedish universities for similar outbreaks?</h2><p>&ldquo;In Sweden, this disease is very rare, and there is currently no indication that the outbreak in Kent has spread beyond the immediate area. The Public Health Agency of Sweden assesses the risk of spread to Sweden as low, and robust infectious‑disease surveillance systems exist at both national and regional levels.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;We also have experience from previous outbreaks that reached Sweden, during which many individuals were called in for testing, vaccination, and prophylactic antibiotics. In that sense, our preparedness is good. However, awareness of the disease is lower precisely because it is so rare, something that increases the risk of delayed recognition.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">What makes meningitis scientifically fascinating?</h2><p>&ldquo;Bacteria that cause meningitis, meningococci and others, might appear rare, but the opposite is true. About one in ten people carries these bacteria in the nose. Even so, the risk of becoming severely ill is almost zero. However, occasionally, particularly aggressive clones emerge.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;It seems that these bacteria can coexist peacefully with humans for long periods until suddenly something changes. The question is: what triggers that shift?"</p>/en/news/what-is-actually-happening-in-kent-an-infectious-disease-specialist-explains-the-meningitis-outbreak_12166685//en/news/arctic-security-forum-opens-pathways-to-northern-collaboration_12166686/The Arctic region is now of interest to everyone, as what happens there affects the entire world. The region’s potential is intertwined with the challenges posed by climate change and geopolitical tensions, and cooperation among different countries and stakeholders regarding the Arctic is now needed more urgently than ever. The Arctic Security Forum, to be held in Oulu on June 16–17, will help address this need for enhanced cooperation.Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:08:19 +0100<p>Arctic security has had and continues to have profound impact on Nordic and European Arctic. The six Nordic universities (Arctic six) located in the European Arctic, call for an open dialogue and increased cooperation between academia and stakeholders; policy makers, defense forces, cities, communities, and businesses to address the security challenges our region is facing.</p><p>Arctic Security Forum will cover the most pressing Arctic security issues of today, followed by co-creation workshops to establish new cooperation, projects and plans under the main three topics of the forum: total defense, transportation and preparedness in the North.</p><p>Confirmed keynote speakers include Mikko Hautala, Chief Geopolitical &amp; Government Relations Officer, and Chairman, Nokia Defense and Kalle Kankaanp&auml;&auml;, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Finland.</p><p>Matti Latva-aho, Vice Rector for Research at the University of Oulu sees comprehensive security as an important area for research and collaboration. &ldquo;It is an emerging research area in which the role of universities is growing rapidly. We need new collaborations to ensure that the most innovative solutions find their way into society as effectively as possible,&rdquo; Latva-aho says.</p><p>Arctic Security Forum is hosted by University of Oulu as part of the <a href="https://www.arcticsix.org/">Arctic Six Alliance</a> and organised jointly by all Arctic Six universities: Lule&aring; University of Technology, Ume&aring; University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Nord University, the University of Lapland, and the University of Oulu.</p><p>More information and registration on the <a href="https://www.oulu.fi/en/events/arctic-security-forum">Arctic Security Forum event page</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/arctic-security-forum-opens-pathways-to-northern-collaboration_12166686//en/news/researchers-met-highschool-students-during-next-nobel-prize-2026_12166359/Harshit Malhotra has been awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship for his project CHIME-Z, which integrates chemo optogenetics with metabolic engineering to enable precise, light controlled production of value added biochemicals such as next generation biofuels. The fellowship will support Harshit’s research under the supervision of Professor Yaowen Wu, in close collaboration with Professor Anita Sellstedt at the Umeå Plant Science Centre.Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:26:15 +0100<p>When we talk about the future of sustainable biotechnology, few ideas are as transformative as the ability to reprogram living cells with precision. This is the core ambition driving Harshit Malhotra&rsquo;s MSCA‑funded project, CHIME‑Z, which explores how bacteria can be rewired to produce valuable compounds, such as next‑generation biofuels, using cutting‑edge chemo‑optogenetic tools.</p><p>Metabolic engineering has already reshaped our understanding of what microbes can do. Yet, controlling microbial systems with the spatiotemporal precision needed for efficient, industrial‑scale bioproduction remains one of the field&rsquo;s holy grails. By merging advanced chemical biology with optogenetics, Harshit aims to create programmable bacterial platforms capable of generating value‑added products (VAPs) with high efficiency. Such innovation is not only technologically exciting, it arrives at a moment when global sustainability, rising energy demands, and decarbonization strategies are more urgent than ever.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-center">With CHIME‑Z, our goal is to bring unprecedented precision to microbial metabolic engineering, using light and chemistry to switch pathways on and off when and where we need them. This opens the door to cleaner biofuels and smarter bioproduction, and it&rsquo;s a powerful step toward sustainable synthetic biology.</p><h3>Scientific origins: Where the idea began</h3><p>CHIME‑Z is the outcome of a convergence of expertise, experience, and long‑standing scientific curiosity. The foundation was laid at Ume&aring; University, where Professor Yaowen Wu&rsquo;s research group has been pioneering chemo‑optogenetic tools for precise control of cellular processes in living systems. Harshit saw an opportunity:<br>to merge these sophisticated tools with his own background in metabolic engineering.</p><p>Before arriving in Sweden, Harshit completed his PhD under Professor Prashant Phale at IIT‑Bombay, where he engineered Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86^T to degrade the toxic pesticide Carbaryl, a project that gave him experience in reprogramming bacterial metabolism. The conceptual leap was natural: if microbes can be redesigned to degrade pollutants, why not also re‑engineer them to produce sustainable fuels?</p><p>CHIME‑Z was born at this intersection:<br>Wu&rsquo;s precision‑control technologies &times; Harshit&rsquo;s metabolic‑engineering expertise.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-yaowen-260311-dsc04507_sjn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-yaowen-260311-dsc04507_sjn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-yaowen-260311-dsc04507_sjn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-yaowen-260311-dsc04507_sjn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-yaowen-260311-dsc04507_sjn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-yaowen-260311-dsc04507_sjn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><span class="bildPhotografer">&nbsp;Harshit Malhotra and Yaowen Wu. <strong>Image</strong>[Simon J&ouml;nsson]</span></div></div><h3><br>Scientific &amp; societal impact: Why this project matters</h3><p>Harshit envisions CHIME‑Z as both a scientific and societal catalyst. In the near term, the project aims to demonstrate how chemo‑optogenetic systems can be integrated into microbial factories to precisely control metabolic pathways. In the long term, the same technology could shape the future of:</p><ul><li><strong>biofuel production,</strong> helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels</li><li><strong>sustainable chemical manufacturing,</strong> offering greener routes to industrial compounds</li><li><strong>synthetic biology,</strong> by establishing new frameworks for dynamic, light‑controlled metabolic regulation<br>At a moment when climate, energy, and sustainability crises intersect, the ability to generate clean, renewable bio‑based products is not just innovative, it is deeply necessary.</li></ul><h3>A place to grow: Why Ume&aring; University</h3><p>MSCA fellowships are rooted in mobility and researcher development, and Harshit says Ume&aring; University was an ideal destination for both. The university offers a highly supportive environment, state‑of‑the‑art scientific facilities, and a culture that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. Working closely with Professor Yaowen Wu has been central to his project&rsquo;s conceptual evolution, but the institutional ecosystem as a whole &mdash;research infrastructure, collaborative atmosphere, and access to advanced technologies &mdash;will shape every step of his growth as a scientist.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/af50d1cc4bdc4b60931268d998ffd587/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><span class="bildPhotografer">Harshit Malhotra working in Yaowen Wu Lab&nbsp;<strong> Image: </strong>Mattias Pettersson&nbsp;</span></div></div><h3><br>What&rsquo;s next: Collaboration, new skills, and broader horizons</h3><p>One of the most exciting aspects of CHIME‑Z for Harshit is its collaborative nature. These collaborations will not only broaden his scientific expertise but also equip him with specialized skills essential for his long‑term career in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. For Harshit, CHIME‑Z is more than a project, it&rsquo;s a platform for becoming a more versatile, collaborative, and innovative researcher.</p>/en/news/light-controlled-metabolic-engineering-for-a-sustainable-future_12165896//en/news/geneticists-challenge-theory-of-how-cells-retain-their-identity_12165749/One of the most widely accepted models for how cells remember their identity may be incorrect. This is shown in a new study from two research groups at Umeå University. In Science Advances, they present results that overturn a fundamental idea about how the Polycomb system maintains cellular memory.Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:11:19 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/yuri_schwartz_bananflugelabb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/yuri_schwartz_bananflugelabb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/yuri_schwartz_bananflugelabb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/yuri_schwartz_bananflugelabb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/yuri_schwartz_bananflugelabb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/yuri_schwartz_bananflugelabb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>All cells in the body contain the same genes. But in each specific cell type, only certain genes are used. Associate Professor Yuri Schwartz studies the epigenetic processes that determine which genes are silent or active in the body&rsquo;s cells.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p>Polycomb proteins help cells keep certain genes permanently switched off as they divide. In this way, cells are supported in remembering their identity &ndash; for example, ensuring that a skin cell continues to be a skin cell. For more than 20 years, researchers have believed that a specific chemical modification on one of the cell&rsquo;s structural proteins, the histone H2A, plays a key role in this process.</p><p>But the new study from Ume&aring; University shows that this explanation does not hold.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Fruit fly clarifies the effects</h2><p>The fruit fly is a commonly used model organism because its genome is easier to analyze than that of humans. The research team studied a protein in the fruit fly <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> that corresponds to the human PCGF3 protein. They named the gene encoding this protein Siesta. The protein is part of a group of Polycomb‑related complexes that have long been thought to contribute to gene repression.</p><p>&ldquo;We were surprised to see that Siesta is not needed at all to repress developmental genes, even though it accounts for the majority of all H2A modification in the genome,&rdquo; says Yuri Schwartz, Associate Professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University, who led the project.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_bananflugornas_rum_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_bananflugornas_rum_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_bananflugornas_rum_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_bananflugornas_rum_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_bananflugornas_rum_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_bananflugornas_rum_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Staff scientist Tatyana Kahn joined Yuri Schwartz&rsquo;s lab 15 years ago. Research in epigenetics using the fruit fly as a model gives her the constant excitement of making new discoveries.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Simon J&ouml;nsson</span></div></div><p>In mammals, there are six different PCGF proteins with partially overlapping functions, making them difficult to study individually. The fruit fly has only three, providing the researchers with a unique opportunity to distinguish their effects.</p><p>&ldquo;It is precisely the fly&rsquo;s genetic simplicity that made it possible to see what Siesta actually does and does not do,&rdquo; explains first author Tatyana Kahn, Staff Scientist at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Her conclusion is clear:</p><p>&ldquo;Our data show that the modification of H2A is not the general memory mechanism it was long believed to be.&rdquo;</p><p>It is therefore only now, through the fly model, that researchers have been able to show that Siesta complexes do not function as part of the Polycomb system&rsquo;s repressive machinery.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">A completely unexpected function</h2><p>The researchers also made a surprising discovery. When Siesta was absent, the movement of mutant larvae was affected, they became slow and moved in a irregularly manner.</p><p>This has nothing to do with gene repression, suggesting that Siesta has a completely different biological role than the one previously associated with the Polycomb system, the cell&rsquo;s &ldquo;genetic memory.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_dragskapet_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_dragskapet_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_dragskapet_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_dragskapet_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_dragskapet_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/i_dragskapet_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>PhD student Andres Garrido Aparicio works in the fume hood. He is fascinated by the mechanisms that govern epigenetic regulation and how they shape gene expression during cell development.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Simon J&ouml;nsson</span></div></div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Time to redefine</h2><p>The new knowledge has broader implications. Today, all so‑called RING1‑based complexes are grouped together as variants of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1). The researchers argue that this view is misleading.</p><p>&ldquo;Our results show that Siesta complexes do not function as part of the Polycomb system. It is time to update how we define PRC1,&rdquo; says Yuri Schwartz.</p><p>If H2A modification is not central to cellular memory, an important question remains: do Polycomb proteins instead place their chemical marks on entirely different, yet unknown, targets? The study provides new tools for exploring this question and opens the door to rewriting a chapter of cell biology.</p><p>The study was conducted within the research network<a href="https://epicon.nu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Epigenetic Cooperation North, EpiCoN</a>, at Ume&aring; University. This network promotes collaboration and the development of internationally competitive research in epigenetics, chromatin structure, and gene regulation, with applications in both fundamental and clinically relevant problems.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/img_08622.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/img_08622.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/img_08622.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/img_08622.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/img_08622.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/167c49d0704041688082ae68313d232a/img_08622.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Research is often a team effort. Here is the group behind the new study in Science Advances: Professor Jan Larsson, staff scientist Tatyana Kahn, associate professor Yuri Schwartz, staff scientist Maria Kim, and PhD student Andres Garrido Aparicio. Not on the photo are Anastasiya Yushkova, Alexander Glotov and Sweda Sreekumar.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div>/en/news/geneticists-challenge-theory-of-how-cells-retain-their-identity_12165749//en/news/capsule-technology-opens-new-window-into-individual-cells_12164688/Researchers have developed a capsule-based method that makes it possible to analyse the same cell through multiple experimental steps. The technology overcomes a long-standing limitation in cell research and could open new ways to study disease mechanisms at the single-cell level.Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:06 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The capsule-based technology opens up new possibilities for studying individual cells and their genetic material.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Johner Bildbyr&aring; AB</span></div></div><p>In a study published in the scientific journal Science, Visiting Professor Linas Mazutis at Ume&aring; University and his research team present a new technology for analysing individual cells. The method addresses a long-standing technical challenge in cell research: until now, scientists have usually only been able to analyse each cell once, which has made it difficult to study how individual cells change or respond to different experimental conditions.</p><p>&ldquo;All cells are different, and understanding those differences is key to understanding disease,&rdquo; says Linas Mazutis.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Small capsules keep the cells' DNA intact</h2><p>The new technology is based on an innovation that the researchers call semi-permeable capsule technology, using microscopic capsules each containing a single cell. The capsules have a liquid core surrounded by a thin, porous membrane. Small molecules, such as enzymes and chemical reagents, can pass through the membrane, while larger molecules like DNA and RNA are retained inside.</p><p>This makes it possible to analyse hundreds of thousands of individual cells simultaniously using standard laboratory equipment. The single cells can be treated and analysed multiple times without being lost or contaminated, something that has not been possible with earlier droplet-based techniques.</p><p>&ldquo;The capsules combine the speed of microfluidics &ndash; a technology that works with extremely small liquid volumes &ndash; with the flexibility of traditional laboratory workflows,&rdquo; says Linas Mazutis. &ldquo;This makes it possible to carry out advanced molecular biology workflows step by step, while keeping each cell&rsquo;s genetic material isolated.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Easier to identify rare cell types</h2><p>The researchers also show that cells can be kept alive inside the capsules for extended periods, or broken down for genetic analysis. In addition, they introduce a new RNA sequencing approach that makes it easier to identify fragile or rare cell types &ndash; cells that often disappear when using existing methods.</p><p>According to the researchers, the technology is both simple and scalable, making it suitable for widespread use in biological and medical research. In the longer term, it could contribute to deeper insights into how diseases arise at the cellular level and help pave the way for more precise and personalised treatments. For example, researchers could use the method to study how individual cancer cells in the same tumour respond differently to a drug, or to identify rare immune cells that drive disease but are often missed by existing techniques.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9727e99d-5e04-4781-b930-94e540b95454" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/capsule-technology-opens-new-window-into-individual-cells_12164688//en/news/minister-of-culture-presented-with-anthology-analysing-policies-towards-the-sami_12164621/The Swedish Government has appointed a truth commission to survey and examine the policies pursued towards the Sámi. Part of this work includes a research anthology. On 4 March, the Swedish Government, the Sámi Parliament and Sáminuorra were presented with the anthology at an event at Umeå University. “I consider it my responsibility to contribute science-based knowledge to the Commission’s work,” says Charlotta Svonni, doctor of history at Umeå University and one of the researchers.Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:24:41 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4742_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4742_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4742_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4742_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4742_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4742_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sweden&rsquo;s Minister of Culture, Parisa Liljestrand (M), represented the government when she received the first part of the Truth Commission for the Sami People on Thursday, March 4, during a event in the Rotunda at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>The Truth Commission for the S&aacute;mi People is a governmental inquiry. It was established in 2021 by the Swedish Government in response to calls by the S&aacute;mi Parliament and S&aacute;minuorra, the S&aacute;mi national youth organisation in the Swedish part of S&aacute;pmi.</p><p>The purpose of the Commission is to survey the State&rsquo;s policies towards the S&aacute;mi with a historical perspective, analyse the consequences for the S&aacute;mi people and propose measures for redressing wrongs and for supporting a stronger S&aacute;mi society. The inquiry consists of three parts: a research anthology, a volume of testimonials and a final report. The final report will be submitted to the Government on 1 October 2026.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="803f3a77-6e9b-4a69-a8d1-87dd2b30b3df" data-contentname="FACTS: THE ASSIGNMENT">{}</div><p>The Commission&rsquo;s initial work &ndash; the research anthology &ldquo;Marken, vattnet, tankarna &ndash; konsekvenser f&ouml;r samer av svensk politik&rdquo; [Land, Water, Thoughts &ndash; consequences of Swedish policies for the S&aacute;mi] &ndash; was presented on 4 March at a capacity event in the Rotundan at Ume&aring; University.</p><p><a title="To the broadcast" href="https://sanningskommissionen.coeo.events/">The event was also broadcast live and a recording can be watched on the Truth Commission&rsquo;s website.</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The anthology was handed over</h2><p>During the event, Lena Nyberg, chair of the Truth Commission for the S&aacute;mi People, presented the anthology to Parisa Liljestrand (M), Sweden&rsquo;s Minister of Culture, Marianne Gr&aring;ik, President of the S&aacute;mi Parliament, and Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, President of the S&aacute;minuorra youth organisation.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4690_260304_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4690_260304_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4690_260304_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4690_260304_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4690_260304_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4690_260304_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Minister of Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, expressed her gratitude for the contribution and emphasized that she was delighted to receive the research anthology together with the S&aacute;mi Parliament and S&aacute;minuorra. &ldquo;I firmly believe that it is through dialogue and cooperation that we will be able to address and work together on these issues going forward, and that we will also be able to find solutions to difficult questions,&rdquo; she said.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>The Minister of Culture thanked the researchers for their work and said that she now looks forward to reading and reflecting on the anthology in its entirety.</p><p>&ldquo;I believe that the knowledge of the past together with the knowledge of the here and now are important for our continued work to create the future that we all want to see. This research anthology lays a solid foundation for the next step in this work,&rdquo; says Parisa Liljestrand.</p><p>The S&aacute;mi Parliament and S&aacute;minuorra also see great value in the anthology.</p><p>&ldquo;Together, these different parts form an important and difficult document. It is important because knowledge empowers us; it is difficult because the knowledge that has been produced about us has all too often been created without us and sometimes against us,&rdquo; says Marianne Gr&aring;ik.</p><p>&ldquo;The Sami community has extremely high expectations for what is being begun here with the work of the Truth Commission.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4785_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4785_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4785_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4785_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4785_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4785_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Marianne Gr&aring;ik, President of the S&aacute;mi Parliament, said that the Sami people have sky-high expectations of the truth commission. &ldquo;From the submission of the final report, it is the state&rsquo;s responsibility to show how its relationship with its indigenous people will change. We in the Sami community have waited a long time and we expect changes that affect all Sami people. We in the Sami community are ready to contribute, not as objects but as equal partners in the work ahead," she said.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>S&aacute;minuorra has worked with the question of a truth commission for nearly 20 years. President Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen sees the initial step of presenting the research anthology as a historic milestone.</p><p>&ldquo;At S&aacute;minuorra, we have very high expectations. We hope that this work can lay the foundation for a new policy &ndash; a policy based on recognition, justice and respect.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4825_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4825_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4825_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4825_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4825_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4825_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, President of the S&aacute;minuorra, called the day historic. She agrees with the Minister of Culture, but wanted to emphasize the government's responsibility. &ldquo;I agree with the minister that dialogue and cooperation are important and something that should permeate the work. But it is also the responsibility of the state that needs to be prioritized,&rdquo; she says.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">The research anthology also identifies the need to earmark more resources for research related to the situation of the S&aacute;mi and their history and knowledge.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">More research is needed</h2><p>The research anthology has 36 chapters covering around 20 different subject areas, including land and water rights, state control and the exercise of authority, language policy, the impacts of racial biology, and historical and contemporary forms of discrimination. This is broad and interdisciplinary research that both explains the background to the current situation for the S&aacute;mi and highlights the long-term consequences of state policies.</p><p>Lena Nyberg emphasises that it is clear for the Truth Commission that much more knowledge is needed in many areas relating to S&aacute;mi history and S&aacute;mi experiences and their relationship with nature and the land, but also with such areas as language and culture.</p><p>&ldquo;The research anthology also identifies the need to earmark more resources for research related to the situation of the S&aacute;mi and their history and knowledge. Lack of knowledge about the S&aacute;mi as Sweden&rsquo;s indigenous people is a serious problem. This ignorance has a history of hundreds of years and leads to racism, exclusion and, even worse, increasing threats of violence and hatred. Gaining better insights and understanding of the situation is important when trying to address exclusion and alienation.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4663_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4663_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4663_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4663_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4663_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4663_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lena Nyberg, chair of the Truth Commission for the S&aacute;mi People, hands over the first part of the Truth Commission's report to Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, President of the S&aacute;minuorra, and Marianne Gr&aring;ik, President of the S&aacute;mi Parliament. Several media covered the event. <span class="photo" style="color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Image</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Mattias Pettersson</span></p></div></div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4775c15e-4cca-4057-b63c-0d7a12cc7364" data-contentname="FACTS: RESEARCH ANTHOLOGY">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Researchers on their chapters</h2><p>During the event, 6 of the approximately 50 researchers who contributed to the anthology presented their chapters. One was Gudrun Norstedt, a historian at V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research at Ume&aring; University. Her research looks at S&aacute;mi use of land and resources in earlier times.</p><p>Her contribution to the anthology focuses on how S&aacute;mi land rights were treated in Swedish courts before the 19th century. These insights are useful for understanding the current situation.</p><p>&ldquo;I chose to participate in the anthology because my area of expertise, historical S&aacute;mi land use, is important in understanding current conflicts over land and water use,&rdquo; says Norstedt.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4890_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4890_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4890_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4890_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4890_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4890_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Gudrun Norstedt, historian at Ume&aring; University, spoke about her chapter &ldquo;Rights before the law: the Swedish judicial system's treatment of Sami rights to land and water before 1800.&rdquo;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Also present was Charlotta Svonni, doctor of history specialised in educational sciences with a focus on S&aacute;mi education. Svonni is also part of V&aacute;rdduo.</p><p>&ldquo;I consider it my responsibility to contribute science-based knowledge to the Commission&rsquo;s work. By compiling science-based analyses, the anthology can clarify structures and patterns that are not always visible in individual narratives but that are crucial for understanding the long-term consequences of policies.&rdquo;</p><p class="quote-center">I hope that the research anthology will contribute to a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how governmental decisions and education policy reforms have impacted the S&aacute;mi people over time.</p><p>Her contribution deals with education, which has played a central role for the S&aacute;mi people. In addition to the basic mission of the school system, that is, providing knowledge on various subjects, the nomad and S&aacute;mi schools have also taught ideas about what S&aacute;mi identity is and what role the S&aacute;mi have in society. There has, however, been a drastic decrease in the number of curriculums specifically focused on S&aacute;mi education; today only one curriculum is used and it concerns S&aacute;mi languages.</p><p>&ldquo;I hope that the research anthology will contribute to a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how governmental decisions and education policy reforms have impacted the S&aacute;mi people over time,&rdquo; says Svonni. &ldquo;In a broader perspective, I hope that the entire work of the Truth Commission will contribute to a knowledge-based recognition of the State&rsquo;s responsibility and create a basis for long-term changes and increased S&aacute;mi self-determination in S&aacute;mi issues.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4951_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4951_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4951_260304_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4951_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4951_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9b048b2409a34c139292952359ac71c7/sanningskommissionen-4951_260304_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Charlotta Svonni, Doctor of History at Ume&aring; University, spoke about her chapter &ldquo;What the state wanted to teach the Sami people 1956&ndash;2011.&rdquo;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>As noted, the research anthology is the initial part of the Commission&rsquo;s work. This autumn, a volume of testimonials will be published in which 300 S&aacute;mi from different parts of the country have shared their own and their ancestors&rsquo; experiences of being S&aacute;mi in Sweden. The final report will be submitted in September and the Truth Commission for the S&aacute;mi People will conclude by 1 October.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Panel discussion at Bildmuseet</h2><p>The modern art museum Bildmuseet is part of Ume&aring; University and currently has an exhibition produced to draw attention to the Truth Commission. On the afternoon of 4 March, a panel discussion was held on the role of art in formulating personal and collective truths connected to the work of truth commissions.</p><p>The panel included Anneli B&auml;ckman, curator, Gunl&ouml;g Fur, member of the Truth Commission for the S&aacute;mi People, Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen from S&aacute;minuorra, and Monica L Edmondson, artist. The moderator was Moa Sandstr&ouml;m.</p><p><a title="Truth commissions website" href="https://sanningskommissionensamer.se/panelsamtal-pa-bildmuseet/">A recording of the event can be watched on the Truth Commission&rsquo;s website.</a></p><p><a title="Bildmuseet website" href="~/link/a0d615623f6947db906f844a4c9c9ab7.aspx">Read more about the exhibition Art and Truth-Telling on Bildmuseet&rsquo;s website.</a></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="eed9ce9b-a6b8-418e-8326-2c320205638a" data-contentname="alla forskare">{}</div>/en/news/minister-of-culture-presented-with-anthology-analysing-policies-towards-the-sami_12164621//en/news/swedpop-launches-new-version_12164470/SwedPop, the national research infrastructure for historical population data, is now launching version 4 of its database. Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:09:37 +0100<p>SwedPop, the national research infrastructure for historical population data, is now launching version 4 of its database. At the same time, a completely new version of the website swedpop.se is being released to give users a more modern, clearer, and more accessible entry point to the infrastructure.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fc29160eb9464535ac20ba317b08bd2c/swedpop5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc29160eb9464535ac20ba317b08bd2c/swedpop5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc29160eb9464535ac20ba317b08bd2c/swedpop5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/fc29160eb9464535ac20ba317b08bd2c/swedpop5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc29160eb9464535ac20ba317b08bd2c/swedpop5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc29160eb9464535ac20ba317b08bd2c/swedpop5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div></div><p>SwedPop provides harmonized individual-level population data from several of Sweden&rsquo;s largest and most important historical databases. Users can download desired datasets free of charge through the open extraction tool and select both variables and formats.<br><br>SwedPop now offers open data from six of Sweden&rsquo;s largest databases for historical population data, covering the period from the 17th century to the early 20th century. The national infrastructure is managed and made available by CEDAR at Ume&aring; University.<br><br><strong>Larger database &ndash; more parishes, longer time periods, and new variables</strong><br>In the new version, SwedPop&rsquo;s database has been expanded. Among the updates are more parishes and longer time periods in several of the included databases, as well as new variables, including information on income and taxation in the Rotemannen database for the City of Stockholm (1880 and 1890) and for Skellefte&aring; city parish. The Swdish Death Index has also been extended by an additional 35 years and now includes all deceased individuals from 1831&ndash;2024.<br>&nbsp;<br>Another important update is that the ICD10h codes for historical causes of death have been revised and supplemented with standardized cause-of-death categories, making comparisons over time and between databases easier.<br><br><strong>Greater opportunities for research</strong><br>The expanded database gives researchers and other users new possibilities for more detailed research questions, deeper analyses over longer time periods, and easier comparisons between different regions and population groups.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Upcoming updates in 2026</h2><p>Several new features will be launched during the year to further improve accessibility:</p><p><strong>New application form for personal data</strong><br>A new digital form will open in the spring, allowing researchers to apply for data containing personal information that is not available through the open extraction tool. After an approval process in accordance with current legislation, the data can be released for research purposes. This replaces previous manual routines and represents a significant improvement in accessibility.</p><p><strong>The 1950 Census becomes available</strong><br>SwedPop has acquired the 1950 Census, which has now been harmonized according to SwedPop standards. Later in the year, it will be possible to request this data through the new application form.</p><p><strong>Individual links &ndash; a major future improvement</strong><br>Until now, individuals have not been linked across different databases, which has made longitudinal studies more difficult. In 2026, SwedPop will make available individual links between the censuses and between the longitudinal databases and the censuses. This will significantly increase the research value of the database.<br><br><br><strong>Looking ahead &ndash; SwedPop version 5 coming in 2027</strong><br>In spring 2027, version 5 of SwedPop data will be launched. It will include EMIWEB, a database containing information about migrants during the period 1850&ndash;1920.<br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/swedpop-launches-new-version_12164470//en/news/kbc-stafetten-2026--snow-in-the-face-teamwork-and-high-spirit_12164639/The annual KBC cross-country skiing relay took place last week, bringing together 20 four-member teams—including three impressive “battleship” quartets racing on a single pair of long skis equipped with four bindings. The event has grown into a winter celebration that blends sport, creativity, and community spirit, drawing colleagues from across campus to ski, cheer, and enjoy the snowy season together.Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:04:36 +0100<p><em>See video from the event at the end of the article.</em></p><p>KBC Stafetten has become one of the most joyful late‑winter traditions on campus, traditionally held during the last week of February in the hope of catching the snow before it begins to melt. This year, around 80 skiers took to the tracks, ranging from keen ski enthusiasts to international colleagues rediscovering skis for the first time since childhood&mdash;or even trying cross-country skiing for the very first time. And, of course, the top racers who flew across the course with impressive speed.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_0947152.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_0947152.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_0947152.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_0947152.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_0947152.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_0947152.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>&ldquo;Battleship&rdquo; teams getting ready for the race.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p>As the saying goes, &ldquo;there&rsquo;s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing&rdquo;&mdash;and our teams certainly proved it. With reliable ski gear, creative costumes, and plenty of good humour, participants embraced everything from sticky snow on the tracks to fresh snow hitting them head‑on. While the conditions slowed the pace, they did nothing to dampen the spirits along the trail.</p><p>The team from SLU, &ldquo;<strong>Motion&auml;rerna</strong>&rdquo;, delivered the fastest time of 15:52 and claimed first place. &ldquo;<strong>BrutAhlgrens</strong>&rdquo; followed just ten seconds behind to secure second place, while long-standing favourites &ldquo;<strong>Sn&ouml;kanonerna</strong>&rdquo; finished in third.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6c5b2752-5cce-4283-9eb6-fea1e89be015" data-contentname="KBC Stafetten 2026_image2">{}</div><p>The &ldquo;Slagskepp&rdquo;, or &ldquo;battleship&rdquo; race (four skiers on one pair of skis) delivered its own memorable moments. The quartet &ldquo;<strong>Incoherent skiers</strong>&rdquo; from the Department of Physics captured a decisive victory, while IceLab&rsquo;s teams, <strong>Ski Terror</strong> and <strong>Mighty Ducks</strong>, took second and third place, respectively. All three teams showed that in this race, teamwork is the only way forward&mdash;literally.</p><p>The UPSC team, &ldquo;<strong>Out for season, in for gold</strong>&rdquo;, may not have taken home the gold medal, but they certainly won the hearts of spectators with their sports-themed costumes and fearless approach to the Swedish winter. They were awarded the main prize, &ldquo;Best Team in Show&rdquo;, supported by the Ume&aring; University Innovation Office.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_104028.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_104028.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_104028.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_104028.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_104028.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2383af05aefb48718bb3a77c78425aa5/img_20260226_104028.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The spirited &ldquo;Out for season, in for gold&rdquo; team - Sam Cook, Mark&eacute;ta Buderov&aacute;, Sarah Mermet, Sonja Viljamaa - collecting their &ldquo;Best Team in Show&rdquo; award.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p>We look forward to the continued tradition at KBC Stafetten 2027 and hope to see many familiar and new faces there!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Learn more about <a href="~/link/7a8e920df7dd4ecaab7453507aaffd0d.aspx">KBC Stafetten 2026</a>.</p><p>Check results: <a href="https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=422632" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=422632</a></p><p><em>Watch the video below to relive some highlights from KBC Stafetten 2026!</em></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="1586a2f6-51ad-4895-bc0b-45ba2e6c88fa" data-contentname="KBC Stafetten 2026">{}</div>/en/news/kbc-stafetten-2026--snow-in-the-face-teamwork-and-high-spirit_12164639//en/news/virginia-dignum-we-need-a-more-mature-conversation-about-ai_12164480/In her new book The AI Paradox, Virginia Dignum, Professor of Responsible AI at Umeå University, calls for a more nuanced public conversation about artificial intelligence. The book was published in February and has already received international attention.Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:55:43 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fc14043ee6b04b81a2d9f39a69f3c1e0/dignum-virginia-7942-240620-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc14043ee6b04b81a2d9f39a69f3c1e0/dignum-virginia-7942-240620-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc14043ee6b04b81a2d9f39a69f3c1e0/dignum-virginia-7942-240620-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/fc14043ee6b04b81a2d9f39a69f3c1e0/dignum-virginia-7942-240620-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc14043ee6b04b81a2d9f39a69f3c1e0/dignum-virginia-7942-240620-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc14043ee6b04b81a2d9f39a69f3c1e0/dignum-virginia-7942-240620-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Virginia Dignum is Professor of Responsible AI at Ume&aring; University and the author of the book <em>The AI Paradox</em>.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Virginia Dignum is one of the world&rsquo;s leading researchers in responsible AI and a prominent voice in international discussions on how artificial intelligence affects society, including interviews in <em>The Guardian</em>.</p><p>She has worked in AI since the 1980s, when the field was still relatively small. Today, she notes, AI shapes everything from education and healthcare to government, warfare and everyday life.</p><p>In the public debate, AI is often framed either as a solution to almost any problem or as an uncontrollable threat. According to Virginia Dignum both narratives are misleading.</p><p class="quote-center">The real question is not what AI will do to us, but what we choose to do with it</p><p>&ldquo;I wrote <em>The AI Paradox</em> because we urgently need a more mature conversation. AI is not inevitable. It is a choice, a human-made system embedded in society. The real question is not what AI will do to us, but what we choose to do with it,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">AI is never neutral</h2><p>The biggest misunderstanding about AI, Dignum argues, is that AI is either autonomous magic or pure objectivity.</p><p>&ldquo;Many people assume AI systems are neutral because they are computational. But AI reflects human choices: what data is collected, whose interests are prioritised, which objectives are optimised and which trade‑offs are accepted. There is nothing neutral about those decisions.&rdquo;</p><p>While AI systems are already outperforming humans in specific tasks, Dignum stresses that this should not be confused with human intelligence as a whole.</p><p>&ldquo;AI can replace tasks. It cannot replace being human. Machines can analyse images faster than radiologists in certain contexts. They can draft texts and optimise logistics. But humans integrate social understanding, ethical judgement, creativity, responsibility and lived experience in ways that are deeply interconnected.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Depth become scarce</h2><p>Writing a book about AI at a time when AI can generate text quickly is a paradox that Virginia Dignum has deliberately made part of the point.</p><p>&ldquo;In many ways, the rise of generative AI makes human authorship more important, not less. When text becomes abundant, depth becomes scarce &ndash; and therefore valuable.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a5482354-483d-48d0-a9ce-3fbd54aa5c40" data-contentname="Facts">{}</div><p>According to Virginia Dignum, universities have a particular responsibility in the development of AI. It goes beyond producing better algorithms or training AI engineers.</p><p>&ldquo;Universities should go back to what we are supposed to be: spaces for critical thinking, places where we learn not just what to think, but how to think. If universities become mere transmission belts for skills and innovation pipelines, they will fail in their democratic function. Their true role is to cultivate judgment, responsibility, and intellectual courage &ndash; qualities that are indispensable in an AI-driven society.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">The future of AI &ndash; a collective responsibility</h2><p><em>The AI Paradox</em> was published on 17 February and has been discussed internationally, including coverage in the prestigious magazine <em>The Atlantic</em>. In Ume&aring;, the book is available at Bildmuseet, where Virginia Dignum will give a public talk on 26 April followed by a book signing.</p><p>Her wish is that people, after reading the book, will feel agency rather than unquestioned optimism or paralysing fear.</p><p>&ldquo;I want them to see that AI is not an unstoppable external force. It is shaped by incentives, regulation, power structures and public choices. That means it can be shaped differently. The future of AI is not written in code alone. It is written in governance, participation and collective responsibility. We decide it. Together,&rdquo; says Virginia Dignum.</p><p><a href="https://www.bildmuseet.91��ý����/en/events/guest-tour-the-paradow-of-ai-with-virginia-dignum_12154992/">Guest Tour at Bildmuseet 26 April: The Paradox of AI with Virginia Dignum</a></p>/en/news/virginia-dignum-we-need-a-more-mature-conversation-about-ai_12164480//en/news/umea-universitys-new-vision-knowledge-and-innovation-in-focus_12164134/A university in a modern society that takes responsibility for the future and is internationally recognised for quality, impact and attractiveness. This is how Umeå University wants to meet the major global challenges of our time.  Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:13:02 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/visionsbild_1_v4_liggande_ppt_fargglad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/visionsbild_1_v4_liggande_ppt_fargglad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/visionsbild_1_v4_liggande_ppt_fargglad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/visionsbild_1_v4_liggande_ppt_fargglad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/visionsbild_1_v4_liggande_ppt_fargglad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/visionsbild_1_v4_liggande_ppt_fargglad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The vision: By 2035, Ume&aring; University will be internationally recognised for its quality, impact and attractiveness.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span> Ida &Aring;berg</span></div></div><p>The climate crisis, a difficult international security situation, shifting politics and new demands from employers and students affect how the University needs to develop to meet the future. At the same time, there are opportunities for improving the quality of education, increasing collaboration with third-parties and making the University even more relevant and attractive for students, staff and partners. <br><br>&ldquo;In a time of major societal challenges, it is more important than ever for the University to take more responsibility and contribute knowledge,&nbsp;perspective&nbsp;and determination &ndash; locally,&nbsp;nationally&nbsp;and globally. The new vision highlights our role as a hub of development where northern Sweden is seen as an attractive place for developing&nbsp;new ideas&nbsp;that lead to more research breakthroughs and innovations,&rdquo; says&nbsp;Tora&nbsp;Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor. </p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>The vision stakes out the path for the University&rsquo;s development through 2035 and is intended to make Ume&aring; University one of Sweden&rsquo;s leading institutions of higher education and internationally recognised for quality, impact and attractiveness. </p><p>The University will also provide important perspectives and solutions to the societal challenges of our time from our position in Northern Europe.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Enthusiasm and pride &nbsp;</h2><p>The work with developing the vision has been ongoing since autumn 2025 with the support of a working committee led by project manager Mikael Elofsson, Professor at the Department of Chemistry. <br><br>&ldquo;The enthusiasm out in the organisation has been great, which says something about the power of the finalised vision. It increases the potential that students,&nbsp;employees&nbsp;and partners experience the vision as meaningful and feel pride in being a part of it,&rdquo; says&nbsp;Mikael&nbsp;Elofsson. </p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/elofsson_mikael_0442_210615_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/elofsson_mikael_0442_210615_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/elofsson_mikael_0442_210615_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/elofsson_mikael_0442_210615_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/elofsson_mikael_0442_210615_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1f3b2be9d2f4421d911bf4bff90b74b3/elofsson_mikael_0442_210615_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mikael Elofsson, Professor at the Department of Chemistry. </p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div></div><p>Through dialogue with employees and students, workshops, and discussions in various forums,&nbsp;the working committee&nbsp;has collected perspectives and ideas from throughout the organisation. These dialogues form the basis for and have shaped the vision as adopted by the University Board in February 2026.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Strategies for realising the vision &nbsp;</h2><p>The vision also includes a number of strategies that describe how the University will act concretely as it works toward 2035. These strategies describe how Ume&aring; University will use its breadth to achieve excellence, such as through strong national and international research collaborations, prioritised research areas and cutting-edge education for students from around the world.</p><p>Through attractive research and educational environments, clear career paths, modern infrastructure and a unique culture of collaboration, Ume&aring; University will create the conditions for achieving excellence, innovation and lifelong learning. At the same time, the University must take clear societal responsibility by being a regional development engine, strengthening the innovative power of research and safeguarding democracy, academic freedom and critical thinking.&nbsp;</p><p>Discover the<a href="~/link/83c4db31e92d4c85b97a304cf6777ad9.aspx"> Vision for Ume&aring; University.</a></p>/en/news/umea-universitys-new-vision-knowledge-and-innovation-in-focus_12164134//en/news/can-public-procurement-make-food-more-local_12164114/On 24 February, researchers and societal stakeholders convened in Umeå to explore how public procurement can be strategically leveraged to create more sustainable, resilient, and locally rooted meal systems. Drawing on perspectives from Canada and Sweden, the seminar examined the influence of public sector purchasing decisions on health, regional development, and environmental outcomes throughout the entire food supply chain.Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:04:17 +0100<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Public Procurement as a Lever for System Change</h2><p>The seminar <em>Can we make it local? The Challenges of Public Meal Procurement in Canada and Sweden</em> was organised by the Arctic Six Chair in Sustainable Food Transitions at the Arctic Centre, in collaboration with NorthFood, and hosted by the Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science.</p><p>Opening the seminar, Professor Armando Perez-Cueto emphasised that public procurement should not be seen as an administrative function, but as a strategic policy instrument:</p><p>&ldquo;Public procurement is a powerful lever in the food system. The choices made here influence not only what ends up on the plate, but also public health, local economies and the sustainability of entire regions.&rdquo;</p><p>His introduction framed procurement as a key governance tool with the potential to accelerate sustainable food transitions&mdash;particularly in regions where public meals represent a significant share of total food consumption.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">From Policy to Plate: Lessons from Quebec</h2><p>The keynote speaker, Professor Laure Saulais, presented <em>From procurement to meals: Local sourcing, food quality, and sustainability in Quebec&rsquo;s healthcare sector</em>. Drawing on empirical experiences from Quebec, she illustrated how ambitions to increase local sourcing must navigate regulatory frameworks, market structures and competing policy goals.</p><p class="quote-center">Public procurement is a powerful lever in the food system.</p><p>Saulais also emphasised that increasing local sourcing often requires the development of alternative supply channels that operate alongside conventional large-scale distribution systems. Such channels do not emerge automatically through policy alone&mdash;they depend on long-term relationships, trust, and active coordination between producers, public buyers and intermediaries. In this sense, making food &ldquo;local&rdquo; is as much a relational and organisational challenge as it is a regulatory one.</p><p>A central theme of her talk was the complexity of the concept &ldquo;local.&rdquo; While often associated with geographical proximity, it can also reflect political priorities, identity-building or economic strategy. These different interpretations shape procurement criteria and ultimately influence food quality, supplier diversity and sustainability performance.</p><p>The seminar brought together Indigenous elders, academics, farmer representatives, civil society actors, and municipal and regional representatives. The broad participation enriched the discussion and underscored that aligning procurement with sustainability goals requires dialogue across sectors, governance levels and knowledge systems.</p><p>By connecting research insights with practical experience, the seminar highlighted both the challenges and the transformative potential of public meal procurement in advancing sustainable food systems.</p>/en/news/can-public-procurement-make-food-more-local_12164114//en/news/help-shape-the-ec2u-science-contest-2026--submit-your-questions_12164064/On 20 May 2026, Umeå University will be represented on stage when researchers from Umeå, Jena (Germany) and Turku compete in the EC2U Science Contest during the EC2U Forum in Turku, Finland. Now staff, students and the wider public are invited to help shape the competition by submitting questions for the researchers to solve live. Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:03:04 +0100<p>The EC2U Science Contest is a fast‑paced, entertaining event where multidisciplinary teams of researchers are given the same question and just a few minutes to agree on an answer before presenting it to the audience. The questions are submitted in advance by the public and can address scientific, societal or ethical issues, as well as curious &ldquo;what if?&rdquo; scenarios.</p><p>Both the audience and an international jury award points based on clarity, logic, creativity and entertainment value. The event is held in English and will be broadcast online, allowing participation beyond Turku.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/298e57a45f144292bf8591b2e44d19a8/ec2u-2026-keltainen-1920x1080-v33.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/298e57a45f144292bf8591b2e44d19a8/ec2u-2026-keltainen-1920x1080-v33.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/298e57a45f144292bf8591b2e44d19a8/ec2u-2026-keltainen-1920x1080-v33.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/298e57a45f144292bf8591b2e44d19a8/ec2u-2026-keltainen-1920x1080-v33.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/298e57a45f144292bf8591b2e44d19a8/ec2u-2026-keltainen-1920x1080-v33.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/298e57a45f144292bf8591b2e44d19a8/ec2u-2026-keltainen-1920x1080-v33.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Now is your chance to <a href="https://padlet.com/lassiyli/suggested-questions-for-the-ec2u-science-contest-lpgyowz0t77r5xwh">suggest a question</a> for the scientific teams to tackle in the EC2U Science Contest on 20 May 2026.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>EC2U</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">From big challenges to everyday curiosity</h2><p>In previous Science Contests, audience questions have included:</p><ul><li>Why are planets round, but the solar system flat?</li><li>Is it ethically better to eat insects than meat?</li><li>How many balloons would it take to lift an 80‑kg person into the air?</li><li>Could we change our genes to prevent disease &ndash; and should we?</li></ul><p>There is no &ldquo;correct&rdquo; format for a question. What matters is that it sparks discussion and invites researchers to think across disciplines.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Anyone can contribute and submit questions</h2><p>Questions can be submitted by students, staff and members of the public, and selected questions will be challenged live by the teams&mdash;including the Ume&aring; University team&mdash;on stage in Turku.<br><br><strong>Deadline for questions:</strong> 31 March 2026<br><strong>Submit your question here:&nbsp;</strong><a title="Suggested questions for the EC2U Science Contest" href="https://padlet.com/lassiyli/suggested-questions-for-the-ec2u-science-contest-lpgyowz0t77r5xwh">Suggested questions for the EC2U Science Contest</a><br><br><a title="Livestream EC2U Science Contest 2026" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ec2ualliance/streams">To be livestreamed on Youtube (20 May at 17:00-19:00)</a></p>/en/news/help-shape-the-ec2u-science-contest-2026--submit-your-questions_12164064//en/news/umea-first-in-sweden-to-use-responsible-ai-in-combined-heat-and-power_12156569/Umeå University and the energy company Umeå Energi are now developing a new AI‑based decision support system at the Dåva combined heat and power plant in Umeå. “AI is about increasing efficiency, profitability, and operational reliability. Here, we place a strong emphasis on complying with the EU’s AI Regulation for high‑risk AI in energy supply. It demands transparency and risk minimisation to safeguard people’s safety and rights,” says Juan Carlos Nieves Sanchez, AI expert at Umeå University.Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:37:44 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1b8aa6c271914a22a0c94b7089d0bb75/datavetenskap_och_umea_energi_i_samarbete_foto_david_fahlberg_henson4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1b8aa6c271914a22a0c94b7089d0bb75/datavetenskap_och_umea_energi_i_samarbete_foto_david_fahlberg_henson4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1b8aa6c271914a22a0c94b7089d0bb75/datavetenskap_och_umea_energi_i_samarbete_foto_david_fahlberg_henson4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1b8aa6c271914a22a0c94b7089d0bb75/datavetenskap_och_umea_energi_i_samarbete_foto_david_fahlberg_henson4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1b8aa6c271914a22a0c94b7089d0bb75/datavetenskap_och_umea_energi_i_samarbete_foto_david_fahlberg_henson4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1b8aa6c271914a22a0c94b7089d0bb75/datavetenskap_och_umea_energi_i_samarbete_foto_david_fahlberg_henson4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ume&aring; Energi and Ume&aring; University in a new collaboration. From left: Juan Carlos Nieves Sanchez, AI specialist; Rachele Carli, postdoctoral researcher; and Esteban Guerrero Rosero, associate professor in computing science, together with M&aring;ns Kjellander, project manager at Ume&aring; Energi and researcher Andreas Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m from the Department of Computing Science.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>David Fahlberg </span></div></div><p>Combined heat and power plants form part of society&rsquo;s critical infrastructure, where the requirements for reliability and robust operation are exceptionally high. Through this new collaboration, <a href="https://www.umeaenergi.se/">Ume&aring; Energi</a> aims to strengthen its preventive capabilities in day‑to‑day operations.</p><p>&ldquo;At its core, this is about gaining time. By detecting deviations early, we improve our ability to act, reduce unplanned shutdowns, and secure the availability and delivery of heat to residents in Ume&aring;,&rdquo; says M&aring;ns Kjellander, Project Manager at <a href="https://www.umeaenergi.se/">Ume&aring; Energi</a>.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">AI for secure energy supply</h2><p>With new AI‑based methods developed at the <a href="~/link/f1ccf1d251be4f538a13df854f18fb07.aspx">Department of Computing Science</a>, deviations in complex systems can be detected far earlier than today. This strengthens reliability and contributes to a more resilient energy supply. At the same time, the EU&rsquo;s AI Regulation places strict requirements on the energy sector. <a href="~/link/f2fe3838be2b49448b4d73e8ed5a6d1b.aspx">Rachele Carli</a>, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Computing Science and legal expert at the <a href="https://aipolicylab.se/">AI Policy Lab</a> at Ume&aring; University, is therefore conducting a thorough analysis of the legal implications.&nbsp;</p><p>"D&aring;va is a safety‑critical facility, which means that all AI systems are automatically classified as high‑risk under the AI Regulation. We must therefore ensure full compliance with both national and European legislation," says Rachele Carli.</p><h3>Pre-study and requirements gathering</h3><p>&ldquo;In total, we must ensure that the systems meet high security requirements, including impact assessments, documentation, human oversight, traceability, and explainability,&rdquo; says <a href="~/link/bbb6e461606941afbf4675d9189bc994.aspx">Juan Carlos Nieves Sanchez</a>, who leads the project together with associate professor <a href="~/link/c300b128293549f5a3b4ddd5c325d740.aspx">Esteban Guerrero Rosero</a> and researcher <a href="~/link/8f3c7bc8861540f8b6d161617faef260.aspx">Andreas Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m</a>, in collaboration with Ume&aring; Energi.</p><p>The researchers are currently conducting focus groups, workshops and interviews with experts at the D&aring;va plant to gather knowledge about operations, processes and decision‑making. These insights are being transformed into structured knowledge models.</p><p>&ldquo;The models are designed so that the system&rsquo;s reasoning can be followed and explained step by step, making it possible to verify that the decision logic adheres to principles of transparency and risk minimisation,&rdquo; says researcher Andreas Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, who works with knowledge modelling.</p><h3>AI Classified as High‑Risk</h3><p><a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20230601STO93804/eu-ai-act-first-regulation-on-artificial-intelligence">The EU&rsquo;s new regulation</a> entered into force in August 2024. AI systems used in energy supply, including combined heat and power plants, are classified as high‑risk under this framework.</p><p>Within the project, researchers are studying how an AI‑based decision-support system can be used to predict and prevent boiler leaks, with a particular focus on the <a href="https://www.umeaenergi.se/om-oss/anlaggningar-och-platser/dava-kraftvarmeverk">D&aring;va plant</a> &ndash; one of the world&rsquo;s most energy-efficient and environmentally adapted facilities supplying heat equivalent to around 18 000 standard homes per year.</p><p>&ldquo;An AI‑based decision support system is, in our view, a potential way forward to strengthen the most critical energy and heating infrastructure in the Ume&aring; region. But it is crucial that this happens under responsible and safe conditions,&rdquo; says M&aring;ns Kjellander, Project Manager at Ume&aring; Energi.<br>"Being able to anticipate even minor issues is vital, he adds, as every shutdown incurs significant costs and affects availability."</p><h3>Ume&aring; University &ndash; a strong force in AI</h3><p>The Department of Computing Science, which has grown at a record pace in recent years, <a href="~/link/88ceb606a6174d189189e7afdd6506b5.aspx">conducts internationally recognised research</a> in areas such as AI, autonomous systems, machine learning, privacy and robotics. This has clear knock‑on effects in education as well, where the focus on responsible AI is firmly grounded in solid expertise.</p><p>&ldquo;We develop systems that do not pose a threat to people&rsquo;s health, privacy, safety, or fundamental rights,&rdquo; says Juan Carlos Nieves Sanchez, who is also one of the research leaders in <a href="/EPiServer/CMS/Content/forskning,,5054554/grupper/responsible-artificial-intelligence/responsible-artificial-intelligence/?epieditmode=False">the Responsible AI group</a> and programme director for <a href="~/link/e5489ef19ff9451ebd18c2fb5a816df3.aspx">the Master&rsquo;s Programme in Artificial Intelligence</a>, which this year reached a record number of applicants.</p><h3>Step forward</h3><p>The EU&rsquo;s AI Act is the world&rsquo;s first comprehensive legislation on artificial intelligence. It categorises AI systems into four levels of risk, with AI used in energy supply, including combined heat and power plants, classified as high‑risk.</p><p>&ldquo;Working with prediction in the energy sector is not new. What is new here is combining it with artificial intelligence while embedding reliability and responsibility into the application. This may well represent a significant step forward in Sweden,&rdquo; says M&aring;ns Kjellander, Ume&aring; Energi.&nbsp;</p><h3>Further information&nbsp;</h3><p>Read more about the project "A trustworthy decision support system f&ouml;r energy management at Ume&aring; Energi <a href="~/link/20815855c42e42cc86634c67547f96ef.aspx">here</a>." Please contact our project managers using the details below.</p>/en/news/umea-first-in-sweden-to-use-responsible-ai-in-combined-heat-and-power_12156569//en/news/new-report-shows-power-shift-in-antarctic-research_12163841/A new international report reveals significant evolution in global Antarctic research activity, highlighting evolving scientific effort, evolving collaboration patterns, with implications for the availability of scientific output to the Antarctic Treaty System.Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:00:08 +0100<p>The Antarctic Research Trends Report 2025 analysed nearly 30,000 peer-reviewed publications from 2016 to 2024. It was produced by the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University in collaboration with the University of Tasmania and Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU), with support from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and UArctic. The report provides a comprehensive bibliometric assessment of publication volume, research quality, international collaboration, and citation impact in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science. The findings point to a changing landscape.</p><p>China&rsquo;s contribution to research output has grown substantially <br>The annual number of Antarctic publications peaked in 2021 and has since declined slightly. This comes at a time when dramatic changes have increasingly been observed in the Antarctic, requiring more scientific investigation, not fewer.</p><p>However, the most striking development is the shift in effort. Between 2022 and 2024, China&rsquo;s research contributions grew substantially and surpassed other nations in Antarctic publication output. In 2024, those publications appeared more frequently in top-quartile journals, an important indicator of research quality.</p><p>While the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia have traditionally strong Antarctic science output, several of these countries show declining publication trends during the study period. China, by contrast, has nearly tripled its fractionalised publication output since 2017.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Scientific output remains important for the Antarctic Treaty System</h2><p>The report underscores that scientific publishing is not only an academic matter. Within the Antarctic Treaty System, scientific activity forms the basis for consultative status and influence. Research output remains a critical measure of credibility and presence on the continent.</p><p class="quote-center">Antarctic research is one of the most internationally collaborative scientific fields in the world. But we are now seeing an evolution in effort and collaboration patterns of Antarctic research,</p><p>As planning for the Fifth International Polar Year (2032&ndash;33) accelerates, understanding who produces Antarctic knowledge and how collaboration patterns evolve becomes increasingly relevant for policymakers and research institutions alike.</p><p>&ldquo;Antarctic research is one of the most internationally collaborative scientific fields in the world. But we are now seeing an evolution in effort and collaboration patterns of Antarctic research,&rdquo; says Gary Wilson, President of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) &ldquo;Scientific output continues to shape both knowledge and policy direction in Antarctica. These trends signal an evolution in how Antarctic research is undertaken and presented.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">High-quality science, but declining citation impact</h2><p>More than half of Antarctic publications between 2022 and 2024 appeared in first-quartile journals, more than double the global average across research fields. Antarctic research continues to be published in highly influential journals.</p><p>At the same time, the report identified a notable decline in field-weighted citation impact after 2021. Antarctic research was cited above the global average before 2021, but has since fallen below it.</p><p>The reasons for this decline are not yet fully understood and warrant further investigation. The report suggests that the rapid expansion of publication volume in some countries, combined with shifting collaboration patterns, may contribute to the trend.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">International collaboration remains strong, but uneven</h2><p>Antarctic science remains deeply collaborative. Approximately 45 percent of publications involve international co-authorship, significantly higher than the global average across scientific fields.</p><p>However, collaboration patterns vary substantially between countries. While many European nations show very high rates of multilateral cooperation, some major publishing countries exhibit lower levels of international co-authorship.</p><p>The report maps global collaboration networks in detail, illustrating how Antarctic science functions as a tightly connected yet evolving global research system. Taken together, the findings point to changing scientific effort in Antarctica, with effort shifting even as collaboration remains strong and research quality high.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">A baseline for the next decade of polar science</h2><p>The Antarctic Research Trends Report 2025 provides an evidence-based overview of contemporary Antarctic research and follows a previous report analysing Arctic research trends. Together, these analyses contribute to a broader understanding of global polar science ahead of IPY-5, at a moment when the geography of knowledge production in Antarctica is visibly evolving.</p><p>The report will be officially launched in connection with a pre-event to the third Monaco Polar Symposium.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="38600261-9318-49aa-bf76-b96074d2ce64" data-contentname="Fact box_Antarctic report">{}</div>/en/news/new-report-shows-power-shift-in-antarctic-research_12163841//en/news/high-intensity-training-beneficial-also-for-adults-over-65_12163728/It is well known that physical activity is essential for good health – especially for older adults – but how we exercise can make a significant difference. A new doctoral thesis from Umeå University shows that short, high‑intensity training sessions not only save time but may also be more effective than traditional endurance training for older individuals.Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:06:55 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/aa4586ee5c6a4a4990cb0da0d1ee5328/sofi_sandstrom_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/aa4586ee5c6a4a4990cb0da0d1ee5328/sofi_sandstrom_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/aa4586ee5c6a4a4990cb0da0d1ee5328/sofi_sandstrom_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/aa4586ee5c6a4a4990cb0da0d1ee5328/sofi_sandstrom_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/aa4586ee5c6a4a4990cb0da0d1ee5328/sofi_sandstrom_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/aa4586ee5c6a4a4990cb0da0d1ee5328/sofi_sandstrom_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sofi Sandstr&ouml;m, Department of Diagnostics and Intervention at Ume&aring; University, has investigated high-intensity training for people 65 years of age and older in her thesis.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">One of the most exciting findings in my research is the link between muscle strength and brain function</p><p>&ldquo;One of the most exciting findings in my research is the link between muscle strength and brain function. When sessions become shorter and the intensity increases, older adults seem to gain additional benefits for both leg strength and working memory,&rdquo; says Sofi Sandstr&ouml;m, who conducted her doctoral work at the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Physical activity is known to provide a wide range of health benefits, and for older adults it is particularly crucial, many age‑related declines can actually be improved through exercise. Yet many older individuals remain physically inactive, posing a major public health challenge.</p><p>High‑intensity training (HIT), which consists of very short but intense, pulse‑raising intervals, is a relatively new exercise method that has shown promising health effects in younger adults. Sara Sandstr&ouml;m&rsquo;s thesis, based on the Ume&aring; HIT Study, examines how different levels of training intensity affect fitness, brain function, and muscle strength in people over the age of 65.</p><p>The study involved 68 participants aged 66 to 79 who did not typically exercise regularly. They were randomly assigned to two groups, both training twice weekly for three months on stationary bikes. One group performed moderate‑intensity endurance training (40‑minute sessions), while the other completed high‑intensity interval training (10 x 6‑second intervals in 20‑minute sessions).</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Half the time, better esults</h2><p>The findings show that both groups improved their fitness and blood pressure to a similar degree, regardless of training intensity. However, the shorter and more intense sessions produced greater gains in leg strength and working memory, which is two functions that often decline with age. Sofi Sandstr&ouml;m argues that the results make high‑intensity training a surprisingly promising method.</p><p>&ldquo;Researchers have previously been uncertain whether older adults should engage in high‑intensity training at all, but my results suggest it works at least as well as moderate‑intensity exercise. High‑intensity, controlled sessions could therefore become an important alternative for older individuals looking to vary their training,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Stronger legs, sharper minds</h2><p>Cognitive function was assessed using a broad test battery focusing on working memory. Brain activation during working‑memory tasks was also measured using MRI. The results showed that increased leg strength was associated with greater frontal‑lobe activation during the memory task as well as better test performance. This suggests that muscular adaptation may be an important target for training aimed at protecting brain health.</p><p>Earlier research has suggested that age‑related changes in the brain&rsquo;s white matter limit the effects of traditional endurance training on working memory. Individuals with more pronounced white‑matter changes often show smaller improvements. However, Sara Sandstr&ouml;m&rsquo;s thesis found that high‑intensity training improved working memory even among participants with substantial white‑matter changes.</p><p>&ldquo;This indicates that high‑intensity exercise may be particularly valuable for people showing early changes in white matter,&rdquo; says Sofi Sandstr&ouml;m.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Home‑based training with a chair</h2><p>To explore how high‑intensity training could be made accessible to a wider audience, Sofi Sandstr&ouml;m also investigated home‑based alternatives requiring no advanced equipment. This was done in a co‑creation study where researchers and participants worked together on a solution.</p><p>The high‑intensity session was adapted into fast‑paced &ldquo;sit‑to‑stand&rdquo; movements using a standard chair, an approach that produced similar immediate physiological responses to the high‑intensity cycling sessions.</p><p>&ldquo;The next step is to develop a mobile app that can guide the training sessions and to test the programme with a new group of older adults to see if the results hold for those without prior HIT experience. The goal is for the training to be performed at home in the future,&rdquo; Sofi Sandstr&ouml;m says.</p>/en/news/high-intensity-training-beneficial-also-for-adults-over-65_12163728//en/news/a-pitch-can-be-the-beginning-of-a-new-collaboration_12163703/When the season’s first IceLab Lunch Pitch kicked off, it was molecular biologist Johan Henriksson who took the stage. He needs collaborators who can develop algorithms capable of handling and completing millions of microbial gene sequences. In his research, a single sampling event generates such a massive amount of data that today’s analytical methods are no longer sufficient.Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:33:11 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-133.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-133.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-133.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-133.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-133.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-133.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johan Henriksson believes that the Lunch Pitch format is one of the better ways we have to create new collaborations between researchers from different disciplines.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">we will become increasingly dependent on expertise from other disciplines</p><p>&ldquo;Our research group is always looking for collaborations, and our problems range from quite tough mathematics to equally challenging programming. For the next generation of biology, we will become increasingly dependent on expertise from other disciplines, since we simply cannot fit all the necessary knowledge into a single lab,&rdquo; says Johan Henriksson, research fellow at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The Lunch Pitch series, organized by IceLab at Ume&aring; University, is designed to gather researchers from different fields during a lunch break for short, focused presentations that spark conversations and drive new collaborations.</p><p>Johan Henriksson sees the format as fully aligned with the future of biological research. He refers to sociologist Max Weber, who already in the late 19th century argued that society would become increasingly specialized &ndash; so specialized that individuals would no longer be able to grasp the bigger picture. According to Johan Henriksson, this development has only accelerated.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Seeking collaboration in machine learning</h2><p>At the centre of Johan&rsquo;s presentation was a new method developed by his team that can capture many, yet only a small subset of, up to one million bacterial genome sequences at the same time. By being able to study so many bacteria, one at a time, it becomes possible to understand, for example how antibiotic resistance develops.</p><p>&ldquo;This is an absolutely insane amount of data, and we need new tools to analyse it. Right now we are studying one cell at a time, and that does not work very well when the data is so sparse.&rdquo;</p><p>The goal is to develop a machine learning model, algorithm, or data structure that can represent the underlying shared genetic variation and fill in the missing information between sampled cells.</p><p>&ldquo;From there, we might also be able to annotate the genetic sequence in a single step, for example identify which genes are present and what they do.&rdquo;</p><p>Johan Henriksson is eager to collaborate with researchers in machine learning, sparse linear algebra, vector databases, or advanced data structures. He also sees potential within federated data processing.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-022.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-022.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-022.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-022.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-022.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0be7c5a4d0104b199e76588ea58b3a71/20260211_lunchpitch-022.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The Icelab lunch pitch is followed by lively discussions.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Boiling problems down to their essence</h2><p>Speaking to a broad interdisciplinary audience is always a challenge, he notes.</p><p>&ldquo;You have to distill the essence of your problem. What you find most interesting is not necessarily what captures the audience&rsquo;s attention. But that is also precisely why you pitch. You present problems that others may find exciting and that require different kinds of expertise.&rdquo;</p><p>He continues:</p><p>&ldquo;There may even be users (biologists) who now realize the possibilities we have. This is a promising area where we have a chance to take the lead, so anyone with business sense should get on board.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">A pitch is a beginning</h2><p>Despite the fact that creating new collaborations is never easy, Johan Henriksson believes that the Lunch Pitch format is one of the best ways to ignite the spark.</p><p>&ldquo;Honestly, it is not easy, but it is probably the best we can do. A pitch is only the beginning of a conversation. Then the real work begins, when both sides must learn enough about the problem to contribute to a solution. The devil is always in the details.&rdquo;</p><p>For him, the true strength of the event lies in its ability to gather open‑minded researchers in the same room.</p><p>&ldquo;Now we just need to turn words into action!&rdquo;</p>/en/news/a-pitch-can-be-the-beginning-of-a-new-collaboration_12163703//en/news/mixed-reality-increases-realism-in-training-for-mass-casualty-incidents_12163265/A new thesis from Umeå University shows how emerging virtual technologies can complement traditional disaster training and offer emergency medical personnel the opportunity to practice complex situations in realistic ways – before they occur in real life.Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:00:18 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/green_manikin_med1stmr3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Fredrik Schulz's thesis shows how new virtual technology can complement traditional disaster training.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>MED1stMR</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">combines real and digital environments</p><p>&ldquo;My results show that mixed reality simulation training, which combines real and digital environments, is an effective and pedagogically robust method that allows emergency medical personnel to immerse themselves and prepare to handle major incidents with multiple casualties,&rdquo; says Fredrik Schulz that recently received his PhD degree. He conducted his doctoral studies at the Department of Nursing and the Knowledge Centre for Disaster Medicine at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Major incidents often mean that available resources are insufficient relative to the number of injured. This places immense pressure on emergency responders, who must prioritize and make decisions under time constraints &ndash; situations where mistakes can have life‑or‑death consequences. Effective and realistic training is therefore essential, both for managing stress and performing critical tasks.</p><p>Previous research has shown that despite various forms of training, many professionals in emergency care feel insufficiently prepared for mass‑casualty incidents. As preparedness challenges in healthcare continue to grow, mixed reality is becoming an increasingly important tool for realistic and flexible training.</p><p>Mixed reality is a technology that combines the physical world with digital elements. Unlike virtual reality &ndash; where the user fully enters a computer‑generated environment and typically uses handheld controllers &ndash; mixed reality takes place within the real environment. Participants see and interact simultaneously with real people and virtual objects projected into the room, such as patients or accident scenarios. This allows them to move freely and collaborate as they would in real life, while encountering digital events that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to recreate during training.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/efc109b8dba34fad89ac84826d0225be/fredrik_schulz3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Fredrik Schulz is a registered nurse and earned a PhD at the Department of Nursing and Knowledge Centre for Disaster Medicine at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Fredrik Sundvall / FotoINorr</span></div></div><p>In his thesis, Fredrik Schulz explored how mixed reality technology can complement traditional disaster training and identified the factors that facilitate or hinder the learning process of skills required for major incidents. With this dissertation, he is among the first to study both technical (medical management) and non‑technical skills (such as communication, stress management, and situational awareness) in a larger group of participants.