/A RSS feed provided by Umeå Universityen-usThu, 16 Oct 2025 03:56:53 +0200/en/news/rethinking-arctic-security-in-a-time-of-tension-and-thaw_12145019/On 18 September, researchers, policymakers, and experts gathered in Oslo for the Arctic Security Conference 2025 to address one central question: how to manage polarisation and fragmentation in the Arctic. The programme spanned climate change, geopolitical tensions, indigenous knowledge, and hybrid threats, underlining the urgent need for cooperation and research to inform decisions at every level of society.Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:44:36 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Young researchers set the tone</h2><p>The day before the main conference, early-career researchers organised and led a series of workshops that set the stage for the discussions to follow. Although these sessions were officially separate, they felt very much like a first day of the conference &ndash; full of energy, exchange, and engagement &ndash; attracting a large and attentive audience. Their sessions covered a broad range of topics, demonstrating how the next generation of Arctic experts is already shaping the debate and paving the way for the more senior voices who took the floor the following day. One urgent issue was the rise of hybrid threats, with participants emphasising that only strong democratic institutions, social cohesion, and trust can prevent such dangers from undermining societies.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4ac5d820-031b-4e81-a9a1-3b520cd042eb" data-contentname="BILD Paul">{}</div><p>&ldquo;It was inspiring to see how early-career researchers were not only participating but actively driving the conversation forward. Their initiative gave the event an energy that carried into the entire conference,&rdquo; says Paul Schmidt, doctoral student at the Department of Political Science and part of the Arctic Graduate School at Ume&aring; University. His reflections highlight the value of international arenas like this for connecting researchers across borders and disciplines.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Politics in focus</h2><p>The official conference day opened to a packed hall, underscoring the high stakes and widespread interest in Arctic security. Norway&rsquo;s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Saami Council representative Gunn-Britt Retter, Norwegian MP Ine Eriksen S&oslash;reide, and Michael Sfraga, former U.S. Arctic Ambassador-at-Large, all brought perspectives on the state of affairs in the region. The panel painted a nuanced picture of both cooperation and conflict. Particularly notable was Sfraga&rsquo;s clear statement that the United States would never attempt to purchase or annex Greenland but would respect borders and the rule of law &ndash; a message that drew attention as much for its clarity as for its symbolism.</p><p class="quote-center">Security and the environment are interconnected, and both demand stronger research and cooperation.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Democracy and defence</h2><p>Later in the day, Norway&rsquo;s Chief of Defence, General Erik Kristoffersen, offered a keynote that resonated strongly with the audience. He underlined that while nations must be vigilant, it is neither possible nor desirable to defend against every conceivable threat. Above all, he stressed that democracy must remain central: &ldquo;No one wants to live in a country where the chief of defence and the chief of police run everyday life. We want to live in a democracy.&rdquo; His remarks echoed the earlier call for resilience rooted in strong institutions and civic trust, reminding participants that security in the Arctic is ultimately about the kind of society people want to preserve.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Climate challenges overlooked</h2><p>While much of the discussion centred on geopolitics and defence, several speakers warned about the decline in Arctic climate research. With fewer opportunities for cross-border cooperation, nearly half of the Arctic has become a &ldquo;scientific blind spot.&rdquo; This lack of data undermines the accuracy of models and makes it harder for communities and policymakers to prepare for long-term environmental change. When participants stepped outside into 20-degree September warmth in Oslo, the reality was impossible to ignore: climate change has not paused simply because international attention has shifted.</p><p>&ldquo;We must not lose sight of the climate dimension. Security and the environment are interconnected, and both demand stronger research and cooperation,&rdquo; Paul reflects. His words underline the role that universities such as Ume&aring; can play in bridging science and society, ensuring that Arctic research continues to inform decisions in a rapidly changing world.</p>/en/news/rethinking-arctic-security-in-a-time-of-tension-and-thaw_12145019//en/news/umea-university-and-mirai-at-world-expo-2025-in-japan_12145968/Cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) is an important technique for biomedical researchers to study the structure and function of macromolecular complexes in isolation and inside cells. CryoNET is a Nordic network that aims to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across national borders. A main goal is to help establish state-of-the-art cryoEM as a pillar of Nordic life science research. Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:10:32 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.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/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/img_6445.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Group photo of the participants of the cryoNET Symposium 2025</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ainhoa Querejeta</span></div></div><p>The symposium, which took place on the 1st to the 2nd of October at Ume&aring; University, brought together 140 at all career stages - from master&rsquo;s students to professors. Over these two days, invited speakers, selected talks by participants, poster and networking sessions highlighted the latest discoveries in the field.</p><p>What stood out most was the atmosphere: a shared enthusiasm for meeting in person and strengthening the community. As Rooshanie Ejaz, a student supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, noted:</p><p class="quote-center">Since lab work can often be quite independent, events like these are a great opportunity to build connections and feel part of a vibrant community</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.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/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/63266b27920d42269ebc761e07636e3c/processed-46b7c7dd-4bca-4d1c-955a-7a8d27fbf6d8.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sunanda Chhetri, Irina Gutche, Laura Belot and Lorene Gonnin enjoing the poster session at the cryoNET Symposium.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sara Sandin</span></div></div><p>Bernt Eric Uhlin, professor at Ume&aring; University who has been involved with cryoNET since its inception, gave a thoughtful reflection:</p><p class="quote-center">I am now retired, but why should I give up my passion?</p><p>His remarks captured the core spirit of the event, driven by genuine passion for research and collaboration. Whether during the talks or informal coffee breaks, that enthusiasm was clear.</p><p>The hall was filled with thoughtful discussions and meaningful exchanges between peers, mentors, and collaborators. A key highlight was the poster session, where PhD students and Postdocs presented their work. While all contributions were impressive, the organisation team is pleased to congratulate our award winners:</p><ul><li><strong>Adriana Chrenkov&aacute;</strong> &ndash; Understanding sucrose transport in plants</li><li><strong>Bianca Korse</strong> &ndash; Structural basis of GRAF1-mediated membrane tubulation</li><li><strong>Liya Mukhamedova</strong> &ndash; Initial stages of enteroviral infections</li></ul><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="d0851952-2fd1-4c40-ae85-86107fd7179e" data-contentname="cryoNET2025_1">{}</div><p>As with any event, the symposium concluded, leaving a strong sense of progress and optimism for what lies ahead. In 2026, the cryoNET symposium will take place in Copenhagen. The cryoNet committee in Ume&aring; extends our sincere thanks to Aarhus University, the University of Copenhagen, Stockholm University, and Ume&aring; University, as well as to our generous sponsors: the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, Thermo Fisher, UCMR, and MIMS.</p>/en/news/the-nordic-cryonet-symposium_12145845//en/news/climate-change-may-increase-the-spread-of-neurotoxin-in-the-oceans_12145837/Climate-driven oxygen loss in the Black Sea thousands of years ago triggered the expansion of microorganisms capable of producing the potent neurotoxin methylmercury. That is shown in a new study published in Nature Water, led by Eric Capo at Umeå University, which suggests that similar processes could occur in today’s warming oceans.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 08:00:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The researchers&rsquo; findings raise concerns about how climate change may affect the levels of methylmercury in fish and shellfish.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r Bildbyr&aring; AB</span></div></div><p>Methylmercury is a highly toxic compound that accumulates in fish and seafood, posing severe health risks to humans. It is formed when certain microbes convert inorganic mercury under low-oxygen conditions.</p><p>Today, climate change is causing such oxygen-depleted areas to expand in coastal marine environments, including parts of the Baltic Sea. Warmer and more stagnant waters mix less efficiently, and increased algal blooms contribute to oxygen loss in deeper layers, creating ideal conditions for these microbes.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Traces of ancient microbes</h2><p>By analysing DNA from Black Sea sediments spanning the past 13,500 years, researchers detected genes (<em>hgcA</em>) associated with microorganisms that produce methylmercury. The highest abundance occurred during the warm and humid period around 9,000&ndash;5,500 years ago, when oxygen levels in the water decreased significantly &ndash; a situation similar to ongoing trends observed in modern seas and coastal areas.</p><p>&ldquo;Our findings show that climate warming and oxygen loss alone &ndash; without industrial mercury pollution &ndash; can create hotspots for methylmercury production,&rdquo; says Eric Capo, Assistant Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Ume&aring; University and lead author of the study.</p><p>&ldquo;This raises serious concerns for the future, as expanding oxygen-deficient zones may increase human exposure to this neurotoxin through seafood consumption,&rdquo; says Meifang Zhong, first author of the study and doctoral student in Eric Capo&rsquo;s research group.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Oxygen loss and mercury pollution</h2><p>In the study, the researchers compared the microbial signal from ancient sediments with the one from the present-day water column, and found both similarities and striking differences. While modern mercury-methylating microbes in the Black Sea are influenced by industrial mercury pollution and eutrophication, those living thousands of years ago were primarily fueled by climate-driven oxygen loss and the accumulation of organic matter.</p><p>The results highlight the importance of considering both past and present microbial responses to environmental change. By studying ancient microbial DNA, the researchers show how climate-driven deoxygenation has shaped &ndash; and will continue to shape &ndash; the risks of methylmercury contamination in marine ecosystems.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="fc725325-eafd-4f85-a9f5-9db2ab68944c" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/climate-change-may-increase-the-spread-of-neurotoxin-in-the-oceans_12145837//en/news/molecular-bodyguard-helps-infections-persist_12145023/Researchers at Umeå University have identified a key molecular player that helps bacteria survive the hostile environment inside the body. Their study reveals how the protein RfaH acts as a protective shield for bacterial genes — and points to new strategies for fighting persistent infections. Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:38:39 +0200<p>&ldquo;The human body is a very stressful place for bacteria,&rdquo; says Kemal Avican research group leader at Department of Molecular Biology and Icelab at Ume&aring; University and leader of the study. &ldquo;During infection, the immune system attacks, nutrients are scarce, and microbes are exposed to bile salts, acids and heat. We looked at how RfaH helps bacteria deal with that stress by turning on the right survival genes at the right time.&rdquo;</p><p>Persistent bacterial infections pose a major challenge in medicine: bacteria can linger in the body long after acute symptoms fade, evading immune defenses and surviving antibiotic treatment. In diseases like tuberculosis, this leads to relapse and makes treatment difficult.</p><h3>Keeps critical genes switched on</h3><p>Using <em>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</em> as a model bacterium that infects the gut, Kemal Avican and his team showed that RfaH is essential for bacterial persistence.</p><p>RfaH acts like a molecular bodyguard, ensuring transcription&mdash;the step where DNA is copied into a messenger molecule that guides protein production&mdash;runs to completion.</p><p>&ldquo;The protein hops onto the transcription machinery and helps it stay on track so the full set of genes is read to the end. This makes RfaH an anti-terminator &ndash; it prevents the termination of transcription&rdquo;, explains Kemal Avican.</p><p>&ldquo;When we removed RfaH, the bacteria's ability to establish long-term infection dropped dramatically!&rdquo; he adds.</p><h3>Surviving the stress of a hostile environment</h3><p>The researchers found that RfaH production ramps up precisely when bacteria need it most&mdash;in late growth stages and when conditions turn hostile.</p><p>In mouse experiments, the difference was stark: nearly all animals became infected with normal bacteria, but only about one in five became infected when bacteria lacked RfaH. This translated to much higher survival rates among the mice.</p><p>Many bacterial genes are arranged in long stretches called operons. Without RfaH, the cellular machinery that reads these genes can stall or stop prematurely. RfaH prevents this, ensuring bacteria can produce surface structures, secrete toxins, and resist stress from the body's defenses.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.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/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d5012fe72b7f48cb9a0fabe43f3f6fbb/yersinia_pseudotuberculosis_drfah_salt_kemal_avican.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Atomic force microscopy images of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis cells that lack the RfaH protein growing under high salt condition. As a result of not having RfaH, the bacteria have faulty surfaces which cause them to clump together in a stressful, high-salt environment.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Kemal Avican</span></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Insights for future antimicrobial therapies</h3><p>The research revealed that RfaH controls the production of a key component of the surface of bacteria - the O-antigen. Without RfaH, this outer coat becomes defective. But RfaH's influence extends further, activating many &ldquo;downstream&rdquo; genes involved in attachment, movement, and nutrient transport.</p><p>RfaH itself is present in many bacteria, including harmless members of the microbiota. That is why genes influenced by RfAH through activation or signaling - downstream genes - could provide promising new selective targets to stop persistent infections, the researchers say. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;This antimicrobial approach could disarm pathogenic bacteria without disturbing the beneficial ones&rdquo;, says Joram Kiriga Waititu, postdoctoral fellow at Department of Molecular Biology, and first author of the study.</p><p>While <em>Yersinia pseudotuberculosis</em> usually causes an infection in humans that can heal on its own, it serves as a valuable model for gut bacteria that can cause long-term or recurrent disease, such as <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Salmonella</em> and <em>Helicobacter</em>. In this way, the findings could pave the way for new strategies to tackle hard-to-treat gut infections.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="e5e74599-5e42-43a1-8e3d-5a0dec6acbf5" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/molecular-bodyguard-helps-infections-persist_12145023//en/news/new-discovery--bacterial-bubbles-hitchhike-to-reach-the-cell-surface_12145601/Researchers at Umeå University have discovered that the microscopic “bubbles” released by bacteria in our body do not just drift around randomly. Instead, they use the thin protrusions of cells as a transport route to quickly and efficiently reach their target with their contents.