</p><p>Data were collected from emergency care services in several European countries using various methods, including observations during field exercises, interviews, self‑assessment instruments, surveys, and group discussions.</p><p>The results confirm that there remains a strong need for new methods that can strengthen both the practical and mental preparedness of emergency medical personnel.</p><p>One clear factor that supported learning through mixed reality was the strong sense of presence and immersion in the scenario.</p><p>&ldquo;By presenting the accident scene virtually, emergency responders can practice forming an overall picture of the situation, collaborating with other actors on site, and understanding the different roles and areas of responsibility that exist during a major incident.&rdquo;</p><p>At the same time, Fredrik Schulz found that increased realism does not automatically lead to better learning of technical skills.</p><p>&ldquo;For mixed reality technology to reach its full potential, simulation training needs to reflect clinical practice to an even greater extent,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>The hope is that the research findings will support the future development of mixed‑reality‑based training programmes in disaster medicine education and thereby strengthen emergency responders&rsquo; preparedness for future crises.</p>/en/news/mixed-reality-increases-realism-in-training-for-mass-casualty-incidents_12163265//en/news/advanced-security-technology-rarely-used--researchers-at-umea-university-explain-and-offer-a-solution_12162711/Whether bacteria compete or cooperate depends on subtle interactions, often studied using abstract mathematical models. Now, students at Umeå University have transformed this research into a computer game, making microbial dynamics visible and playable.Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:31:19 +0100<p>In the microscopic world, bacteria often compete for nutrients and other essential molecules. At the same time, they can also cooperate,&nbsp; using by-products released by other bacteria in the same environment. Understanding when bacteria compete versus cooperate, and how they respond to their environment is the subject of research carried out by Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn, postdoctoral fellow, and Eric Libby, associate professor, both affiliated with the Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) at Ume&aring; University, and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>Because these processes cannot be directly observed in detail, they are often investigated using mathematical models. While powerful, such models can be difficult to understand for those outside of their immediate research field.</p><p class="quote-center">We thought not only about communicating our research, but also that in designing the game you learn aspects of your system that you didn&rsquo;t fully appreciate</p><h3>From research to game</h3><p>Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn and Eric Libby proposed developing a game through the Design Build Test course &mdash; an undergraduate project-based course where students work on real-world challenges.</p><p>A game might not seem like the most immediate way to approach this complex research.</p><p>&nbsp;Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn first proposed the idea to Eric after a workshop she attended during the summer of 2025 on science communication. &ldquo;There was someone at the workshop that developed a game. It sounded kind of cool and fun and I thought maybe this is a useful tool to use to talk across disciplines.&rdquo;</p><p>Eric Libby, an avid player of games in his spare time, immediately jumped on the idea.</p><p>&ldquo;We thought not only about communicating our research, but also that in designing the game you learn aspects of your system that you didn&rsquo;t fully appreciate,&rdquo; Eric explained. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s as much of a game for us as it is a learning tool and a communication exercise.&rdquo;</p><p>During the 2025 autumn term, a team of students worked to transform microbial competition and cooperation into an interactive experience. The researchers deliberately left the format open.</p><p>&ldquo;I had no expectations&hellip; I didn&rsquo;t know what it was going to be,&rdquo; Eric said. &ldquo;What they created was great.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9f61e28a-e7e8-41a1-b936-f670a3f5ed2c" data-contentname="BacMan Game Play">{}</div><p>The result is Bacman, a multiplayer strategy game where players must survive by selecting nutrients, responding to environmental conditions, and navigating interactions with other bacteria.</p><h3>Designing survival</h3><p>In August 2025, Eric Libby and Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn pitched their project to the Design-Build-Test students. After voting on preferred projects, students were placed into teams and began project development . For Jesper Erixon, one of the student developers, the appeal of the microbial dynamics game was immediate.</p><p class="quote-center">It&rsquo;s nothing like the other courses&hellip; everything isn&rsquo;t perfectly laid out. You have to get around these bumps and figure stuff out as you go, so you learn a lot.</p><p>&ldquo;It really struck me as an interesting opportunity,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Partly as an educational tool to get more people inspired and interested in biology, but also as a research tool where you can have a simplified situation that still models some of the complex behavior we can see in research in a fun way.&rdquo;</p><p>In the game, survival depends on strategy.</p><p>&ldquo;You choose your bacteria&hellip; you have to be wary of the surrounding environment and the other players,&rdquo; Jesper Erixon explained. Players can cooperate by using waste products produced by others or compete by securing nutrients first.</p><p>The process was not without challenges.</p><p>&ldquo;None of us are game developers,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We had very ambitious ideas. We had to scale them back&hellip; but it&rsquo;s a very fun and playable game, and there&rsquo;s a lot of opportunity to develop it further.&rdquo;</p><h3>A tool for learning across disciplines</h3><p>The Design-Build-Test student team presented their work to researchers in IceLab in January. They played the game together and discussed how well it captured key ideas from the research.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Presentation of the 'BacMan' Design-Build-Test student game in IceLab</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s very creative&hellip; it shows how cells compete with each other over different nutrients and gives a lot of different ideas when you think about strategies,&rdquo; said Sena Gizem S&uuml;er, PhD student studying bacterial stress responses, after testing the game.</p><p>Luis Jose Fernando, a PhD student with a background in hydrology, noted that the experience challenged his assumptions.</p><p>&ldquo;I learned at least a little bit more about how they interact because I quite frankly know nothing about it,&rdquo; he said, adding that the game was &ldquo;fun to play&rdquo; and &ldquo;very smooth to use.&rdquo;</p><p>Aswin Gopakumar, a PhD student who models ecosystem dynamics, highlighted a broader parallel between modelling and game design.</p><p>&ldquo;Games cannot replicate all parts of real-life physics&hellip; we do the exact same thing with models,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Mixing those two sounds like a no-brainer.&rdquo;</p><h3>Real-world project experience</h3><p>The Design Build Test course is structured around open-ended projects that mirror professional settings. Students from engineering physics, computer science, and biotechnology collaborated on Bacman, making creative and technical decisions along the way.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nothing like the other courses&hellip; everything isn&rsquo;t perfectly laid out,&rdquo; Jesper Erixon said. &ldquo;You have to get around these bumps and figure stuff out as you go, so you learn a lot.&rdquo;</p><p>For the researchers involved, the project showed how collaboration between students and researchers can create new ways to communicate science. It also demonstrated how translating research into another format can sharpen researchers&rsquo; own understanding of the systems they study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/767c66b5c51a4821b1d49dec8a966cef/dbt_bacman-02.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Four members of the Design-Build-Test student project team sit in IceLab next to their project owners, Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn and Eric Libby from IceLab and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn and Eric Libby are already considering future iterations, potentially exploring rule changes that reflect different microbial settings and introducing AI players. The team is also planning to present the game at the science festival ForskarFredag at Curiosum in September, where members of the public will be able to try it.</p><p>As Bacman continues to evolve, it highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration can make abstract research more accessible &mdash; and open new perspectives on the science itself.</p>/en/news/students-turn-bacterial-math-models-into-a-game_12162503//en/news/eco-friendly-spruce-bark-can-replace-toxic-chemicals_12162693/A decoction made from spruce bark can replace toxic chemicals used to inhibit bacteria that otherwise produce dangerous gases and slime in paper mills and wastewater systems. This is shown in a collaborative project between SLU and Umeå University.Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:16:01 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/maria_hedberg_final3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maria Hedberg, staff scientist at the Department of Odontology at Ume&aring; University, has seen how spruce bark can keep microbes in check.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Fotonord</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">surprising that so many species were highly sensitive to the spruce bark extract</p><p>&ldquo;It was surprising that so many species were highly sensitive to the spruce bark extract. But considering that the same compounds in the bark protect the spruce tree from various microbes, it is not that strange,&rdquo; says Maria Hedberg, staff scientist at the Department of Odontology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>In the &ldquo;factory soup&rdquo; of fibres destined to become paper and cardboard, microorganisms also thrive in the lukewarm water. Particularly when recycled paper is used, large quantities of bacteria enter the process. If these microbes are allowed to grow, they produce explosive, toxic, foul‑smelling gases and a thick slime that clogs pipes and reduces paper quality. Today, a cocktail of biocidal chemicals is added to keep microbial growth in check.</p><p>Now, a research team in Ume&aring; has developed a more environmentally friendly method to control the bacteria. By boiling spruce bark in water and then pressing it, they obtain an extract that can be added to the process water.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">99 percent disappeared</h2><p>In a pilot project at the paper mill in Obbola, south of Ume&aring;, 99 percent of bacteria disappeared after 16 hours when spruce bark extract was added. In fact, the results suggest that spruce bark extract may be more effective than synthetic chemicals.</p><p>Initially, the chemical biocide was indeed stronger (more toxic), but over a slightly longer period the spruce bark extract delayed gas formation significantly better. This long‑lasting effect is important to avoid problems during production stoppages.</p><p>Maria Hedberg&rsquo;s experience of working with human bacteria and studying how they react to different substances was crucial in the project. She was responsible for the part of the research that examined the antimicrobial properties of the spruce bark extract. In the study, she analysed samples from two types of environments: the paper industry and municipal wastewater systems. From these environments, representative, dominant bacterial species were isolated, and their sensitivity to the extract was tested.</p><p>&ldquo;We mainly see a predominance of spore‑forming bacteria such as <em>Bacillus</em> and <em>Clostridium</em> species, as well as filament‑forming bacteria like <em>Thiothrix</em>. At the same time, the bacterial flora in recycled paper pulp is extremely complex, with many species present,&rdquo; says Maria Hedberg.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a9ea77e1a6264d13bd562f8fb435d703/rm24-20_sporer_kopiera2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maria Hedberg identified above all a predominance of spore-forming bacteria, here <em>Clostridium</em> sp.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Maria Hedberg</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Harder to develop resistance</h2><p>The bacteria also seem to have more difficulty developing resistance to the spruce bark extract, which has a far more complex chemical structure than the pure chemicals normally used.</p><p>&ldquo;Most likely, it is simply more demanding for bacteria to &lsquo;outsmart&rsquo; the spruce bark extract compared to a traditional biocide. The extract consists of many components with complex structures, which makes it harder for microbes to develop resistance. The tannins likely play an important role in the extract&rsquo;s antimicrobial effect,&rdquo; Maria Hedberg says.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">A by‑product with potential</h2><p>The method has been developed within CEforestry, a European collaboration project led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU. The aim is to make better use of forestry by‑products. Spruce bark is abundant, as all timber is debarked at the processing plants. The bark has low value today and is burned. But as a raw material for an antibacterial extract, the bark would gain higher value.</p><p>In addition to paper mills, spruce bark extract could likely also be beneficial in municipal wastewater systems, where bacteria that produce corrosive and foul‑smelling gases &ndash; and slime that clogs pipes &ndash; cause problems.</p><p>To use the extract on a larger scale, more development is needed. Large‑scale trials in paper mills are required to confirm its effectiveness. A machine is also needed to produce the extract &ndash; preferably on‑site at the factory.</p><p>&ldquo;Spruce bark extract has all the prerequisites to become a strong and sustainable alternative to synthetic products in paper mills and wastewater treatment plants,&rdquo; says Mehrdad Arshadi, project leader at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU.</p>/en/news/eco-friendly-spruce-bark-can-replace-toxic-chemicals_12162693//en/news/emmanuelle-charpentier-on-the-role-of-science-in-society_12161310/At a time when science is being questioned, it is more important than ever for researchers to show how research contributes to solving societal challenges, says professor Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel laureate and honorary doctor at Umeå University, in an exclusive interview.Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:10:02 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b01d70c347eb4e4fa76b921ea9e1b976/emmanuelle-charpentier-hedersmedborgare-1842-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Emmanuelle Charpentier in Ume&aring;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We should raise our voices as a community, stop and explain what we do,&rdquo; says Emmanuelle Charpentier in this interview.&nbsp;</p><p>Click below to see the filmed interv&iacute;ew.</p>/en/news/emmanuelle-charpentier-on-the-role-of-science-in-society_12161310//en/news/examining-the-innermost-machinery-of-viruses_12161301/Viruses are among the simplest biological structures in existence. Yet time and again they manage to take control of some of the most advanced systems we know of: living cells. How this actually happens is one of the major unresolved questions in modern biology. Lars-Anders Carlson and his research team at Umeå University aim to find the answer.Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:53:04 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0f3e337f24564be681d1e73136295b81/lars-anders_carlson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lars-Anders Carlson and his team will take three-dimensional &lsquo;close-up images&rsquo; of the inside of an infected cell to see how the virus factories are actually organized.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Johan Guns&eacute;us</span></div></div><p>Using some of the world&rsquo;s most advanced microscopes, he wants to step inside the virus-infected cell and study how viruses remodel the cell&rsquo;s interior to create efficient virus factories. The project focuses on two viruses, with the aim of understanding the mechanics of infection at the atomic level.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to understand how viruses reconfigure the inside of an infected cell. Although viruses often have fewer than a dozen genes, they can still take over a cell that has tens of thousands of genes. It&rsquo;s really quite incredible,&rdquo; says Lars-Anders Carlson, a professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Compared with human cells, viruses are extremely simple. They lack their own metabolism, cannot reproduce on their own, and are completely dependent on infecting a host cell.</p><p>&ldquo;Viruses hijack functions that already exist in the cell. They remodel the cell&rsquo;s structure and create what we call virus factories &ndash; specialized environments in which they can copy their DNA and assemble new virus particles.&rdquo;</p><p>And it is these virus factories that lie at the centre of Carlson&rsquo;s research. What do they look like? How are they structured? And why do they look the same in different viruses, even though the viruses use completely different strategies to create them?</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Read the news article</h2><p><a href="https://kaw.wallenberg.org/en/research/examining-innermost-machinery-viruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the whole news article on the KAW website</a></p><p>Lars-Anders Carlson leads the project &ldquo;Conserved concepts and divergent details of membrane-bound viral replication organelles&rdquo; financed by Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, KAW.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/examining-the-innermost-machinery-of-viruses_12161301//en/news/tropical-shrimp-and-fish-could-be-grown-sustainably-in-umea_12161074/Soon it may be possible to farm tropical shrimp and fish in Umeå. With support from two EU projects, researcher Olivier Keech will develop a circular farming system with a low carbon footprint that utilises surplus heat from Umeå Energi's combined heat and power plant.Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:28:43 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/olivier_keech_dava3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Olivier Keech leads the research behind a new initiative focused on circular and resource‑efficient farming of shrimp and fish.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Stephanie Robert</span></div></div><p>Producing shrimp and fish locally in Ume&aring; is significantly more climate-smart than importing them from the other side of the world. If the farming system is also heated by surplus energy &ndash; then the climate benefit will be even greater.</p><p>Ume&aring; University has long supported research that contributes to sustainable societal development and the green transition. Soon, the first steps will be taken towards making Ume&aring; &ndash; and eventually perhaps the entire region &ndash; self-sufficient in shrimp and fish. The project, which recently received funding from the EU's research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, is a collaboration between Ume&aring; University, Ume&aring; Municipality, Ume&aring; Energy and RISE.</p><p>But how is it possible to farm species that normally live in Southeast Asia and Latin America, in northern Sweden?</p><p>&ldquo;It's not that crazy if you think about it. After all, anyone can grow vegetables in the winter if they do so indoors. Our normal room temperature is close to that of a tropical climate,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech, researcher in cell metabolism and sustainable food production at Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Multitrophic farming enables efficient nutrient cycle</h2><p>The idea is based on something called multitrophic farming. It is a way of growing several species at different levels of the food chain together. The nutrients circulate in a cycle, where the residual products from one species become resources for another. Like a natural ecosystem &ndash; but optimised to be as productive and resource-efficient as possible.</p><p>Olivier Keech tested it for the first time about ten years ago together with his students. In a one cubic meter system, they grew everything from fish to carrots and parsley. Since then, he has continued to develop the idea.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cbaf472193cc462ba2592345193f7ebc/rakor2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Shrimp are one of the species included in the planned farming system.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sergio Zimmermann</span></div></div><p>The planned shrimp and fish farm at D&aring;va CHP plant uses the same principle. It will be a circular aquaculture system with several basins in succession where water and nutrients move in one direction. One basin contains shrimp or fish. Their feces are taken care of in the next step by various microorganisms that in turn convert it into new nutrients.</p><p>Multitropical farming requires a complex and carefully balanced mix of different organisms. In the project, Olivier Keech uses modelling, in collaboration with ecologists and mathematicians at Ume&aring; University, to find out how the different animals and plants interact with each other in the system and to optimise the flow.</p><p>&ldquo;This requires large amounts of data and knowledge. There are biological, physical and economic layers that must work together and in symbiosis with the combined heat and power plant,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech, who at the same time as this project also received funding for a separate basic research project on multitrophic farming.</p><p>He has already spent many years developing the farming method, which he believes has great potential. There is today a small pilot plant in V&auml;stervik. Through this project, it will be possible to scale up and build the next generation facility in Ume&aring;.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">An important step in Ume&aring;'s green transition</h2><p>The first step, which will start as early as spring 2026, is small-scale experiments at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre. The hope is to then be able to build a larger plant integrated in Ume&aring; Energi's CHP plant within a year.</p><p><strong>Will Ume&aring; residents be able to buy and eat shrimp from this facility?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;Eventually, yes. But the time frame is a little unclear. It depends, among other things, on permits, and we want to make sure we do this in a good way that works in the long run and that is profitable, or at least economically viable,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech.</p><p>This happening in Ume&aring; is no coincidence. According to Olivier Keech, Ume&aring; is a very dynamic municipality with a strong desire to develop sustainable solutions for the future and to take risks.</p><p>&ldquo;This is an important step in Ume&aring;'s green transition and shows that our work with circular solutions is at a high international level. The initiative strengthens our self-sufficiency, increases resilience, and reduces climate emissions by replacing imported food with local production,&rdquo; says Hans Lindberg, Chair of the Municipal Executive Committee.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">The aim: a carbon-neutral food industry</h2><p>Ume&aring; University is also forward-looking and highlights sustainable food production as one of its priority research areas.</p><p>&ldquo;I have a lot of support from the university, the faculty and my department to engage not only in basic research but also in applied research that explores how the university and the city of Ume&aring; can help each other develop,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech.</p><p>The long-term goal of the project is to make the food industry carbon neutral by taking advantage of surplus energy and biological waste. After the experiments with shrimp and fish, the next step may be to grow mushrooms or vegetables, for example. Olivier Keech hopes that the project will have a ripple effect in other parts of Sweden and the world.</p><p>&ldquo;What excites me the most with this project is the win for everybody. That we can design our cities and our systems to produce food in a better way. Everyone I talk to about the project is motivated. This is a mini-revolution when it comes to food,&rdquo; says Olivier Keech.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="610da301-2d77-4bc8-a243-b509179b7d2d" data-contentname="About the projects">{}</div>/en/news/tropical-shrimp-and-fish-could-be-grown-sustainably-in-umea_12161074//en/news/friday-the-13th--a-day-of-superstition-and-horror_12161014/Friday the 13th is often considered an unlucky day, and fear of this day has even been given its own name — paraskavedekatriaphobia. But why Friday, and why the 13th? The idea that this day is unlucky can be linked to history, religion, and even popular culture. Katarina Gregersdotter is docent of English literature and a member of Svenska Deckarakademin. Her research focuses on crime fiction, horror films, and horror literature.Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:25:46 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f480c3ab9e63431fb22ce918442c684e/gregersdotter_katarina_1249_181113_retusch_ubs2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Katarina Gregersdotter, associate professor at the Department of Language Studies.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ulrika Bergfors</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;When Svenska Deckarakademin was founded in 1971, it had 13 members. This was a wink at the unlucky number 13 and Agatha Christie's 1934 crime novel Thirteen at Dinner. Today, we have 21 members, and none of us are particularly superstitious.&rdquo;, says Katarina Gregersdotter who holds seat no.20.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Common horror theme</h2><p>Superstition and superstitious beliefs are common themes in the horror genre, and the tarnished reputation of Friday the 13th is often reproduced, for example in Thomas W. Lawson's novel Friday, the Thirteenth (1907) and the horror film series Friday the 13th.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Funnily enough, there are 12 films in the Friday the 13th series. There have been rumors for a long time that a 13th film will be made, but perhaps no one wants to tempt fate? Serial killer Jason Voorhees may have swung his last machete, and if so, I don't think many people will mourn him.&rdquo;</p><p>The Master of Horror, Stephen King, suffers from triskaidekaphobia &ndash; simply a phobia of the number 13. He wrote an article in The New York Times in 1984 where he came out as a phobic and talked about how he avoids the number 13 in his everyday life.</p><p>&ldquo;He admitted: It's neurotic, sure. But it's also... safer. He went on to give many examples of terrible things that happened on Friday the 13th.&rdquo;</p><p>Katarina goes on to say that in the US, there is often no 13th floor &ndash; the elevator goes from 12 to 14.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Biblical roots</h2><p>In the Western world, the idea that Friday the 13th brings bad luck or misfortune is often linked to stories from the Bible: there were 13 people around the table at Jesus' last supper, and Jesus was crucified on a Friday. When the date 13 falls on a Friday, two factors that are believed to bring bad luck coincide. The Institute for Language and Folklore has several stories about superstitions linked to the number 13. For example, a record from Sm&aring;land says: <em>If you put thirteen slices of bread in the oven, your family will get smaller.</em></p><p>And those who are superstitious have a special year ahead of them. In 2026, the unlucky day and the unlucky date coincide three times: February 13, March 13, and November 13.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/friday-the-13th--a-day-of-superstition-and-horror_12161014//en/news/mentorship-strengthens-experienced-nurses_12160918/A new doctoral thesis from Umeå University shows that mentorship benefits not only newly graduated nurses but also the experienced nurses who act as mentors. For mentorship to be sustainable over time, employers and management must provide clear support and structure.Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:17:16 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8680a5a6c6c84fac97206a9c4442125d/kallerhult-hermansson_stina_17122024_hkn-93.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Stina Kallerhult-Hermansson, lecturer at the Department of Nursing, has studied nurses and mentorship in her doctoral thesis.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Mentorship is truly an investment in the whole team</p><p>&ldquo;When mentors grow in their professional role, the entire healthcare system benefits. Mentorship is truly an investment in the whole team,&rdquo; says Stina Kallerhult Hermansson, Lecturer at the Department of Nursing at Ume&aring; University-</p><p>While previous research on mentorship in healthcare has largely focused on the experiences of the newly graduated nurse, Kallerhult Hermansson&rsquo;s thesis shifts the spotlight to the mentors. The work is part of a Swedish&ndash;Norwegian collaboration in which a joint mentorship model was developed and tested in both V&auml;sterbotten and Nordland. Mentors received dedicated training and were paired with newly employed nurses, with the aim of strengthening mentorship as a support structure and contributing to a more sustainable working life.</p><p>The study also examined nurses in V&auml;sterbotten and Nordland more broadly, focusing on aspects such as job satisfaction and perceived professional competence. The results show that mentors experienced both personal and professional growth &ndash; including strengthened leadership skills, deeper reflection on their professional identity, and a renewed sense of pride in their expertise.</p><p>The findings further reveal that nurses with one and a half to five years of work experience reported the lowest job satisfaction. This group showed lower satisfaction than both newly graduated nurses and those with longer experience.</p><p>&ldquo;This group of nurses may benefit particularly from mentorship in order to remain in the profession,&rdquo; says Stina Kallerhult Hermansson.</p><p>Another key conclusion is that sustainable mentorship requires employers to integrate it into everyday routines and provide organizational support.</p><p>&ldquo;Mentorship must be part of daily practice and supported at the organizational level. This benefits both staff development and patient safety.&rdquo;</p><p>Stina Kallerhult Hermansson defended her doctoral thesis at Ume&aring; University on 5 December 2025.</p><p>Read the thesis: <a href="https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-246064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Being and becoming a mentor: personal and professional growth in a Swedish-Norwegian multicenter nurse mentorship intervention</a></p>/en/news/mentorship-strengthens-experienced-nurses_12160918//en/news/why-methane-surged-in-the-early-2020s_12160486/Methane rose at an unprecedent rate in the early 2020s. A new international study published in Science, with contributions from Umeå University, shows that this surge was driven primarily by a temporary weakening of the atmosphere’s ability to remove methane, combined with climate-driven increases in natural emissions in Africa, Asia, and the Arctic.Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:00:05 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>It was not primarily emissions from fossil fuels that caused the temporary increase in methane, but changes in the atmosphere combined with a wetter climate.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Wirestock on Freepik</span></div></div><p>Methane is the second most important human-driven greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. In the early 2020s, its levels in the atmosphere increased sharply, reaching a peak that researchers can now explain.</p><p>The atmosphere contains hydroxyl (OH) radicals that act as the main &ldquo;cleaning agent&rdquo;, breaking down methane. During the covid-19 lockdowns, emissions of nitrogen oxides and other air pollutants from transportation decreased. These pollutants are needed to form OH radicals through chemical reactions involving sunlight, ozone and water vapour.</p><p>When OH levels dropped, the atmosphere became less effective at removing methane, allowing it to accumulate faster.</p><p>Analyzing satellite observations, ground-based measurements, atmospheric chemistry data, and using advanced computer models, the researchers found a sharp decline in OH radicals during 2020&ndash;2021. This explains around 80 percent of the year-to-year variation in methane concentration growth. Fossil fuel emissions and wildfires only played a minor role.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">La Ni&ntilde;a affected methane levels</h2><p>Gerard Rocher-Ros, Assistant Professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience at Ume&aring; University and IceLab, contributed to the study by estimating monthly methane emissions from running waters.</p><p>&ldquo;This study was a great puzzle, where scientists modelling methane fluxes from different sources and atmospheric models each brought one piece, and we had to figure out how to fit them together,&rdquo; he says.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Gerard Rocher-Ros researches the water bodies' emissions of greenhouse gases.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>At the same time as levels of OH radicals declined, climate variability strongly amplified methane emissions from natural sources. An extended La Ni&ntilde;a period from 2020 to 2023 brought wetter-than-average conditions across much of the tropics, expanding flooded areas and increasing methane emissions from wetlands and inland waters, which are the largest single methane source around the world at present.</p><p>The largest increases occurred in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, while Arctic freshwaters also showed significant growth.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Weaknesses in current models</h2><p>The findings expose important weaknesses in current methane emission models, many of which underestimated wetland emissions during this period.</p><p>&ldquo;Our current models for methane in rivers are still primitive compared to other ecosystems. My group is working on newer approaches that hopefully can help advancing science in this field, starting with Arctic, where emissions are increasing fast,&rdquo; says Gerard Rocher-Ros.</p><p>The publication in Science clarifies why atmospheric methane burden rose so rapidly &ndash; and why it has recently slowed down a little bit. It also underscores that future methane trends will depend not only on emission controls, but also on air quality policies and climate-driven changes in the natural methane cycle.</p><p>&ldquo;In particular, we should better monitor and understand how tropical and northern wetland emissions of methane respond to the Earth's climate, which becomes warmer and wetter,&rdquo; says Philippe Ciais, lead author of the study from the Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l&rsquo;Environnement (LSCE) in France.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6cfb7ef6-476b-4522-a7af-10f2afa3d473" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/why-methane-surged-in-the-early-2020s_12160486//en/news/from-chemical-curiosity-to-key-piece-in-cancer-research_12159066/DNA’s iconic double helix does more than “just” store genetic information. Under certain conditions it can temporarily fold into unusual shapes. Researchers at Umeå University have now shown that one such structure, known as i-DNA, not only forms in living cells but also acts as a regulatory bottleneck linked to cancer.Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:01:55 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1622_230214_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Postdoctoral researcher Pallabi Sengupta studies i-DNA, a field of research that is still in its early stages.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">a kind of &lsquo;peek‑a‑boo structure&rsquo; in the DNA molecule</p><p>&ldquo;You can think of <em>i-DNA</em> as a kind of &lsquo;peek‑a‑boo structure&rsquo; in the DNA molecule. Its formation is tightly controlled in time and it must be resolved at precisely the right moment. We believe it plays an important role in gene regulation, because these structures can appear and disappear in sync with changes in the cell&rsquo;s state,&rdquo; says first author Pallabi Sengupta, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University. The study is now published in Nature Communications.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">A highly unusual DNA structure</h2><p>The familiar double helix can be imagined as a twisted ladder with sugar‑phosphate backbones as side rails and base pairs &ndash; adenine (A) paired with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) paired with guanine (G) &ndash; forming the rungs.</p><p><em>i-DNA</em>, however, bears little resemblance to this shape. Instead, it is more like a distorted, self‑folded ladder tied into a knot. It consists of a single DNA strand folding back on itself to form a four‑stranded structure. At the molecular level, the structure is held together not by standard A&ndash;T and C&ndash;G base pairs, but by pairs of cytosines.</p><p>These rare, short‑lived structures appear and disappear depending on the cellular environment. For decades, they were dismissed as too unstable to exist inside cells and regarded as laboratory artifacts. With new experimental techniques, researchers in Ume&aring; can now demonstrate that <em>i-DNA</em> does form, but only briefly, just before DNA replication begins.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Key protein controls structure resolution</h2><p>The study further shows that the protein PCBP1 acts as a critical regulator. It unwinds<em> i-DNA</em> at the right moment, allowing the DNA replication machinery to proceed. If the structures fail to open in time, they block replication, increasing the risk of DNA damage &ndash; a hallmark of heightened cancer vulnerability.</p><p>The researchers also discovered that<em> i-DNA</em> is not uniform: some structures are easy to unwind, while others are highly resistant, depending on the underlying DNA sequence.</p><p>&ldquo;The more cytosine base pairs that hold the knot together, the harder it is to resolve. In some cases, hybrid structures can form, making <em>i-DNA</em> even more stable,&rdquo; explains Nasim Sabouri, professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University, who led the study.</p><p>Notably, many <em>i-DNA</em> structures are located in regulatory regions of oncogenes &ndash; genes that drive cancer development &ndash; suggesting a direct link between <em>i-DNA</em> and disease.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_nasim_1644_230214_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The image shows how proteins become visible in a gel after being isolated from cells.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>To study these short-lived structures, the team combined biochemical assays, computational modelling and cell biology. They successfully visualized how PCBP1 progressively opens<em> i-DNA</em> and captured the structures in living cells at the exact moment in the cell cycle when they appear.</p><p>&ldquo;By connecting molecular mechanisms to actual effects in cells, we can show that this is biologically relevant and not a laboratory phenomenon,&rdquo; says Ikenna Obi, staff scientist at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">New opportunities for drug development</h2><p>The discovery reframes <em>i-DNA</em> from a molecular oddity to a potential weakness in cancer cells. Because cancer cells often experience high replication stress attempting to divide so rapidly that their DNA replication machinery approaches breakdown, any disruption in i-DNA handling may have severe consequences.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can influence <em>i-DNA</em> or the protein that unwinds it, we may be able to push cancer cells beyond their tolerance limit. This opens completely new avenues for drug development,&rdquo; says Nasim Sabouri.</p><p>The study was conducted in collaboration with Natacha Gillet, researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France. It was funded by Cancerfonden, the Wenner-Gren Foundations, and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f6972f1ebfa5420089ebf965cdc6cea1/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Nasim Sabouri, Pallabi Sengupta, and Ikenna Obi. The team will now investigate which cellular conditions promote i-DNA formation and whether these short‑lived structures can serve as new targets for diagnostics and cancer therapy.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div>/en/news/from-chemical-curiosity-to-key-piece-in-cancer-research_12159066//en/news/reshaping-gold-leads-to-new-electronic-and-optical-properties_12158682/By changing the physical structure of gold at the nanoscale, researchers can drastically change how the material interacts with light – and, as a result, its electronic and optical properties. This is shown by a study from Umeå University published in Nature Communications.Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:05 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>In the laser laboratory, Tlek Tapani and Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri are testing how porous structures enable gold to absorb more light energy than ordinary gold.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Gold plays a crucial role in modern advanced technology thanks to its unique properties.</p><p>New research now demonstrates that changing the material's physical structure &ndash; its morphology &ndash; can fundamentally enhance both its electronic behaviour and its ability to interact with light.</p><p>&ldquo;This might make it possible to improve the efficiency of chemical reactions such as those used in hydrogen production or carbon capture,&rdquo; says Tlek Tapani, one of the leading researchers behind the study and doctoral student at the Department of Physics.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Absorbs more light energy</h2><p>The researchers worked with nanoporous gold, a so-called metamaterial produced in a laboratory. Thanks to its sponge-like structure, nanoporous gold has even better properties for technical applications than ordinary solid gold.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The nanoporous structure allows the gold to interact with light in a way that would otherwise not be possible.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Generated by AI</span></div></div><p>In this study, the researchers observed that a thin film of nanoporous gold interacts with light in ways that solid gold cannot. By exposing the "gold sponge" to ultrashort laser pulses, they found that the porous structure allows the material to absorb more light energy over a wider spectrum.</p><p>As a result, the electrons become considerably more energetic. The electronic temperature was estimated to reach about 3200 K (~2900 &deg;C) in the nanoporous film, compared with just 800 K (~500 &deg;C) in the unstructured gold film used as a reference, under the same conditions. It also takes longer for the "hot" electrons to cool down and return to their initial state at room temperature.</p><p>&ldquo;Such elevated electronic temperatures enable light induced transitions that would otherwise be nearly impossible,&rdquo; says Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri, leader of the Ultrafast Nanoscience Unit at the Department of Physics and senior author of the article. &ldquo;Interestingly, using advanced electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments (XPS) here at Ume&aring; University, we were able to confirm that these unique behaviours are driven solely by the material's physical shape and not by changes to the electronic structure of gold itself.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Can be extended to other materials</h2><p>The experiments suggest that nanoporous structure can be used as a new design parameter to engineer materials used in advanced technologies. By systematically varying the filling factor (the ratio of gold to air in the &ldquo;sponge"), researchers can tune the electronic behaviour of not only gold but also other metals in a controllable way, which could improve the efficiency of chemical reactions.</p><p>&ldquo;Our research shows that by manipulating a material's architecture at the nanoscale, we can use structure itself as a design parameter,&rdquo; says Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri. &ldquo;These results can be generalised, in principle, to every material, with implications in how we design smart materials for sustainability and technology, with applications spanning from catalysis to energy harvesting, medicine and quantum batteries.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d9f8e4d9-efdb-45d9-8462-46dc5c07a07d" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6f22254c-9580-4b48-937a-57a3c032649e" data-contentname="Tlek's defence">{}</div>/en/news/reshaping-gold-leads-to-new-electronic-and-optical-properties_12158682//en/news/adaptive-mechanisms-across-scales-researchers-meet-in-abisko_12158105/From 19–23 January 2026, nearly 40 researchers from Europe and South Korea met in Abisko for the Arctic Meeting for Adaptive Mechanisms in Biological Systems. Spanning physics, biology, mathematics and ecology, the meeting marked the close of a Swedish–Korean STINT collaboration while opening new research directions linked to IceLab’s Stress Response Modelling centre. Clear talks, lively discussions and fantastic auroras fostered strong interdisciplinary exchange.Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:01:50 +0100<p>On 19&ndash;23 January 2026, a group of almost 40 researchers from institutions in Korea and Europe, spanning physics, biology, mathematics and ecology, met in Abisko for the Arctic Meeting for Adaptive Mechanisms in Biological Systems. The conference was jointly organised by HyeJin Park of Inha University, Korea, together with Eric Libby and Ludvig Lizana of the Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) at Ume&aring; University. It brought their Swedish&ndash;Korean STINT collaboration grant to a close, while also opening new possibilities linked to the Stress Response Modelling centre at IceLab.</p><p class="quote-center quote-left">It was a warm gathering&mdash;I laughed a lot and enjoyed talking with everyone.</p><p>An exciting scientific programme featured presentations ranging from experimental physics to theoretical modelling. A wide range of topics was covered, including ageing in bacteria, particle motion, multicellular stress responses, and epidemic vaccination strategies. Speakers and poster presenters did an excellent job of engaging the audience and communicating across research fields.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;All the presenters did a really good job of making sure that their talks were clear and that they didn&rsquo;t leave any of their diverse audience behind,&rdquo; said PhD student Aswin Gopakumar of IceLab and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>This inclusive presentation style kept the audience engaged, as reflected in the perceptive and constructive questions after each talk, which flowed naturally into lively discussions during the coffee breaks.</p><p>Beyond the talks, the conference also sparked new potential collaborations, according to Eric Libby, co-organizer and associate professor of IceLab and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Ume&aring; University. &ldquo;For me personally, there are several people I plan to reach out to in the coming months to continue our scientific conversations&mdash;and that is the mark of a successful conference.&rdquo;</p><p class="quote-right">Holding the conference in Abisko, of course we hoped to treat our Korean collaborators to an aurora show, and it exceeded all my hopes and expectations</p><p>The conference was valued not just for its scientific discussions, but also the scenery - and light displays - on offer in Abisko in January. When participants were asked about their highlights, there was a clear consensus: the aurora. Postdoctoral researcher Sunhee Chae of Inha University in Korea said, &ldquo;We were lucky to see the northern lights almost every day, especially pink! It was a warm gathering&mdash;I laughed a lot and enjoyed talking with everyone. I also enjoyed experiencing Swedish food and culture.&rdquo;</p><p>On the final evening of the meeting, the researchers took part in an organised trip to the Abisko Aurora Sky Station, where they were treated to a full 360-degree auroral display. &ldquo;Holding the conference in Abisko, of course we hoped to treat our Korean collaborators to an aurora show, and it exceeded all my hopes and expectations,&ldquo; said organiser, Ludvig Lizana, describing the scene as a beautiful dance of purple and green fronds across the sky. Another organiser, HyeJin Park, said, &ldquo;I think we were really lucky&mdash;when we were here 14 years ago, it was not this good.&rdquo;</p><p class="quote-center">There are several people I plan to reach out to in the coming months to continue our scientific conversations&mdash;and that is the mark of a successful conference.</p><p>While the conference marked the end of the current STINT collaboration grant, the organisers emphasised that it is not the end of their collaborations. Instead, they are excited to see what new projects emerge.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/adaptive-mechanisms-across-scales-researchers-meet-in-abisko_12158105//en/news/when-the-climate-crisis-becomes-a-public-health-issue_12157389/An extreme cloudburst brings an entire community to a standstill. In an interdisciplinary panel discussion, researchers meet with Sweden’s Ambassador for Global Health to explore how we manage climate-related crises from a health perspective – and what consequences these events have for people, the environment and society. You can watch the fictional scenario and the full discussion via UMU Play.Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:29:25 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7b468e2e252549498bd49bad1d7e1e8d/skyfallet_i_bergsvik_utri3.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>A discussion between researchers at Ume&aring; University and Sweden&rsquo;s Ambassador for Global Health, moderated by Sverker Olofsson</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span></span></div></div><p>Heavy rain has poured down over the small community of Bergsvik in Sweden. As whole neighbourhoods become submerged, vital societal functions are knocked out. Mobile networks falter, electrical substations flood, and drinking water becomes contaminated as the sewage system is overwhelmed. At care homes, the most vulnerable residents are evacuated in darkness and without lifts, and when the water reaches classroom floors, primary schools are forced to close. The crisis is undeniable.</p><p>Although this is a fictional scenario, it reflects situations that Swedish towns may face as the impacts of climate change intensify and local adaptation measures prove insufficient. In an interdisciplinary conversation, researchers from ecology, philosophy, medicine, global health and virology come together to explore how such a scenario can be understood and managed from a health perspective. The discussion focuses on which groups are most affected, which ethical, social and biological dimensions must be considered, and how the research community can contribute to improved preparedness.</p><p>Together, they reflect on climate change and societal vulnerabilities, but also on trust, responsibility and how knowledge can be translated into practical crisis management. Through their different perspectives, the complexity of climate-related crises becomes clear &ndash; as does the need for interdisciplinary solutions.</p><p>The discussion is moderated by Sverker Olofsson, with the following panel members:</p><ul><li>Magnus Evander, Professor of Virology/One Health</li><li>Maria Furberg, Physician and specialist in General Medicine and Infectious Diseases</li><li>Sofia Jeppsson, Associate Professor of Philosophy</li><li>Daniel Metcalfe, Professor of Ecology</li><li>Karin Tegmark Wisell, Sweden&rsquo;s Ambassador for Global Health</li></ul><p>Watch the full 90-minute discussion via Umu Play, English subtitles are available: <a href="https://play.91��ý����/media/t/0_1ztv70rf">The Cloudburst in Bergsvik 2035</a></p><p>The seminar is organised in collaboration between Ume&aring; Transformation Research Initiative (UTRI) and Sustainable Health in Partnership (SHIP) as part of the dialogue series <em>New Perspectives on Sustainable Health</em>. The planning and facilitation of the dialogue were carried out by Maria Nilsson, Professor of Public Health, and Annika Egan Sj&ouml;lander, Professor of Media Studies.</p>/en/news/when-the-climate-crisis-becomes-a-public-health-issue_12157389//en/news/interest-in-umea-universitys-international-programmes-at-record-levels_12157014/Umeå University continues to strengthen its international profile. For the autumn 2026 application period, 13,146 prospective students have applied to one of the university's international master's programmes, the highest number since tuition fees were introduced in 2011. This represents an increase of 40.9% compared to the previous year.Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:34:18 +0100<p>The number of first-choice applicants out of the 13,146 who applied for master's programmes is 4,390, which is an increase of 39.9% compared to the previous year. Ume&aring; University offers 45 programmes at master's level and four at bachelor's level. At bachelor's level, the number of applicants has also increased by 39.8%, with 2,056 applicants, of whom 581 are first-choice applicants.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s encouraging to see such strong and growing interest in our international master&rsquo;s programmes,&rdquo; says Cathrine Norberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education at Ume&aring; University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="902ded86-39e4-4ca5-8c1c-576d0969910a" data-contentname="International master’s programmes with the most applicants for autumn 2026">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="65b9c529-b02b-477c-ba3c-7b49783c8873" data-contentname="In percentage terms, the increase is greatest for:">{}</div><p>It is evident that two years of intensive and strategic recruitment efforts within the EU/EEA have yielded results, with continued strong interest from Germany and applicants from countries such as the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain, where several recruitment initiatives have been carried out.</p><p class="quote-center">The growing interest reflects the current geopolitical climate, in which many students are actively seeking stable and appealing educational environments in Europe and Scandinavia.</p><p>&ldquo;The aim of the initiative was to strengthen recruitment from Europe, and the work carried out has also created a ripple effect globally. The growing interest reflects the current geopolitical climate, in which many students are actively seeking stable and appealing educational environments in Europe and Scandinavia,&rdquo; says Francine Ferretti Horst, project coordinator for international student recruitment in Europe.<br><br>During the year, Ume&aring; University has increased its visibility by launching a new user-friendly education website and ensuring that the university's international programmes were searchable earlier on the application portal universityadmissions.se, the website where international students apply for higher education in Sweden. The University has participated in a large number of digital fairs, combined with a strong physical presence at over ten education fairs around Europe.<br><br>The University has also invested in digital advertising and follow-up of prospective students. Through personal chats, social media, films and blogs, student ambassadors have contributed authentic student-generated content that builds trust and engagement among prospective students worldwide.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/79be5098efd5493c9f54da7d1ea921f8/eng-diagram-sokande_vs_forstahandsokande_masterht26_kopiera.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Number of applicants to international master's programmes on the final application date for autumn 2026.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>International Office</span></div></div>/en/news/interest-in-umea-universitys-international-programmes-at-record-levels_12157014//en/news/call-for-arctic-six-chairs-2026_12157000/Do you want to foster collaboration in research for and within the Arctic regions of Finland, Norway, and Sweden? If so, take the opportunity and apply to become an Arctic Six Chair. Deadline is 20 March, 2026.Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:10:46 +0100<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Become an Arctic Six Chair</h2><p>The Chairs programme is the primary format for research collaboration within The Arctic Six, comprising scholars with the will and capacity to build alliances in research between the Arctic Six universities, thereby forming new collaborations or strengthening existing ones.</p><p>The objective is to:</p><ul><li>generate collaborations in research within The Arctic Six through a bottom-up approach, and</li><li>formulate broader fields of collaboration.</li></ul><p>The overarching aim is to enhance the success of Arctic Six universities in securing external funding, thereby helping to meet our goal of finding research-based solutions to the joint problems facing our northern societies.</p><p>Prospective Arctic Six Chairs are established scholars at an Arctic Six university, with either recent or ongoing research collaborations with other Arctic Six partner universities, or who plan to develop such partnerships. As an Arctic Six Chair, you will be able to build these collaborations whilst providing support for developing joint projects, as well as assistance with applying for larger funding calls.</p><p>Successful applicants will work on their projects on a part-time basis, with a guaranteed time allocation of at least 20% (implementation determined by the host university) and an annual budget approximating &euro;10,000 to cover operational costs. Each Chair appointment is for 2 years, with the possibility of an additional 1-year extension (without guaranteed funding).</p><p>Applicants from all disciplines or fields of study are welcome to apply!</p><p><strong>Apply before 20 March, 2026</strong></p><p>Visit the Arctic Six webpage to learn more about the call and to apply.</p><p><strong><a href="https://projweb.ltu.se/arctic-six/news/news-archive/2026-03-05-call-for-arctic-six-chairs-2026">Arctic Six webpage: Call for Arctic Six Chairs 2026</a></strong></p>/en/news/call-for-arctic-six-chairs-2026_12157000//en/news/the-arctic-is-the-planets-early-warning-system_12156848/Drawing on the latest findings from NOAA’s Arctic Report Card (2025), record warmth and precipitation, shrinking early-summer snow cover, and unprecedented glacier losses in Scandinavia indicate that the Arctic system is changing faster and in more interconnected ways than previously observed. Together, these signals form a shared evidence base for researchers seeking to frame new questions, strengthen proposals, and connect local observations to pan-Arctic processes.Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:23:41 +0100<p><a href="https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2025/"> NOAA&rsquo;s Arctic Report Card 2025</a> (ARC 2025) is a peer-reviewed annual &ldquo;stocktake&rdquo; of Arctic climate and environmental conditions&mdash;now in its 20th year&mdash;covering the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and tundra, alongside focused essays on emerging phenomena.</p><p>Arctic observing is globally consequential as &ldquo;to observe the Arctic is to take the pulse of the planet&rdquo;. The region is warming several times faster than the global average, with cascading effects on ecosystems, livelihoods, and global climate dynamics.</p><p>The report documents another year of exceptional warmth and a strengthening hydrologic cycle. Arctic-wide surface air temperatures from October 2024 to September 2025 were the warmest in the instrumental record back to 1900, and total precipitation over the same period set a record high. Snow conditions underline the &ldquo;faster, wetter, more variable&rdquo; character of a warming Arctic: snowpack was above normal across much of the Arctic through May, yet June snow cover extent still dropped below normal&mdash;part of a long-term decline in which June snow cover is now about half of what it was six decades ago.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">On land: Melting ice, greening tundra, and rusting rivers</h2><p>Glaciers in Arctic Scandinavia and Svalbard experienced their most negative mass-balance year on record in 2023/24, linked to persistent warmth over northern Scandinavia and the Barents Sea. Tundra ecosystems continue to transform, with circumpolar maximum tundra greenness ranking third highest in the 26-year satellite record, extending a run of near-record values since 2020. Meanwhile, permafrost-driven biogeochemical change is becoming visible: in Alaska alone, more than 200 watersheds now show &ldquo;rusting rivers,&rdquo; where iron and other elements mobilised by thawing permafrost discolour streams, increase acidity, and release toxic metals, degrading aquatic habitats&mdash;raising direct concerns for drinking water and subsistence fisheries.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Ocean and sea ice: Record lows, vanishing old ice, and unprecedented heat</h2><p>Winter sea ice reached the lowest annual maximum extent in the 47-year satellite record (March 2025), and September 2025 recorded the 10th lowest minimum extent&mdash;continuing a pattern in which the 19 lowest September minima have all occurred in the last 19 years. The oldest, thickest multi-year ice has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s, with resilient ice now concentrated mainly north of Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago. In the Atlantic-sector marginal seas, August 2025 sea-surface temperatures were ~7&deg;C above the 1991&ndash;2020 average&mdash;an extraordinary marine heat anomaly. ARC 2025 also highlights &ldquo;Atlantification&rdquo;&mdash;the northward spread of warmer, saltier Atlantic-origin waters&mdash;now detected in the central Arctic Ocean, with implications for sea-ice formation, ocean stratification, weather, and ecosystem structure.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">A baseline for proposals&mdash;and a catalyst for new research</h2><p>The report presents a practical and citable synthesis of the conditions that shape environmental risk, infrastructure needs, food security, and governance challenges. It also models how knowledge is produced: Indigenous-led and community-driven monitoring is treated as essential, not supplemental, and the report explicitly notes that observing gaps still limit what can be assessed and managed. For researchers developing proposals or new questions, the Report Card is both baseline evidence and an idea generator&mdash;an annual reference point for what is changing, where, and why it matters.</p><p>You can join the Arctic Centre as an <a href="~/link/a1c619a0154647e486170f26f0f6f4f8.aspx">Associated Researcher</a> and receive the weekly Arctic Digest newsletter, where you can learn more about opportunities for collaboration, mobility, funding, and more.</p><p>Read the highlights, watch videos, or read the full <a href="https://arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/report-card-2025/">Arctic Report Card</a> (<a href="https://arctic.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ArcticReportCard_full_report2025.pdf">PDF</a>).</p>/en/news/the-arctic-is-the-planets-early-warning-system_12156848//en/news/investigates-gut-bacterias-role-in-viral-disease_12156536/'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral researcher Nazar Beirag explores how bacterial membrane vesicles affect viral infections, a cutting-edge study at the intersection of virology and gut microbiota. Originally from the Netherlands, his academic career took him to the UK before moving to Umeå.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:04:26 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1680-260108-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>&uml;'EC' postdoc Nazar Beirag works across the Departments of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Ume&aring; has impressed me with its welcoming atmosphere and international research community</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">What is your academic background?</h2><p>&ldquo;I hold a PhD in Immunology and Infection from Brunel University London, where I studied innate immune surveillance mechanisms in the context of COVID-19. My research identified how complement regulatory proteins, such as Factor H and Properdin, can modulate SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in several publications in Frontiers in Immunology and Viruses. Previously, I earned an MSc in Immunohematology and a BSc in Biomedical Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University, with a focus on immune regulation and coagulation in human disease contexts.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Why did you decide to work at Ume&aring; University?</h2><p>&ldquo;I came across the EC postdoctoral advertisement through Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s career portal. The emphasis on collaborative infection-biology research immediately caught my attention. Ume&aring; University stood out for its strong interdisciplinary approach and the presence of leading researchers working on host&ndash;pathogen interactions. The facilities and culture here encourage experimental innovation, and being part of a Nordic research hub known for high-quality science felt like an excellent step to build upon my PhD foundation.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What is your research focusing on?</h2><p>&ldquo;My project examines the impact of bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs), nanoparticles released by bacteria, on human adenovirus F40/41 infections in the gastrointestinal tract. I study how BMVs from commensal and pathogenic bacteria can either promote or suppress viral infection. The goal is to identify BMV-associated factors that could be harnessed for novel microbiota-based antiviral strategies.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">What is challenging and rewarding about being a researcher?</h2><p>&ldquo;The challenge lies in the uncertainty of experimental science&mdash;results often surprise you, forcing you to adapt and think critically. Yet that same unpredictability is also the reward: each unexpected finding can open an entirely new path of inquiry. During my PhD, discovering that complement regulatory proteins act as soluble pattern-recognition receptors for viruses was one of those moments that reminded me why scientific curiosity matters.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Where do you see yourself in five years?</h2><p>&ldquo;In five years, I aim to be leading an independent research line focused on viral and bacterial co-infections, ideally bridging academic research and translational biotechnology. I would like my work to contribute directly to therapeutic development or the improvement of vaccines.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">What are your first impressions of Ume&aring; and its university?</h2><p>&ldquo;Ume&aring; has impressed me with its welcoming atmosphere and international research community. The balance between academic excellence and quality of life here is remarkable, with a natural setting that offers an inspiring contrast to the long days of experiments.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info6" data-magellan-target="info6">What is your driving force for research in life sciences?</h2><p>&ldquo;My motivation comes from understanding how gut microbiota impact viral infections. The possibility that fundamental discoveries can lead to tangible medical benefits is what drives me every day.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info7" data-magellan-target="info7">What do you like to do in your free time?</h2><p>&ldquo;In my free time, I enjoy staying active outdoors. I am a long-distance runner and often take long walks in nature to clear my mind after a day in the lab. I have also recently started learning to swim, which has become a new and rewarding challenge.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/05ebd620edcf4082beb4ce1864c5ccd3/nazar_beirag-1721-260108-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>What Nazar Beirag finds exciting about his subject is the ability to uncover how gut microbiota affect viral infections at the molecular level and translate that knowledge into human health solutions.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/investigates-gut-bacterias-role-in-viral-disease_12156536//en/news/new-chair-of-the-industrial-doctoral-school-steering-group_12156573/Deputy Vice-Chancellor Thomas Olofsson is new chair of the steering group of the Industrial Doctoral School. His ambition is to continue developing the doctoral school’s unique breadth and its strong collaboration with businesses, organisations and public authorities.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:38:22 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/styrgruppen_foretagsforskarskolan3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Parts of the Industrial Doctoral School steering group 2026. From the left: Ingrid Und&eacute;n Lindehell, Amrei Aubrunner, Thomas Olofsson, &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, Patrik Ryd&eacute;n, Jonas Nilsson, and Stefan Gelfgren.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sara-Lena Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m</span></div></div><p>Thomas Olofsson assumed the role of chair of the steering group of the Industrial Doctoral School in connection with taking up his position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University in July 2025.</p><p>&ldquo;I think it is important that the Industrial Doctoral School continues to be attractive, both for researchers seeking funding for doctoral students and for the businesses, organisations and public authorities that want to collaborate with us. The ambition is a high level of applications, but also a broad distribution across different research areas. We are a comprehensive university, and it is unique to be able to bring together so many research fields within the same doctoral school,&rdquo; says Thomas Olofsson.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Knowledge in demand in society</h2><p>The steering group provides overarching support for the activities of the Industrial Doctoral School and is responsible, among other things, for the admission of research projects. It consists of a chair, five representatives from the university, three external representatives and one doctoral student representative, and meets four times per year.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f2c85d45faba45c38fea825108b62f25/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas Olofsson.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>Thomas Olofsson sees collaboration as one of the doctoral school&rsquo;s greatest strengths.</p><p>&ldquo;An important purpose of research is to contribute knowledge that is relevant and in demand in society. The Industrial Doctoral School is a valuable platform for identifying and developing research questions together with external partners &ndash; questions that might otherwise be difficult to pursue,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Supporting researchers in collaboration</h2><p>As of 1 January 2026, the Industrial Doctoral School will be organisationally affiliated with the Research Support and Collaboration Office. The steering group has also recently welcomed two new members: Stefan Gelfgren, new academic representative from the Faculty of Humanities, and &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m, Head of the Research Support and Collaboration Office.</p><p>&ldquo;Through this organisational placement, we can create better conditions for collaboration and provide more coherent support for researchers who want to work closely with society and industry,&rdquo; says &Aring;ke Br&auml;nnstr&ouml;m.</p>/en/news/new-chair-of-the-industrial-doctoral-school-steering-group_12156573//en/news/large-parts-of-the-tropics-overlooked-in-environmental-research_12156508/Environmental research in the tropics is heavily skewed, according to a comprehensive study led from Umeå University. Humid lowland forest ecosystems receive a disproportionate amount of attention, while colder and drier regions that are more affected by climate change are severely underrepresented.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:16:32 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c5c64108a721494894935b903061d040/img_16492.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Some tropical regions are very understudied, such as the montane grasslands in the Peruvian Andes. This risks creating a misleading picture in research and leading to poor policy decisions.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Metcalfe</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Current research patterns risk giving a misleading picture about how tropical ecosystems function. This can lead to policy recommendations that fail to take into account the environments that are most vulnerable, or that take lessons learned from one system and mistakenly apply them to other systems,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe, lead author of the study and professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The researchers analysed 2,738 published studies conducted in natural terrestrial tropical environments across all scientific disciplines. By mapping both field sampling locations and how often different studies are cited, they were able to reveal strong geographic and ecological patterns in the research. The results are published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Climate-vulnerable ecosystems</h2><p>The study shows that just five ecoregions&mdash;all located in moist broadleaf forests&mdash;account for 22 percent of all citations, despite representing only 3 percent of the total tropical land area. In contrast, drier regions with low tree cover make up 57 percent of the tropical region but stand for only 20 percent of total citations.</p><p>Many of the regions that receive the least research attention&mdash;such as mountain regions, deserts and grasslands&mdash;are also among those facing the most severe climate change impacts. This means that policy decisions affecting them may be based on incomplete or misleading science.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Imbalance in research</h2><p>By clearly showing where research effort and scientific attention are lacking, the study provides a basis for guiding future research investments more strategically.</p><p>&ldquo;To ensure effective environmental policy worldwide, research needs to better reflect the full range of tropical ecosystems. This is both a scientific necessity and a matter of fairness,&rdquo; says Daniel Metcalfe. &ldquo;Similar imbalances are likely to exist beyond the tropics. Understanding where research is lacking in other regions, such as Europe&rsquo;s temperate and boreal ecosystems, could help shape future research agendas.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="90a6b9b3-cf1e-4fba-a402-3f0e200014bd" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/large-parts-of-the-tropics-overlooked-in-environmental-research_12156508//en/news/professor-johanna-bjorklund-featured-by-sprakbanken_12156227/She is the co-founder of three media technology companies, has been recognised as one of Sweden's most innovative entrepreneurs, and has recently been appointed professor of Computing Science at Umeå University. Johanna Björklund is now featured as Språkbanken’s Profile of the Month.Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:29:53 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3661042e2a8b4063bb2abd664105b956/johanna_bjorklund_foto_peter_karlsson_svarteld4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Her research lies at the intersection of formal languages, machine learning and semantics. Professor Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund is now focusing on finding new and improved ways to evaluate generative AI.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>_Foto Peter Karlsson Svarteld</span></div></div><p><a href="~/link/8f363b1a29bd4ab1a5dc5943afeeb8f6.aspx">Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund</a>, professor of Computing Science at Ume&aring; University, specialises in semantic analysis of multimodal data &ndash; advanced computational systems capable of interpreting and generating combined media such as text, images and forms. She is co‑founder of the media technology companies <a href="https://www.codemill.se/">Codemill</a>, <a href="https://aeternalabs.ai/">Aeterna Labs</a> and <a href="https://www.deeptensor.ai/">DeepTensor</a>, and is head of <a href="~/link/a7920213123e4d14aaa641a5617ff5b6.aspx">WARA Media and Language</a>, a research arena within <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a>, the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Programme.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">AI in focus</h2><p>Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund is now being recognised by <a href="https://sprakbanken.se/sprakbankeninenglish.html">Spr&aring;kbanken</a>, a national research infrastructure jointly funded by the <a href="https://www.vr.se/english.html">Swedish Research Council</a> and 10 universities and government agencies. Read more about her research and plans for the future on Spr&aring;kbanken&rsquo;s website, where she is currently featured as <a href="https://sprakbanken.se/aktuellt/nyheter/2025-12-18-manadens-profil-johanna-bjorklund">Profile of the Month</a>.</p><h3>Further information</h3><p>For additional details, please contact Professor Johanna Bj&ouml;rklund at the <a href="~/link/f1ccf1d251be4f538a13df854f18fb07.aspx">Department of Computer Science</a>.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6f2d32cc-10fa-4e2f-a9c4-b5b8b9a3aed5" data-contentname="Johanna Björklund kontakt">{}</div>/en/news/professor-johanna-bjorklund-featured-by-sprakbanken_12156227//en/news/a-bacterial-toxin-can-counteract-colorectal-cancer-growth_12156271/A toxin secreted by cholera bacteria can inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer without causing any measurable damage to the body. This is shown by a new study by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden. Systemic administration of the purified bacterial substance changes the immune microenvironment in tumours, and the results may open the way for research into a new type of cancer treatment.Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:58:38 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/nyunt_wai_sun_9811_211117_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sun Nyunt Wai.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"The substance not only kills cancer cells directly. It reshapes the tumour environment and helps the immune system to work against the tumor without damaging healthy tissue," says Sun Nyunt Wai, professor at Ume&aring; University and one of the lead authors behind the study.</p><p>Colorectal cancer, i.e. cancer of the colon and rectum, is the third most common form of cancer in the world and the cancer with the second highest mortality rate globally. Today, cancer is usually treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. While it is effective in many cases, those methods also have significant side effects. Colorectal cancer is also increasing in the world. Therefore, it is valuable to find alternative treatment methods.</p><p>The researchers in Ume&aring; have studied the cancer-inhibiting properties of the purified substance MakA, a so-called cytotoxin secreted by the cholera bacterium Vibrio cholerae. In experiments with mice, it was possible to see that systemic administration of MakA significantly reduced the growth of the tumours.</p><p>The substance accumulated specifically in the tumour tissue, where it increased cell death of tumour cells and reduced their ability to increase in number. In parallel, MakA changed the composition of the cellular environment in tumours and increased the number of innate immune cells, especially macrophages and neutrophils, which in turn contributed to inhibiting tumour growth.</p><p>The treatment did not lead to any harmful inflammation in mice. No adverse effects on body weight, general health, or the function of vital organs could be seen even after repeated dosing. This suggests that the effect of MakA is local and specifically targeted at tumours.</p><p>Further analyses confirmed that MakA stimulated the formation of so-called immune mediators in the tumour that promote cell death while maintaining regulatory mechanisms that limit damage to surrounding tissue.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d8c4c1d0dc3f469b900794935abd7a79/erttmann-saskia-0070_230424_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Saskia Erttmann.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"Although more research is needed, the results clearly show an interesting path for developing a new type of cancer treatment, which utilizes substances that bacteria create to both kill cancer cells and strengthen the body's own defences," says Saskia Erttmann, one of the lead authors behind the study.</p><p>The researchers emphasize that more studies are needed to explore the anti-cancer potential of MakA in other models as well as to assess its suitability for future clinical use.</p><p>The study is published in the scientific journal Cell Death &amp; Disease. It has been carried out at Ume&aring; University through close collaboration between research groups affiliated with the UCMR and MIMS units. The research has been funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society and the Kempe Foundation.</p>/en/news/a-bacterial-toxin-can-counteract-colorectal-cancer-growth_12156271//en/news/plastic-particles-increase-inflammation-and-cross-barriers_12156283/A previously unknown mechanism that makes it possible for aggressive so-called triple-negative breast cancer to fine-tune its production of proteins has been discovered by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden. The discovery increases our understanding of how tumours grow and adapt, and it opens up for research into new future treatments.Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:14:17 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/21bb2964d93a4460ad523d127bb1531c/francesca-aguiolo-lab-9542-251215-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Three of the researchers behind the study, Kanchan Kumari, Francesca Aguilo and Margalida Esteva, Department of Molecular Biology.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"We have found a critical control point that, when disturbed, can tip the balance against cancer," says Francesca Aguilo, associate professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University and who has led the current study.</p><p>All cells in the body use ribosomes, small molecular factories, to translate genetic information from RNA into proteins. Ribosomes are complex structures made up of ribosomal RNA and proteins, and they have built-in control systems that ensure that everything works as it should. When these systems are disrupted, diseases such as cancer can occur.</p><p>Ribosomal RNA is rich in chemical modifications that help the ribosome function optimally. One such modification is 2&prime;-O-methylation, Nm, which is controlled by the enzyme fibrillarin. The new study shows that fibrillarin plays a key role in how ribosomes are built and which proteins are made.</p><p>The researchers discovered that fibrillarin collaborates with the ribosome protein RPS28 to create specialized ribosomes with unique properties. When fibrillarin is missing, RPS28 also disappears, leading to a mixture of different ribosome types &ndash; so-called ribosomal heterogeneity. This imbalance affects which proteins are produced and can drive the development of cancer.</p><p>"Cancer is not only about mutated genes, but also about how cells control the amount and type of proteins that are produced," says Francesca Aguilo.</p><p>Although more research is needed before the results can be translated into treatments, the study points to a new direction for research on treatments; to attack cancer as a disease of misregulated protein production.</p><p>The study has been conducted in collaboration with several European universities and published in the scientific journal Cancer Letters. It has been funded by the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Cancer Society and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg and Kempe Foundations, among others.</p>/en/news/discovery-on-how-aggressive-breast-cancer-controls-protein-production_12156007//en/news/new-study-shows-how-the-cell-repairs-its-recycling-stations_12156177/When the cell’s recycling stations, the lysosomes, start leaking, it can become dangerous. Toxic waste risks spreading and damaging the cell. Now, researchers at Umeå University have revealed the molecular sensors that detect tiny holes in lysosomal membranes so they can be quickly repaired – a process crucial for preventing inflammation, cell death, and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:57:55 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/be52e676153d476db71dc577d8b0f820/yaowen_and_dale_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>&nbsp;Leaks in the cell's lysosomes can be life-threatening. The discovery by researchers Yaowen Wu and Dale Corkery may help to understand and prevent diseases such as Alzheimer&rsquo;s.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Yue Li </span></div></div><p>Lysosomes are the cell&rsquo;s recycling stations, handling cellular waste and converting it into building blocks that can be reused. Lysosomal membranes are frequently exposed to stress from pathogens, proteins, and metabolic byproducts. Damage can lead to leakage of toxic contents into the cytoplasm, which in turn may cause inflammation and cell death. Until now, the mechanism by which cells detect these membrane injuries has remained unknown.</p><p>In a recently published study, professor Yaowen Wu and his research group at the Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, identified the signalling pathway that is activated in response to lysosomal damage. This discovery laid the foundation for understanding how the cell senses membrane injuries.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Sensors identified</h2><p>In the new study, the researchers take it a step further and have discovered two autophagy protein complexes that serve as the long-sought sensors of lysosomal damage.</p><p>&ldquo;They respond and quickly move to the damaged membranes when protons or calcium leak out, initiating the repair system that seals the hole. We observed that without these two key proteins, the cell fails to repair the damage, causing the lysosome to rupture,&rdquo; says Yaowen Wu, lead author of the study.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Combination of techniques</h2><p>The team used a combination of live-cell imaging, genetic knockout models, advanced microscopy, and functional repair assays to map the sequence of events following controlled lysosomal damage.</p><p>The results apply to several different types of cells and show the same underlying mechanism.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Next step in research</h2><p>&ldquo;The discovery provides a new understanding and opens the door to new treatment strategies for diseases where lysosomal damage plays a central role. In future studies, we will investigate links to neurodegeneration, infections, and inflammation,&rdquo; says Yaowen Wu.</p><p>Dale Corkery, staff scientist and first author, adds:</p><p>&ldquo;It is vital that lysosomal contents stay where they belong. If we understand why leaks sometimes go undetected, we can also understand why cells die in neurodegenerative diseases.&rdquo;</p><p>The study is published in the scientific journal EMBO Journal.</p>/en/news/new-study-shows-how-the-cell-repairs-its-recycling-stations_12156177//en/news/new-library-director-at-umea-university-library_12154781/Malin Josefsson will become the new Library Director at Umeå University Library from 1 January 2026. This was decided by the Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University on Friday 19 December following a unanimous recommendation from the Library Board and a unanimous recommendation from the recruitment group. Malin Josefsson has been serving as acting Library Director at the library since the summer of 2024. Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:47:21 +0100<p>"With her strong leadership and extensive network, Malin Josefsson will be a significant force in the continued development of Ume&aring; University Library, which is currently undergoing major changes in terms of both premises and organisation. We in the management team are confident that our wonderful and important university library is now in safe hands under the leadership of our new library director," says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Malin Josefsson has many years of experience in senior management within library services, most recently as head of department at the Medical Library at the University Hospital of Ume&aring; and, for the past year and a half, as acting library director at Ume&aring; University Library. She is a librarian by training and has held senior positions at the library since 2015.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d308bf42087d430baffaeefacc56cde7/malin_och_petra3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Malin Josefsson will become the new Library Director at Ume&aring; University Library from 1 January 2026. Photo: Linus Talltj&auml;rn</p></div></div><p>"I am both delighted and proud to have been entrusted with the task of leading Ume&aring; University Library. It is a task I am taking on with great commitment and confidence. There is no shortage of challenges, both in the long and short term, but there are also exciting opportunities," says Malin Josefsson, continuing:</p><p>"After many years of service at the library, I know what drive and expertise there is, and I am therefore really looking forward to developing the business together with all my colleagues. The timing couldn't be better, given the vision work currently being carried out at the university."