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 14:41:18 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_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/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/anna_arnqvist_lab_2700_230223_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Anna Arnqvist is professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">increases the understanding of how bacteria and cells interact</p><p>&ldquo;This is a mechanism that increases the understanding of how bacteria and cells interact and, by extension, how we understand and fight infections,&rdquo; says Anna Arnqvist, professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University, who led the study.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Drones with delivery</h2><p>All living cells can release nano-sized fluid-filled structures that resemble &ldquo;bubbles&rdquo;, so-called vesicles. Bacteria also release such vesicles, and despite their small size, they can carry everything from toxins to proteins and DNA that affects how the receiving host cell reacts.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_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/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c7dbfe4dff834c15a3ecaf17da2c1d5b/zia_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Zia Ur Rehman, a postdoctoral fellow in Anna Arnqvist's group when the study was conducted. He is now a researcher at Kohat University in Pakistan</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>private</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;The vesicles act as messengers between each other and to cells, much like tiny drones that deliver their content,&rdquo; explains Zia Ur Rehman, first author. He was postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Medichal Biochemistry and Biophysics at Ume&aring; University when the study was carried out.</p><p>While previous research has focused on a better understanding of how cells take up vesicles and what effects they cause, the question of how the vesicles reach the surface of the cell body where the uptake occurs has remained unanswered.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Not moving randomly</h2><p>The new study shows that vesicles near host cells do not just drift around randomly. Instead, they hitchhike on thin, hair-like protrusions on the cell surface, called filopodia. Filopodia are rich in actin proteins and play important roles in cell movement, contraction and sensing of the environment. Anna Arnqvist and her colleagues discovered that vesicles utilize filopodia either by "surfing" along them, much like sliding down a railing, or by being actively pulled inward when the filopodia contract.</p><p>This mode of transport efficiently captures vesicles from the surrounding environment and moves them from the outer edge of the cell to the cell body, where they can internalize and thereby deliver their contents to the host cell.</p><p>Using advanced high-resolution microscopy techniques, the team was able to observe vesicles interacting with filopodia in real time and even measure their speed as they surfed forward or were pulled inward.</p><p>&ldquo;The speed when they surfed forward was an average of 1 nanometer per second. When they were pulled inward, it was faster, an average of 30 nanometers per second, which means it moved about its own length in one to two seconds,&rdquo; says Zia Ur Rehman.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Universal strategy in bacteria</h2><p>&ldquo;Importantly, we saw that the vesicles use the same transport mechanism regardless of which bacterium the vesicles came from, or which tissue the recipient cells belonged to. This suggests that this is a universal strategy that bacteria use,&rdquo; says Anna Arnqvist.</p><p>Because vesicles mimic the surface of their parent bacteria and carry a wide range of molecules, they can affect host cells in many ways. In addition to delivering harmful substances, the vesicles can act as "decoys" to protect bacteria from attack by the immune system.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Preventing and treating infections</h2><p>Since bacterial vesicles already play a key role in infection biology medicine, for example as delivery systems for drugs or vaccines, this study provides important new knowledge about the very first contact with the host cell.</p><p>&ldquo;Our long-term goal with the research is to understand how bacterial vesicles hijack host cells and translate this knowledge into new methods that can prevent or treat infections,&rdquo; says Anna Arnqvist.</p><p>The study has been published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. It has been funded by the Swedish Cancer Society. The analyses were carried out at the Biochemical Imaging Centre Ume&aring; (BICU) and Ume&aring; Centre for Electron Microcopy (UCEM) at Ume&aring; University.</p>/en/news/new-discovery--bacterial-bubbles-hitchhike-to-reach-the-cell-surface_12145601//en/news/abisko-stay-strengthens-research-on-digital-statehood_12143605/For Dr. Michel Rouleau-Dick, three days in Abisko meant more than access to scientific resources—it was also his first encounter with the Arctic landscape, which will shape his research and his life in the North.Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:58:59 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Advancing research on digital statehood</h2><p>From 22 to 25 September, Dr. Michel Rouleau-Dick, postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Transdisciplinary AI and newly appointed Arctic Six Fellow, spent three days at the Abisko Scientific Research Station to develop his research on digital statehood and multi-layered sovereignty. During the visit, he took advantage of the station&rsquo;s extensive library resources, which provided unique materials to enhance and refine his project.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Connecting with the Arctic environment</h2><p>This stay above the Arctic Circle also allowed Dr. Rouleau-Dick with the chance to familiarise himself with the region, as he only recently moved to the North earlier this year. Besides the scientific work, the Arctic landscape itself became a source of inspiration. An enthusiastic amateur photographer, he explored the area and captured the dramatic seasonal change&mdash;from vibrant birch forests in yellow and orange to the snow-covered peaks that surround the station.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a3226d7c-8c15-4377-9234-a633bb90aeb0" data-contentname="BILD TOP">{}</div><p class="quote-center">Spending time in Abisko has provided me with not only access to exceptional scientific resources but also a deeper connection to the Arctic environment.</p><p>Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Rouleau-Dick noted:</p><p>"Spending time in Abisko has provided me with not only access to exceptional scientific resources but also a deeper connection to the Arctic environment. Experiencing the landscape firsthand adds a new dimension to my research and reinforces my commitment to exploring the complexities of sovereignty in this region."</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="087ddb4c-72d6-4b34-bea9-57b2c2b2d2ec" data-contentname="BILD Abisko">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Engaging with ongoing research</h2><p>During his visit, Dr. Rouleau-Dick also attended a lecture by Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre, who shared insights from his long-term research on permafrost thaw. This project, which involves collaborations with high school students in collecting soil samples, demonstrates how Arctic research combines advanced science with local participation.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Looking ahead</h2><p>Returning from Abisko, Dr. Rouleau-Dick brings not only valuable academic insights but also a personal connection to the Arctic environment that will influence his future work. His time at the research station marks a significant step in anchoring his project in the region's realities, blending scholarly investigation with the firsthand experience of the North.</p>/en/news/abisko-stay-strengthens-research-on-digital-statehood_12143605//en/news/continued-support-for-important-infrastructures_12145076/The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) has recently awarded grants to the two research infrastructures SwedPop and ArchLab, for which Umeå University is the fund administrator. SwedPop makes historical Swedish population data available for research, while ArchLab is an infrastructure for archaeological research. Both are considered by the Swedish Research Council to be research infrastructures of national interest.  Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:26:33 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/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/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/olofsson_thomas_6873_hkn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/caa1e8caa38f44d18e3ff82639358789/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 of research at Ume&aring; University. Photo: Hans Karlsson</p></div></div><p>&ndash; Infrastructure such as this at our university can be seen as part of the &ldquo;blood circulation&rdquo; that is essential for many of our researchers, as well as researchers throughout the country, to continue conducting excellent research. It is therefore very gratifying that the funding we applied for has now been secured for several years to come, says Thomas Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of research at Ume&aring; University. &nbsp;</p><p>Other research infrastructures linked to Ume&aring; University that were also awarded funding from this call for proposals from the Swedish Research Council were InfraVis, SwePrint, Protein Production Sweden (PPS) 2.0, SWERVE 2.0, SwedNMR and the Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), in which the university is participating as a co-applicant. In total, the Swedish Research Council granted approximately SEK 743 million for the years 2026-2030 to 20 infrastructures at eleven universities and institutions.</p><h3>More high-quality applications</h3><p>&ndash; This time, we received full funding for our applications to the Swedish Research Council. This success really shows that we are competitive and that it pays to write applications, so let's be inspired by the fact that we received full funding in this allocation and increase the number of applications going forward!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><em>Read more about "Grant for research infrastructure of national interest" at <a href="https://www.vr.se/english/applying-for-funding/decisions/2025-07-02-grant-for-research-infrastructure-of-national-interest.html">Swedish Research Council's website</a>.</em></p>/en/news/continued-support-for-important-infrastructures_12145076//en/news/researchers-card-game-teaches-children-about-microorganisms_12144957/Two researchers at Umeå University have developed a card game about microorganisms. With the help of playful game cards, they hope to spark curiosity in children and adults about life beneath the water’s surface – and to show that most microorganisms are actually helpful allies in our ecosystems.Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:35:20 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.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/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_curiosum_micromates_capo-6_adaeliasson2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Eric Capo plays the game MicroMates with visitors during ForskarFredag at Curiosum.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>Eric Capo and Meifang Zhong study microorganisms in fjords and lakes, and how they respond to environmental changes. Together, they came up with an original way to share their knowledge: a card game.</p><p>The idea was born during a seminar, when Eric Capo and his colleagues found it difficult at times to keep up with a talk on microorganism &ndash; despite it being their own research topic.</p><p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s when we came up with the idea of creating a card game, partly for ourselves but also to make it easier for people without a research background to understand the lives of microorganisms in the water,&rdquo; says Eric Capo, who has always had a strong interest in science communication.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Works with an artist</h2><p>The game consists of cards representing different microorganisms, vividly illustrated by the French artist Thomas Cerigny.</p><p>In the game, microorganisms are called "mates", and the aim is to help them survive environmental changes while also fighting other microorganisms and threats from their surroundings. The game is highly collaborative and players can exchange attacks and support cards between each other.</p><p>&ldquo;Our main target group is children from the age of six. At this very beginning, we expect mainly to reach science enthusiasts &ndash; and hopefully their children,&rdquo; says Meifang Zhong.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.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/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/271d86f09def4d29baa039c3a476da5f/ff2025_micromates_capo_finn_elodie_libby-162.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Each playing card represents a microorganism.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p><strong>What is the purpose of the game?</strong></p><p>&ldquo;We want children to learn that microorganisms are naturally present in the environment, that not all of them are bad (most are actually good), and that they live in ecosystems that are affected by environmental changes, such as lack of oxygen in the water.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Positive feedback</h2><p>At present, the game consists of 30 mate cards. It is still in a development phase, and the team is receiving business support from the innovation support at Ume&aring; University. The aim is&nbsp;a full launch in the coming years with a collection of 100 mate cards, around 40 help cards, and game rules in Swedish.</p><p>The game was showcased for the first time during Researchers' Night (ForskarFredag) at Curiosum on 26 September 2025.</p><p>&ldquo;Overall, we received positive feedback. Many children came by to try the game. There is still a lot of work ahead for us to improve the gameplay and make it simpler for kids, as our main goal is for them to play and learn important knowledge without even realising it,&rdquo; says Eric Capo.</p><p>Read more about the game at <a href="http://micromates.se" target="_blank" rel="noopener">micromates.se</a>.</p>/en/news/researchers-card-game-teaches-children-about-microorganisms_12144957//en/news/high-expectations-for-a-polar-research-school-at-umea-university_12144900/On 30 September, Associate Professor Linda Lundmark and Professor Paul Zieger submitted a project application to the Swedish Research Council to establish an interdisciplinary research school in polar research at Umeå University and Stockholm University between 2026 and 2029. They have applied for a total of almost 40 million SEK for the project.Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:43:39 +0200<p>On 27 August, the Swedish Research Council announced a call titled &ldquo;Research School within Polar Research&rdquo;, an initiative based on a government mandate with the purpose of ensuring the growth of excellent researchers and strengthening Sweden&rsquo;s international impact in polar research. Associate Professor Linda Lundmark at Ume&aring; University was quick to respond and began drafting an application to establish a polar research school at Ume&aring; University, together with collaborating researcher Paul Zieger, Professor at Stockholm University. Linda Lundmark is currently the director of the Arctic Graduate School at Ume&aring; University and believes that a polar research school is a perfect development for the university:</p><p>&ldquo;It would mean that we expand the geographical scope of our current research school to also include Antarctica. It would also mean that we strengthen our collaboration between Stockholm and Ume&aring;, allowing us to pool our resources when it comes to polar research. Polar research is important for how we as a society will be able to face a future increasingly characterized by uncertainty, not least regarding the climate. We do this by promoting interdisciplinary research that integrates different research fields while also meeting society&rsquo;s expectations that results should lead to change.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The SPIRS project aims to prepare the polar research experts of the future</h2><p>In their project application, funding is requested to establish a Swedish Polar Interdisciplinary Research School (SPIRS) that will begin in January 2026 and run for four years, and finance up to 75% of the participants&rsquo; salaries.</p><p>The purpose of the project is to safeguard Sweden&rsquo;s long-term expertise, coordination, and logistical knowledge in the polar regions. These regions are greatly affected by the rapid and large-scale global changes in the cryosphere, ecosystems, and local communities due to climate change and human activity. Because of this, the next generation of polar researchers needs to be experts capable of working effectively across disciplinary boundaries, contributing to evidence-based solutions, and bridging the gap between research and policy.</p><p>To achieve this, a polar research school will be established to prepare Doctoral students of today to become polar research experts of the future.