</p><h3>Contributed to Ume&aring; getting a university</h3><p>Ume&aring; University Library is the largest academic library in northern Sweden and provides services to both students and employees at Ume&aring; University, but is of course also open to the public. The library is currently undergoing an exciting phase of renovation to better meet the needs of visitors and accommodate its growing collections.</p><p>Ume&aring; University Library has its origins in the &lsquo;Scientific Library in Ume&aring;&rsquo;, which was established in 1950 and was located at Ume&aring; City Library. The government then decided that the Ministry of Justice's review copies should be sent to Ume&aring;, the so-called <em>fifth copy</em> of all Swedish publications. This is also said to be one of the reasons why Ume&aring; eventually got a university.</p><p>When the government decided to establish a medical college in Ume&aring; in 1958, a medical library was also created. When Ume&aring; University was inaugurated in 1965, Ume&aring; University Library had already been in existence for a year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/new-library-director-at-umea-university-library_12154781//en/news/recognised-and-distinguished-teachers-autumn-2025_12154910/During the autumn, an additional 35 teachers have been appointed within Umeå University’s model for the recognition of teaching qualifications, 24 at the Recognised Teacher level and 11 at the Distinguished Teacher level. Since the start, more than 400 teachers have been appointed within the model which rewards and highlights pedagogical competence.Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:38:09 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7a518361096f4970b7f0644dcf452c84/bildpinsredigerad4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p><span class="photo" style="color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Image</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Ellen S&auml;ll</span></p></div></div><p>All teachers appointed within the model for the recognition of teaching qualifications receive a salary adjustment, a diploma, and a ceremonial pin. New this autumn is that the Distinguished Teachers are recognised in connection with the Annual Ceremony. They are invited to pedagogical discussions together with recipients of teaching awards and presented in the programme for the ceremony.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Clarification of eligibility requirements</h2><p>Applicants to the model must have completed higher education pedagogical training amounting to at least 10 weeks or 15 ECTS credits. Eligible training includes formal courses in higher education pedagogy with clear learning outcomes and requirements, and which provide certification upon completion.</p><p>Other professional development activities, such as seminars, workshops, conferences, teaching days, Skrivum, Punktum projects, or similar, are also valuable pedagogical experiences. They should be highlighted in the CV and in the application, but cannot be counted toward the 10 weeks or 15 ECTS required to meet eligibility.</p><p>A comprehensive evaluation of the model for the recognition of teaching qualifications is planned for 2026. In connection with this evaluation, an updated overview will be compiled of how many Recognised Teachers and Distinguished Teachers are currently active at the university.</p><p><strong>The next application period for the model is 16 January to 16 February 2026.</strong></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Appointments to Distinguished Teacher Autumn Semester 2025</h2><h3>Faculty of Social Sciences</h3><p>Irina Alexeyeva, Associate Senior Lecturer, Ume&aring; School of Business, Economics and Statistics, Business Administration<br>Johan Holm, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Law<br>Maria Nordin, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology<br>Ted Saarikko, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Lotta Str&ouml;msten, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology</p><h3>Faculty of Arts and Humanities</h3><p>Nils Franz&eacute;n, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies<br>Kalle Grill, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies<br>Maria J&ouml;nsson, Professor, Department of Culture and Media Studies</p><h3>Faculty of Medicine</h3><p>Malin Brundin, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Odontology<br>B&ouml;rje Rehn, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation<br>Maria Wiklund, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Appointments to Recognised Teacher Autumn Semester 2025</h2><h3>Faculty of Social Sciences</h3><p>Karin Brod&eacute;n, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Josefin Brodin, Teaching Fellow, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science<br>Virginie Fernandez, Associate Senior Lecturer, Ume&aring; School of Business, Economics and Statistics, Business Administration<br>Johan Hellstr&ouml;m, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science<br>Robert Lundmark, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology<br>Tord G&ouml;ran Olovsson, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Education<br>Pedro Sanches, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Linda Sandberg, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography<br>Erika Sandow, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography</p><h3>Faculty of Arts and Humanities</h3><p>Giovanni Fort, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Language Studies<br>Peter Henning, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Culture and Media Studies<br>Christian L&ouml;w, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies<br>Per Stam, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Culture and Media Studies</p><h3>Faculty of Science and Technology</h3><p>Per Arnqvist, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics<br>Eduardo Gracia, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Physics<br>Lisa Lundin, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry<br>Tommy L&ouml;fstedt, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing Science<br>Johanna L&ouml;nngren, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Science and Mathematics Education</p><h3>Faculty of Medicine</h3><p>Katarina Wik&eacute;n Albertsson, Teaching Fellow, Department of Odontology<br>Pernilla Lif Holgerson, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Odontology<br>Kristina Lejon, Professor, Department of Clinical Microbiology<br>Karin Nilsson, Teaching Fellow, Department of Nursing<br>Maria Str&ouml;mb&auml;ck, Associate Senior Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation</p><h3>Ume&aring; University Library</h3><p>Peter Vinnervik, Associate Senior Lecturer, Centre for Educational Development</p>/en/news/recognised-and-distinguished-teachers-autumn-2025_12154910//en/news/60-years-of-arctic-research-at-umea-university_12154759/When Umeå University was inaugurated on 17 August 1965 by King Gustaf VI Adolf, it was built on land that, just a decade prior, had served as winter grazing grounds for the reindeer of Rans Sameby. This intersection of Sápmi, the boreal forest, and the industrialising North—set the stage for the university’s academic future. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary in 2025, we look back on a journey that has transformed a regional teaching institution into a global leader in Arctic research.Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:29:51 +0100<p>Today, the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University acts as an interdisciplinary hub for over 300 associated researchers. But the story of Arctic research here is not just one of volume; it is a story of evolution. From the early, distinct disciplines of biology and medicine to the complex, interdisciplinary systems thinking of "The Arctic Six" alliance, Ume&aring; University has consistently defined what it means to study the North.</p><p><em>The following reflection is not intended to be comprehensive, but it highlights many of the significant Arctic events, research, and education activities, as well as notable achievements. Any omissions are unintentional and solely reflect the limits of the author's knowledge</em>.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">1965&ndash;1974: The Foundations</h2><p>In North Sweden&rsquo;s first decade, research was shaped by the region&rsquo;s defining conditions: vast distances, dispersed settlements, limited access to specialist services, and a policy mandate to build capacity beyond Sweden&rsquo;s established academic centres. Early medical and dental research addressed the practical challenge of delivering equitable care across sparsely populated counties. In parallel, teacher education and the humanities expanded to address professional shortages and to build the scholarly infrastructure needed to document and interpret northern society and history.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ccc57293-c4e1-4237-b52b-0ed768e93d9d" data-contentname="PIC GLES">{}</div><p>From the outset, the social sciences (including political science from 1965) made "glesbygd" (sparsely populated areas) and centre&ndash;periphery relations central analytical concerns. It examined how policy, service provision, and economic restructuring affected coastal towns, inland communities, and governance across vast distances, tracing the historical processes that shaped settlement and development. In this wider regional setting&mdash;where Ume&aring; sits within S&aacute;pmi&mdash;the decade&rsquo;s significance lay less in narrow &ldquo;local studies&rdquo; than in establishing durable research and training systems that could sustain the institutions, workforces, and basis of evidence northern communities relied on.</p><p>Leading this geographical inquiry was <strong>Erik Bylund</strong> (1922&ndash;2005), one of the university&rsquo;s first appointed professors and the founder of its Department of Geography. Known as <em>"The Norrland Professor,"</em> Bylund&rsquo;s work bridged the gap between historical analysis and contemporary regional policy; he utilised his seminal research on the colonisation of Pite Lappmark to inform modern understandings of inland depopulation and glesbygd dynamics. His dedication to the region extended beyond the classroom, laying the groundwork for the future <strong>Centre for Regional Science (CERUM)</strong> and serving as President of the Royal Skyttean Society. He established a research tradition that viewed the North not merely as a resource frontier, but as a complex social landscape requiring specific, locally grounded scientific inquiry.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">1975&ndash;1984: Broadening Horizons &ndash; Forestry and History</h2><p>As the university expanded, the forestry industry&rsquo;s growth into the northern interior spurred research into boreal ecology and silviculture.</p><p>However, a significant shift occurred in the humanities. Historians began to challenge the "wilderness" narrative of the North. <strong>Lennart Lundmark&rsquo;s</strong> 1982 work, <em>Uppb&ouml;rd, utarmning, utveckling</em> (Taxation, Impoverishment, Development), offered a critical socio-economic analysis of the transition from hunting to reindeer nomadism among the Sami (Lundmark, 1982). This decade marked the beginning of Ume&aring;&rsquo;s strong tradition in S&aacute;mi studies, moving beyond description to analysing colonial power structures.</p><p>In ecology, researchers such as <strong>Christer Nilsson</strong> initiated long-term studies on riparian vegetation along northern rivers, work that would later become crucial for global discussions on dam removal and river restoration (Nilsson, 1984).</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="990ee1b6-9516-47d0-906f-ba82682cf9fa" data-contentname="PIC ÄLV">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">1985&ndash;1994: Institutionalising the North &ndash; Climate and Culture</h2><p>In 1985, the university and county council launched a pioneering counter-offensive against the region&rsquo;s most deadly statistic: V&auml;sterbotten&rsquo;s status as the cardiovascular mortality capital of Sweden. Starting in the small municipality of Norsj&ouml;, <strong>Stig Wall</strong> initiated the <strong>V&auml;sterbotten Intervention Programme (VIP)</strong>, which replaced the traditional "wait-and-treat" model with a proactive strategy of mass screening and preventive health dialogues for individuals aged 40, 50, and 60 years old. <strong>Lars Weinehall</strong> co-developed and coordinated the V&auml;sterbotten Intervention Programme (VIP). This massive undertaking not only reversed the region&rsquo;s premature mortality trends&mdash;preventing hundreds of deaths&mdash;but also created <strong>Biobanken Norr</strong>, one of the world&rsquo;s most valuable population-based biobanks. By linking lifestyle data with biological samples across decades, VIP transformed the sparsely populated North into a global "gold mine" for epidemiological research, enabling groundbreaking studies on the long-term interactions between genetics, lifestyle, and diabetes.</p><p>On the cultural front, the <strong>Centre for Arctic Cultural Research</strong> was established, aggregating research on northern identities. <strong>Roger Kvist&rsquo;s</strong> anthologies on S&aacute;mi history helped secure the university&rsquo;s role in northern cultural heritage research (Kvist, 1992).</p><p><strong>Sverker S&ouml;rlin</strong> earned his PhD in the history of ideas at Ume&aring; University in 1988 with the dissertation <em>Framtidslandet: Debatten om Norrland och naturresurserna under det industriella genombrottet</em> (S&ouml;rlin, 1988). Here, Sverker lays out that industrialisation in Norrland took on the image of a &ldquo;land of the future&rdquo;, where people were expected to move to this new large-scale industrial province, business would flourish, and the riches would spread across Sweden. It was not the first time Norrland played this role, nor would it be the last. Sverker became a Professor in the History of Ideas at the Humanities faculty from 1993 to 2007.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="613ab797-a440-4d7b-83cd-e8559c9a2dc5" data-contentname="PIC SVERKER">{}</div><p>Early warnings of climate change characterised this decade. <strong>Leif Kullman&rsquo;s</strong> monitoring of the treeline in the Scandes mountains provided some of the first concrete evidence of vegetation shifts due to summer warming, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s (Kullman, 1993). His work demonstrated that the treeline (an often-cited boundary between the Boreal and Arctic regions) was not static; it was in constant motion.</p><p><strong>Lars-Erik Edlund</strong> has served as a guardian of Northern Sweden&rsquo;s linguistic identity, most notably as the editor-in-chief of the monumental four-volume <em>Norrl&auml;ndsk uppslagsbok</em> (1993&ndash;1996), which transformed the region from a perceived periphery into a documented centre of knowledge. His research mapped the "linguistic landscape" of the North, analysing how place names reveal centuries of interaction between Swedish and Sami populations. At the same time, his leadership as President of the Royal Skyttean Society further reflects the importance of the region&rsquo;s academic infrastructure.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">1995&ndash;2004: The Human Dimension and the Rise of V&aacute;rdduo</h2><p>The turn of the millennium marked a pivotal transformation in how the university engaged with Indigenous issues. In 2000, Ume&aring; University established <strong>CeSam (Centrum f&ouml;r samisk forskning)</strong>, which would later evolve into <strong>V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research</strong>. Under the leadership of scholars who advocated for Indigenous methodologies, the centre began to pivot research from being <em>on</em> the S&aacute;mi to being conducted <em>with</em> and <em>by</em> S&aacute;mi peoples.</p><p>Central to this era was <strong>Peter Sk&ouml;ld</strong>, a historical demographer whose influence would come to define Ume&aring;&rsquo;s Arctic profile for decades. While his doctoral work provided crucial data on the impact of smallpox on northern populations (Sk&ouml;ld, 1996), Sk&ouml;ld&rsquo;s contribution quickly transcended his own discipline. As the director of <strong>CeSam</strong> (and later the founding director of <strong>ARCUM</strong>), Sk&ouml;ld became the primary architect of Ume&aring;&rsquo;s "Human Dimension" in Arctic research. He positioned the university as a global hub for Arctic social sciences, later serving as president of the International <strong>Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA)</strong>. His work tirelessly emphasised that the Arctic was a lived space&mdash;a home&mdash;rather than just a climate laboratory, a perspective that became central to the policy engagement.</p><p>Simultaneously, political science and law gained prominence. As the EU began to look North, Ume&aring; researchers like <strong>Carina Keskitalo</strong> started to analyse how the "Arctic" was constructed politically. Her work on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of northern communities challenged the notion that the Arctic was merely a victim of climate change, instead highlighting local resilience (Keskitalo, 2004).</p><p>In the late 1990s, the establishment of the <strong>Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC)</strong> in Abisko allowed researchers to move from observation to prediction.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="c308b3a2-f905-4b98-95bc-bd759b5fdedf" data-contentname="PIC ABISKO">{}</div><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">2005&ndash;2014: A Global Arctic &ndash; Tourism and "Arctification"</h2><p>The formal inauguration of the <strong>Arctic Research Centre (ARCUM)</strong> in 2012, with <strong>Peter Sk&ouml;ld</strong> as its first director, marked the beginning of an era of expansion. The Arctic was no longer just a research subject; it was a global brand.</p><p>In medicine, the focus shifted to the intersection of climate change and infectious diseases. <strong>Birgitta Eveng&aring;rd</strong> co-led pioneering interdisciplinary work on "Climate change and infectious diseases," warning of the spread of zoonotic diseases, such as tularemia, as winters warmed (Eveng&aring;rd et al., 2011).</p><p>From <strong>CIRC</strong> in Abisko, <strong>Jan Karlsson</strong> and his colleagues reshaped the long-standing paradigm in freshwater ecology, which posits that nutrients are the primary constraint on lake productivity. Their 2009 <em>Nature</em> study showed that in many small, nutrient-poor lakes, light availability rather than nutrient supply often limits ecosystem productivity, which in turn cascades up to invertebrates and fish (Karlsson et al., 2009). This work reframed our understanding of what controls energy flow in unproductive lakes, particularly in northern regions.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="eb17c1aa-8c42-4f5b-a1f5-2d07303c1c3b" data-contentname="PIC CAMILLA">{}</div><p>In 2009, interdisciplinary ambition materialised in the forests with the launch of <strong>Future Forests</strong>, a collaborative research program between <strong>Ume&aring; University</strong>, the <strong>Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)</strong>, and <strong>Skogsforsk</strong>. Breaking the traditional silo where forestry was solely a technical pursuit, the project reimagined the northern boreal forest as a complex social-ecological system. By integrating political science, history, and sociology with silviculture, the program directly addressed the deepening conflicts in Norrland&rsquo;s interior&mdash;where the drive for intensified timber production increasingly clashed with reindeer husbandry, biodiversity conservation, and recreational needs. Under the leadership of <strong>Annika Nordin</strong> at SLU and <strong>Camilla Sandstr&ouml;m</strong> and, later, <strong>Janine Priebe</strong>, both at Ume&aring; University, Future Forests moved beyond the deadlock of "preservation versus production," producing over 350 publications that offered evidence-based strategies for managing the forest's multifunctional landscape. This work laid the foundation for a more nuanced understanding of the "Green Transition," proving that sustainable forestry in the North requires not just new planting methods, but a fundamental renegotiation of how the forest is valued.</p><p>While <strong>Dieter M&uuml;ller</strong> (1968-2025) conceptualised the Arctic as a "pleasure periphery" for global markets, examining the socioeconomic and political forces driving tourism in the region. He discusses the dual role of climate change&mdash;as a threat to local ecosystems and as a driver of "last chance tourism"&mdash;while addressing the challenges of seasonality and the conflicts between tourism growth and indigenous land use. M&uuml;ller (2011a) concludes that effective governance is crucial for striking a balance between economic development and the preservation of the Arctic&rsquo;s fragile environment and social fabric.</p><p>In 2014, the university&rsquo;s Arctic profile deepened its focus on the "European Arctic" with the launch of the <strong>Mistra Arctic Sustainable Development program</strong>, a major interdisciplinary initiative hosted by <strong>ARCUM</strong>. Moving beyond the romanticised view of the Arctic as a remote wilderness, this program analysed the North as a complex, industrialised arena where global demand for resources clashes with local livelihoods. Under the scientific leadership of <strong>Carina Keskitalo</strong> and <strong>Peter Sk&ouml;ld</strong>, the program examined the friction between competing land uses&mdash;forestry, mining, tourism, and reindeer husbandry&mdash;providing critical governance strategies for a region under intense geopolitical and economic pressure. By integrating historical analysis with modern political science, the project established that sustainable development in the North is not merely an environmental challenge, but a matter of managing conflicting rights and resources in a globalised world.</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">2015&ndash;2024: The Geopolitical and Green Shift</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="7bfb84bd-6ac9-44cf-a969-abe425d6a634" data-contentname="PIC VÁRDUO">{}</div><p>The most recent completed decade has been defined by the "Green Transition," the re-militarisation of the North, and the cementing of Indigenous research sovereignty. In 2015, <strong>CeSam</strong> was formally renamed <strong>V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research</strong>, taking its name from the Ume S&aacute;mi word for "a view with a wide horizon." <strong>V&aacute;rdduo</strong> is unique in Sweden, driving research that focuses on decolonisation, language revitalisation, and Indigenous land rights in relation to diverse colonial, state, and industrial contexts.</p><p><strong>The Mistra Arctic Sustainable Development</strong> program&rsquo;s scientific legacy was cemented through three flagship outputs that collectively reframed the "European Arctic" as a complex, industrialised arena. Led by <strong>Carina Keskitalo</strong>, the primary synthesis volume challenged the global "new frontier" myth, conceptualising the region instead as the "Old North"&mdash;a landscape defined by centuries of integration rather than remoteness (Keskitalo, 2019). Complementing this, <strong>Karin Beland Lindahl</strong> and colleagues exposed how regulatory "silos" make land-use conflicts inevitable, particularly between forestry and reindeer husbandry (Beland Lindahl et al., 2018).</p><p>Simultaneously, research by <strong>Dieter M&uuml;ller</strong> and <strong>Arvid Viken</strong> revealed the social friction involved in commodifying Indigenous culture for the tourism industry in a region already dominated by extractive powers (M&uuml;ller &amp; Viken, 2017). Together, these works demonstrated that sustainable development in the North is not merely an environmental challenge, but a matter of managing conflicting rights in a globalised world.</p><p>In 2017, Ume&aring; University joined UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, Lule&aring; University of Technology, the University of Oulu, and the University of Lapland to form the<strong> The Arctic Five</strong> university alliance, which aims to act as a regional development and innovation engine for the European Arctic. Two years later, the European Union published their first<strong> European Green Deal</strong> strategy, setting the stage for new research into green technologies and industries. More importantly, it led to a diversity of research focused on goal conflicts and justice.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6ce63cde-bc9e-405a-83c6-724a9e8b69ca" data-contentname="PIC LARS-ERIK">{}</div><p><strong>Lars-Erik Edlund</strong> published <em>Minority Language Place-Names: A Practice-Oriented Study of the Establishment of the South Sami Kraapohke in Swedish Laplan</em>d (Edlund, 2018), examining the administrative and symbolic struggle involved in officially restoring the South Sami place name Kraapohke (Dorotea), arguing that such toponyms are vital for validating Indigenous identity in a post-colonial society. The study demonstrates that the "linguistic landscape"&mdash;specifically road signs&mdash;serves not merely as a navigational tool, but as a profound arena for cultural revitalisation and political recognition.</p><p><strong>Anna Zachrisson</strong> and co-authors challenge the dominant "ecological modernisation" discourse&mdash;the idea that economic growth and environmental protection are easily compatible (a core tenet of the Green Transition).<strong> Beland Lindahl</strong> et al. (2016) argue that this consensus often silences alternative views and deep-seated conflicts, particularly regarding natural resource management (forestry and mining) in the North.</p><p>Shifting to forestry, <strong>Janina Priebe</strong> focused on gaining a critical understanding of why environmental policy often faces gridlock despite widespread consensus on climate goals. <strong>Priebe</strong> et al. (2022) apply systems thinking to the contentious debate surrounding Swedish forestry and climate change. The authors demonstrate that while stakeholders&mdash;from industry representatives to environmentalists&mdash;agree on the urgent need for action, they predominantly focus on "shallow" leverage points while avoiding the profound, structural paradigm shifts required for genuine sustainability.</p><p>In 2024, the <strong>The Arctic Five</strong> alliance expanded to the <strong>The Arctic Six </strong>(with the full accession of Nord University), cementing a powerful Nordic research bloc. This era also saw the creation of Sweden&rsquo;s first <strong>Arctic Graduate School</strong>, training a new generation of PhDs to think interdisciplinarily - across the borders of disciplines.</p><h2 id="info6" data-magellan-target="info6">2025 and Beyond: The Future</h2><p>As we stand in 2025, Ume&aring; University is pioneering the use of AI and refining carbon budget models for the boreal and Arctic regions. The <strong>European Polar Board</strong> (EPB) and the <strong>European Polar Coordination Office</strong> (EPCO) relocated from the Netherlands to the heart of the campus, adjacent to the Arctic Centre. The EPB and EPCO coordinate Arctic and Antarctic research across Europe, bringing new opportunities for collaboration.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f74950f7-112b-4f16-963c-be4683ead72d" data-contentname="PIC GERARD">{}</div><p>Continuing CIRC's work to better understand the impacts of climate on Arctic ecosystems. <strong>Gerard Rocher-Ros</strong> initiated his <strong>European Research Council Starting Grant</strong> project, ARIMETH (A mechanistic understanding of Arctic River methane emissions). The project aims to uncover the mechanisms driving methane emissions from Arctic rivers, a significant but currently underestimated source of greenhouse gases. The research is designed to close the knowledge gap on how these emissions respond to climate change by focusing on the complex interplay between biogeochemical processes and hydrological changes.</p><p>The journey from biology to health, Indigenous rights, and global geopolitics continues. We are no longer just studying the Arctic; we are shaping its future.</p>/en/news/60-years-of-arctic-research-at-umea-university_12154759//en/news/dna-floating-in-air-reveals-the-hidden-past-of-ecosystems_12154903/DNA captured on air filters and stored since the 1960s acts as an ecological time capsule, according to a recent publication in Nature Communications. The findings show that tiny fragments of genetic material can paint a detailed picture of life across the landscape. They also reveal a distinct decline in biodiversity over three decades.Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:54:46 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/johansson_svensson3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Daniel Svensson and Anna-Mia Johansson take a break from DNA extractions to discuss new results. Both are research engineers at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience and co-authors of the study.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Bea Andersson</span></div></div><p>All organisms shed cell fragments with DNA to the environment. Now, researchers have performed the largest and most detailed analysis to date of airborne DNA using filters originally used to monitor radioactive fallout.</p><p>Air monitoring filters are found at hundreds of sites worldwide. These particular filters come from a station outside Kiruna, in northern Sweden, and have been archived in a basement at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, since the 1960s. When researcher Per Stenberg learned about the archive about a decade ago, he and his colleague Mats Forsman realised what a goldmine it was.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Shows ecosystems week by week</h2><p>Week after week, the filters collected DNA from all living things: plants, fungi, insects, microbes, birds, fish, and even large mammals like moose and reindeer. By sequencing the DNA, the research team was, on a weekly basis, able to identify the presence of 2,700 organism groups within several miles of the station, and track how their populations increased or decreased over 34 years.</p><p>&ldquo;It was a stroke of luck that the filters had been kept &ndash; and that they were made of a material that preserves DNA. The archive turned out to be a time machine, allowing us to revisit the past and watch an ecosystem changing in almost real time,&rdquo; says Per Stenberg, lead author of the study conducted by researchers from Ume&aring; University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and the Swedish Defence Research Agency.</p><p class="quote-center">It was a stroke of luck that the filters had been kept &ndash; and that they were made of a material that preserves DNA</p><p>When the researchers looked at long-term patterns, they saw a clear decline in biodiversity in the area, from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Examples of declining organisms include birch together with wood-associated lichens and fungi. The overall decline cannot be explained by changes in the climate, but rather seems to be linked to human activities such as forest management.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Entirely new method for airborne DNA</h2><p>Analyses of airborne DNA have been done before, but this is an entirely new and far more comprehensive approach that spans several decades. The research team used extensive DNA sequencing, machine-learning-based identification of organisms, and air-flow modelling to track the sources of the DNA. Comparisons with traditional field surveys show that the method is reliable both for identifying organisms and for detecting changes in their abundance.</p><p>&ldquo;This work is the result of nine years of intense research and development. I look forward to applying these data, together with ongoing sequencing of additional filters, to a wide range of questions,&rdquo; says Daniel Svensson, a co-author of the study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/68ba3ab099184ede8831ccf391e4dc0e/per_stenberg2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Per Stenberg at the site of the air-filter station outside Kiruna.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Edvin Karlsson</span></div></div><p>The study shows that existing networks of air-filter stations can be used to monitor biodiversity trends and reconstruct ecosystems in places where baseline data are missing. This is essential for predicting future changes and adapting management and restoration strategies.</p><p>&ldquo;The method can also detect and track genetic variation as well as the presence of invasive species and pathogens,&rdquo; says Per Stenberg.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0d43a963-880d-40a4-b90f-8e5e8d9d7711" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/dna-floating-in-air-reveals-the-hidden-past-of-ecosystems_12154903//en/news/thinner-ice-and-heavier-politics--swedish-polar-research-gathers-for-the-future_12154584/Between 10 and 11 November, the second Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic took place in Stockholm. The forum had a varied program with sessions from both early- and senior-career researchers, funding agencies, and other organisations, aiming to discuss future needs and directions for Swedish polar research.Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:22:45 +0100<p>The theme of the second Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic was &ldquo;Raising the ambition of Swedish polar research&rdquo;, and it attracted more than 100 participants, including researchers, representatives of governmental agencies, and stakeholders.</p><p>The Forum is an annual event of the Swedish Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic (SCAA), which is an initiative aimed at establishing a collaborative centre for Arctic and Antarctic research in Sweden, involving research environments at Swedish universities engaged in polar research. SCAA was established in 2024 as a collaboration between the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University and the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Lule&aring; University of Technology, with the Forum as an annual event held in partnership with the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. In 2025, the Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University joined the initiative and hosted the second forum in Stockholm.</p><p>&ldquo;The ambition is to establish this as an annual event, hosted in rotation by Swedish universities and research institutes. Each year, the forum will address common polar issues and showcase the research of the hosting institution, as this year with Stockholm University,&rdquo; says Ulf Jonsell, Head of Department of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2486a811-6856-44d9-9467-cffa45a52d56" data-contentname="PIC FAA KL & DA">{}</div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The SCAA welcomes Stockholm University</h2><p>For the second year of the Forum, the organising group of the Swedish Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic also welcomes Stockholm University as a part of the university alliance network, and looks forward to elevating collaboration within polar research in Sweden and beyond the borders.</p><p>&ldquo;We are very pleased to welcome Stockholm University into this collaboration. It will strengthen our work towards gathering and coordinating polar research throughout the country,&rdquo; says Dag Avango, Professor and Director of the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Lule&aring; University of Technology.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Days of collaboration and visions for the future</h2><p>The forum days opened with a welcoming speech from State Secretary Maria Nilsson. She highlighted that the polar research is gaining momentum, not by chance, but through years of collaboration. Polar communities combine science, infrastructure and people across land, sea, ice and society to work towards a resilient future.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="ecdc187f-3ef9-42b9-b26f-e236139c4587" data-contentname="PIC FAA APECS">{}</div><p>The first day focused on the next generation of researchers, as well as Swedish funding opportunities for polar research. After an introduction and workshop with SCAA, representatives from APECS Sweden, Bolin Centre Early Career Researchers Network, The International Arctic Science Committee &nbsp;(IASC), and Swedish Polar Research Secretariat all presented opportunities for early career researchers, such as fellowship programs, networks, events, and support opportunities. They also invited the audience to share their ideas on how to best collaborate between early and senior career researchers, as well as with society.</p><p>&ldquo;It is a great opportunity to share what we do, and to encourage the forum participants to interact and think about what future in polar research we can create together. We hope that this can work as a springboard for network-building and new horizons for research collaborations across generations,&rdquo; says Felicia S&ouml;derqvist, PhD Candidate at Lule&aring; University of Technology, and board member of APECS Sweden.</p><p>The second day focused on polar research as a concept, from the early days of risky expeditions to the North Pole, to where we are in our research, where we are going, and what the future might hold. Some of the key points included how globalisation and issues like climate change are directing the course of research, as well as how polar research no longer limited to the fields of natural sciences, but rather within all research fields, making it an interdisciplinary field of research. Professor Peder Roberts from the University of Oslo emphasised that people and environments in the polar regions have rights, and that it is essential for both material and non-material cultures to have a voice in future polar research.</p><p class="quote-center">The polar regions have never been as high on the agenda as they are now. We must act to create a future that is sustainable and just for the polar regions and the peoples of the Arctic.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Polar research has never been more critical</h2><p>Certain events in the world are inevitably making the situation dire for the polar regions, which in turn makes polar research more important than ever before. Current research shows that ice is melting and sea levels are rising, and political issues are dividing the points of interest for the polar regions, challenging their future purpose and scope of application. The last session discussed future ambitions, and highlighted how the 5th International Polar Year (IPY5), International Conference on Arctic Research Planning &nbsp;(ICARP) IV, and the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences are all global initiatives working towards coordinating and prioritising polar research to address these issues and work towards a sustainable and resilient future.</p><p>&ldquo;These initiatives are crucial. The polar regions have never been as high on the agenda as they are now. We must act to create a future that is sustainable and just for the polar regions and the peoples of the Arctic,&rdquo; says Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Even though our present times are unstable and the future is heading towards terrains of uncertainty, the Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic demonstrates that Swedish polar researchers are eager to come together and collaborate across their research fields to tackle the triple planetary crisis, climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability for a better future for all.</p>/en/news/thinner-ice-and-heavier-politics--swedish-polar-research-gathers-for-the-future_12154584//en/news/new-masters-programme-tackles-challenges-in-modern-biology_12154347/How can future education be designed with a stronger focus on students’ needs and learning pathways? A new article by Suzanne Brink (UPL), written together with Åsa Wikberg-Nilsson, Professor of Design at Luleå University of Technology (LTU), explores how methods from design thinking can be used in programme development. The study comprises five cases, two of which were conducted at Umeå University.Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:15:56 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ffe9a4d0f890425b9b0cb6020132904d/brink_suzanne_7075_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ffe9a4d0f890425b9b0cb6020132904d/brink_suzanne_7075_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ffe9a4d0f890425b9b0cb6020132904d/brink_suzanne_7075_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ffe9a4d0f890425b9b0cb6020132904d/brink_suzanne_7075_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ffe9a4d0f890425b9b0cb6020132904d/brink_suzanne_7075_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ffe9a4d0f890425b9b0cb6020132904d/brink_suzanne_7075_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Portr&auml;tt: Suzanne Brink. Universitetslektor vid Universitetspedagogik och l&auml;randest&ouml;d (UPL)</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>A new scholarly article by Suzanne Brink, Senior Lecturer and Academic Developer at UPL, highlights how design thinking methods can be used to develop more student-centred educational programmes. The work was carried out in collaboration with &Aring;sa Wikberg-Nilsson, Professor of Design at Lule&aring; University of Technology (LTU).</p><p>The study is based on five programme development cases within design and engineering education. Two of these were conducted at Ume&aring; University, at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics (TFE) and the Ume&aring; Institute of Design (UID).</p><p>The article examines how student personas and learner journey mapping can be used in programme design to make visible variations in students&rsquo; needs, motivations and learning pathways. The methods supported programme teams in identifying what works well in the education, where challenges may arise, and how learning environments can be developed to become more inclusive and pedagogically sustainable.</p><p>The article also shows how a design thinking inspired approach can strengthen work on curriculum innovation and provide clearer foundations for pedagogical decision-making in programme development.</p><p><a href="https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s44217-025-00980-y?sharing_token=9jzuOjVECoNlCQ0cSwVOK_e4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY6P2g7LDP06MJavR64Pb_OtStyxjRMpfhl6xwKxApjV3W-_nJv8g46NNx0BgFVu0OKViiWcvz6s02BPUTQ5IUBUB-iHTKpQ6Zw4_hf-9d43CQiwo8scdyhAv0YNxI5-rgQmq86DtwTejJW0JkkYJR9G">Read the full article here</a></p>/en/news/new-article-on-design-thinking-in-programme-development_12154210//en/news/six-researchers-receive-wallenberg-grants-for-forestry-related-social-research_12154304/Six researchers at Umeå University will receive SEK 38 million in grants from the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Memorial Fund for humanities and social science research with forestry relevance. Almost half of the thirteen projects approved are going to Umeå University, which demonstrates the university's strength and breadth in this field. Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:56:57 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/olofsson_thomas_6863_hkn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for research. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>&ldquo;The Swedish forestry issue has largely relied on research in natural sciences and technology, but forestry is really a social and humanistic issue, which is why this call for proposals is both relevant and innovative. And the fact that we have six projects included in this forward-looking initiative is a really good indication of the breadth of our research in this area,&rdquo; says Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for research.</p><p>Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology, will receive a grant of six million Swedish kronor for a project that, in short, will investigate acceptance of climate-adapted forest management.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/louise_eriksson_bilk_20202.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology. Photo: Mattaias Pettersson</p></div></div><p>&ldquo;Since forest management can provoke strong reactions and even lead to conflicts between different interests and different groups, it is important to understand the role that the social context plays in our attitudes to how forests are managed. This is particularly important when forest management is changing to meet major challenges such as climate change. These funds give us the opportunity to develop our understanding of how social processes contribute to shaping people's attitudes to forest management. They also help to strengthen expertise in environmental psychological perspectives on the management of natural resources,&rdquo; says Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology.</p><p>Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, docent and associate professor at Department of Informatics, has been awarded a grant of seven million Swedish kronor for a project that will examine how all the data collected about forests is actually presented and to whom.