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Short timeframe to announce doctoral projects for the research school</h2><p>If the project application is approved, the research school will be established as early as January 2026, which means that the timeframe for announcing doctoral projects for the school will be short. The project will therefore begin the call for applications immediately upon approval, covering projects at both Ume&aring; University and Stockholm University.</p><p>&ldquo;We will receive a decision in December at the latest, and the project starts in January. By then, we need to have the doctoral projects ready so that we can start recruiting Doctoral students. We will therefore announce doctoral projects within all research fields, spread across all faculties at the university. We encourage our colleagues to already start considering whether they want to apply,&rdquo; says Linda.</p>/en/news/high-expectations-for-a-polar-research-school-at-umea-university_12144900//en/news/klas-markstrom-appointed-to-the-swedish-research-councils-new-committee_12144835/The Swedish Research Council has established a new Committee for Engineering Sciences. One of the appointed members is Klas Markström, Professor at Umeå University.Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:49:38 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_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/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/31e9327898e045dba87e8bcbc2ff734f/markstrom_klas_0026_210426_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Klas Markstr&ouml;m, Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Earlier this year, the Swedish Research Council decided to establish a dedicated committee for engineering sciences. The background is the Government&rsquo;s Research and Innovation Bill 2024, which highlights the rapid technological development and the need for major investments in the field.</p><p>The Swedish Research Council will therefore divide the current Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences into two separate councils. Since the new Council for Engineering Sciences cannot be established immediately, a committee has been appointed to serve during the transition period until 2028.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Researchers with strong expertise</h2><p>&ldquo;During that time, the committee will, among other tasks, manage several initiatives on excellence clusters in engineering sciences and, together with the current Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences, prepare for the new council,&rdquo; says Klas Markstr&ouml;m, Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>The Committee for Engineering Sciences will consist of eleven members. At present, nine researchers with strong expertise in engineering and natural sciences have been appointed, while two representatives of research outside academia will be appointed at a later stage.</p>/en/news/klas-markstrom-appointed-to-the-swedish-research-councils-new-committee_12144835//en/news/when-listeria-bacteria-go-to-fine-dining_12144793/Jörgen Johansson, professor of molecular biology at Umeå University, has studied the Listeria bacteria for 25 years. He is following the outbreak at a top restaurant in Stockholm this week with great interest. We ask him five curious questions:Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:01:18 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.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/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/dag1_mg_07083.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Listeria can grow on agar plates at incredibly low temperatures.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Eva-Maria Diehl</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">For a healthy individual, it takes an incredible number of bacteria &ndash; several billion! &ndash; to get really sick</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">How serious is the current outbreak in Stockholm, and what are you following particularly closely in its development?</h2><p>&ldquo;The outbreak is serious because it has affected so many healthy people in a short period of time. Normally, people who have some form of weakened immune system are affected, such as pregnant women, the elderly and cancer patients. It is also remarkable that it has happened so quickly, from some of those involved, getting the infection to becoming seriously ill."</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.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/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ee5557ec51cb4204948951ba39c5df2a/jorgen_johansson_bild.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>J&ouml;rgen Johansson is professor at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>privat</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">You have been researching the listeria bacteria for over two decades &ndash; what makes it so fascinating from a scientific perspective?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria is a bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as it can live in the soil and multiply without any problems. Sometimes, however, it can enter the food chain, usually through dairy production or in fishery products, and then become an extremely aggressive and "successful" pathogen that can have a mortality rate of up to 30 percent.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What do we know today about how Listeria manages to enter the human body and cause disease?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria is probably one of the bacteria that we know best about how it causes disease and how it interacts with the human cell. The bacterium enters the body by eating food contaminated with Listeria and enters the intestinal epithelial layer.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;For a healthy individual, it takes an incredible number of bacteria &ndash; several billion! &ndash; to get really sick. In those cases, the bacteria make their way from the epithelial cells into the bloodstream where they usually spread to the liver and spleen and multiply. In a healthy individual, the immune system takes care of the bacteria, but if you have a weakened immune system, the bacteria can spread into the blood and cause sepsis or get into the brain and cause meningitis. In pregnant women, the bacteria can enter through the amniotic sac to the fetus. The later stages of the infection have a mortality rate of up to 30 percent.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Is there something about Listeria in particular that makes it extra difficult to control in food handling?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria can grow at incredibly low temperatures. In my lab, for example, we have grown the bacteria on agar plates that we have placed on ice. Even if you buy a food with few Listeria bacteria, its ability to grow at low temperatures means that after a week or so you can have enormous amounts of bacteria in the food. In addition, it can withstand very high salt concentrations. I usually use Paris as an example where I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Pasteur Institute. Just a few hundred meters away, on certain days you can buy cheese at a food market that is made from unpasteurized cheese. Even if there are few bacteria when you buy it, there can be an incredible number of bacteria if you take it home and eat it after a few weeks.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">What about Listeria and antibiotic resistance?</h2><p>&ldquo;Listeria is still (mostly) susceptible to antibiotics. However, it can be good to be prepared for the fact that it will at some point become antibiotic resistant, which is true for all pathogenic bacteria.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/when-listeria-bacteria-go-to-fine-dining_12144793//en/news/natural-barriers-disrupt-the-ecosystems-in-northern-swedens-rivers_12144622/Rivers in northern Sweden do not always become wider or richer in species further downstream. Natural barriers shape the flow and stop plants from spreading, new research from Umeå University shows.Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:00:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The terrain in northern Sweden was shaped by the last Ice Age.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Richard Mason</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Our results suggest that many foundational assumptions in river science may not apply here,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The rivers in northern Sweden flow through terrain shaped by the last Ice Age. The landscape is dotted with lakes and covered in sediment brought by the ice: sand, gravel and plenty of boulders. A news study from Ume&aring; University shows that this creates natural barriers that disrupt the flow of water. It also hinders the transport of sediment and the dispersal of plant seeds. All of this affects both the shape of the streams and the mix of plant types found along the shores.</p><p>&ldquo;We found that these landscapes are naturally fragmented, and that local conditions &ndash; such as sediment type and proximity to lakes &ndash; play a much larger role than previously thought,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The streams do not become wider</h2><p>Together with researcher Lovisa Lind, she studied two catchments in northern Sweden, Bjurb&auml;cken and Hjuks&aring;n, located above and below the highest coastline after the last glaciation. Using maps and field studies, they analysed the shape of the streams and the plant life along tens of kilometers of the shores.</p><p>Their findings challenge widely accepted theories that streams become wider and more biologically diverse downstream. The researchers found no clear relationships between the drainage area and channel width, and no consistent increase in plant species diversity downstream within these medium-sized catchments.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="caa67b86-4359-46bf-90a5-0794d772f623" data-contentname="Bildspel vattendrag eng">{}</div><p>&ldquo;In the catchment below the former highest coastline, we did see slightly stronger patterns, likely due to finer sediments from the sea. But overall, the presence of lakes and coarse glacial deposits breaks up the expected downstream trends,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><p>The study shows that lakes stop the transport of plant seeds by water. This leads to differences in the composition of plant life between nearby parts of the rivers. The researchers also saw an unexpected pattern: that species density (the number of species in a given area) was constant &ndash; or even decreased &ndash; downstream.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Important for river restoration</h2><p>These results are important for river restoration in areas shaped by the Ice Age. In these fragmented systems, passive recovery &ndash; where plants recolonise naturally &ndash; will probably not succeed. Instead, active interventions such as planting and physically reshaping the stream channels might be necessary.</p><p>&ldquo;Restoration strategies need to be adapted to these local realities,&rdquo; says Lina Polvi Sj&ouml;berg.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="5b0a16dc-6974-4612-a2b0-0f1beda1f8d0" data-contentname="About the scientific article">{}</div>/en/news/natural-barriers-disrupt-the-ecosystems-in-northern-swedens-rivers_12144622//en/news/ai-and-cultural-memory-in-focus-for-new-research-cluster_12144188/Teaching Awardee Panels , exhibition, lectures and the ceremony with the promotion of honorary doctors and the installation of new professors, this year also including the awarding of medals of merit. The annual celebration week is just around the corner. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:46:17 +0200<p>The Annual Celebration is one of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s most significant academic traditions, with ceremonial elements that trace their origins back to the founding of European universities in the 13th century.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_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/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a258eba5c3234c08b643ad102b0d52c4/skold_peter_2836_210914_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Peter Sk&ouml;ld, master of ceremonies for the academic celebrations at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Of course, things have evolved over time, but there is something deeply meaningful about feeling the presence of history in a fast-paced world. It&rsquo;s something we truly value,&rdquo; says Peter Sk&ouml;ld, Master of Ceremonies at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><p>The celebration also serves as an opportunity to honour individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to the university.</p><p>&ldquo;Above all, it&rsquo;s wonderful to have a dedicated occasion to recognise our researchers, educators and others who continue to contribute to education and research for a more sustainable future,&rdquo; says Peter Sk&ouml;ld.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Important discussions about learning and pedagogy</h2><p>The annual celebration week includes a variety of events. On the morning of Thursday, 16 October, there will be a Teaching Awardee Panels, where pedagogical award winners and appointed excellent teachers from Ume&aring; University who will explore current and important topics related to learning and student support.</p><p>The discussions will be held in the Teacher Education Building and are open to anyone interested. During the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Cathrine Norberg will present the award winners with their diplomas. The discussions can also be viewed afterwards.</p><p><a href="~/link/261a5e0ea26c4efb8219e899b7b16b9d.aspx">Read more about who will be participating in the discussions, as well as the time and place.&nbsp; </a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Opening of the Annual Celebration</h2><p>Inauguration of the Annual Celebration Ceremony will take place on Friday, 17 October. Ume&aring; University Library will host an exhibition about new professors, honorary doctors and scientific award winners. The exhibition consists of photographs and publications.</p><p>During the opening ceremony, there will be live music, light refreshments and a short lecture by Marie Lundstr&ouml;m, who is known from, among other things, Swedish Radio's literary weekly magazine &lsquo;Lundstr&ouml;m's Book Radio&rsquo;. She is one of those who will be awarded an honorary doctorate in philosophy by the Faculty of Humanities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>Due to ongoing renovations at the University Library, this year&rsquo;s opening will take place in Vardagsrummet in the Humanities Building. The exhibition will be shorter than in previous years, so visitors are encouraged to attend on Friday.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/db907987c6d94cf9a5be6c9b279611c9.aspx">See the calendar event for the exact time.&nbsp; </a></p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Almost 40 lectures</h2><p>On Saturday morning, all newly appointed professors, honorary doctors and scientific award recipients will deliver short popular science lectures, open to the public. <br>Topics this year include:</p><ul><li>"Exercise in pill form &ndash; the next generation of drugs for obesity and diabetes"</li><li>"Crisis, humour and resistance &ndash; what memes can teach us about digital culture"</li><li>"Milking lions &ndash; performance-based conservation compensation in practice"</li></ul><p>"I really recommend everyone who has the opportunity to come and take part in this smorgasbord of knowledge," says Peter Sk&ouml;ld.&nbsp;</p><p>A total of 38 lectures will be held, each lasting 20 minutes, in lecture halls across Campus Ume&aring;. Scientific award recipients will be honoured immediately following their presentations.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="~/link/50656af0ec4e4e328d4bf998ff34895f.aspx">See the programme for the day. </a></p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">The highlight of the Annual Celebration Week</h2><p>In the evening, the highlight of the Annual Celebration Week takes place &ndash; the ceremonial celebration. In a festive setting, the university's new professors are installed and new honorary doctors are conferred. This year, Ume&aring; University's medals of merit will also be awarded. This is done every three years and is given to people who have made particularly significant contributions to the university. This year, Inge-Bert T&auml;ljedal and Ellinor &Auml;delroth will receive them.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>"It is a great pleasure to invite our new professors, honorary doctors and medal recipients to an evening of splendour. They deserve it," says Peter Sk&ouml;ld.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>Live music will be performed during the ceremony, including by the Ume&aring; Student Choir.</p><p>The ceremony is open to the public, but can also be followed digitally via 91��ý����.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="/live/">Link to the broadcast.&nbsp;</a></p><p>The ceremony will be followed by a festive banquet for invited guests at Universum.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/time-for-the-annual-celebration-week--a-smorgasbord-of-knowledge_12144630//en/news/highlighting-arctic-sustainability-at-conference-for-young-researchers_12144366/How can society respond to a growing terrorist threat without undermining democracy? This question is at the heart of Susanna Bellander's doctoral thesis at Umeå University. "We must stop viewing security and freedom as a zero-sum game. In times of unrest, we need to protect both, simultaneously," says Susanna Bellander, doctoral student at Unit for Police Work. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:51:36 +0200<p>Susanna Bellander has been a police officer for 15 years and has worked as an investigator of serious crimes and intelligence operations, as well as with terrorism and counter-terrorism, both operationally and strategically. In her research, she has combined document analysis, interviews with police employees in 2022 and 2025, and a national survey study following the terrorist attack in Stockholm in 2017.</p><p>The results show that security measures are often prioritised at the expense of preventive efforts and democracy-building work. According to Susanna Bellander, there is a clear imbalance, with reactive measures being given better conditions for implementation than democracy-building efforts.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.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/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/5b247777fa044554a1e677c137cc9e5e/susanna_bellander2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Susanna Bellander, affiliated as doctoral student at Unit of Police Work. Photo: Sophia Nilsson S&ouml;dert&ouml;rns h&ouml;gskola.</p></div></div><p>"As a police officer, I have seen the need for strong measures in critical situations. As a researcher, I have learned that long-term security requires something more &ndash; a constant awareness of what we risk losing if democracy is compromised in the name of protection," says Susanna Bellander.</p><h3>Vulnerable members of society are hit harder</h3><p>Research also shows that people with a low quality of life, or a weak sense of belonging to Swedish society, are hit harder by fear and reduced trust in the wake of terrorist attacks. This points to the need for inclusive strategies that strengthen the resilience of society as a whole &ndash; not just protect against threats. The thesis argues that effective counter-terrorism must be proportionate, responsible and integrated &ndash; with a focus on both protection and rights.</p><p>Susanna Bellander has defended her thesis at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, which she believes is obvious:</p><p>"Terrorism has a profound impact on people's health &ndash; from direct victims to emergency services personnel, witnesses and society as a whole. Counterterrorism also has extensive health aspects that are important to study."</p>/en/news/we-must-protect-both-security-and-freedom_12144314//en/news/after-the-cyberattack--umea-university-analyses-the-system_12143938/The cyberattack against Miljödata at the end of August affects many people. Umeå University is conducting a risk and vulnerability analysis before the system becomes available again. At the same time, all employees and students are encouraged to learn more about cybersecurity. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:47:01 +0200<p>&ldquo;We sincerely regret that the cyberattack is affecting employees and understand that it may cause concern that personal data in the systems used by the university is not secure. We have a good systematic approach aimed at preventing cyberattacks, but this work needs to be constantly developed,&rdquo; says Lars Nordlander, HR manager at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The cyberattack targeted Milj&ouml;data, the supplier of Adato, the system support used by Ume&aring; University in the rehabilitation process for employees. More than 100 organisations in Sweden were affected and personal data was leaked from Adato. The attacker then spread it on the internet, including on the Darknet.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><a href="~/link/3301b3e780d6442d968db31adca4894c.aspx">Read previous news at 91��ý����.</a><br><br>Ume&aring; University immediately shut down Adato when the attack was discovered, and the system is not yet in use at the university. Before it is reopened, the university will conduct a risk and vulnerability analysis.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>"In the university's current agreement with Milj&ouml;data, we have set high standards for security and the handling of personal data, but the attackers got past that in this case. We want to get as clear a picture as possible of the measures Milj&ouml;data has taken after the attack before we start using the system again. We have been in close contact with Milj&ouml;data since the attack and know that they have worked intensively and thoroughly to create greater resistance to attacks," says Per Ragnarsson, Deputy University Director and Chair of the University's Crisis Management Group. &nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">How to be safe in the future</h2><p>October is Cybersecurity Month in Sweden and Europe. During this month, Ume&aring; University will highlight information pages and internal training courses that employees and students can access to learn more and become better equipped to deal with cyber attacks.</p><p>"Knowledge is the strongest weapon. I hope that many employees and students will take this opportunity to learn more about cyber security and find out how to better protect themselves against attacks, as well as how to act if they are affected or suspect any irregularities," says Per Ragnarsson.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/after-the-cyberattack--umea-university-analyses-the-system_12143938//en/news/a-shopping-trip-to-chem-store--the-store-that-supports-research-at-a-daily-basis_12129057/The autumn semester is in full swing. Just as students stock up on notebooks and literature, many researchers are restocking their labs. Located in the KBC building, Chem Store is perhaps the university’s most well-stocked store – but it’s no ordinary store. Here, researchers can quickly and easily get hold of pipettes, petri dishes, chemicals, and much more. Come along for a shopping trip in June, just before the summer break, and get inspired for your future shopping. Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jeanette Blomberg, researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, gets help from Boris Jonsson to find everything she needs from the Chem Store.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p>Jeanette Blomberg, researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, visits the Chem Store before the staff go on summer holiday.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to stock up on all the essentials that might be needed,&rdquo; Jeanette explains, showing a small shopping list scribbled on a post-it note.</p><p>With the help of Boris Jonsson, who works at Chem Store, she fills her shopping cart with pipette tips, petri dishes, microtiter plates, and a yellow barrel for hazardous waste. Having lab equipment, chemicals, and solvents close at hand makes daily lab work much smoother. While only a few litres of solvents, such as ethanol or acetone, can be stored in the lab environment, the Chem Store keeps a steady large supply.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="5505b12b-76a1-4a96-969b-0966f9c80259" data-contentname="Photo chemicals">{}</div><p>&ldquo;I usually come here often &ndash; several times a month &ndash; and I always get great help from the staff in finding what I need,&rdquo; says Jeanette.</p><p>Boris has worked at the Chem Store for 15 years and has a broad background in customer service and sales &ndash; from electronics to being a spare parts manager for Scania, VW, and Audi. But the Chem Store, he notes, is one of the most meaningful jobs he&rsquo;s had, and he appreciates being able to help and contribute to the exciting and varied research taking place in KBC and across the university every day.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="dbdb30e2-ac00-4449-a301-b222a5dd59c8" data-contentname="Photo Boris">{}</div><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s fun to work in such an international environment. Every day, we help postdocs and visiting professors from all over the world navigate the store or order special products,&rdquo; says Boris.<br>&nbsp;<br>The strangest order request Boris has ever received came from a researcher looking for needles small enough, and angled just right, to draw blood from white-tailed sea eagles.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;That really made me raise my eyebrows and scratch my head for a while, but I knew of a supplier so that we could have the needles custom-made,&rdquo; Boris recalls.&nbsp;</p><p class="quote-center">We&rsquo;re here for the whole university, taking care of the things researchers shouldn&rsquo;t have to spend time on</p><p>Jeanette is nearly done with her shopping &ndash; everything on her list has been checked off and loaded onto the lab cart.&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;Do you have enough gloves in the lab?&rdquo; Boris asks.&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;You can never have too many lab gloves,&rdquo; Jeanette replies, picking up a few boxes in different sizes.&nbsp;</p><p>Gloves are one of many staple items at the Chem Store, used by everyone &ndash; from chemists, biologists, and physicists to students and researchers at the Ume&aring; Academy of Fine Arts.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Boris Jonsson and Jeanette Blomberg in the Chem Store.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p>Jeanette barely has time to wave goodbye with her full lab cart before the next researcher peeks into the store. On a typical day, around 25&ndash;30 researchers and students stop by, and Boris and his colleagues assist them all as smoothly as possible.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re here for the whole university, taking care of the things researchers shouldn&rsquo;t have to spend time on &ndash; finding suppliers, handling administration, managing procurement and contracts, updating the purchaser on delivery status, receiving packages, ensuring sensitive products are stored correctly &ndash; in short, everything from purchase to delivery,&rdquo; Boris says proudly.</p>/en/news/a-shopping-trip-to-chem-store--the-store-that-supports-research-at-a-daily-basis_12129057//en/news/cell-death-in-microalgae-resembles-that-in-humans_12143823/For the first time, researchers at Umeå University have observed the same type of programmed cell death in microalgae as in humans. The discovery, published in Nature Communications, shows that this central biological process is older than previously thought.Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:55:15 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.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/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/starter_notransformation3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Under the microscope, it is possible to see for the first time how microalgae undergo the same type of programmed cell death as animal cells. (Microalgae in purple and apoptotic bodies as small dots.)</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Luisa Fernanda Corredor Arias</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;This is the first photosynthetic organism, and the first single-cell organism, shown to produce so called apoptotic bodies during cell death. This proves that apoptosis, a pathway of programmed cell death which was thought to be unique to animals, is more ancient and widespread than previously believed,&rdquo; says Christiane Funk, Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Cells can die naturally from age or disease, but organisms can also actively trigger the death of certain cells when needed. This is known as programmed cell death (PCD), a central biological system that allows the development of organs in our bodies and provides advantage during an organism&rsquo;s life cycle. One example is the differentiation of fingers in a developing human embryo, others are the control of cell numbers or the elimination of non-functional cells.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Challenges previous understanding</h2><p>There are several pathways leading to PCD, the best studied being apoptosis. The clearest sign of apoptosis is the formation and release of membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles called apoptotic bodies. Although other pathways have been described in plants, yeast, protozoa and phytoplankton, the production of apoptotic bodies has been thought to be limited to multicellular animals.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.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/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c95231c41be49b89cde314e5acffada/funk_christiane_8620_191218_sjn_ok2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Christiane Funk, Professor at the Department of Chemistry.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>For the first time the group of Christiane Funk at Ume&aring; University has now been able to observe the formation of apoptotic bodies in microalgae.</p><p>&ldquo;Our results demonstrate that the microalga Guillardia theta experiences apoptotic cell death in physiological conditions, similar to animal cells. Since these algae already existed prior to the origin of multicellularity, our discovery questions the evolutionary origin of PCD,&rdquo; says Christiane Funk.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Can have multiple uses</h2><p>The new findings may also have long-term implications beyond basic research. If scientists could one day induce or prevent programmed cell death in microorganisms, it might be possible to both manage harmful algal blooms and improve the harvesting of algal products in biotechnology.</p><p>&ldquo;But this is still far ahead of our current study,&rdquo; emphasises Christiane Funk.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f4450458-4856-4d1b-a587-3895fd0611a6" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/cell-death-in-microalgae-resembles-that-in-humans_12143823//en/news/nobel-prize-winner-returns-to-umea_12143903/"The most important thing about the Nobel Prize is not the person behind the prize, but rather that it shines a light on research and science, especially now in a world where science is increasingly being questioned," said Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry and former employee at Umeå University, when she answered questions from high school students in a packed Aula Nordica on Friday. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:40:53 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-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/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1758-250926-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 (centre) was joined on stage at Aula Nordica by (from left) Margalida Esteva Socias, Doctoral student at Department of Molecular Biology, Iryna Yakovenko, Postdoctoral fellow at Department of Clinical Microbiology, and Ronnie Berntsson, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, all at Ume&aring; University. Conference host Annakarin Nyberg, Associate professor at Department of Informatics at Ume&aring; University, listens at the lectern on the right. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div><p>"It is clear that both Ume&aring; and Ume&aring; University have played a very important role in my research, so it is really nice to be back and receive this welcome," said Emmanuelle Charpentier.</p><p>The conversation in Aula Nordica was opened by Marie-Louise R&ouml;nnmark, Mayor of Ume&aring;, and Patrik Danielson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Ume&aring; University. The moderator was Annakarin Nyberg, Associate professor at Department of Informatics at Ume&aring; University. She had received a series of questions from upper secondary school students in advance. Among other things, Emmanuelle Charpentier was asked whether the high level of trust among the citizens of Ume&aring; and at the university played a role in her research.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-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/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1832-250926-mpn3.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 is today director at Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div><p>"Yes, here in Ume&aring; I found a warm community among researchers, a community based on curiosity, where your scientific status and where you have published your articles are less important. Of course, these things are important for your career as a researcher, but they are not everything. Many people focus solely on publications, but we also need to have a story. And a love for the story of the research you do. You need colleagues who help you shape it, who believe in it, who believe in you, and I found that here," Emmanuelle Charpentier told high school students, interested residents of Ume&aring; and students and staff at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Emmanuelle Charpentier was also awarded the title of honorary citizen of Ume&aring; at a ceremony at the Norrlandsoperan, where she said that the crunchy sound of walking in the snow in Ume&aring; sounded like the name of the gene scissors, CRISPR-Cas9. But she also said that she loves salad, and the first salad she saw when she went shopping in Ume&aring; was a <em>crisp salad</em>, which she thought was a sign that she should continue working with gene editing. But what really convinced her to move from Vienna to Ume&aring; in 2008 was all the friendly and pleasant colleagues she met when she was here for her job interview and how warmly everyone welcomed her to Ume&aring; and the university.