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/eba96acff75b439b82afa39edaaab234/nylen_daniel_7223_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, Docent and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>"Today, there is an enormous amount of data about Swedish forests. Thanks to satellites, drones and other digital technologies, the condition of the forest can be mapped in ways that were not previously possible. This information is crucial for forest planning, harvesting and logistics. At the same time, the digital systems used today are difficult for non-experts to use, and both data and models are often based on the priorities of large players. This is unfortunate, as it can make it difficult for a number of actors to influence decisions, despite the high level of digital maturity in Sweden. Digitalization has opened new possibilities, but it also brings new challenges. These are the issues we want to explore in the project,&rdquo; says Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, Docent and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics.</p><p><strong>All research projects at Ume&aring; University that are awarded funding:</strong></p><p>Louise Eriksson, docent in psychology and researcher in environmental psychology, receives a grant of SEK 6 million for the project: Bridging the Gaps: Social Dynamics in Climate-Adapted Forest Management.</p><p>Britt-Inger Keisu, Associate professor at Department of Sociology, receives a grant of SEK 7 million for the project: Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden.</p><p>Camilla Sandstr&ouml;m, Professor at Department of Political Science, receives a grant of SEK 8 million for the project: Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden.</p><p>Daniel Nyl&eacute;n, docent and associate professor at Department of Informatics, receives a grant of SEK 7 million for the project: One Forest, Many Voices: Leveraging Digital Forestry to Promote Environmental Justice.</p><p>Erland M&aring;rald, Professor at Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, receives a grant of SEK 5 million for the project: Forests of Emotions: Merging Historical and Philosophical Perspectives to Understand the Role of Emotions in Forest Debates.</p><p>Janina Priebe, Associate professor at Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, receives a grant of SEK 5 million for the project: Optimized trees: The intersection of scientific knowledge and public discourse in the transition from natural to artificial methods of tree improvement.</p>/en/news/six-researchers-receive-wallenberg-grants-for-forestry-related-social-research_12154304//en/news/cybersecurity-researcher-at-umea-university-sweeps-top-global-awards_12148976/Data security breaches and advanced cyber-attacks cost society billions. One who recognised the risks at an early stage and continues to develop effective solutions is Alexandre Bartel, Professor and Head of the Software Engineering and Security research group at Umeå University. He now receives five internationally renowned awards for his efforts. "It is satisfying to see how our research is helping companies, developers and users around the world", says Alexandre Bartel. Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:55:00 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/231a966d08544a9783979867f65f0edd/alexandre_bartel_professor_computing_science_photo_victoria_skeidsvoll3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Alexandre Bartel, Professor of Software Engineering and Cybersecurity at Ume&aring; University, has received a series of prestigious awards over the past year. He is now recruiting both PhD students and postdoctoral researchers for WASP and the new Cybercampus, a national initiative aimed at strengthening both skills development and research in cybersecurity.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Victoria Skeidsvoll</span></div></div><p>We are facing a growing digital threat. Cyber-attacks against companies, authorities and critical infrastructure have increased significantly, resulting in huge costs. One aspect of making it harder for attackers to compromise computer systems is to have robust software and reliable data security systems. This is something that Alexandre Bartel, Professor at the Department of Computing Science is improving through his research.&nbsp;</p><p>Now he's been awarded some of the most prestigious prizes, as well as an honorary award for his excellent academic leadership. <br>"This is proof that my colleagues from around the world and I are creating solutions that are appreciated by both the research community and society at large, and are relevant and useful," Prof. Bartel says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Recorded people's conversations</h2><p>His research has sparked a minor revolution in data and cybersecurity, leading to the development of entirely new and advanced tools that detect vulnerabilities, anomalies, and attacks on digital systems at an early stage. An international breakthrough came as early as 2015, when he and his colleagues analysed the popular Android app <em>Shake them all</em>, which had been downloaded millions of times worldwide.</p><p>With their analysis tool IccTA, the researchers revealed that the app was secretly recording users&rsquo; conversations. "This was a clear and serious security issue that we were able to find. It marked a breakthrough in the research community, and our technology has since influenced the entire field of Android application analysis. Android is an operating system used on billions of devices globally, including by major manufacturers such as Samsung", says Professor Alexandre Bartel.&nbsp;</p><h3>Significant impact on development</h3><p>For this achievement, Professor Bartel has now been awarded the prestigious <em>Most Influential Research Paper Award ICSE 2025</em>, a distinguished prize given to research that has demonstrated significant impact over an extended period. <a href="~/link/478b1b120fde457abcb1159e38ddda69.aspx">Alexandre Bartel</a> has also been awarded this year's <em>ACM Sigsoft Distinguished Paper Award</em> for his analysis of vulnerabilities in Java, one of the world's most used programming languages, together with <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a> doctoral student <a href="~/link/02109ee24ff34a10b8cb4b4c73419562.aspx">Bruno Kreyssig</a>. Prof. Bartel was also honored with the Most Influential PLDI Paper Award 2024 for the work on FlowDroid, a tool now used globally to detect security flaws in Java and Android programs. This research has been cited 2,000 times and is used by researchers and developers to test and improve their own tools. "Our research has enabled companies to review code and prevent attacks through techniques such as fuzzing and reverse engineering. In this way, we contribute tools that can analyse code both during development and execution. This allows more complex vulnerabilities to be detected and addressed, says Prof. Bartel.&nbsp;</p><h3>Acclaimed expert reviewer&nbsp;</h3><p>In addition to his research awards, Professor Bartel has also been honored with the <em>ACM CCS 2025 Top Reviewer Award</em> as well as the <em>IEEE SecDev 2024 Distinguished Reviewer Award</em> &ndash; recognitions of his work as a peer reviewer of scientific articles. "This process is a complex but crucial step in research. If it fails, it can affect both the quality of the research and public confidence", says Prof. Bartel. "The research community recognizes our great work, and I am honored to share these distinctions with my outstanding group members whose efforts greatly shaped our success.&nbsp;</p><h3>Future computer security and AI&nbsp;</h3><p>At Ume&aring; University, Professor Alexandre Bartel leads the research group <a href="~/link/65e3403c35f24ad0b5c4154c2dced97b.aspx">Software Engineering and Security</a>, which is financed by <a href="https://www.kempe.com/">the Kempe Foundations</a> and <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a>.&nbsp;Bartel is currently recruiting doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers on <a href="https://wasp-sweden.org/">WASP</a> and <a href="https://www.cybercampus.se/">Cybercampus</a> projects. Professor Alexandre Bartel has also received an educational <a href="~/link/2ff47968ffe44e76a197f378d0500842.aspx">award for his teaching</a> in Cyber security &ndash; <a href="~/link/ec9d148e49b34a0b88e2faffdf08d030.aspx">a highly popular course</a> that attracts many students in Sweden.&nbsp;</p><p>The Software Engineering and Security research group is closely monitoring developments in artificial intelligence and is raising awareness about the risks of AI-generated code, which may contain hidden vulnerabilities. "AI is a powerful tool, but it requires human oversight. Otherwise, we risk building systems with inherent weaknesses that can, for instance, be exploited in supply chain attacks", Bartel says.&nbsp;</p><h3>Respected expertise in cybersecurity&nbsp;</h3><p>Alexandre Bartel's work holds significant value both in academic research and in real-world applications. "His expertise in cybersecurity is widely recognized and has a broad impact across society", says Professor Frank Drewes, Head of the Department of Computing Science at Ume&aring; University. "It stands as a clear example of the high regard in which our researchers are held within the international scientific community".&nbsp;</p>/en/news/cybersecurity-researcher-at-umea-university-sweeps-top-global-awards_12148976//en/news/umea-university-leads-national-research-school-on-future-cement-materials_12153819/The Swedish Research Council has awarded SEK 35 million to Markus Broström and Nils Skoglund to lead a research school in materials science focused on cementitious materials. Umeå University is establishing the research school in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, and the MAX IV synchrotron at Lund University. Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:56:11 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Nils Skoglund and Markus Brostr&ouml;m are leading a new research school that will bring together expertise in cement-based materials.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Magnus Mikaelsson</span></div></div><p>The theme of the research school, known by the acronym RECEM, is how minerals can be processed to develop the next generation of cementitious materials and how mineral waste can be recycled. The research covers the entire chain &ndash; from extracted or recycled materials, through mineral processing, to low-carbon cement-based construction materials.</p><p>&ldquo;Our goal is to create a national network of leading experts with strong international connections. We do this by bringing together prominent academic environments with complementary competences,&rdquo; says Markus Brostr&ouml;m at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Knowledge for use in industry</h2><p>Rooted in materials science, the research school will address critical questions in mineral processing for sustainable cement production. Another aim is to provide the doctoral students with advanced analytical skills that can be applied in the mineral and mining processing industries.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/624caeaad955457c879cc9f82526eaf4/recem_34.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cement is one of our most commonly used building materials.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Magnus Mikaelsson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;This is a fantastic opportunity to gather national competence in materials science for cement-based materials and link it with world-leading analytical techniques,&rdquo; says Nils Skoglund. &ldquo;My experiences from the PRISMAS research school, led by MAX IV, clearly show how doctoral students are motivated by working in a larger context. As is evident from the Swedish Research Council&rsquo;s decision, I believe that RECEM will become a national flagship project.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Following technological developments</h2><p>RECEM will work within five focus areas and engage 14 doctoral students. Six of these will be admitted to Ume&aring; University, and the others will be distributed evenly between Lule&aring; University of Technology and Chalmers University of Technology. MAX IV contributes to advanced courses but also in roles as assistant supervisors, which ensures that the research school follows the latest developments in advanced analytical techniques.</p><p>&ldquo;We now look forward to starting the recruitment process in spring 2026 and finding good candidates to build a successful research school together,&rdquo; says Markus Brostr&ouml;m.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/umea-university-leads-national-research-school-on-future-cement-materials_12153819//en/news/ec2u-think-tank-on-universal-access-to-education_12153494/How can we ensure that education is accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstances? This question was the focus when Umeå University hosted its very first European Campus of City Universities (EC2U) Think Tank on 3 December. During the afternoon, researchers, teachers, doctoral students, students and community representatives gathered to share experiences, exchange ideas and discuss how education can become more equitable and inclusive.Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:31:27 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b08db17124cb4e78abe27f3713f9edc3/img_94293.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg speaks at Ume&aring; University's first EC2U Think Tank on December 3.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>David Meyers</span></div></div><p>The Think Tank was opened by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg, who highlighted how the EC2U collaboration strengthens both research and community development. She described the network as a catalyst for new ideas and collaboration between universities and community actors in Europe. Ume&aring; University participates in all focus areas and works to disseminate research-based knowledge to the region, develop interdisciplinary projects and provide policy proposals. The goal is to contribute to solutions to the educational challenges facing today's society.</p><p>The debut Think Tank for Ume&aring; University had the theme <strong>&ldquo;equitable and universal access to education&rdquo;</strong> and focused on two areas:</p><ul><li>digital inclusion</li><li>linguistic and cultural competences</li></ul><p>Discussions revolved around issues such as how we can create inclusive digital learning environments, ensure access to digital resources and strengthen critical thinking in the digital age. Participants also explored how language and culture can serve as resources for participation, with a particular focus on minority languages and multicultural learning environments.</p><p>The purpose of the Think Tank is to identify practical and sustainable solutions, develop new collaborations, and contribute to policy recommendations within EC2U and the EU. The results of the discussions will be compiled and presented at the EC2U Forum in Turku on 18&ndash;21 May 2026, under the theme &ldquo;Shaping European Futures through Quality Education.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/ec2u-think-tank-on-universal-access-to-education_12153494//en/news/eu-funding-secures-continued-research-on-chlamydia_12152269/The European Research Council (ERC) provides funding for five years with the consolidator grant to Barbara Sixt's research at Umeå University on chlamydia.Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:13:07 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fe7dad3d06be4b8e913905244909f829/sixt_barbara_8877_180426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Barbara Sixt, Department of Molecular Biology and Group Leader at The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS)&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Barbara Sixt is research group leader at MIMS, Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden and resarcher at det Department of Molecular Biology.</p><p>Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Each year, more than 25,000 people in Sweden and around 130 million worldwide contract the disease. While symptoms are often mild, chlamydia can have serious consequences. It may cause infertility, chronic pain, complications during pregnancy, and even increase the risk of cervical and ovarian cancers.</p><p>Today, chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, which kill the bacteria and help the body recover. However, most antibiotics have a broad spectrum of activity. This means they attack not only harmful bacteria but also beneficial ones, such as those in our gut that support digestion. This can lead to side effects. Broad-spectrum antibiotics also accelerate the rise of antibiotic resistance &ndash; a global health threat that makes infections harder to treat and even puts routine procedures like surgery or cancer therapy at risk.</p><p>There is another challenge: the bacterium that causes chlamydia can alter the biology of our cells. Current antibiotics eliminate the bacteria but not these altered cells, which may contribute to the long-term complications mentioned above.</p><p>To overcome these problems, Barbara Sixt&rsquo;s research group at Ume&aring; University is exploring new strategies to treat chlamydia more selectively. In our current project, funded by the European Research Council. They focus on the bacterium&rsquo;s unique growth niche inside human cells &ndash; a compartment called the &ldquo;inclusion.&rdquo; When the bacterium causing chlamydia infects a person, it enters their cells and hides within this inclusion to escape the cell&rsquo;s defense systems. These defenses would normally destroy the invader or even trigger &ldquo;cellular suicide&rdquo; &ndash; the deliberate death of the infected cell &ndash; to stop the infection.</p><p>The research group&rsquo;s goal is to understand how the bacterium maintains the integrity of this protective inclusion. By uncovering these mechanisms, we hope to find ways to destabilize the inclusion, allowing our cell&rsquo;s natural defenses to fight back. The researchers also aim to learn how to steer the process toward cellular suicide &ndash; a strategy that could eliminate both the bacterium and the manipulated cells.</p><p>Ultimately, this research will lay the foundation for innovative treatments that are more sustainable than traditional antibiotics and could also help combat other disease-causing microbes that use similar growth niches.</p><p>The ERC Consolidator Grant is selected by the European Research Council (ERC), which is linked to the European Commission. This means five years of secured funding of up to two million euros. Researchers with 7-12 years of experience since completing their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise, and an excellent research proposal may be granted the grant.</p>/en/news/eu-funding-secures-continued-research-on-chlamydia_12152269//en/news/new-book-on-dark-romanticism_12153286/“Dark Romanticism: Literature, Art, and the Body”, is a new book by Silvia Riccardi at Umeå University. The book explores the dark regions of Romantic imagination in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century literature and art.Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:26:46 +0100<p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/c47291a05256448e93700a10445da02b.aspx">Silvia Riccardi</a> begins by telling how her background is rooted in literary studies, with a strong emphasis on visual culture and a comparative approach across text and image.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9101788c-d853-415b-bd5c-294e6c395238" data-contentname="Silvia Riccardi">{}</div><p>&ndash; The archival study undertaken in Switzerland, Germany, and the UK introduced an art-historical dimension to my work that continues to shape how I approach research. It also kindled my interest in how the material presence of books and artworks is being redefined within digital environments.<br>&nbsp;<br>On the question what inspired her to write the book, she says that the initial spark came from William Blake.</p><p>&ndash; How could it be that I saw darkness in his most radiant visions but light in the imagery grappling with death? That contrast was there, persistent and unresolved. I wanted to understand how he held those opposites together, and that question became the starting point for the book. Can darkness be visible?</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="48d4b231-d7bc-4fab-b97f-7e4cd6fd22c4" data-contentname="Dark Romanticism">{}</div><h3>Working with three different figures</h3><p>When it comes to the book series: Palgrave Studies in the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Cultures of Print, Silvia Riccardi says that the series foregrounds the material and cultural dimensions of print in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where literature and other disciplines, including art, medicine, and science intersect.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; My book contributes to this conversation by examining how methods of production shape the forms and meanings of literature and art, closely looking at the vibrant intellectual discourse surrounding anatomy and aesthetics at the turn of the century.<br>&nbsp;<br>She continues to say that one of the main challenges was working with three different figures: Henry Fuseli, a painter, Mary Shelley, a novelist, and William Blake, an engraver, poet, and painter.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; Blake is particularly hard to place alongside the others, and for a while I even considered writing a book on Blake alone. Bringing him into conversation with Fuseli and Shelley made sense conceptually, but shaping those connections was not easy. <br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; In retrospect, this approach reveals a dark sensibility that emerges across these distinct authors and artists, and the process taught me a great deal about allowing connections to unfold gradually, while also remaining open to unexpected insights and to revisiting some chapters along the way.</p><h3>Move beyond disciplinary boundaries</h3><p>Silvia Riccardi notes that the book is aimed at scholars and students of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century literature and visual culture, as well as researchers interested in book history, media theory, and Romantic-period art.<br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; It also speaks to readers working on Henry Fuseli, William Blake, and Mary Shelley. Rather than presenting a genre, the book offers a framework for understanding Dark Romanticism as an aesthetic mode that exceeds categories such as the Gothic or fantasy. <br>&nbsp;<br>&ndash; More broadly, the book invites readers to move beyond disciplinary boundaries and to consider how a distinctly dark sensibility operates across media at a time when aesthetics and empirical knowledge were both sites of fierce intellectual debate, ideological contention, and revolutionary rethinking.</p>/en/news/new-book-on-dark-romanticism_12153286//en/news/when-crises-amplify-each-other-interdisciplinarity-becomes-crucial_12152792/For the second year, Umeå Transformation Research Initiative convened researchers from across disciplines for a full-day conference on sustainability and transition.This year’s theme centred on polycrises – how today’s interconnected crises influence and reinforce one another, and why interdisciplinary research is vital to addressing these global challenges.Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:17:39 +0100<p>The conference began with an address by Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University, highlighting the seriousness of a world where global warming is accelerating, wars and security crises unsettle societies, and democracy is challenged in places where it was once unquestioned.</p><p>&ldquo;Academia has an important role in the complex world we inhabit. Science does not hold all the answers, but our mission is to question, develop knowledge, and contribute solutions. In times of polycrises and emergencies, we must point to new paths forward. Trust in science is high in Sweden, and we must harness that by disseminating knowledge and illuminating problems from multiple perspectives. Conferences like this are one way of doing just that,&rdquo; said Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d828e3b7-057f-483e-98d7-3515d4c45494" data-contentname="Tora Eng">{}</div><h3>Small Changes, Big Consequences</h3><p>Anne-Sophie Cr&eacute;pin from the Beijer Institute delivered the keynote address, stressing that we live within complex adaptive systems where changes occur at different speeds, and small shifts can have major consequences.</p><p>&ldquo;The pandemic was a rapid transformation with immediate impact, but we must also remain alert to slow changes happening quietly. For example, increased precipitation in rainforests can lead to species loss and, over time, create entirely new ecosystems,&rdquo; explained Cr&eacute;pin, further underscoring that uncertainty is a fundamental factor to consider.</p><p>&ldquo;We cannot predict every change or control every process, and that is precisely why trust becomes critical. Trust between states, organisations, and individuals is key to sharing knowledge and acting swiftly and in coordination when crises arise. Without it, we risk losing sight of the bigger picture,&rdquo; said Anne-Sophie Cr&eacute;pin.</p><h3>Different Perspectives on Crises</h3><p>Trust also emerged as a recurring theme in the subsequent panel discussion featuring four researchers from different disciplines: Heidi Burdett, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science; Kristina Sehlin Macneil, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of V&aacute;rdduo; Niklas Eklund, Professor at the Department of Political Science; and Maria Nilsson, Professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Global Health.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0cac93af-091f-4c28-ac5d-30b4d9db11f0" data-contentname="Panelists (eng)">{}</div><p>During their introductory presentations, the panellists highlighted diverse perspectives from their respective fields.</p><p>&ldquo;For Indigenous peoples, crises are deeply intertwined with culture. In Australia, devastating wildfires coincided with the pandemic paralysing the country. Indigenous communities received very little support from the state, and studies have shown increased suffering and declining trust. A similar scenario is unfolding in Kiruna, where the future of reindeer herding and its cultural significance is challenged by mining interests in the name of the so-called &lsquo;green&rsquo; transition,&rdquo; said Kristina Sehlin Macneil.</p><p>Moderator Ola Nordebo posed a question about the future of academic freedom and how funding conditions affect it. Both Heidi Burdett and Maria Nilsson shared experiences of abrupt project funding cuts mid-project, a situation many colleagues have faced.</p><p>&ldquo;I worry about academic freedom as much as I worry about the climate. It&rsquo;s complex, and we have an increasingly centralised system that dictates what is considered important for funding and innovation. This development risks limiting diversity in research and, in the long run, undermining our ability to tackle global challenges,&rdquo; explained Niklas Eklund.</p><h3>A Broad Picture of the Research Landscape</h3><p>The conference also featured research posters from various disciplines. One was presented by Lieuwe Jan Hettema, a doctoral student in linguistics, who illustrated the complexity of developing language policies for S&aacute;mi in Swedish municipalities.</p><p>&ldquo;I realised during the keynote how closely my work connects to the discussion on polycrises. By focusing on local language policy processes, I see that climate, language, and politics are tightly interlinked. To build resilience and social sustainability, it is crucial for municipalities to give the S&aacute;mi people influence over activities that affect them.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="621d1fbf-439f-4d43-b3e1-e2e21bd2a6f8" data-contentname="Posters eng">{}</div><p><br>The afternoon was devoted to parallel sessions where participants could choose different tracks. Topics included understanding Northvolt&rsquo;s bankruptcy as a polycrisis, how climate change affects our perceptions of weather and seasons, and how disease outbreaks can be understood in relation to climate and economics.</p><p>Together, the sessions provided a broad picture of polycrises and how they are addressed from different research perspectives, spanning local societal challenges to global systemic transformations.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="53dca1b4-cb74-44c8-b84d-2c4c0d5cfa2e" data-contentname="Faktaruta feedback eng">{}</div>/en/news/when-crises-amplify-each-other-interdisciplinarity-becomes-crucial_12152792//en/news/the-arctic-six-strengthens-research-at-umea-university_12152698/In 2022, The Arctic Six introduced a new two-year fellowship programme for mid-to-senior career researchers to develop new collaborations in the Nordic region. Through the Chairs Programme, researchers from the alliance of six universities received support to create new networks and projects, further strengthening the Arctic research environment.Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:08:32 +0100<p class="quote-center">The Arctic Six is a strategically important part of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s work to advance research and education in the Arctic.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">A strategic platform in the North</h2><p>The Arctic Six is a collaboration between six northern universities working together to strengthen research, education and cooperation across the Arctic. Through initiatives such as the Chairs Programme, the alliance has deepened academic exchange and laid the foundation for new projects and partnerships. In doing so, the collaboration has reinforced Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s position internationally and strengthened opportunities for continued joint development.</p><p>The two-year Arctic Six Chairs fellowship (2022&ndash;2024) saw fourteen research leaders organise more than sixty workshops and participate in over one hundred meetings. They collaborated to submit fifty-eight joint research proposals and together secured approximately EUR 35 million in external funding. Each euro invested in the programme has generated more than thirty euros in new funding &ndash; demonstrating the programme&rsquo;s leverage effect.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/norberg_cathrine_9424_230426_mpn6.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cathrine Norberg.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson, Simon J&ouml;nsson</span></div></div><p>Cathrine Norberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, emphasises:<br>&ldquo;The Arctic Six is a strategically important part of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s work to advance research and education in the Arctic. The Chairs Programme demonstrates how long-term collaboration can foster academic cooperation and enhance our international presence. It helps us create the conditions for new knowledge that benefits the region and the wider Arctic community.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Results that point the way forward</h2><p>The Chairs Programme has led to significant scientific achievements and established a growing framework for collaboration in Arctic health, education, tourism, Indigenous studies, and governance. In addition, several participants have developed joint courses, publications and long-term partnerships that continue to strengthen northern cooperation.</p><p>&ldquo;For researchers at Ume&aring; University, the Arctic Six Chairs has opened new paths for international collaboration and external funding. The initiative has made it possible to pursue larger and interdisciplinary projects, which in turn enhances research quality and the university&rsquo;s Arctic profile,&rdquo; says Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">From experience to development</h2><p>The Arctic Centre has played a key role in coordinating Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s engagement within Arctic Six and in increasing the university&rsquo;s visibility in the northern research landscape. By creating connections between researchers, faculties and leadership, the Centre has strengthened internal collaboration and strategic presence within the network.</p><p class="quote-center">The first round of Arctic Six Chairs shows that northern collaboration is not only possible &ndash; it is powerful.</p><p>The evaluation now points to the next steps &ndash; clearer support structures and more targeted communication &ndash; elements that together provide the foundation for the next phase of development.</p><p>&ldquo;The first round of Arctic Six Chairs shows that northern collaboration is not only possible &ndash; it is powerful. We are now building on these experiences to develop the next phase with a stronger structure and continued focus on supporting our researchers,&rdquo; says Johanne Raade, Director of The Arctic Six.</p><p>Through the work within The Arctic Six, it has become clear how international collaboration can be translated into tangible outcomes &ndash; for researchers and the university. The experiences gained through the Chairs Programme highlight the value of long-term structures, shared learning and mutual trust &ndash; factors that now shape the foundation for the continued development of the collaboration.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1fbc4cdfb5ff47eb99c59931c274d823/pettersson_hans_0498_200131_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Hans Pettersson.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Hans Pettersson served as an Arctic Six Chair (2022&ndash;2024) and reflects:</p><p>&ldquo;During my time as Chair of The Arctic Six, what struck me most was how quickly genuine collaboration emerges once researchers have the chance to meet regularly. Trust grows, ideas take shape, and suddenly you&rsquo;re working together on a proposal none of you could have created alone. That&rsquo;s the real strength of the Chairs Programme &ndash; it gives us the time and continuity to turn shared ideas into something substantial.&rdquo;</p><p>With approximately 41,500 students and 4,600 employees, Ume&aring; University is the largest Arctic university in the Nordic region and one of the most productive universities globally in Arctic research. Through The Arctic Six and initiatives such as the Chairs Programme, the university continues to deepen its role as a driving force in international collaboration and to strengthen the conditions for new knowledge about and for the Arctic.</p>/en/news/the-arctic-six-strengthens-research-at-umea-university_12152698//en/news/catherine-bellini-receives-the-rosens-linnaeus-prize-in-botany_12152386/On Tuesday this week, Catherine Bellini was awarded the Roséns Linnaeus Prize in Botany by the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund. She received the prize for her research on adventitious roots and carbon allocation and her strong commitment to promoting international scientific collaboration. Catherine Bellini shares the award with Alexandre Antonelli, professor at the University of Gothenburg.Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:44:18 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2992b621aa3244f28f8b2bf751250785/upsc_9821_240404_mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Catherine Bellini combines research in Sweden and France to advance understanding of plant growth and adaptation.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Catherine Bellini&rsquo;s research spans two main areas, reflecting her dual affiliation: she is professor at Ume&aring; University and Director of Research in Sylvie Dinant&rsquo;s group at the Jean-Pierre Bourgin Institute (IJPB), part of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) in Versailles, France.</p><p>In Ume&aring;, Catherine Bellini and her team study how plants develop adventitious roots - roots that grow from stems or leaves, such as those formed when new plants are grown from stem cuttings. They identified key genes controlling this process in the small model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and applied this knowledge to trees such as hybrid aspen, hybrid poplar and Norway spruce, which are important species for forestry.</p><p>In France, her research focusses on how plants transport sugars and allocate carbon, processes that are essential for growth and survival. She investigates how these mechanisms influence plant development and help plants adapt to their environment.</p><p class="quote-center">This award recognises more than twenty years of teamwork. I would therefore like to thank all the students and postdocs who joined my group and contributed.</p><p>Using her dual roles, Catherine Bellini has coordinated long-term collaborations between Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre and INRAE. This collaboration was later expanded to the trilateral INUPRAG cooperation which also includes the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics in Barcelona. These partnerships have strengthened international research collaborations, enabled the exchange of young scientists and resulted in more than 200 scientific publications.</p><p>&ldquo;I am very honoured to receive this prize&rdquo;, says Catherine Bellini. &ldquo;This award recognises more than twenty years of teamwork. I would therefore like to thank all the students and postdocs who joined my group and contributed. I would also like to thank Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre and the IJPB at INRAE for the excellent research environment they provided us with.&rdquo;</p><p>The Ros&eacute;ns Linnaeus Prizes in Botany and Zoology have been awarded every three years since 1935 to researchers who are resident in Sweden who are considered highly deserving by the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund. This year&rsquo;s prizes were presented at the society&rsquo;s annual meeting in Lund on December 2nd.</p>/en/news/catherine-bellini-receives-the-rosens-linnaeus-prize-in-botany_12152386//en/news/johan-trygg-elected-member-of-science-academy_12152271/Johan Trygg, professor of chemometrics at Umeå University, has been elected a new member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA.Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:31:32 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/792a962e4e754c9aaf5801da84f806a1/johan_trygg_photo_22.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johan Trygg.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Billy Lindberg</span></div></div><p>Johan Trygg works at the Department of Chemistry developing chemometrics, that is, how statistical and mathematical methods can be used to understand chemical data. He is now one of the researchers representing Ume&aring; University within IVA.</p><p>IVA is the world&rsquo;s oldest engineering sciences academy and consists of just over 1,300 members with broad expertise in technology, economics and industry.</p><p>&ldquo;It feels both honouring and highly inspiring. Honourable because my mentor, Professor Svante Wold, was elected to the same IVA division, and inspiring because IVA brings together some of Sweden&rsquo;s most influential figures in research, technology and industry. Being part of that network gives me an opportunity to contribute to discussions where future innovations and research systems are shaped. It is a significant recognition &ndash; both professionally and personally,&rdquo; says Johan Trygg.</p><p>As a member of IVA, he will join the Chemical Engineering Division &ndash; one of the academy&rsquo;s twelve divisions. The division works to analyse and promote issues concerning how chemistry-based knowledge can help support sustainable development, both economically and environmentally.</p><p>&ldquo;We are in the midst of a technological revolution where AI, simulations and data-driven models are rapidly transforming how we develop new materials, design industrial processes and create tomorrow&rsquo;s pharmaceuticals,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>Johan Trygg emphasises that IVA plays an important role in bringing together academia, industry and the technology sector to build a shared direction. With experience from both academia and the international pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, he wants to build bridges and help ensure that research delivers real benefits for patients.</p><p>&ldquo;I want to contribute with a clear future-oriented perspective in which AI, digital biosimulations and omics technologies become a natural part of everyday work and drive innovation in chemical engineering, life science and drug development,&rdquo; he says.</p><p><a href="https://www.iva.se/en/published/IVA-strengthens-with-new-members-Here-is-the-list/?epslanguage=en">Full list of IVA&rsquo;s new members</a></p>/en/news/johan-trygg-elected-member-of-science-academy_12152271//en/news/three-umea-researchers-appointed-wallenberg-academy-fellows_12152121/Max Renner at Umeå University receives SEK 10 million from the Swedish Research Council for a project that will uncover how dangerous viruses build tiny factories inside our cells. Using cryo-electron microscopy, the researchers hope to understand how these viruses copy themselves – knowledge that could prove crucial in combating future outbreaks. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:17:18 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5542-250212-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Max Renner, assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Certain viruses such as pneumoviruses, which cause respiratory infections, and the rarer but deadly henipaviruses, build small &ldquo;viral factories&rdquo; inside human cells. These structures gather everything the virus needs to multiply and spread. Yet what actually happens inside them remains largely unknown.</p><p>This is something Max Renner, assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, now aims to change with his newly funded project.</p><p>&ldquo;We are trying to figure out how these viruses work, down to the molecular level. Using advanced cryo-electron microscopy at cryogenic temperatures, we can see these processes in 3D inside frozen cells at extremely high resolution,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Synthetic proteins can slow down the virus</h2><p>The project will map what viral factories look like, how they work, how their key components move and interact, and how their structures vary between different types of viruses. The researchers will also use synthetic proteins, designed with machine-learning approaches, to stop or slow down the virus machinery.</p><p>&ldquo;We are currently just beginning to understand the internal structure of viral factories and how the virus&rsquo;s copying machinery works inside actual human cells. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to develop targeted antivirals in cases where vaccines are not available,&rdquo; says Max Renner.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Strengthens preparedness for future outbreaks</h2><p>By uncovering how these viruses replicate, hide from the immune system, and hijack our cells, the project will improve our ability to fight future viral threats. At the same time, there is potential to discover entirely new biological structures.</p><p>&ldquo;The exploration of viral factories is just getting started. This means we may find mechanism no one has seen before,&rdquo; says Max Renner.</p><p>Support from the Swedish Research Council now enables the research group to take important steps towards a deeper understanding of how viruses function &ndash; and, ultimately, how they can be stopped.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f4a16bb575084f84a70f076847b44a72/max_renner_lab_5522-250212-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Max Renner with his research group: Rupesh Balaji Jayachandran, Erwan Quignon, Marcus Sundqvist, Kajsa Westberg and Jane Corwin.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/umea-researchers-aim-to-reveal-how-viruses-build-their-factories_12152022//en/news/critical-microbes-building-a-national-infection-research-infrastructure-inspired-by-denmark_12151786/Infection researcher Anne-Marie Fors Connolly has been awarded SEK 500,000 in investment funding from the ALF Committee to continue developing a national database infrastructure that will enable more researchers to study critical infectious diseases.Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:30:56 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a61943d648404a81a13a412f8f8c3c39/fors_conolly_anne-marie_9869_220405_hkn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Anne-Marie Fors Connolly investigates both acute and long-term complications after infections by analyzing whole population data.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">I hope more research groups will recognize the importance of studying how infections affect public health</p><p>&ldquo;Improving patient care is what drives me,&rdquo; says Anne-Marie Fors Connolly, specialist physician and associate professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The research infrastructure Critical Microbes integrates test results from clinical microbiology laboratories with outcomes of infectious diseases across Sweden. By collecting and coordinating population-wide data, including socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical variables, it becomes possible to map how infectious diseases impact public health, work capacity, and societal costs.</p><p>&ldquo;It is an interdisciplinary effort that combines advanced statistical methods with clinical expertise to identify risk factors, optimize treatment strategies, and generate robust, evidence-based knowledge,&rdquo; Anne-Marie Fors Connolly explains.