</p><p>The Nobel Prize laureate concluded her visit to the university by visiting her former colleagues at MIMS (The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden), where she worked as a group leader when she made the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 in 2012, which has been called the sharpest tool in genetic engineering and has revolutionised molecular biology and cell biology research. In 2020, she and Jennifer A. Doudna, at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-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/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7aeaad6b34214c6aa6b6eeeb1745e869/emmanuelle-charpentier-1200-250926-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 stands in front of a large information board describing her research. The information board is located on R&aring;dhusesplanden in central Ume&aring; and is one of several posters put up by the municipality of Ume&aring; to mark the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of Ume&aring; University. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div>/en/news/nobel-prize-winner-returns-to-umea_12143903//en/news/how-umea-university-celebrated-its-60th-anniversary_12141745/Cosy, friendly, large but close to everything, open and in the right place in the country. Students and staff who celebrated Umeå University's 60th anniversary were asked what they thought was the best thing about the University. See pictures from the celebration. Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:16:27 +0200<p>On 17 September, the University held a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of its inauguration. Staff and students were treated to musical entertainment and speeches by Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg and Willie Dahl, Vice-President of the Medical Student Union.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Everyone who attended was also served coffee, non-alcoholic sparkling drink and a pastry, which was served in a coffee cup that guests could take home with them afterwards as a gift. The cup featured the university logo and the word &ldquo;TACK&rdquo; (thank you) in capital letters. The message behind the entire celebration was to thank all students and staff for their contributions, in their own different ways, to what Ume&aring; University has become and will become in the future. This was also the message conveyed by the Vice-Chancellor in her speech.&nbsp;</p><p><a title="Speech" href="~/link/86dfe945b61a472287c26bfbf6c2853e.aspx">Read the entire speech afterwards.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/how-umea-university-celebrated-its-60th-anniversary_12141745//en/news/land-use-and-restoration-affects-carbon-storage-in-mangroves--_12143736/A new study from Umeå University shows that the restoration of mangroves can increase carbon storage. However, the researchers, who studied carbon locked up in Vietnamese mangrove forests, found these new ecosystems may not regain a normal function.Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:59:43 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/blue_carbon_heidi_burdett.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/blue_carbon_heidi_burdett.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/blue_carbon_heidi_burdett.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/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/blue_carbon_heidi_burdett.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/blue_carbon_heidi_burdett.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/blue_carbon_heidi_burdett.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sediment coring in old-forest mangrove within a shrimp farm pond in the Red River delta, northern Vietnam.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Heidi Burdett</span></div></div><p>Marine coastal ecosystems play an important role in capturing and storing large amounts of carbon in the sediment, so-called "blue carbon". One of the most important ecosystems for this are mangrove forests.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Compared to some other marine ecosystems, there are good opportunities to succeed in the reforestation and restoration of mangrove forests. Therefore, they hold exciting potential for achieving climate policy goals," says Heidi Burdett, Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology, Environment &amp; Geoscience, and Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre, Ume&aring; University.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/heidi_burdett.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/heidi_burdett.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/heidi_burdett.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/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/heidi_burdett.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/heidi_burdett.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/e21f65d4513343eb843fd9511450cf8e/heidi_burdett.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Heidi Burdett, Associate professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science and Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre (UMF).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Heidi Burdett</span></div></div><p>However, the amount of carbon that is taken up and locked away can vary greatly between different areas. To find out what factors affect carbon storage, the researchers examined mangrove forests in northern Vietnam, comparing older untouched forests with areas of natural regrowth and where restoration has taken place.</p><p>Changes in carbon storage over time followed patterns linked to coastal land use, inland dam construction, and alternating dry and wet climate periods.</p><p>&ldquo;Our results highlight how vulnerable mangrove carbon storage is to human activities, which might be happening hundreds of kilometers away,&rdquo; says Heidi.</p><p>The study shows that the deposition of sediment generally increased in the mangrove forests over the past few decades, but this increase did not match how much carbon accumulated. This indicates that the efficiency of carbon burial has declined.</p><p>&ldquo;The exception was in restored areas, which since the 1960s has had higher amounts of stored carbon, peaking in the 1990s. One explanation may be that restored mangrove forests are ecologically different, becoming more closed-off from external inputs of carbon,&rdquo; says Heidi.</p><p>The researchers suggest that mangrove restoration may therefore be a useful way to increase coastal carbon storage, but caution against assuming that restored ecosystems will always perform like their older counterparts.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Read the full article:<br><a href="https://journals.plos.org/sustainabilitytransformation/article?id=10.1371/journal.pstr.0000197">Burdett et al (2025) Land use change drives decadal-scale persistence of sediment organic carbon storage of restored mangrove. Plos Sustainability and Transformation, 4:e0000197.</a> </p>/en/news/land-use-and-restoration-affects-carbon-storage-in-mangroves--_12143736//en/news/collaboration-in-focus-as-umea-hosted-ec2u-coordinators-meeting_12143418/Between 16–18 September 2025, Umeå University welcomed over 30 delegates from across Europe for the EC2U local coordinators meeting. The gathering marked an important step in strengthening the European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) alliance and in planning its continued development. Umeå University has been an official member of the alliance since 1 May 2025.Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:41:35 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f600b83a0354445d971fbf41418fef55/ec2u_meeting_umea_a_2025-09-17_mattias_pettersson_umea_university.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f600b83a0354445d971fbf41418fef55/ec2u_meeting_umea_a_2025-09-17_mattias_pettersson_umea_university.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f600b83a0354445d971fbf41418fef55/ec2u_meeting_umea_a_2025-09-17_mattias_pettersson_umea_university.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/f600b83a0354445d971fbf41418fef55/ec2u_meeting_umea_a_2025-09-17_mattias_pettersson_umea_university.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f600b83a0354445d971fbf41418fef55/ec2u_meeting_umea_a_2025-09-17_mattias_pettersson_umea_university.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f600b83a0354445d971fbf41418fef55/ec2u_meeting_umea_a_2025-09-17_mattias_pettersson_umea_university.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Over the three days, local coordinators and communication officers from all nine EC2U partner universities gathered to exchange experiences, align strategies, and plan the next stages of the alliance&rsquo;s development. Key discussions focused on monitoring work packages and budgets, onboarding new coordinators and task groups, enhancing communication channels, and ensuring sustainable contributions to EC2U&rsquo;s projects and goals.<br><br>The programme also included strategic conversations on national cooperation within the European Universities Initiative, developing an alumni network for EC2U&rsquo;s joint master&rsquo;s programmes, and strengthening impact dissemination. A special focus group was dedicated to the alliance&rsquo;s mid-term report, ensuring transparency and accountability for future progress.<br><br>Beyond the meetings, participants had the opportunity to explore Ume&aring; University and the city&rsquo;s vibrant cultural and academic environment. Highlights included a guided tour of the Bildmuseet contemporary art museum, participation in the University&rsquo;s 60th anniversary celebration, a visit to the IKSU sports centre under the &ldquo;Health on Campus&rdquo; initiative, and an introduction to Swedish culture and student life.<br><br>Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg highlighted the importance of EC2U in Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s internationalisation efforts:</p><p>"Hosting this local coordinators meeting reflects Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s strong commitment to EC2U," said Tora Holmberg. "Together, we are building long-term collaborations that benefit our students and researchers while helping shape a more sustainable and connected Europe."</p><p>The EC2U alliance unites universities across Europe to foster education, mobility, and cooperation. The local coordinators meeting in Ume&aring; laid a strong foundation for collaboration and highlighted Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s active role in this European university initiative.</p>/en/news/collaboration-in-focus-as-umea-hosted-ec2u-coordinators-meeting_12143418//en/news/anne-bridges-virology-and-cardiology-as-new-myocarditis-research-emerges_12142115/Myocarditis is a serious inflammation of the heart muscle that can hit young, healthy people hard—and without warning. In the worst cases, it can lead to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Researcher Anne Tuiskunen Bäck is working to close key knowledge gaps in diagnostics, risk assessment, and follow-up of patients.Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:33:02 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/anne_och_amina2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/anne_och_amina2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/anne_och_amina2.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/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/anne_och_amina2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/anne_och_amina2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/anne_och_amina2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Researcher Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck and her PhD Amina Hayat.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">it is very important to obtain new knowledge</p><p>&ldquo;It is very important to obtain new knowledge, so that we can more easily make the correct diagnosis and find risk groups. Most people with myocarditis recover on their own, but some patients develop heart complications. If we can identify these patients early, we could implement preventive measures,&rdquo; says Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck, a specialist in cardiology at Norrland University Hospital and a researcher at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Viruses most common cause</h2><p>You often hear that you should avoid exercise when you have a cold &ndash; and there is a good reason: the risk of myocarditis. In the Western world, myocarditis is most often caused by viruses, but bacteria, fungi, parasites, side effects of certain cancer drugs or autoimmune diseases can also be behind it. In the disease, the immune system overreacts and attacks the heart muscle, which can impair the heart's ability to pump blood around the body.</p><p>&ldquo;No specific treatments exist, and in most cases, the disease is mild and transient. We usually let go of patients completely when the myocarditis appears to have healed and all tests have normalized. We urge them to avoid physical activity for a couple of months, which can be difficult, especially for younger people, to follow,&rdquo; says Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck.</p><p>However, myocarditis can cause long-term complications and, in some cases, become chronic if the inflammation does not heal completely. Over time, the heart loses its elasticity and enlarges, as the heart wall thins when heart muscle cells are replaced by scar tissue. In the most severe cases, this can lead to terminal heart failure, where a heart transplant becomes necessary to survive. Today, there is a lack of knowledge about how to identify early on which patients are at risk of being affected.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/hjartbild_14.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/hjartbild_14.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/hjartbild_14.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/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/hjartbild_14.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/hjartbild_14.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/hjartbild_14.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Patients who come to the hospital experience symptoms such as unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r bildbyr&aring;</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Lack of research</h2><p>Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck got the idea for her research project two years ago when her clinic director asked her to look through the clinical management plan for myocarditis patients, which is based on the European Society of Cardiology guidelines.</p><p>&ldquo;I was surprised; the guidelines were from 2013! Unlike the guidelines for myocardial infarction, which are updated every five years. The lack of updated guidelines is due to the absence of large clinical studies on myocarditis,&rdquo; says Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck.</p><p>In the scientific literature, Anne saw a clear lack of research on how infections affect myocarditis. She also reacted to the lack of communication between virology and cardiology &ndash; two fields that would benefit from collaborating more. That is where the interest was sparked.</p><p>&ldquo;I got involved in how we could improve the routines for long-term follow-up, to identify patients at risk of developing severe cardiac complications and also to look for better tools for diagnosing myocarditis,&rdquo; says Anne.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Follow-up for 25 years</h2><p>Last year, Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck began the extensive work of preparing the clinical study &ndash; a process that requires careful planning and extensive administration. Since the study involves data from humans, approval is required from the Swedish Ethics Review Authority, an authority for all clinical research in Sweden. Anne eventually received permission to follow newly diagnosed patients until the year 2050 and previous cases of myocarditis in V&auml;sterbotten since 2009.</p><p>The study is now operating at a high level of activity. The newly diagnosed patients (the acute patient group) submit repeated samples during the days they are hospitalized and then at return visits. The other patient group who has had myocarditis previously submits a blood sample via their local health care centre.</p><p>&ldquo;We will follow each patient for a really long time through medical records regarding their heart health and compare with what we see in their samples to find new diagnostic and risk markers.&rdquo;</p><p>Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck has recently been awarded 500,000 kronor from the Norrl&auml;ndska Hj&auml;rtfonden for the research project, an addition that gives the work a new boost. She has recruited Amina Hayat, a specialist in cardiology, as a doctoral student. Amina is responsible, among other things, for contacting new participants in the study. In the Autumn, the research group will be further strengthened when two postdoctoral fellows join to work on the project.</p><p>&ldquo;The turnout of participants is overwhelming. One 20-year-old even said that it felt like a privilege to be part of the study, that makes it extra fun!&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/biomedicinsk-analytiker_7295-250513-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/biomedicinsk-analytiker_7295-250513-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/biomedicinsk-analytiker_7295-250513-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/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/biomedicinsk-analytiker_7295-250513-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/biomedicinsk-analytiker_7295-250513-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/c00ba5c48dc341d3a9ec62440fdb461c/biomedicinsk-analytiker_7295-250513-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 patients being followed are asked to provide blood samples. <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><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">New biomarkers for diagnosis</h2><p>It is difficult to diagnose suspected myocarditis. The doctor performs a physical examination and looks at the patient's symptoms, takes blood samples, an ECG, a cardiac ultrasound and performs an MRI scan of the heart. Early biopsy &ndash; a tissue sample from the heart &ndash; is the most reliable way to make a diagnosis but is also fraught with several limitations and uncertainties.</p><p>&ldquo;For this reason, we do it extremely rarely. If the patient is not terminally ill with their heart disease, there is very little benefit in retrieving a biopsy from the heart. That is the reasoning.&rdquo;</p><p>As a result, the diagnosis is often based on a probability assessment rather than a definitive conclusion. The fact that many cases probably also go under the radar is another reason for the lack of reliable statistics on how many people are affected by myocarditis in Sweden each year.</p><p>The second part of the project focuses on finding new biomarkers for diagnosing myocarditis. Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck is investigating whether a blood test can replace tissue tests. She and her colleagues analyse lab samples from the patients, including using metagenomics to find out which virus is involved, and also map the patients' genome to see if genetic factors increase the risk. In collaboration with other research groups, they will study the immune response and metabolomics of the patients at a later stage.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Cardiology and virology in combination</h2><p>This is a typical example of a translational project, which means that basic research solves questions raised in the clinic. In this way, Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck uses both her knowledge in virology and her clinical competence as a medical doctor. The research is also interdisciplinary and spans virology, cardiology and genetics.</p><p>The study is extensive. It involves several clinics, many colleagues and patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. There are also discussions about scaling up the study to other hospitals in Sweden.</p><p>Cardiology is a dynamic and research-intensive field that naturally interacts with virology, notes Anne Tuiskunen B&auml;ck.</p><p>&ldquo;It is both exciting and fun to combine two fields. Having one foot in virology and one in cardiology works great &ndash; and feels innovative.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/anne-bridges-virology-and-cardiology-as-new-myocarditis-research-emerges_12142115//en/news/when-trees-become-co-actors_12142895/A Western diet, rich in fat and poor in fibre, can weaken the gut protective mucosa and increase the risk of infection and inflammation. Now, Umeå researchers have identified a milk-derived molecule that can significantly strengthen the function of the intestinal mucosa and pave the way for new dietary strategies.Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:08:59 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/4_img_3433_kopiera3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/4_img_3433_kopiera3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/4_img_3433_kopiera3.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/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/4_img_3433_kopiera3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/4_img_3433_kopiera3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/4_img_3433_kopiera3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Researcher Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der and postdoctoral fellow Supapit Wongkuna have identified a milk-based molecule that can significantly strengthen the function of the gut mucosa.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">the molecule can act as as a decoy substrate for mucus-degrading bacteria</p><p>&ldquo;Our study shows that the milk-derived molecule can act as as a decoy substrate for mucus-degrading bacteria, which helps to protect the host's mucus barrier even in the fibre-deficient conditions, says researcher Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der, Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University, who has led the study.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Positive effects on the gut</h2><p>The molecule in question, casein glycomacropeptide (CGMP), is a protein with sugar molecules that occurs naturally in cheese whey. In studies on mice fed on a "Western diet", Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der and his team were able to show that CGMP has several positive effects on the gut. It stimulated the production of mucus, made the gut wall less permeable and favoured the growth of beneficial bacteria &ndash; especially Bifidobacterium.</p><p>The effects depended on how much sugar was attached to the molecule, a modification called sialylation. The researchers also saw that CGMP increased the amount of small fatty acids in the gut, especially propionate. This fatty acid is known to strengthen the gut protective barrier and contribute to a healthy mucosa.</p><p>&ldquo;This is a clear example of how something we eat can positively affect the interaction between the body and gut bacteria,&rdquo; says Supapit Wongkuna, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University, and first author of the study.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Crucial collaboration with industry</h2><p>The study was conducted in collaboration with Arla Foods Ingredients in Denmark, a global player in dairy-based ingredients. The collaboration was crucial for the researchers to have access to tailor-made CGMP fractions with varying levels of sialylation.</p><p>For Arla, the collaboration not only means a contribution to research, but also the opportunity to further develop its ingredients based on scientific results.</p><p>&ldquo;We are proud to be able to support research that investigates the health-promoting potential of proteins in whey. This study shows that CGMP has value far beyond its traditional uses,&rdquo; says Ann Bj&oslash;rnshave, project manager at Arla Foods Ingredients.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Prebiotics for gut health</h2><p>The research highlights the possibility of reusing dairy compounds as a prebiotic food supplement.</p><p>&ldquo;We see a very promising opportunity to not only counteract the negative effects of a Western diet, but also actively promote gut health and well-being&rdquo;, says Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der</p><p>The results are published in the scientific journal Food Research International.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/2_img_3492_besk2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/2_img_3492_besk2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/2_img_3492_besk2.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/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/2_img_3492_besk2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/2_img_3492_besk2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/901353848d8741eba0f0469b1fa4ad09/2_img_3492_besk2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Supapit Wongkuna and Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der hope for a future new prebiotic.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>[Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh]</span></div></div>/en/news/milk-derived-molecule-strengthens-gut-health-even-with-unhealthy-diet_12142933//en/news/new-programme-in-public-procurement---a-groundbreaking-initiative_12142907/Starting in autumn 2026, the Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics at Umeå University will launch a brand-new Master’s Programme in Public Procurement – a location-independent distance programme that marks a historic step for Swedish higher education. At the same time, public procurement will be established as a main field of study.Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:29:19 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/890d87a889b3408580015b9e6208e920/sofia_lundberg_och_tom_madell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/890d87a889b3408580015b9e6208e920/sofia_lundberg_och_tom_madell3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/890d87a889b3408580015b9e6208e920/sofia_lundberg_och_tom_madell3.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/890d87a889b3408580015b9e6208e920/sofia_lundberg_och_tom_madell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/890d87a889b3408580015b9e6208e920/sofia_lundberg_och_tom_madell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/890d87a889b3408580015b9e6208e920/sofia_lundberg_och_tom_madell3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Sofia Lundberg and Tom Madell.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Malin Gronborg</span></div></div><p>This programme is the first of its kind in Sweden and will lead to a Master of Science degree in Public Procurement. It is aimed at both professionals and graduates from, for example, business administration, engineering, or social science bachelor&rsquo;s programmes, and will be offered both full-time and part-time to meet different needs. The new Master&rsquo;s programme is interdisciplinary and rests on a scientific foundation and a strong research environment, including economics, law, and informatics. The development of the programme is led by, among others, Professor Sofia Lundberg (Economics) and Professor Tom Madell (Law), who are also the programme directors.</p><h3>How do you think this programme will impact the supply of expertise in the public sector and business community?
</h3><p>&ndash; Nationally and internationally, the demand for procurement professionals is high and continues to grow. The reason for this increasing demand is that public procurement is an expanding field where the strategic role of procurement professionals is becoming more significant, and the requirements for professionalising the role are increasing. The demand for procurement professionals is rising, and the job market for those who want to work in this field and have the right skills is strong.
Despite this, Sweden lacks university-level programmes in public procurement. Among practitioners and industry organisations, the need for education in public procurement has been raised repeatedly, while surveys show that the supplier side calls for improved competence among procurement professionals.
The Swedish Association of Public Purchasers (SOI) has developed a competency profile for public purchasers. The profile covers 13 scientific areas and reflects a complex and challenging role that is of increasing central importance in public organisations. As complexity and demands increase, so do competency requirements. The programme does not cover all 13 areas specified by SOI, but it provides broader competence than the courses currently available. The establishment of the main field of study is a prerequisite for the broad entry into the programme. Around 4,000 organisations in Sweden are covered by the legislation and regularly organise public procurements or freedom-of-choice systems, say Sofia and Tom.</p><p>Public procurement, which is regulated by EU directives and Swedish legislation, is a strategically important area. It amounts to approximately SEK 900 billion annually in Sweden &ndash; almost 18 percent of GDP &ndash; and covers everything from relatively standardized products to complex services and construction contracts. Through the programme, students gain in-depth knowledge of the legal, socio-economic, and digital dimensions of procurement, and how it can be used as a policy tool for sustainable development, innovation, and inclusion.</p><h3>What needs or gaps in today&rsquo;s educational offerings did you identify that made this programme relevant to develop?</h3><p>
&ndash; Over the years, as mentioned, we have been approached with requests for education in public procurement. We have also seen the need ourselves through our contacts with the business community and the public sector. This led to initiatives in the form of independent courses (which have been very successful). When Tom returned to Ume&aring; University, it felt natural to revive the idea of an advanced-level programme that we had already developed in 2012. For various reasons, and because we were involved in other projects, the idea was put on hold, says Sofia.</p><p>The programme is based on current research and practical relevance. It is an impressive example of how the Ume&aring; School of Business, Economics and Statistics takes responsibility for societal development and meets labour market needs with high-quality, research-based education. The fact that the university is now establishing itself as a national pioneer in public procurement is nothing short of fantastic and a testament to both academic foresight and strategic action.</p><h3>What has been most challenging in the process of establishing an entirely new main field of study and programme, and how have you solved it?
</h3><p>&ndash; The process itself is rigorous, and for good reason. Establishing a main field of study and a programme has an impact on the organisation. Part of the process was to justify the establishment in a way that could be received by people outside the research group in public procurement. The fact that we have two successful independent courses with a socio-economic focus and could demonstrate competitiveness compared to the existing offerings in the procurement field (primarily law courses) has probably contributed to our proposal being well received. Also, we have established networks within and outside Ume&aring; University where dialogues and research on public procurement are ongoing, Sofia and Tom continue.</p><h3>What are you most proud of with this programme &ndash; and what do you hope students will take with them after graduation?
</h3><p>&ndash; According to the Swedish Competition Authority, Ume&aring; University brings together teachers from Sweden&rsquo;s strongest research environment in public procurement, and on a personal level, it is gratifying to be able to build on this and offer a degree programme in the subject. We hope thereby to strengthen Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s educational offering and do something that benefits the organisation. By (further) educating experts in public procurement, Ume&aring; University can help ensure that the resources of procuring organisations are used more efficiently and sustainably, which in turn can lead to significant economic and societal gains. The knowledge gained from the programme can provide students with insights into how to develop procurement strategies for sustainable development and strengthen society&rsquo;s preparedness.</p>/en/news/new-programme-in-public-procurement---a-groundbreaking-initiative_12142907//en/news/from-student-to-phd-researcher_12141335/After graduating from the BIT programme at Umeå University, Jennifer Israelsson has now returned to the Department of Informatics – this time as a PhD student. In collaboration with the municipal company Vakin, she will investigate how data-driven methods and AI can be introduced in ways that are both effective and sustainable.Mon, 22 Sep 2025 10:07:00 +0200<p>&ndash; I&rsquo;m really excited to get started! It feels both thrilling and challenging at the same time. This is a fantastic opportunity to dive deeper into questions about how technology interacts with organizations and society, especially in a municipal context, says Jennifer Israelsson, PhD student at the Department of Informatics.</p><p>Her research will focus on sustainable data cultures, with Vakin &ndash; the regional water and waste management company &ndash; as a key partner.<br>&ndash; I will look at how Vakin works with data and how they can implement AI responsibly. My work will involve workshops, interviews and on-site observations. At Vakin, my main contact is Ingrid Und&eacute;n Lindehall, while my supervisors at the university are professors Mikael Wiberg and Johan Sandberg, she explains.</p><p>Jennifer&rsquo;s interest in the topic was sparked during her bachelor&rsquo;s studies in the BIT programme.<br>&ndash; During my degree, I explored how technology affects organizational cultures and employees in many different contexts. That gave me a strong foundation, which I now bring into my doctoral research, Jennifer says.</p>/en/news/from-student-to-phd-researcher_12141335//en/news/ice-dissolves-iron-faster-than-liquid-water_12142036/Ice can dissolve iron minerals more effectively than liquid water, according to a new study from Umeå University. The discovery could help explain why many Arctic rivers are now turning rusty orange as permafrost thaws in a warming climate.Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:00:13 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>When ice freezes and thaws repeatedly, chemical reactions are fuelled that can have significant impact on ecosystems. The photo was taken in Stordalen, Abisko.