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Patient centred improvement in focus</h2><p>The idea for the infrastructure came from Denmark, where all test results are centralized in real time in a surveillance database. This makes it possible to monitor how infections affect the country.</p><p>&ldquo;In Sweden, we do not have the same capability, as only positive results for notifiable infections are centralized. I want to create an infrastructure where test results from all clinical microbiology laboratories in Sweden are historically collected. These will be linked to the population database already maintained by my research group, creating a connection between infection test results and patient outcomes across the entire population,&rdquo; says Anne-Marie Fors Connolly.</p><p>Other research groups with ethically approved projects will be able to request data for their studies. This will make it possible to conduct research on critical infectious diseases for many years to come.</p><p>&ldquo;I hope more research groups will recognize the importance of studying how infections affect public health. It is a crucial foundation for designing targeted preventive measures and improving patient care,&rdquo; Anne-Marie Fors Connolly adds.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Learning from Denmark</h2><p>The investment funds will enable continued development of Critical Microbes. Anne-Marie Fors Connolly will also visit the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark to learn from their experience.</p><p>&ldquo;It is the only place in the world with such an infection database, so their insights are extremely valuable.&rdquo;</p><p>Critical Microbes is also supported by <a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/news/four-collaborative-projects-selected-in-the-rdcp-call/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SciLifeLab/RDCP</a> with SEK 1 million and <a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/strategic-areas/pandemic-laboratory-preparedness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pandemic Laboratory Preparedness</a> with SEK 1.98 million.</p>/en/news/critical-microbes-building-a-national-infection-research-infrastructure-inspired-by-denmark_12151786//en/news/in-memory-of-dieter-k.-muller_12151607/On November 20, Professor Dieter Müller passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. He was affiliated with the Department of Geography and served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University for nine years. His colleagues at the department have written an obituary in his memory.Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:42:27 +0100<p>It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that we acknowledge that Professor Dieter K. M&uuml;ller (1968&ndash;2025) is no longer with us. Dieter had been part of the Department of Geography at Ume&aring; University since 1993. He first came to Ume&aring; as an exchange student from Germany and graduated from Ume&aring; University in 1992. He then began his doctoral studies in human geography, focusing his dissertation on Germans purchasing second homes in Sweden. He earned his PhD in 1999 and later became Associate Professor in 2004. In 2007, he was appointed Professor of Human Geography. Dieter went on to serve as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2011 to 2016 and subsequently as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University from 2016 to 2025.</p><p>Dieter had a rare ability to truly see people and care for others. As a supervisor, he was deeply committed to his doctoral students, always taking time to discuss, reflect, and talk about research&mdash;as well as life in general. He was humble in his work. Dieter possessed an exceptional drive as a researcher, with a keen interest in society at large and a strong desire to influence and improve it. In academia, he established himself as a respected name and earned significant international recognition for his contributions to the development of&nbsp;research on&nbsp;tourism and geography.</p><p>He served for eight years as Chair of the International Geographical Union&rsquo;s Commission on Tourism, Leisure and Global Change. In 2018, he received the Roy Wolfe Award from the American Association of Geographers for his outstanding contributions to tourism geography. In 2023, he was elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.</p><p>Dieter built a creative research environment around him and established the Department of Geography at Ume&aring; University as one of the leading centers for tourism research in Sweden and the Nordic region. He always spoke highly of Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; University, becoming an ambassador not only for Ume&aring; but for all of northern Sweden. His network within academia and beyond was extensive, and many will miss his simplicity, clarity, and sharp intellect.</p><p>Our grief is profound, but we are grateful for the time we shared. Thank you for everything you gave us as a colleague and friend.</p><p><em>Colleagues at the Department of Geography, Ume&aring; University</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Memorial service</h3><p>A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 16:00 in Rotundan, Ume&aring; University. No registration is required. There will be an opportunity to share a memory during the event. If you cannot attend but wish to express your condolences with flowers or a telegram, please contact Sara Rambe, Secretary to the University Management.</p><p><br>Contact details:<br>sara.rambe@91��ý����, +46 (0)90-786 63 78</p>/en/news/in-memory-of-dieter-k.-muller_12151607//en/news/calcium-sensitive-switch-boosts-the-efficacy-of-cancer-drugs_12151385/Cancer-fighting antibody drugs are designed to penetrate tumor cells and release a lethal payload deep within, but too often they don’t make it that far. A new study shows how this Trojan Horse strategy works better by exploiting calcium differences outside and inside cells.Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:37:50 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/cancer_cell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The calcium-regulated protein drug (green) and tumor cell receptors (red) have bonded and internalization is underway, 40 seconds after administration.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>KTH</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">The calcium switch is built into the drug design</p><p>A research team from KTH, Stanford University and Ume&aring; University has developed a calcium activated delivery system that could enable more precise treatment, with lower doses and less collateral damage to healthy tissue. The results have been published in PNAS, the journal of the National Academy of Sciences.</p><p>The concept takes aim at a common challenge with targeted drugs, which tend to cling too tightly to receptors expressed by tumors. On the positive side, that strong bond blocks receptors&rsquo; tumor growth signals. But ADCs (Antibody&ndash;Drug Conjugates) are also meant to attack and kill, and too often the protein can become stuck without ever penetrating deeper into the cell&rsquo;s real intended goal: an acidic compartment called the lysosome. There, in the kill zone, the targeting protein can be broken down, thus unleashing toxin that causes cell death.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Calcium dependent bond</h2><p>To avoid that problem, the researchers developed a calcium-sensitive switch that binds strongly to the cancer cell receptor on the outside of the cell where relatively high calcium concentrations are found, in the blood and the extracellular fluid.</p><p>Once bound together, the drug-loaded protein (or calcium-regulated affinity, CaRA) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are pulled inside the cell, into compartments with gradually lower levels of calcium. And because their bond is calcium dependent, the receptor and CaRA eventually go their separate ways: the receptor can recycle back to the membrane, while CaRA continues carrying its payload toward the lysosome.</p><p>&ldquo;The calcium switch is built into the drug design. It senses calcium levels and changes its grip automatically,&rdquo; says Sophia Hober, professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology who led the study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/wolf-watz_magnus_5367_180823_soj3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>From Ume&aring; University, Professor Magnus Wolf-Watz's group participated in the study published in PNAS.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Very selective molecule</h2><p>The study was performed on living human cancer cell lines, using a payload of the cytotoxin, mertansine DM1. The drug conjugate showed a very high potency and it is highly selective&mdash;it only killed cells that overexpress EGFR, leaving healthy or low-EGFR cells unharmed. The researchers emphasize that this shows specific targeting and a strong therapeutic window, which is critical for reducing side effects.</p><p>Leon Schierholz, a doctoral student in Magnus Wolf-Watz's research group at Ume&aring; University, has determined a low-resolution structure of the complex between CaRA; and the extracellular domain of the EGFR receptor. The structure has been determined to a resolution of approximately 6 &Aring; using the single particle cryoEM technique on data collected at the Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy, UCEM, at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The structure provides a fundamental molecular understanding of the high affinity of the complex.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/537a9baf518e425da349a2beb26f17dd/schierholz_leon_7646_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Doctoral student L&eacute;on Schierholz has spent many hours at the large microscope at the UCEM technology platform at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Next step an atomic model</h2><p>&ldquo;We are now moving forward and aiming to come up with a high-resolution structure with a resolution below 3.5 &Aring; that can allow us to make an atomic model that can be used to further improve the properties of CaRA. The data is of very good quality for this relatively small complex,&rdquo; says Leon Schierholz, who in this context wants to put the spotlight on his colleague Max Renner, who is highly involved in completing the atomic model.</p>/en/news/calcium-sensitive-switch-boosts-the-efficacy-of-cancer-drugs_12151385//en/news/representing-umea-university-in-an-international-programming-competition_12149645/A new influenza strain, the K variant, is spreading across Europe and detected in Sweden. It is a subtype of influenza A (H3N2) and raises concern as it causes more severe symptoms and spreads faster than previous strains. This year’s flu vaccine is not fully adapted to protect against it, according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:56:15 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c566c9478ff0441692f493015c7fc3cd/arnberg_niklas_3979_210922_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Niklas Arnberg, professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; university, says the K variant makes it especially important this year for older adults and people in risk groups to get vaccinated ahead of the flu season.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">there is extra reason to get vaccinated this year</p><p>&ldquo;Symptoms resemble classic influenza with high fever, chills, headache, dry cough, and muscle pain, but they may be more pronounced with this variant,&rdquo; Niklas Arnberg explains.</p><p>The K variant has been linked to an early start of the flu season in several countries, and experts warn that this season could be tougher than usual. Although the vaccine offers less protection against infection with the K variant, Arnberg emphasizes that vaccination remains important:&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;The vaccine likely provides somewhat weaker protection against the K variant than we would like, but it is by no means ineffective. It also protects against other circulating influenza strains and reduces the risk of severe illness, which is particularly important for older adults and those in risk groups.&rdquo;</p><p>To reduce transmission, good hand hygiene, sneezing into your elbow, and avoiding close contact with elderly or vulnerable individuals when symptomatic are recommended. However, Niklas Arnberg does not believe society will need to impose restrictions or other measures.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;But I do think there is extra reason to get vaccinated this year, thus more reason than in previous years,&rdquo; he adds.</p>/en/news/new-influenza-variant-could-make-the-winter-season-extra-demanding_12151119//en/news/dieter-muller-has-suddenly-passed-away_12151130/Dieter Müller, Professor at the Department of Geography and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, 20 November.Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:51:10 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6c409d68c07f4cb68b7cb68d3a75ebfc/muller_dieter_5251_211006_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller died suddenly and unexpectedly on 20 November 2025.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller served as Professor of Human Geography at the Department of Geography and his research focus was on tourism and regional development.</p><p>He was Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2011&ndash;2016 and thereafter took the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor in the University Management with responsibility for research and doctoral education in the social sciences and humanities from 2016&ndash;2025. Beside those roles, he was also member of several boards, networks and committees both within and beyond Ume&aring; University. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;It is with great sadness that we have received the news that Dieter is no longer with us. I know that Dieter was a highly committed and well-regarded colleague who made a lasting impact both at the University and in society. My thoughts are especially with Dieter&rsquo;s immediate family and with everyone who have worked with him in any of his roles here at the University,&rdquo; says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University. &nbsp;</p><p>On Monday, 24 November, the flag will be flown at half-mast on Campus Ume&aring; in his memory.</p><p>Dieter M&uuml;ller was 57 years old when he passed.</p>/en/news/dieter-muller-has-suddenly-passed-away_12151130//en/news/kbc-days-2025-bridges-disciplines_12150919/Last week, the annual conference organised by Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) at Umeå University and SLU, gathered over 360 participants for two intensive days of knowledge exchange, networking, and celebrating the year’s achievements. This year’s theme, “Bridging Scales: from Quantum to Cosmos”, united discussions on how advances in physics, chemistry, life and Earth and planetary sciences can intersect to address fundamental questions about matter, life, and the universe.Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:38:10 +0100<p>Since 2009, the KBC DAYS conference has offered a platform for knowledge exchange among researchers from different departments and disciplines, while also highlighting research achievements, awards, and new faculty members within the KBC community.</p><p><em>&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t sure I would understand the different topics in the programme, but the speakers did a wonderful job communicating their science, and I found myself engaged in every talk throughout both days &mdash; it was all very interesting&rdquo;</em>, says Edoardo Piombo from Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre. He was one of the attendees at the KBC DAYS 2025 who enjoyed the event&rsquo;s strong multidisciplinary atmosphere.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_opening.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>This year's main scientific theme was "Bridging Scales: from Quantum to Cosmos," serving as a central focus for discussions on different scales of scientific research and on analysing and applying research findings across various scales and dimensions. The choice of this theme was also influenced by the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). In this photo, Lars-Anders Carlson and Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund, both members of the scientific organising committee, are opening the conference in the Carl Kempe lecture hall at KBC.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>The multidisciplinary programme highlights</strong></h3><p>Within the theme &ldquo;Bridging Scales: from Quantum to Cosmos&rdquo;, the invited keynote speakers showcased cutting-edge research spanning across the scales from quantum biology to remote sensing and machine learning in landscape analysis, and to comparative planetology.</p><p>At the far end of the spectrum, Clarice D. Aiello, a leading expert in quantum biology, reviewed experimental evidence for quantum phenomena in biological systems, discussed proposed biophysical mechanisms, and highlighted their potential implications for technology, therapeutics, and our understanding of life across scales.</p><p>Reflecting on her talk, Assistant Professor Nicol&ograve; Maccaferri, a member of the scientific organising committee, commented:</p><p><em>&ldquo;Clarice&rsquo;s research at the intersection of physics and biology aims to confirm or refute the &lsquo;Quantum Biology Hypothesis&rsquo;, which suggests quantum states last long enough inside cells to be biologically relevant. If proven true, this way of approaching biology and biological problems could revolutionise our way of seeing and understanding life as we know it.&rdquo;</em></p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_clarice_aiello.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Clarice D. Aiello, founder of the Quantum Biology Ecosystem and CSO of the Quantum Biology Institute, USA, is conversing with conference participants after her inspiring keynote lecture &ldquo;Quantum Biology: How nature might be optimized to harness quantum mechanics&rdquo;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p>At the other extreme of the presented scale, Stephanie Werner from the Centre for Planetary Habitability at the University of Oslo explored current methods for detecting exoplanets, their surprising diversity, and the challenges of defining and identifying Earth-like habitability across evolving planetary systems.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_stephanie_werner.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Professor Stephanie Werner, from the Department of Geosciences at the Centre for Planetary Habitability, University of Oslo, is delivering her keynote lecture titled "Exoplanets, near and far, small and rare, large and plenty?".</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>With a focus on young researchers</strong></h3><p>The KBC DAYS traditionally give PhD students a chance to present their projects through a short &ldquo;elevator talk&rdquo; and/or a poster to a broad, multidisciplinary scientific community, sharpening their science communication skills. The best talk, selected by the evaluation committee, was awarded a travel voucher sponsored by the Ume&aring;-based company Agrisera, while the best poster, as voted by the participants, received the prize from SciLifeLab Ume&aring;.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_talk_hanna_jerndal.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Hanna Jerndal, from the Department of Clinical Microbiology, receives the Agrisera award for her outstanding &ldquo;Elevator talk&rdquo; presentation at KBC DAYS 2025, titled &ldquo;Longitudinal Assessment of Tubular and Glomerular Kidney Function After COVID-19 &ndash; a prospective cohort study&rdquo;. In the photo, Hanna is with Joanna Porankiewicz-Asplund from Agrisera and Stefan Bj&ouml;rklund, scientific coordinator of KBC.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_best_poster_mingyu_liu.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mingyu Liu from the Department of Plant Physiology, Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre (UPSC) receives the prize for the best poster titled &ldquo;Light-dependent modulation of sustained quenching during overwintering in Pinus koraiensis seedlings&rdquo;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p>On the second day of the conference, a panel discussion organised by the Ume&aring; Postdoc Society drew significant interest from doctoral students and postdocs. The session focused on navigating the career journey from postdoctoral researcher to principal investigator (PI). The panel, composed of six young PIs, discussed key aspects of transitioning from postdoc to PI, including strategies for obtaining early-career funding, crafting competitive grant proposals, leveraging mentorship and institutional support, balancing research with grant writing, and maintaining resilience in the face of setbacks.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_ups_panel_discussion.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Panel discussion &ldquo;From Postdoc to PI: Winning Grants and Finding Your Path&rdquo; organised by Ume&aring; Postdoc Society (UPS) and moderated by Madhusree Mitra and Keshi Chung. The panel consisted of (left to right) Max Renner (Department of Chemistry and UCMR), Ryo Morimoto (Department of Molecular Biology and MIMS), Verena Kohler (Department of Molecular Biology), Laura Bacete (Department of Plant Physiology, UPSC), Paulina Wanrooji (Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics), and Eric Capo (Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience).</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><p><em>&ldquo;I found the panel discussion very valuable, especially as a PhD student who hasn&rsquo;t yet secured a postdoctoral position but is already thinking about a future career as a principal investigator. Hearing from established PIs about the challenges they faced on their journey to becoming leaders in their fields was eye-opening&rdquo;</em>, says Dmytro Sokol, doctoral student from the Department of Chemistry.</p><p>Among many personal experiences shared and practical advice offered, the panel emphasised a message that resonated with many: don't get stuck after a grant proposal rejection, ask your peers for feedback, and keep trying! The panellists also discussed that it can be a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with the local research culture, creating hidden barriers to funding access. They agreed that one of the important steps in transitioning to an early career is learning how your local research funding and research support systems operate.</p><p><em>&ldquo;Overall, the discussion was inspiring and helped clarify my thoughts on whether I want to pursue the path to becoming a PI. It provided practical tips, a clearer understanding of what lies ahead, and strengthened my determination to face the challenges of my future academic career&rdquo;</em>, says Dmytro Sokol.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_dmytro_sokol.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dmytro Sokol, a PhD student in biochemistry, is addressing the panel during the discussion &ldquo;From Postdoc to PI: Winning Grants and Finding Your Path&rdquo;.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>Journey across the scales with research infrastructures</strong></h3><p>The KBC DAYS also serves as a forum where research infrastructures at KBC and Campus Ume&aring; can showcase their advanced technologies, unique instruments, expert know-how, and services. These infrastructures can be used to explore different aspects of life- and material sciences, ranging from the atomic scale to entire ecosystems. For instance, mass spectrometry analyses performed by the Swedish Metabolomics Centre Ume&aring; (SMC) detect metabolites across a range from millimolar to femtomolar levels &mdash; over nine orders of magnitude. Meanwhile, the technical platforms at Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre (UMF) accommodate experiments from millilitres to litres of water in laboratory incubations, extending to multi-cubic-metre mesocosms, as well as field sampling throughout the Bothnian Sea. The temporal scale of experiments at UMF ranges from rapid molecular analyses within hours to seasonal and multi-year monitoring programmes that track environmental trends.</p><p>The impressive array of local and national research infrastructures available at KBC, SciLifeLab and &ldquo;on the other side of the road&rdquo;, at the Translational Research Centre at the University Hospital of Ume&aring;, was overviewed by Linda Sandblad, Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy and SciLifeLab Ume&aring;, and Ola Billing, from the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/585bc9a26ca2479d9443a94d7c46e0b4/kbc_days_2025_infrastructure_poster_session_umf.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Newcomers, as well as long-term KBC residents and other curious researchers, could meet infrastructure representatives at their posters to discuss potential projects, join guided tours of their facilities, or solve the infrastructure quiz. In the photo, Regina Kolzenburg and Mikael Peedu (in blue jumpers) talk to conference participants at their &ldquo;station&rdquo;, presenting the research facilities at the Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre (UMF).</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna Shevtsova</span></div></div><h3><strong>Guinness World Records-worthy attempt to &ldquo;bridge scales&rdquo; from &Aring; to our solar system</strong></h3><p>One of the most memorable and exciting moments of the conference was the live experiment &ndash; creating the World&rsquo;s Smallest Solar System Model. During the Infrastructure session, participants could follow a live stream from the Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microscopy (UCEM) lab, where staff scientist Nils Hauff created one of the model&rsquo;s elements, Saturn, inside FEI Scios, a Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope. With a scale of 1 : 7 000 000 000 000, this model is so tiny that you would need a stereo microscope to find Saturn, which measures around 15 &mu;m or a pollen grain, and an electron microscope to see its moon Titan, which is about 700 nm in size. The entire solar system, including the Sun, planets, the most important moons, and dwarf planets such as Pluto, has been scaled down so much that 38 AU can fit onto a 75 cm-long metal rod.</p><p>Nils Hauff explained that the aim of this experiment was to demonstrate the instrument's capability to fabricate structures at the nanometer scale.</p><p><em>&ldquo;We also wanted to illustrate how extremely different length scales are involved in the research here at KBC and how challenging it is to comprehend those different length scales&rdquo;</em>, he says.</p><p>This academic stunt was inspired by the Sweden Solar System, the world's largest permanent scale model of the solar system, located throughout Sweden at a scale of 1:20 000 000, where the Sun is represented by Avicii Arena in Stockholm, and Ume&aring; holds the 13 cm-diameter model of dwarf planet Eris.</p><p><em>&ldquo;Now Sweden is home not only for the largest, but also for the smallest model of the solar system in the world!&rdquo;</em>, says Nils Hauff.</p><p>He already holds one record &ndash; earlier this year, he made the world&rsquo;s smallest Dala horse in collaboration with Erik Olof Wiklund, an artist and master&rsquo;s student at the Academy of Fine Arts. During the KBC DAYS, their photo &rdquo;The world's smallest Dalahorse&rdquo; won the KBC photo contest &ldquo;Bridging scales&rdquo; in a tough competition among nearly 30 other impressive artistic contributions.</p><h3><strong>Social element critical in bridging organisational boundaries</strong></h3><p>Throughout October, the KBC Ping-Pong tournament took place, attended by over 50 participants ranging from complete beginners to advanced players. Thanks to the energy and organisational skills of Irina Iakovleva, research coordinator at Bio4Energy, and several volunteers, the tournament became a much-appreciated event, providing a fantastic opportunity to enjoy sports and camaraderie with colleagues across KBC and beyond.</p><p>The tournament culminated with tense semi-finals and the final matches just before the conference dinner, adding excitement and an informal touch to the scientific gathering.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a5a47b1d-ba16-4b68-89eb-efa709d3db0d" data-contentname="KBC Employee of the Year 2025">{}</div><p>During the conference dinner, the KBC Employee of the Year was announced. The winner was chosen by the KBC group members from several nominees who &ldquo;made a meaningful contribution to improving the work environment at KBC, especially by strengthening collaboration and community spirit&rdquo;. This year&rsquo;s award recipient was Sonali Ranade from UPSC. Sonali was nominated for her initiative in launching a laughter club, where colleagues gather to practise laughing yoga and breathing exercises, Pranayama, that help improve well-being and reduce stress. Dinner participants could try a brief introduction to the laughter session. The laughter club will resume regular sessions in spring 2026, and everyone interested is welcome to join.</p><p><em>&ldquo;Just come with the smile!&rdquo;</em> says Sonali Ranade, smiling.</p><p>The success of KBC DAYS 2025 was made possible through the collective efforts of a vibrant research community and the generous support of sponsors.</p><p>What new challenges will 2026 bring, and which scientific themes should we explore together within the interdisciplinary KBC research community? Get ready for the KBC DAYS 2026 and share your ideas for themes and other suggestions with the KBC Communications Office.</p><p><strong>More information:</strong></p><p><a href="~/link/e578cbc1f0ab444bae8e84840cae2a86.aspx">KBC Days 2025 programme and abstracts</a></p><p><a href="https://umeapostdocs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Homepage of Ume&aring; Postdoc Society</a></p><p><a href="https://www.swedensolarsystem.se/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sweden Solar System</a></p><p>UMU news: <a href="~/link/73ba2d62b3ac475ca5b4d713fe151f86.aspx">Art meets nanotechnology &ndash; the world&rsquo;s smallest Dala horse created at Ume&aring; University</a></p><p>UPSC news: <a href="https://www.upsc.se/about-upsc/news/6621-sonali-ranade-awarded-kbc-employee-of-the-year-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sonali Ranade awarded KBC Employee of the Year 2025&nbsp;</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0"><strong>KBC DAYS 2025 in Pictures</strong></h2>/en/news/kbc-days-2025-bridges-disciplines_12150919//en/news/harshit-malhotra-develops-new-tools-for-synthetic-biology_12149484/After earning his PhD in India, Harshit Malhotra has moved to Umeå, where he works as a 'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral researcher developing advanced chemo-optogenetic tools. His research aims to control bacterial cellular processes and reprogram them to produce valuable chemicals.Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:42:22 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1179-251103-mpn5.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Harshit Malhotra is 'Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral fellow in professor Yaowen Wu lab at the Department of Chemistry and professor Anita Sellstedt lab at Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre, UPSC, at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">What is&nbsp;your academic background?</h2><p>"My doctoral work focussed on the metabolic engineering of the unique bacterium <em>Pseudomonas bharatica</em> CSV86T to degrade the toxic pesticide Carbaryl.&nbsp; The bacterium, isolated from petrol-contaminated soil, has a broad metabolic diversity and unique carbon utilization property, making it ideal for biodegradation and metabolic engineering applications."</p><p>"Through this work, I gained expertise in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and metabolic engineering."</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">How did you end up at Ume&aring; University in North Sweden?</h2><p>"Professor Yaowen Wu's lab at Ume&aring; University has developed unique tools that find application in metabolic engineering and hold immense potential in revolutionising synthetic biology. This fact drew my attention."</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What is your research focusing on?</h2><p>"My research focusses on the development of chemo-optogenetic tools to control cellular processes in bacteria. These systems combine chemical molecules, optics, and genetically modified proteins to precisely control protein activities at specific locations in cells using light-sensitive small molecules."</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">What is challenging and rewarding respectively with being a researcher?&nbsp;</h2><p>"The challenge of being a researcher lies in the persistent effort, patience, and resilience required to uncover the truths of nature. However, this pursuit is deeply fulfilling, as it contributes to the advancement of human knowledge and progress."</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">What are your first impressions of Ume&aring; and its university?&nbsp;</h2><p>"The city is very close to nature and serene. The work environment is conducive to the career development of researchers and provides wide range of scientific facilities for project implementation."</p><h2 id="info5" data-magellan-target="info5">What is your driving force to do research in life science?</h2><p>"My driving force is contributing to society by harnessing the potential of synthetic biology."</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4d6ee7c0d98441cc82bfd957d5f65f50/harshit-malhatra-1324-251103-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Harshit Malhotra's driving force for research in life sciences is to contribute to society by harnessing the potential of synthetic biology.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/harshit-malhotra-develops-new-tools-for-synthetic-biology_12149484//en/news/learning-lab-hybrid-concluded-with-a-well-attended-digital-session_12149304/Nearly one hundred participants joined the digital kickout marking the conclusion of the Learning Lab Hybrid project. The session provided a summary of four years of work exploring and developing hybrid learning environments.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:00:27 +0100<p>After four years of exploratory work, the Learning Lab Hybrid project concluded with a digital kickout arranged within the network Rum f&ouml;r l&auml;rande. Under the theme <em>Hybrid teaching: hype, hope or everyday practice?</em> nearly one hundred participants gathered on Zoom to hear reflections and insights from the project.</p><p>Learning Lab Hybrid Ume&aring; is a collaboration between Ume&aring; University and Akademiska Hus aimed at building knowledge about how space, pedagogy and technology can be developed together to support future learning environments. Since its launch in autumn 2022, teachers have been able to test and refine new teaching approaches in the specially equipped room in the Natural Sciences Building, supported by both pedagogical and technical expertise. The project runs until 2026 and a final report is planned for release early next year.</p><p>The kickout was moderated by Eva Svedmark, Director and Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Educational Development (UPL). The panel included Karin Fahlquist, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics, Thomas Mejtoft, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Christina Wink, Space Planner at the Property Management Office, and Rasmus Karlsson, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in Political Science at Halmstad University.</p><p>&Aring;se Tieva, Senior Lecturer at UPL, and Kajsa Winnes, Learning Environment Developer at Akademiska Hus, who have both played central roles in the project, opened the session with an overview of Learning Lab Hybrid&rsquo;s development from 2022 to today.</p><p>During the session, the panel and project team shared broad insights from the work, highlighting both challenges and successes as well as new lessons learned. The discussion illustrated how hybrid learning environments bring together pedagogy, technology and spatial design in ways that are both complex and full of potential.</p><p>&ndash; Hybrid teaching is no quick fix. It requires thoughtful planning where pedagogy, design and human interaction are key. Technology enables, but pedagogy decides, summarised &Aring;se Tieva.</p><p>With the kickout concluded, work continues on compiling the project&rsquo;s findings. The final report, to be published early next year, will provide a deeper overview of the results and the insights that can support the development of future learning environments.</p>/en/news/learning-lab-hybrid-concluded-with-a-well-attended-digital-session_12149304//en/news/faster-and-safer-development-of-car-t-cells-against-cancer_12149253/Johan Henriksson at Umeå University is developing genetically engineered immune cells, known as CAR T cells, that have the potential to cure cancer. He is one of twelve researchers in Sweden awarded SEK 10 million by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research to develop new instruments, technologies and methods.Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:39:35 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc3ea728820649979ff75b27aabca84b/henriksson_johan_5585-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johan Henriksson and his colleagues are building a large database that will help improve future cancer treatment.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Cancer cells are adept at hiding among normal cells, making them difficult for the immune system to detect and destroy. One treatment already used in healthcare is CAR T-cell therapy. In this approach, T cells are extracted from a patient&rsquo;s blood, reprogrammed to attack cancer cells, and then returned to the body.</p><p>To create better and more effective CAR T cells, researchers have so far conducted experiments in mice, but the results do not always translate to humans.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">"Needles in a haystack"</h2><p>Johan Henriksson&rsquo;s research group is working with a new technique called single-cell analysis. It involves identifying CAR T cells in which a gene has accidentally been knocked out during production. By studying these cells, the researchers can learn which genes can aid best in treating cancer. The method is a modernised version of an older screening technique that Johan Henriksson became interested in through a collaboration with Laura Carroll, who studies bacteria at the Department of Clinical Microbiology.</p><p>&ldquo;We are looking for needles in a haystack. But the technology we&rsquo;ve developed makes this project finally possible,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>To find these rare cells, Johan Henriksson and his colleagues will need to build the largest single-cell database ever created &ndash; twenty times larger than the well-known Human Cell Atlas, which was developed by nearly 1,000 laboratories together.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">More affordable cancer treatment</h2><p>&ldquo;The technology is extremely expensive, so this is really just a pilot project. Once we&rsquo;ve shown that the method delivers useful data, we hope that companies can take over and scale up the technology. Much of the research at Ume&aring; University is only possible thanks to generous contributions from the Kempestiftelserna foundations, which originate from MoDo and the paper industry. It would be fantastic if the data we generate could lead to new businesses in V&auml;sterbotten and give something back,&rdquo; says Johan Henriksson.</p><p>According to him, the project has great potential to accelerate the development of next-generation CAR T cells. The need for effective and, above all, more affordable cancer treatments is enormous. Today, CAR T-cell therapy for a single patient can cost up to SEK 5 million.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can improve efficiency and reduce side effects, this could make the treatment available to more patients. CAR T cells also have the potential to cure other diseases that are difficult to target with conventional drugs,&rdquo; says Johan Henriksson.</p>/en/news/faster-and-safer-development-of-car-t-cells-against-cancer_12149253//en/news/two-nobel-symposia-at-umea-university-in-2026_12148986/A hormone produced in the thyroid gland can play a key role in the development of prostate cancer. This is shown in a new study by an international research group led by Umeå University, Sweden, and the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. By blocking a receptor for the hormone, the growth of tumour cells in the prostate was inhibited. In the long term, the discovery may open up a new way of attacking certain types of aggressive prostate cancer.Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:01:38 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3a6797bd21f447b6b4b555a56cc20209/lukas_kenner2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lukas Kenner, visiting professor at the Department of Molecular Biology.<span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Medizinische Universit&auml;t Wien</span></p></div></div><p>"The results indicate that the receptor in question is a driving force in the growth of cancer. Substances that block it could thus be a target for future drugs against prostate cancer," says Lukas Kenner, visiting professor at Ume&aring; University and the one who has led the study that is published in Molecular Cancer.</p><p>The receptor in question is called thyroid hormone receptor Beta, TR&beta;. It binds the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine, T3. In laboratory experiments, the activation of T3 has led to a sharp increase in the number of prostate cancer cells. However, when the receptor TR&beta; was inhibited with the help of an active substance, NH-3, significantly reduced the growth of cancer cells. NH-3 is a substance that is only used in research to block TR&beta;.</p><p>The substance's effect on cancer was then confirmed in animal experiments in mice. Tumours treated with NH-3 remained smaller or progressed significantly more slowly. This was shown to be particularly effective in models of prostate cancer that are so-called castration resistant. This means that the tumour continues to grow despite treatment that reduces the amount of the male sex hormone testosterone, which usually drives cancer growth. This form is currently difficult to treat clinically.</p><p>Blocking TR&beta; using NH-3 worked by leading to the elimination of a particular signal, the androgen receptor signal, which is otherwise activated by testosterone and then plays a central role in the development of prostate cancer.</p><p>A review of data from cohorts of patients with prostate cancer supports these findings. In tissue samples, elevated levels of TR&beta; could be seen in tumours in the prostate compared to those in healthy tissue. In addition, genetic analyses show that mutations in many prostate cancer patients alter the signalling pathways for thyroid hormone. This suggests that blocking the thyroid hormone and its receptor may be a target for further research to find new treatments for prostate cancer.</p><p>"Of course, it is a balancing act not to change the hormonal balance in the thyroid gland more than necessary to fight cancer in another part of the body, and it will probably not be a solution for all types of prostate cancer. Further research will have to answer what a treatment could look like, possibly in combination with other treatments. Of course, this is an interesting track," says Lukas Kenner.</p><p>Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in Sweden and the second most common in the world. About one in ten Swedish men is affected by prostate cancer, about 2200 men a year die from the disease. When detected early, the disease is usually treated by reducing the amount of testosterone. However, many patients become resistant to this treatment, and as a result, the number of available treatments is limited.</p>/en/news/thyroid-gland-new-possible-target-for-prostate-cancer-treatment_12148877//en/news/safer-dairy-products-with-fewer-chemicals_12148827/Bacteria in the dairy industry can lead to disease and food waste. A new research project at Umeå University aims to find simpler ways to detect and remove the bacteria – without using a lot of chemicals.Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:48:37 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/cul32has0020rf2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, can contain disease-causing bacteria.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r Bildbyr&aring; AB</span></div></div><p>Raw milk, milk products and entire processing lines in the dairy industry are often contaminated by <em>Bacillus</em> bacteria. These bacteria occur naturally in the environment but can cause serious disease if they enter food products. <em>Bacillus</em> bacteria are extremely difficult to remove due to their ability to form spores that survive both pasteurisation and common cleaning procedures.</p><p>Researchers want to learn more about Bacillus bacteria and find new ways to combat them. Dmitry Malyshev, staff scientist at the Department of Physics, has received SEK 6 million from the Swedish Research Council Formas for his project.