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois Boily</span></div></div><p>The study, recently published in the scientific journal PNAS, shows that ice at minus ten degrees Celsius releases more iron from common minerals than liquid water at four degrees Celsius. This challenges the long-held belief that frozen environments slow down chemical reactions.</p><p>&ldquo;It may sound counterintuitive, but ice is not a passive frozen block,&rdquo; says Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois Boily, Professor at Ume&aring; University and co-author of the study. &ldquo;Freezing creates microscopic pockets of liquid water between ice crystals. These act like chemical reactors, where compounds become concentrated and extremely acidic. This means they can react with iron minerals even at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Releases organic compounds</h2><p>To understand the process, the researchers studied goethite &ndash; a widespread iron oxide mineral &ndash; together with a naturally occurring organic acid, using advanced microscopy and experiments.</p><p>They discovered that repeated freeze-thaw cycles make iron dissolve more efficiently. As the ice freezes and thaws, organic compounds that were previously trapped in the ice are released, fuelling further chemical reactions. Salinity also plays a crucial role: fresh and brackish water increase dissolution, while seawater can suppress it.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">From mines to the atmosphere</h2><p>The findings apply mainly to acidic environments, such as mine drainage sites, frozen dust in the atmosphere, acid sulfate soils along the Baltic Sea coast, or in any acidic frozen environment where iron minerals interact with organics.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Angelo Sebaaly, doctoral student at the Department of Chemistry.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Giacomo Gorza</span></div></div><p>The next step is to find out if the same is true for all iron-bearing ice. This is what ongoing research in the Boily laboratory will soon reveal.</p><p>&ldquo;As the climate warms, freeze-thaw cycles become more frequent,&rdquo; says Angelo Pio Sebaaly, doctoral student and first author of the study. &ldquo;Each cycle releases iron from soils and permafrost into the water. This can affect water quality and aquatic ecosystems across vast areas.&rdquo;</p><p>The findings show that ice is not a passive storage medium, but an active player. As freezing and thawing increase in polar and mountain regions, for the impact on ecosystems. and the natural cycling of elements could be significant.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6c6957ec-b8a6-4209-aaaa-6316dd66fec6" data-contentname="About the article">{}</div>/en/news/ice-dissolves-iron-faster-than-liquid-water_12142036//en/news/arctic-and-sami-research-in-focus-as-university-of-northern-british-columbia-visited-umea-university_12139837/Dr. Paula Wood-Adams, Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), visited Umeå University on 10 September to learn more about current Arctic and Sámi research and to explore potential areas for collaboration.Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:28:44 +0200<p class="quote-center">The Arctic Centre aims to facilitate meetings [&hellip;] and promote more sustainable and interconnected Arctic research.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Arctic research in focus</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="158ae3ec-c05b-4031-a3b5-34f4f41d1727" data-contentname="BILD UNBC SO">{}</div><p>Throughout the day, Arctic Centre-associated researchers presented projects ranging from the impacts of climate change on ecosystems to health systems in sparsely populated areas, as well as issues related to tourism and security. These insights provided a valuable basis for discussing how international partnerships can strengthen knowledge development for the benefit of remote and Arctic communities.</p><p>"The Arctic Centre aims to facilitate meetings like this, where representatives from other universities can connect with our researchers, find inspiration, and establish the foundation for future collaboration. The visit from UNBC highlights the importance of cross-border dialogue and knowledge exchange, utilising existing platforms such as UArctic to promote more sustainable and interconnected Arctic research," says Simon Oja, Deputy Director of the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">S&aacute;mi and Indigenous research deepens understanding&nbsp;</h2><p>The V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research &ndash; presented its activities and highlighted the importance of Indigenous knowledge in Arctic research. Topics of language, identity, and sustainable community development and cultural revitalisation were discussed, alongside new research that offers a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary circumstances of S&aacute;mi communities. These perspectives collectively emphasise the vital role of S&aacute;mi research in developing more inclusive and socially relevant Arctic knowledge.</p><p class="quote-center">S&aacute;mi research is a crucial aspect of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s Arctic profile.</p><p>"S&aacute;mi research is a crucial aspect of Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s Arctic profile. By incorporating Indigenous perspectives, we enhance the research and its societal relevance. International collaborations, such as the one with UNBC, create opportunities for valuable comparisons and mutual learning between Indigenous peoples in different regions of the world," says Kristina Sehlin MacNeil, Deputy Director of V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">UArctic as a key to collaboration</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="4095e446-bd9a-4f45-aab2-fefec893f470" data-contentname="BILD UNBC PWA">{}</div><p>Discussions included the University of the Arctic (UArctic), an international network of almost 200 member institutions, as a key platform for future collaboration. Through UArctic, researchers at Ume&aring; University and UNBC can build on existing partnerships through thematic networks and the North2North mobility program, while also creating new initiatives in education and research.<br>The visit showcased the diverse research at Ume&aring; University through the Arctic Centre, V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research, and others. The presentations provided UNBC&rsquo;s representative with insights into the various perspectives shaping today&rsquo;s Arctic research landscape. The programme concluded with a meeting involving Deputy Vice-Chancellor Patrik Danielsson, Vice-Chancellor&rsquo;s Adviser Thomas Olofsson, and Helena Gradin, Assistant Head of Division at the International Office.</p>/en/news/arctic-and-sami-research-in-focus-as-university-of-northern-british-columbia-visited-umea-university_12139837//en/news/inauguration-of-the-aurora-examination-building-and-the-artwork-outside_12141673/An unexpected collaboration between professor Magnus Wolf-Watz at Umeå University and the biotech company Vakona is a prime example of how fundamental research can gain new relevance and impact. By combining academic curiosity with industrial application, the project has led to technological breakthroughs and new research — while also contributing to societal benefit in form of acne treatment.Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:33:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/wolf-watz_magnus_5402_180823_soj2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/wolf-watz_magnus_5402_180823_soj2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/wolf-watz_magnus_5402_180823_soj2.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/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/wolf-watz_magnus_5402_180823_soj2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/wolf-watz_magnus_5402_180823_soj2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/wolf-watz_magnus_5402_180823_soj2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Magnus Wolf-Watz, professor at the Department of Chemistry at Ume&aring; Univerisiy has a succesful cooperation with the company Vacona.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">the project bridges practical application with biological mechanisms</p><p>&ldquo;The greatest value is how the project bridges practical application with biological mechanisms,&rdquo; says Magnus Wolf Watz, Professor of Biophysical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The partnership began when Ume&aring;-based Vakona reached out to Magnus to discuss patent related to the enzyme BMD. What started as a conversation quickly evolved into a collaboration of growing scope and significance.</p><p>Acne arises from several interacting factors. A key cause is an imbalance in the skin&rsquo;s microbiome. The bacterium <em>Propionibacterium acnes</em> can proliferate and form a protective biofilm, which contributes to the disease and makes antibiotic treatment more difficult.</p><p>Vakona&rsquo;s product is based on research by Dr. Oleg Alexeyev, Department of Medical Biosciences, and is designed as a skincare solution using a naturally occurring bacterial enzyme that breaks down the protective biofilm formed by <em>P. acnes</em>. Their need for structural biology expertise aligned perfectly with Magnus&rsquo;s research group&rsquo;s ambition to make a technological leap in cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), a method that has become central to the project.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Fundamental research with clear application</h2><p>For Magnus, whose background is in structural enzymology, the project has been a welcome step toward research with direct societal relevance. Working with an enzyme that could potentially be used in acne treatment makes the research easier to communicate &mdash; to both funders and the general public.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s exciting to be able to describe your research in one sentence, we&rsquo;re developing a therapy for acne. It makes it easier to explain and sparks interest.&rdquo;</p><p>The collaboration has also led to new research funding. Magnus and Oleg Alexeyev were awarded SEK 1.1 million from the Kempe Foundations to fund a two-year postdoctoral position fully dedicated to the Vakona project. Magnus also supervises a PhD student working on the project with support from the university&rsquo;s structural biology platform.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">New methods, new perspectives</h2><p>The project has marked a technical leap for Magnus&rsquo;s lab, which has traditionally focused on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Through the collaboration with Vakona, the group has now established Cryo-EM as a new method, opening up significant opportunities for other projects as well.</p><p>&ldquo;This step will be hugely important for us. We already have other collaborations using the technique, including one with KTH, where we hope to publish soon.&rdquo;</p><p>At the same time, the partnership has brought new challenges, particularly around patents and publishing. Balancing corporate interests has influenced research methods, and numerous meetings were needed to find a middle ground between openness and confidentiality.</p><p>&ldquo;You have to align your goals. Industry wants to make money, we want to publish. But we&rsquo;ve found a good plan for that.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Lessons learned and looking ahead</h2><p>For Magnus, the project has been both educational and inspiring. It&rsquo;s his first time collaborating with a company, offering insights into how researchers and businesses can work together and how to navigate the intersection between academic freedom and commercial interests.</p><p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a societal push for these kinds of collaborations. It&rsquo;s important to understand the basic premises before entering a project.&rdquo;</p><p>He encourages other researchers to seize the opportunity if it arises but to be diligent about discussing patents and publishing from the outset.</p><p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a solid setup. We hope the collaboration leads to a strong publication, that the company secures funding, and can hire people. It&rsquo;s a win-win.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">An innovation ecosystem</h2><p>The partnership between Ume&aring; University and Vakona illustrates how academic research can contribute to a local innovation ecosystem. Growth in spin-off companies can create new jobs for trained researchers, strengthening both the university&rsquo;s role and regional development.</p><p>&ldquo;If we can contribute in that way and help create a job market, that&rsquo;s fantastic.&rdquo;</p><p>The project also demonstrates that research with clear applications can have greater impact both within academia and beyond.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/akne2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/akne2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/akne2.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/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/akne2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/akne2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/1929bd7b551a4972a1bb716b1920f684/akne2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Acne mainly affects teenagers, especially during puberty when hormonal changes increase sebum production.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>plainpicture</span></div></div>/en/news/collaboration-with-biotechnology-companies-opens-new-doors-for-umea-chemist_12141643//en/news/methane-production-may-increase-as-arctic-lakes-warm_12141395/A warmer and wetter climate makes lakes more productive – which in turn leads to more methane being released from sediments. A new study involving Umeå University shows that Arctic lakes may contribute even more to the greenhouse effect in the future.Thu, 18 Sep 2025 08:00:03 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>F&auml;ltarbete vid sj&ouml;ar n&auml;ra Abisko naturvetenskapliga station.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sofia Kjellman</span></div></div><p>Methane is more than 25 times stronger as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Arctic lakes account for a significant share of global methane emissions, but until now, knowledge about the processes in northern lakes has been limited. An international team of researchers from Norway, Sweden and Spain has now shown that methane production varies greatly between lakes and is closely linked to their characteristics.</p><p>The researchers investigated ten lakes on Svalbard and in the subarctic region of Scandinavia, three of them via the Abisko Scientific Research Station. They found that most methane production occurs in the top ten centimetres of lake sediments, where there is abundant organic matter and favorable conditions for microbes.</p><p>&ldquo;The Arctic is already greening in response to the warmer and wetter climate, and longer summers up north, impacting the inputs of organic matter fueling methane production in lakes&rdquo;, says Alexandra Rouillard, Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre, Ume&aring; University, and co-supervisor of the study.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Bottles in which methane was collected in Abisko.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Alexandra Rouillard</span></div></div><p>The study clearly showed that especially shallower lakes, with many algae, bottom plants, and surrounding vegetation, generate higher methane production. However, the amount of gas produced varied greatly between lakes.</p><p>The researchers compared their results with data from more than 60 lakes worldwide. They found that lakes in tropical and temperate regions generally have higher methane production. However, the large number of lakes at northern latitudes, combined with the strong variation between them, still makes the total emissions significant.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Link to publication:</strong> <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JG008508">https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JG008508</a></p><p><strong>Contact:</strong> <br>Alexandra Rouillard, +46 738 400 273<br>Ume&aring; Marine Sciences Centre &amp; Climate Impacts Research Centre<br>Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience<br>Ume&aring; University</p><p><a href="mailto:alexandra.rouillard@91��ý����">alexandra.rouillard@91��ý����</a></p>/en/news/methane-production-may-increase-as-arctic-lakes-warm_12141395//en/news/dna-folding-more-important-for-cell-function-than-previously-thought_12131336/Tiny tweaks in DNA folding can have big effects. A study from Umeå University shows that even the most subtle changes in DNA’s shape have an important influence on gene activity and energy production. This discovery challenges the view of DNA as passive storage of information and points to its active role in cell behavior, offering new possibilities for understanding diseases like cancer and diabetes. Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:06:08 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4924.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4924.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4924.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/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4924.