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Preventing contamination</h2><p>One aim of the project is to understand how and where the bacteria stick &ndash; for example, in storage tanks, pipes or connections &ndash; and under what conditions this happens. This knowledge can help identify suitable materials and design equipment that reduces the risk of bacterial growth.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ae8c8847ccd949cb808f8e27d5bba715/dsc026522.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Dmitry Malyshev, Department of Physics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Daniel Nilsson</span></div></div><p>Another aim is to develop a super-sensitive and reliable detection method that can detect when a system or product is contaminated.</p><p>&ldquo;Contamination prevention requires frequent and chemical-intensive cleaning procedures in the industry, while entire batches of contaminated food products have to be thrown away to prevent the risk of disease. This is both costly and wasteful from an environmental perspective,&rdquo; says Dmitry Malyshev.</p><p>Therefore, the researchers also aim to develop an industry-suitable method that requires as little chemicals as possible to remove or disinfect the bacteria and their highly resistant spores.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Formas provides long-term support</h2><p>&ldquo;This grant from Formas allows me to work long-term on the project, acquire the equipment we need, and collaborate with experts in other research fields,&rdquo; says Dmitry Malyshev.</p><p>The most exciting aspect of the project, according to him, is the direct transfer of knowledge from academia to real-world applications.</p><p>&ldquo;Research in academia can be difficult and time-consuming to turn into practical products. In this project, there are multiple industrial collaborations and I hope to see the results come into practical use more quickly,&rdquo; says Dmitry Malyshev.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="56b76ce7-d18c-4bbb-90ba-eb55eb9a0fc4" data-contentname="About Dmitry">{}</div>/en/news/safer-dairy-products-with-fewer-chemicals_12148827//en/news/adato-can-now-be-used-again--many-measures-have-been-taken_12148636/A risk and vulnerability analysis has been carried out, procedures for data deletion and archiving have been reviewed, and the supplier has implemented several measures to increase security. Adato will be reopened for use on 12 November. "Both the supplier and our own departments have worked hard to secure the university's personal data management," says Per Ragnarsson, Assistant University Director and Chair of the University's Crisis Management Council. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:19:51 +0100<p>The Adato system support, used in the employee rehabilitation process, has been shut down at Ume&aring; University since the cyberattack against the supplier Milj&ouml;data on 23 August.&nbsp;</p><p>"We did not want to open up the system before analyses had been carried out and measures taken to ensure that the system is secure. But it is clear that we need system support for the rehabilitation process. It feels good to be able to reopen the system again, as this has been requested by our users," says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The university's agreement with Milj&ouml;data sets high standards for security and the handling of personal data. In the wake of the cyber attack, Milj&ouml;data has reviewed these standards and taken further measures to secure the system against attacks. The IT Office (ITS) at Ume&aring; University has reviewed the measures and given them its approval.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>"Milj&ouml;data has implemented new work routines and monitoring systems, among other things, and taken a number of technical measures to increase security. We believe they have done a thorough job following the cyber attack," says Emilio Perez Iznaga, IT manager at ITS.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Measures taken by the University</h2><p>Furthermore, the Human Resources Office has conducted a risk and vulnerability analysis of the system. The University has also taken its own measures regarding personal data management.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;In light of the cyberattack, we have recognised the need to review our procedures for archiving and deleting personal data and other documentation in Adato. We have now done so,&rdquo; says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;</p><p>All personal data relating to former employees where there are no rehabilitation cases will be deleted from Adato. A procedure is being introduced whereby personal data relating to employees who have left their employment at the university will be removed from the system, provided that there is no ongoing rehabilitation case. According to the university's document management plan, all documentation relating to a rehabilitation case must be retained. This documentation is currently stored in Adato.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We are now investigating the possibility of archiving these cases internally,&rdquo;&nbsp;says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>All these measures combined mean that the university now considers it safe enough to start using the system again. It will be available again on 12 November.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Minimise the number of tasks</h2><p>ITS is also investigating what personal data must be stored in Adato. One request is to only transfer the information needed for managers and HR to be able to carry out preventive and remedial rehabilitation work.</p><p>&ldquo;Our goal is to minimise the amount of personal data in the system in order to increase the safety and security of our employees,&rdquo; says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Employees or former employees with questions regarding Adato or the university's handling of the matter can contact the Human Resources Office by emailing: <a href="mailto:ah.adm@91��ý����">ah.adm@91��ý����</a>.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/adato-can-now-be-used-again--many-measures-have-been-taken_12148636//en/news/swedens-first-doctoral-student-in-police-science_12148608/The Unit of Police Work welcomes Anna Elmquist as the very first doctoral student in the new PhD program in Police Science at Umeå University. Her research will focus on police investigative work and what enables high-quality and effective investigations.Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:57:59 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c6304022c061467e91318debd9728b49/anna-elmquist3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Anna Elmquist is the first doctoral student at the PhD program in Police Science</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Annika Engstr&ouml;m</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">From Field Service to Doctoral Studies</h2><p>Anna Elmquist is a police officer and behavioral scientist with a broad background in both law enforcement and academia. She has worked in field service, as an investigator, preliminary investigation leader, and manager within the Police Authority and the Swedish Economic Crime Authority before joining S&ouml;dert&ouml;rn University in 2015. Anna teaches criminal law, interrogation, and psychology and works within SMOB (Sweden Against Organized Crime).</p><p>Since October, Anna has been enrolled as a doctoral student in the Police Science program, becoming the first in Sweden to do so. Her research is connected to the Unit of Police Work at S&ouml;dert&ouml;rn University, but during her doctoral studies, she will regularly visit Ume&aring; University.</p><p>&ndash; I&rsquo;ve long been interested in research, especially in how we develop and strengthen police education going forward. Pursuing research in police science feels like a natural next step, she says.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Aiming to Improve Criminal Investigations</h2><p>Anna&rsquo;s research project stems from her deep interest in investigative work. Her research will examine individual and organizational factors that affect the police&rsquo;s ability to investigate economic crimes, such as fraud.</p><p>&ndash;I&rsquo;m passionate about investigative work. It&rsquo;s important for citizens that the police can conduct investigations that are both high-quality and efficient,&rdquo; she says.</p><p>She emphasizes the importance of understanding police work from multiple perspectives. How do crime victims view the police&rsquo;s ability, capacity, and methods to conduct legally sound investigations? And what do investigators themselves think?</p><p>&ndash; Legal security for victims of crime is essential. It shouldn&rsquo;t be a lottery which cases are investigated, there should be equal treatment across the country, says Anna.</p><p>For Anna, the doctoral journey is about both personal development and contributing to the future of police work. She feels proud to be the first doctoral student in the new Police Science program.</p><p>&ndash; It feels fantastic, finally! Of course, a brand-new program comes with both advantages and challenges, but I feel very grateful and optimistic about this opportunity, she says.</p>/en/news/swedens-first-doctoral-student-in-police-science_12148608//en/news/och-de-nominerade-spin-off-foretagen-pa-umeagalan-ar_12148709/Three research-based companies with roots in Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) have been nominated for the University Spin-off of the Year award at the Umeå Gala 2025. What they have in common is that they are good examples of how academic innovation can contribute to a more sustainable and humane future.Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:05:11 +0100<p>Nil Medical was founded by Martin Hanberger while he was studying at the Ume&aring; Insitute of Design at Ume&aring; University. Martin has since continued to develop a patented vest that gives patients greater freedom of movement during infusion treatment. Children who need treatment no longer have to walk around with a large stand, but instead carry everything in a vest on their back. The product is already in clinical use, and Nil Medical shows how design and innovation from Ume&aring; University can make a big difference for young patients.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/nil_medical2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Martin Hanberger, CEO, and Malin Walfridsson, deputy managing director, at Nil Medcial. Photo: Tomas Ruuth</p></div></div><p>"It all started with my degree project at the Ume&aring; Institute of Design. The programme has a very practical focus. We students were trained in a way of thinking and a process aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of users' needs and perceived problems. This has therefore been a central starting point in all development from idea to production adaptation of the Vestpack vest.", says Martin Hanberger, CEO at Nil Medical.</p><p>"When I met children and parents in such a difficult situation and realised that this could potentially make things easier, it was what drove me to continue. There is also fantastic support available within the innovation system in and around Ume&aring; University," concludes Martin Hanberger.</p><h3>Next-generation fertiliser system</h3><p>Cropcision is a spin-off company from Ume&aring; University that is developing the next generation of fertiliser systems for agriculture, forestry and horticulture. With patented technology that has shown strong results in field trials, the company offers a solution that is both effective and plastic-free &ndash; something that benefits both the environment and human health. The founders, led by Jonathan Love, Co-Founder and CEO, say that they have benefited greatly from Ume&aring; University on their journey to a finished product.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6a987a6138a94c02858a35c4055f543a/cropcision2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cropcision's Co-Founder, Michael Holmboe, Associate professor at Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, and Jonathan Love, Co-Founder and CEO. Photo: Cropcision</p></div></div><p>"Certainly! My Co-Founder, Michael Holmboe, Associate professor at Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; University, has been a key in the development of the technology underlying our product. He is also a co-inventor and have enabled access to several University resources, such as X-ray diffraction and other techniques, generating supporting data crucial for the patents."</p><p>"Our ongoing collaboration continues to be productive and brings credibility when communication with external stakeholders and customers."</p><h3>Digitalisation of forestry from SLU</h3><p>Ecotype is a fast-growing spin-off from SLU in Ume&aring; that has quickly become a key player in the digitalisation of forestry. With various digital services, they make forest data available to both the business community and the general public. By combining technology, sustainability and user-friendliness, Ecotype contributes to more transparent and efficient forestry.</p><p>The winner of the University Spin-off of the Year award will be announced at the Umegalan gala on 20 November 2025, and Jonathan Love from Cropcision has the last word with a tip for both students and academics:</p><p>"While I do believe in the serendipity of science, I suggest an entrepreneurial academic start with identifying a large problem and try to find the simplest solution possible rather than trying to fit a solution to a problem. Make sure you understand who your customer is and how your research could potentially help them in concrete ways."</p>/en/news/och-de-nominerade-spin-off-foretagen-pa-umeagalan-ar_12148709//en/news/umea-university-examines-the-role-of-tasers-in-the-norwegian-police_12064302/How does the use of tasers affect police methods and legal security in Norway? Researchers at Umeå University are now conducting a comprehensive analysis to answer these questions. Through a scientific follow-up study, they will examine how and when tasers are used, as well as their consequences for police practices and safety.Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:16:36 +0100<p id="info0" class="quote-left quote-center" data-magellan-target="info0">It is important that police use of force is monitored.</p><p>The Unit of Police Work at Ume&aring; University has been commissioned to review the Norwegian police&rsquo;s use of tasers. The assignment, initiated by the Norwegian Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet), aims to provide a deeper understanding of how and when tasers are deployed. The one-year project will also evaluate the effects of tasers on police work and legal security.</p><p>The Norwegian police have been using tasers for two years. Researchers from Ume&aring; University will now investigate how this has influenced officers&rsquo; experiences and perceptions of threats, violence, and the use of force. The analysis will also shed light on how police handle their duties and the role that tasers have played in operational situations.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Ensuring Responsible Development</h2><p>Associate Professors Jonas Hansson and Miguel Inzunza, who have previously evaluated pilot projects involving tasers in both the Swedish and Norwegian police forces, are leading the research.</p><p>&ndash; It is important that police use of force is followed up systematically and scientifically. Through research, we can help strengthen both the police profession and the field of police science, says Jonas Hansson.</p><p>Hansson also emphasizes the importance of policymakers recognizing the value of building police practices on research-based knowledge.</p><p>&ndash; It is positive that the Police Directorate sees the benefit of a scientific follow-up. It shows a commitment to ensuring a responsible and evidence-based development of police tools and methods, he says.</p><p>The study at Ume&aring; University will analyze data from Norwegian police operations and provide a foundation for future decisions regarding the role of tasers in the use of force.</p>/en/news/umea-university-examines-the-role-of-tasers-in-the-norwegian-police_12064302//en/news/environmental-science-students-ideas-for-a-sustainable-campus_12148191/A smart app for booking group study rooms – connected to sensors that control ventilation, heating and lighting only when the rooms are in use. This is one of the ideas for a more sustainable campus that students in the Master’s Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability came up with during a project assignment.Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:43:59 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_46972.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Letting nature take care of itself when green spaces are not used is one way of promoting biodiversity on campus, Nadine Peels and Jenny Ojala suggests.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We think the university could involve, for example, engineering students to develop such an app,&rdquo; says student Tuva Elingstam. &ldquo;Just as we have looked at sustainability on campus, more programmes could be engaged in that work. It feels meaningful when you get the chance to make a real impact.&rdquo;</p><p>As part of a course in the Master&rsquo;s Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability, students work in groups to explore different aspects of campus sustainability. They presented their projects during a poster session, attended by among others the university&rsquo;s environmental coordinator.</p><p>One group investigated how biodiversity on campus could be improved.</p><p><em>Many would probably say that Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s campus is green, but how can biodiversity be increased?</em></p><p>&ldquo;I thought the same when we started the project &ndash; that campus is very green,&rdquo; says Nadine Peels. &ldquo;But several of the green areas are large fields near the forest that are hardly used; they&rsquo;re just open grass.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>In the Master's programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability students have worked in a project with different aspects of sustainability on campus. From left Selma Skoglund asking questions during the presentation, to her right Ilse Olsson, student, Heidi Burdett, programme director, and Lisa Redin, environmental coordinator at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p class="quote-left">It&rsquo;s also important that students and researchers can use nature as part of learning</p><h3>Let nature take care of itself</h3><p>The students suggest letting these fields grow freely into flowering meadows and only mowing them when needed for sports or student events. Their proposal is largely about doing less &ndash; allowing nature to take care of itself in selected areas. It doesn&rsquo;t have to be neat flowerbeds and lawns everywhere. By for example leaving some leaves and branches on the ground and placing logs here and there, more plants and insects can thrive.</p><p>&ldquo;One of the challenges is getting all stakeholders to pull in the same direction,&rdquo; says Nadine Peels. &ldquo;Akademiska Hus wants to keep campus tidy, while it&rsquo;s also important that students and researchers can use nature as part of learning. Campus shouldn&rsquo;t look like a wilderness, so the question is how we can still use all areas to promote biodiversity.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>"When students are asked about study space they think large tables, whiteboards and space to have lunch in are important" says Ilse Olsson. To her left Jasmin Mannelqvist.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p>Many students complain about the lack of group rooms where they can study together. They are often fully booked, but it&rsquo;s also common that rooms go unused because those who booked them don&rsquo;t show up.</p><p>Tuva Elingstam, Jum Krolikowski and Selma Skoglund analysed booking statistics &ndash; and were surprised to find that group rooms on campus are only used about 50 per cent of the time. Demand is high in the middle of the day, but mornings, late afternoons and evenings see many rooms empty.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve done a lot of research and talked to both students and university staff who manage the booking system and our buildings,&rdquo; says Tuva.</p><h3>Smart app and sensors in rooms</h3><p>A survey revealed that many students want more variety in room sizes, more comfortable furniture, rooms closer to where they have classes, better ventilation and, above all, a smoother booking system. The latter could be solved with an Internet of Things solution, the group suggests.</p><p>Sensors in the rooms could detect when people are present and adjust ventilation and heating accordingly, as well as lighting based on outdoor brightness. Linked to booking via an app, where you can quickly find available rooms on a map, this would make room use more efficient. A system that somehow rewards students for booking at less popular times could also help spread usage more evenly throughout the day, they reason.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47684.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>"Investing in smart systems for study group rooms can also solve other problems in the buildings like ventilation" says Selma Skoglund. To her left Tuva Elingstam.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div><p>A third group focused on campus buildings. If Ume&aring; University is to become climate neutral by 2045, carbon emissions from buildings must decrease much faster than they have so far, they conclude.</p><h3>&rdquo;Many consious decisions have been made&rdquo;</h3><p>Renovating existing buildings is preferable from an emissions perspective compared to building new ones. However, the campus&rsquo;s latest addition, Aurora &ndash; which houses exam halls among other things &ndash; can serve as a model, the group believes. Choices of materials, ventilation and energy solutions have earned the building the highest environmental certification, Milj&ouml;byggnad Gold.</p><p>&ldquo;Many conscious decisions have been made to increase sustainability in both the short and long term, from social and environmental perspectives,&rdquo; says student Ilse Olsson.</p><p>Understanding the climate footprint of different campus buildings and identifying emission sources has been the biggest challenge in the project, she says. Many buildings will need renovation in the coming years. This means major costs, but also an opportunity to find more efficient heating and ventilation solutions that will help the university reach its climate goals faster.</p><p>The project groups also identified that students generally need more knowledge about sustainability and what the university is doing to promote biodiversity and sustainability.</p><p>&ldquo;When we conducted our survey, many said they would like to learn more through signs and information boards,&rdquo; says Ilse Olsson. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s important to learn about the building you&rsquo;re in and connect it to something bigger &ndash; a global sustainability goal or the university&rsquo;s own targets.&rdquo;</p><p><a title="Read more about the Master's programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability" href="/en/education/programmes/masters-programme-in-environmental-science-and-sustainability">Read more about the Master&rsquo;s Programme in Environmental Science and Sustainability</a></p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1e334b2350494573b7ff43fa73be5d1d/sustainable_campus_251030_all_img_47422.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jum Krolokowski och Jurgi Irurieta has dug deep into how buildings on campus can become more sustainable, for example regarding energy efficiency.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Anna-Lena Lindskog</span></div></div>/en/news/environmental-science-students-ideas-for-a-sustainable-campus_12148191//en/news/birch-leaves-and-peanuts-turned-into-advanced-laser-technology_12147932/Physicists at Umeå University, in collaboration with researchers in China, have developed a laser made entirely from biomaterials – birch leaves and peanut kernels. The environmentally friendly laser could become an inexpensive and accessible tool for medical diagnostics and imaging.Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:19:50 +0100<p>The results have been published in the scientific journal <em>Nanophotonics</em> and show how a so-called random laser can be made entirely from biological materials.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/wang_jia_3851_220628_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jia Wang, Department of Physics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Our study shows that it is possible to create advanced optical technology in a simple way using only local, renewable materials,&rdquo; says Jia Wang, Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, Ume&aring; University, and one of the authors of the study.</p><p>A random laser is a type of laser in which light scatters many times inside a disordered material before emerging as a focused beam. It holds great promise for applications such as medical imaging and early disease detection, and has therefore attracted significant research attention. However, conventional random laser materials are often toxic, or expensive and complex to produce.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Carbon dots from birch leaves</h2><p>Jia Wang and her collaborators created their laser using two common natural materials: birch leaves and peanut kernels. They made nanometre-scale carbon dots from the birch leaves to serve as the gain medium and cut peanut kernels into small cubes whose rough and irregular surfaces help trap and scatter light.</p><p class="quote-center">Instead of relying on complex technology, the natural microstructure of the peanut kernel does the job on its own</p><p>The laser itself is still powered by an external light source, but the functional parts that scatter and amplify the light are made entirely from biomaterials.</p><p>&ldquo;The synthesis of the carbon dots is simple and straightforward, essentially a one-step pressure-cooking process,&rdquo; explains Jia Wang. &ldquo;Instead of relying on complex technology, the natural microstructure of the peanut kernel does the job on its own," says Jia Wang.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Could be developed into an optical tag</h2><p>The researchers tested how much energy was required to make the laser emit light, and the results showed that it performs just as well as artificially engineered lasers.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/095335de5d3c4d87b28e8da58e2ae344/samples_i2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Upper: The biomaterial-based random laser when activated.<br>Lower: The same laser seen in daylight.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Zhihao Huang</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;The potential of this biomaterial-based random laser extends beyond bioimaging and diagnostics. Given its low cost, renewability, and safety, it could also be developed into an optical tag for authenticating high-value documents, luxury goods, and electronic devices,&rdquo; says Jia Wang.</p><p>Jia Wang&rsquo;s research group has long been working on harnessing local, renewable resources for new technologies. Two years ago, they published a study demonstrating how birch leaves collected on Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s campus can be used to produce organic semiconductors &ndash; materials found in thin TV and mobile phone displays.</p>/en/news/birch-leaves-and-peanuts-turned-into-advanced-laser-technology_12147932//en/news/prestigious-award-to-informatics-researcher_12147908/Work environment representatives play a key role in creating a safe and sustainable workplace. At the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Mikaela Lagerqvist, Carin Wibom and Ylva Hedberg Fransson must deal with everything from everyday challenges to complex situations – and they see that their work makes a difference.Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:48:34 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9991-251020-mpn4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ylva Hedberg Fransson, Mikaela Lagerqvist and Carin Wibom are work environment representatives at the Deaprtment of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Work environment efforts need to be highlighted as a central and strategic part of the organization</p><p>&ldquo;Work environment efforts need to be highlighted as a central and strategic part of the organization &ndash; not something that happens alongside daily operations,&rdquo; says Mikaela Lagerqvist, laboratory assistant at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>In their roles as work environment representatives, Mikaela Lagerqvist, Carin Wibom, and Ylva Hedberg Fransson handle issues such as ergonomics, workplace calm, and environmental disruptions. Another common task is supporting employees in submitting reports via the IA system &ndash; a web-based tool for reporting work environment deviations. Their work often involves following up on these reports, for example by proposing corrective actions. All with the aim of preventing accidents and incidents.</p><p>&ldquo;For instance, we once received a report about broken hinges on four -80 &deg;C freezers, which posed a safety risk. This led to all the hinges being replaced before any accident occurred,&rdquo; says Ylva Hedberg, Associate professor&nbsp;at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>She continues:</p><p>&ldquo;We usually say we deal with &lsquo;Oops!&rsquo; and &lsquo;Ouch!&rsquo; &lsquo;Oops&rsquo; means it could have been dangerous but turned out fine, while &lsquo;Ouch&rsquo; is when an actual accident has happened. We learn from our mistakes &ndash; work environment efforts help us take action to prevent them from happening again.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9908-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lessons learned from work environment work lead to change.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Positive changes</h2><p>When Ylva Hedberg Fransson first became a work environment representative about ten years ago, the role was relatively limited. Back then, the main activity was conducting an annual work environment inspection at the department.</p><p>Since Mikaela Lagerqvist and Carin Wibom joined as representatives in the spring of 2023, several positive changes have taken place. The trio has actively worked to highlight the importance of a healthy work environment, including through regular discussions and presentations at the department&rsquo;s workplace meetings. These meetings are now held in person instead of digitally via Teams, which has contributed to a better dialogue and increased engagement.</p><p>&ldquo;Since last year, we have been collaborating with HR and representatives for equal opportunities in a joint working group &ndash; the so called ALV group. Together, we address issues related to the work environment, equality, and discrimination, which has strengthened our efforts,&rdquo; says Mikaela Lagerqvist.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Support &ndash; both physical and mental</h2><p>For Mikaela Lagerqvist, a good work environment means having the right conditions to do your job and feeling safe &ndash; both physically and mentally. She emphasizes the importance of a workplace climate that is open, inclusive, and tolerant, where even difficult topics can be addressed.</p><p>&ldquo;It should feel safe to come to work, especially in a lab environment where we handle chemicals and technical equipment. It is important that we follow the laws and regulations in place to protect both health and safety,&rdquo; says Carin Wibom, research engineer at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University. She also highlights ergonomics as a key factor, noting that repetitive tasks and poor working postures can place significant strain on the body.</p><p>Since the pandemic, systematic work environment efforts have fallen behind &ndash; a natural consequence of a period dominated by crisis management. Now, Carin Wibom wants to see change.</p><p>&ldquo;My motivation is to establish routines for how we systematically work with both lab safety and office ergonomics. But just as important is the psychosocial work environment &ndash; how we treat each other and build a culture where everyone feels included and seen,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">More structure and routines</h2><p>Despite good intentions and growing attention to work environment issues, major challenges remain &ndash; especially when it comes to turning ambitions into concrete and sustainable routines in everyday work.</p><p>Mikaela Lagerqvist hopes for more systematic approaches to work environment efforts, with clearer structures and increased support from the department&rsquo;s leadership.</p><p>&ldquo;Of course, we would like to see work environment issues prioritized higher on the agenda. We are working toward closer collaboration with leadership, and we feel that we have a good dialogue that will hopefully move things forward,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">A time consuming role</h2><p>Currently, there is no set time allocation for how much work a work environment representative is allowed to dedicate to the role.</p><p>&ldquo;In theory, we are entitled to the time needed, but in practice it is often difficult to balance work environment responsibilities with our regular duties, such as lab work or teaching,&rdquo; says Carin Wibom.</p><p>The department is growing rapidly, and once the staff size reaches a certain level, the role of work environment representative could potentially become a dedicated position &ndash; without drawing from research funding. This would allow sufficient time to be allocated for the important work carried out by the representatives.</p><p><em>How can people reach you for help?</em></p><p>&ldquo;You are always welcome to stop by the office, send an email, or contact us via Teams. We will get back to you as soon as we can!&rdquo; says Mikaela Lagerqvist.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cc0dc5daf140403fbd293b466f33ec11/arbetsmijoombud-ucmr-9842-251020-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Carin Wibom, Mikaela Lagerqvist and Ylva Hedberg Fransson welcome employees to get in touch.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/the-representatives-fighting-for-a-better-work-environment_12147721//en/news/thousands-of-young-people-welcomed-to-this-years-open-house_12147793/On 5 November, Umeå University will be filled with around 4,000 young people who want to know everything about what it is like to study at a university. It is time for the annual Öppet hus (Open House) event, when buses carrying upper secondary school students and others interested in studying, as well as teachers and study and career counsellors, roll in from Ljusdal to Kalix. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:34:03 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/54fd105653c84a4098b9b639765d6ab1/karimi_tomadj_1448_230509_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tomadj Karimi, Communications officer at Ume&aring; University and responsible for the event. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>"The main point is, of course, to showcase all the different programmes available at Ume&aring; University, but there are also a number of other popular activities and things to do, such as guided tours of the Ume&aring; Arts Campus, the Iksu training facility and the neighbouring Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The public housing company Bostaden will be there to talk about how to solve housing issues, and study and career counsellors and other staff will also receive their own professional development training," says Tomadj Karimi, Communications officer at Ume&aring; University and responsible for the event.</p><p>In the days leading up to the event, the organisers begin setting up at venues such as Universum and Lindelhallen to make room for stands, signs and other equipment, and on Wednesday, 5 November, visitors begin arriving.</p><p>Visitors from Ume&aring; start the day with a session in Aula Nordica at 9:30 a.m., while those arriving by bus receive information on the bus and go to an information session as soon as they arrive at Campus Ume&aring;. A total of 140 information sessions will be held on everything from the Master of Science in Pharmacy to the Theology Programme and everything in between, until everyone returns home after the last session, which starts at 2.30 p.m.</p><p>All visitors now have the smart digital map Mazemap to help them. The schedule on the website 91��ý���� has links to Mazemap, which shows where the various information sessions and stands are located, but there is also other information, such as the nearest caf&eacute;, toilet or lift.</p><p><a href="~/link/70b706c7c665418ba2aa32cdee8d0d69.aspx">You can read more about Open House 2025 here (only in Swedish)</a>.</p>/en/news/thousands-of-young-people-welcomed-to-this-years-open-house_12147793//en/news/new-book-on-sami-education-and-missionary-history_12147645/Björn Norlin, researcher at the Department of Education at Umeå University, has released a new open access book on early educational initiatives aimed at Sweden’s Sámi population.Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:05:01 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/2025_bokomslag4.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Bj&ouml;rn Norlin has released a new open access book on early educational initiatives aimed at Sweden&rsquo;s S&aacute;mi population.</p></div></div><p>The book examines a key player in the educational field: the Swedish Missionary Society (SMS). Founded in Stockholm in 1835 with the help of British Methodists, SMS established mission schools and orphanages in the county of J&auml;mtland and the inland areas of the counties of V&auml;sterbotten and Norrbotten from the late 1830s. The operations continued until around 1920, when the schools were either closed or transformed into public primary schools or nomadic schools. Unlike several other forms of S&aacute;mi-directed education, SMS&rsquo;s educational efforts have not been thoroughly studied.</p><p>The book shows how the school activities emerged as a branch of the pietistic, evangelical missionary movement and its global ambition to spread Christianity among what were portrayed as heathen peoples. This occurred both domestically and in external colonial areas. Specific examples involving SMS include missions in India and Africa, and in the Swedish colony of Saint Barth&eacute;lemy in the West Indies. The S&aacute;mi and the so-called Lappmark were early identified as an internal mission field, and stationary boarding schools became a prime concern for the Society.</p><p>Initially the education in the schools was shaped by the pietistic worldview and ideological principles, centering on individual conversion and the concept of original sin. This conversion-oriented pedagogy gradually gave way to more national, rational, and utilitarian educational ideals. This shift was partly due to changes in the Society&rsquo;s internal ideological foundation and partly due to new demands on mass schooling that accompanied the establishment of the public primary school system. The book analyzes this transformation process and the ecclesiastical and political currents that contributed to the schools&rsquo; closure. It focuses especially on school practices and on the accounts of teachers, missionaries, and school inspectors. It is primarily a cultural-historical study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/4ae0c738a0e645d89255cfca88c79f03/bn-o-ald-16-92.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Bj&ouml;rn Norlin answers some questions.</p></div></div><p>The study also highlights the central role of education during a period when various forms of institutionalized mass schooling were being established in Sweden, and when the encounter between such church- and state-administered power structures and the S&aacute;mi population intensified. It is also a story of educational activities taking place in a pre-democratic society and within a distinctly socially segmented educational landscape.</p><p><em>The book is part of a research project funded by the Swedish Research Council and the School of Education at Ume&aring; University.</em></p>/en/news/new-book-on-sami-education-and-missionary-history_12147645//en/news/2025-mims-clinical-research-fellowship-awarded_12147750/The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) has announced the winner of its national Clinical Research Fellowship (CRF) program for 2025.Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:29:49 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/b26223fc3c8d4f42948fd3e8feb556da/lind-alicia-0436-241203-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Alicia Lind at University Hospital of Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; University is the winner of the national Clinical Research Fellowship (CRF) program for 2025.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>An international panel of clinical and basic researchers has awarded the fellowship to <strong>Alicia Lind</strong> at Norrland University Hospital, Ume&aring; to conduct research on improving diagnostics and outcomes of post-covid condition.</p><p>Alicia is a specialist physician in anesthesiology and intensive care at Norrland University Hospital, and a researcher at the Department of Diagnostics and Intervention at Ume&aring; University. Her research focuses on the interaction between metabolism and the immune system in severe infections such as sepsis and COVID-19. She holds a medical degree and a PhD in clinical microbiology from Ume&aring; University. She has been actively working in the field of precision diagnostics at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>In her MIMS CRF project, she aims to investigate the nature, dynamics, and mechanisms of long-term health effects following COVID-19. More specifically, she wants to identify sub-phenotypes of post-COVID condition (PCC) to guide personalized rehabilitation and treatment and develop predictive algorithms using high-resolution immunometabolic profiling to enhance diagnostics, pathophysiological understanding, and prognostication of PCC.</p><p>Alicia says, <em>"Why some individuals develop long-term complications after COVID-19, while others recover quickly, remains a pressing question. So far, the lack of high-quality clinical cohorts and biobanks has hampered progress in this critical area of research. Our clinical cohort study, CoVUm, may change that. With its large size, wide spectrum of disease severity, and exceptionally low drop-out rate, it is one of the few studies worldwide capable of providing long-term insights into post-COVID1 of 4condition (PCC). This creates a rare opportunity for us to connect metabolic and immunological changes with long-term clinical outcomes. Through broad, interdisciplinary collaborations, we are conducting in-depth studies of immunometabolic signatures alongside conventional biomarkers of immune response and organ dysfunction. Our group includes expertise in clinical medicine, analytical chemistry, and data-driven science &ndash; with the potential to develop new methods and knowledge relevant not only to COVID-19 but also to other post-infectious conditions. I chose Prof Martin Rosvall as a collaborator, since he and his group specialize in multivariate data analysis with machine learning methods in biological systems, expertise that is required in this project with complex and large datasets on multiple levels."</em></p><p>In her MIMS CRF project, Alicia is collaborating with Martin Rosvall, a professor at Icelab in the Department of Physics at Ume&aring; University, where she will have access to machine learning methods designed to identify patterns in complex biological data.</p><p>Martin says <em>"Alicia's work on post-COVID condition tackles a challenge that illustrates why interdisciplinary collaboration matters. The CoVUm cohort generates massive, multilayered datasets that no single approach can fully illuminate. My group brings machine learning methods designed to find patterns in complex biological data, but these methods only reveal meaningful insights when guided by deep clinical and biochemical understanding. The MIMS Clinical Research Fellowship provides exactly the protected research time and resources Alicia needs to develop the project. With these resources, we can move beyond simply describing post-COVID symptoms to identifying the immunometabolic signatures that distinguish different patient subgroups&mdash;signatures that could reveal why some people develop long-term complications while others recover completely."</em></p><p>MIMS Clinical Research Fellowships provide guaranteed research time and fund the fellow&rsquo;s research up to a total value of 3.2 mio SEK.</p><p>Oliver Billker, Director of MIMS, says: <em>"We are delighted to welcome Alicia to the MIMS community. Her project is a great example of the type of interdisciplinary and collaborative work we want to foster. It provides an opportunity for international collaboration in molecular medicine, which is at the core of our partnership with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and its Nordic Partnership."</em></p><p>MIMS receives funding from the Swedish Research Council, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Kempe Foundations and Ume&aring; University to foster the next generation of outstanding researchers in infection medicine. It is the Swedish node in the EMBL network, to which it is connected through the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine.</p>/en/news/2025-mims-clinical-research-fellowship-awarded_12147750/