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4924.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4924.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 at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics have used the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the shape of a DNA structure in yeast, which affected the yeast cells&rsquo; energy production.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">We&rsquo;ve shown that even a small tweak to DNA&rsquo;s shape can ripple through the entire cell</p><p>&ldquo;We are very excited about these results, as they broaden our understanding of DNA&rsquo;s role as a dynamic regulator, not just as a static blueprint,&rdquo; says Nasim Sabouri, Professor at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, who has led a study published in Nucleic Acids Research.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>Just like a single piece of paper can be folded into different origami shapes, like a bird or a plane, DNA can also fold in ways beyond the classical double helix. One of these shapes, called a G-quadruplex or G4, appears in parts of the genome that are crucial for how cells grow, manage energy and regulate which genes are turned on or off.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&ldquo;In humans, G4 structures have often been associated with disruptive and negative effects, linked to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. But we wanted to explore a different angle: could a single G4 structure actually play a constructive, positive role in regulating gene activity?&rdquo; says Nasim Sabouri.&nbsp;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="0805b563-aff9-4cb8-ac1e-5944d47cf39d" data-contentname="Image Ikenna">{}</div><p>Using yeast and the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, they introduced subtle mutations into G4 that sits near genes important for the cell&rsquo;s energy balance. Their goal was to see how changing the shape of the G4 &ndash; not removing it entirely &ndash; would affect the cell&rsquo;s behavior.&nbsp;<br><br>&ldquo;What we found was both exciting and unexpected,&rdquo; says Ikenna Obi, staff scientist in Sabouri&rsquo;s research group and first-author of the study.</p><p>They discovered that the mutations to the G4 structure triggered widespread changes in the cell&rsquo;s metabolism and expression of genes. Most notably, it disrupted one of the central energy systems in cells. &nbsp;<br><br>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve shown that even a small tweak to DNA&rsquo;s shape can ripple through the entire cell, affecting how it grows and functions,&rdquo; says Pallabi Sengupta, postdoc in Sabouri&rsquo;s research group, who also contributed to the study.&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4552.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4552.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4552.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/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4552.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4552.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_4552.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ikenna Obi, Nasim Sabouri, and Pallabi Sengupta used the Swedish Metabolomics Centre in Ume&aring;, a SciLifeLab unit, to analyse the yeast cells&rsquo; response to the mutation.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p>This is the first time scientists have shown that a single G4 structure in yeast can regulate both gene activity and metabolism, challenging the idea that G4s are mostly problematic. It also highlights DNA&rsquo;s role not just as a static blueprint, but as a dynamic regulator of cellular function.&nbsp;<br><br>&ldquo;We expected some change in gene expression,&rdquo; Sabouri explains, &ldquo;but the scale of the downstream metabolic shifts was surprising.&rdquo;<br><br>By revealing how G4 regulates gene activity and energy balance in the cell, this research can lead to new ways of understanding &ndash; and potentially treating &ndash; conditions like cancer and metabolic disorders like diabetes, where gene regulation and energy balance go awry.<br><br>&ldquo;Our findings open up exciting possibilities for both basic biology and applied science,&rdquo; Nasim Sabouri concludes.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/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/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/sabouri_obi_sengupta_5072.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/390ec9ae1a554f75ab748ca76199434f/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>The researchers hope that the study may lead to new understandings of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div>/en/news/dna-folding-more-important-for-cell-function-than-previously-thought_12131336//en/news/from-cookstoves-to-sustainable-bioenergy--energy-solutions-for-africa_12140937/Millions of households in Africa still cook on smoky, inefficient stoves that harm both health and the environment. In his doctoral thesis at Umeå University, Natxo García-López shows how improved cookstoves and bioenergy systems can make a real difference, for people and for the environment. Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:29:14 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/bild_4_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/bild_4_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/bild_4_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/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/bild_4_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/bild_4_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/bild_4_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Participants at a workshop in the village of Rusagara, Rwanda. Natxo Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez presented results from one of the studies.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Natxo Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez.</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">The work is challenging and complex</p><p>&ldquo;The work is challenging and complex, but through interdisciplinary projects in Africa we can create cleaner air, better health, and a more sustainable energy future,&rdquo; says Natxo Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez, PhD student at the Department at of Applied Physics and Electronics at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Access to clean and reliable energy remains a major challenge in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Millions of families still use traditional and inefficient cookstoves, which pollute homes with smoke, cause respiratory illness, place heavy burdens on women who collect firewood, and contribute to environmental degradation. In his doctoral thesis at Ume&aring; University, Natxo Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez examines how more sustainable bioenergy solutions can address these challenges.</p><p>His work combines laboratory studies, field experiments in Rwanda, systematic reviews, and a perspective study that explores new bioenergy approaches. The findings highlight the value of improved cookstoves, which burn more efficiently and reduce both emissions and health risks. Still, Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez&rsquo;s research extends beyond stoves to integrated energy solutions. In his thesis, he broadens the perspective to the community level, examining how bioenergy can be scaled and integrated into broader frameworks of rural development and energy access.</p><p>By integrating agroforestry with bioenergy, he outlines a model in which farmland serves more than its traditional role of producing food. Sustainably managed trees and crops can supply households with cleaner cooking fuel while also generating surplus biomass for electricity production through gasification. In this way, everyday cooking becomes directly connected to rural development, energy security and access to modern energy services.</p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a blueprint for scalable, community-level energy solutions,&rdquo; he says.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Fieldwork challenging but rewarding</h2><p>Conducting research in rural Rwanda was demanding, both logistically and scientifically. It involved traveling to remote areas, working with limited resources, and operating advanced instruments under difficult conditions. At the same time, it created opportunities to work closely with local communities and to collect data directly from rural households, offering valuable insights into their everyday challenges.</p><p>&ldquo;It gave me a first-hand understanding of the challenges rural households and of how cleaner technologies can truly make a difference,&rdquo; says Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Beyond technology &ndash; a matter of people&rsquo;s lives</h2><p>Although the thesis devotes considerable attention to the technical analysis of combustion processes, emissions and particles, its implications reach far beyond engineering. It sheds light on the everyday realities of people in rural Africa, particularly the lack of access to modern energy services such as clean cooking and electricity. The findings also resonate with several pressing global challenges &ndash; from public health and gender equality to climate change and environmental sustainability.</p><p>&ldquo;Cleaner cookstoves can make indoor environments safer, reduce disease risks, and help preserve both forests and climate,&rdquo; says Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez.</p><p>Beyond the technical contributions, Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez hopes that his work can spark dialogue among decision-makers and practitioners. Its true impact will depend on how it is received by the research community, policymakers, NGOs and other actors, but his ambition is that it will make a positive difference for people in rural sub-Saharan Africa who remain without access to modern energy services.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">The way forward</h2><p>While the dissertation provides new evidence and technical insights, it also opens the door to future research directions. Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez sees his work not as an endpoint but as the beginning of a broader research journey, one that blends technological innovation with real-world application in countries with developing economies.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/img_59662.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/img_59662.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/img_59662.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/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/img_59662.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/img_59662.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/bea0ba91c90c4a17b4ec339b38a79f5f/img_59662.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Garc&iacute;a-L&oacute;pez during fieldwork in the village of Rusagara, Rwanda. Data collection with advanced instruments in rural environments involves many challenges.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Sabine Ingabire</span></div></div>/en/news/from-cookstoves-to-sustainable-bioenergy--energy-solutions-for-africa_12140937//en/news/leaked-information-has-been-disseminated--please-be-vigilant_12140604/On 14 September it became known that personal data leaked in connection with the cyberattack on Miljödata has been disseminated. It is now important that everyone affected is particularly cautious about disclosing further information.Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:16:55 +0200<p>Milj&ouml;data is the supplier of Adato, the system support used by Ume&aring; University in the rehabilitation process for employees. On 23 August, Milj&ouml;data was subjected to a cyber attack. It subsequently became clear that certain personal data belonging to all current employees and some former employees at Ume&aring; University had been leaked from Adato to the attacker. Ume&aring; University is one of more than 100 organisations in Sweden that have been affected.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p><a title="In english" href="~/link/ba6f49fb0a7d422bb9399a44a06a30e4.aspx">Read previous news item.&nbsp;</a></p><p>After the attack, Milj&ouml;data launched a forensic investigation into the incident. On 11 September, the final report was published and Milj&ouml;data was able to announce that no further information than previously known had been leaked.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>Over the weekend, however, it emerged that the attacker had spread the leaked information via the Darknet, which is an umbrella term for a specific part of the internet (see facts below), and that it had then spread to the public part of the internet.</p><p>The information leaked from Adato includes:</p><ul><li>Names</li><li>personal identification numbers</li><li>contact details</li><li>Gender</li><li>number of sick days (over 15 days)&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Be vigilant</h2><p>The leaked contact details include both private and work contact information. There is now a risk that the attacker will use this contact information to access more information.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>You should always be cautious about disclosing information such as passwords, bank/card details and such. However, it is now particularly important that everyone affected is vigilant and suspicious of emails, phone calls, text messages or other contacts requesting this type of information, or if you are asked to click on, for example, a link or attachment.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's, MSB:s, website has info and tips on how to spot some of the most common ways attackers try to trick people. There are also checklists on what you can do to protect yourself extra or if you happen to click on a suspicious link or attachment.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p><a title="MSB website" href="https://www.msb.se/en/advice-for-individuals/digital-security/phishing-and-malware/">Read more at MSB:s website&nbsp;</a></p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Contact the police</h2><p>If one suspect that someone is attempting to or has stolen personal information contact the police.</p><p><a title="polisen.se" href="https://polisen.se/en/victims-of-crime/making-a-report/">More information at polisen.se</a></p><p>If those who work at Ume&aring; University receive suspicious emails or spam through contact details linked to the University, should report this to <a href="mailto:abuse@91��ý����">abuse@91��ý����</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Those who are an employee or former employee and have any questions regarding the cyber attack or the information that has been leaked, could contact the Human Resources Department at Ume&aring; University by emailing: <a title="HR" href="mailto:ah.adm@91��ý����">ah.adm@91��ý����</a>.&nbsp;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a3ae46ff-3103-4b35-aed3-86a812d72740" data-contentname="What is Darknet?">{}</div>/en/news/leaked-information-has-been-disseminated--please-be-vigilant_12140604//en/news/carlos-wins-european-best-poster-prize-in-great-competition_12139856/Winning a poster award at an academic conference validates your research, showcases communication skills, and boosts future academic prospects. Carlos Hernandez Ortego, doctoral student at Umeå University, returned from Europe’s biggest conference in microbiology winning a prize among 1200 posters. We ask 5 curious questions how he managed to achieve this.Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:45:21 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/9f1f8a8f82ea4304aaeadcb42187d6b1/carlos_besk.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9f1f8a8f82ea4304aaeadcb42187d6b1/carlos_besk.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9f1f8a8f82ea4304aaeadcb42187d6b1/carlos_besk.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/9f1f8a8f82ea4304aaeadcb42187d6b1/carlos_besk.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/9f1f8a8f82ea4304aaeadcb42187d6b1/carlos_besk.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/9f1f8a8f82ea4304aaeadcb42187d6b1/carlos_besk.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>The FEMS MICRO 2025 poster prize was awarded to Carlos Hern&aacute;ndez-Ortego, PhD at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University, by the FEMS journal microLife. Pictured left, Dr Clare Taylor presenting the award.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Liza Holiarchuk</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">I had never won a poster prize before</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">How does it feel?</h2><p>&ldquo;When they first announced the winners in the morning of the last day via email I did not believe my eyes, but I was happy! I did see a sticker on my poster from one of the FEMS journals when I went to remove my poster, apparently, they are interested in publishing our data. This was a good indication, but I still did not expect to get a prize. There were more than 1200 posters, and I had never won a poster prize before, so I thought the chances would be minimal.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;They gave seven prices; one awarded for each of the FEMS different scientific journals. Mine was FEMS microLife.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">What was your poster about?</h2><p>&ldquo;In my poster I tried to summarise my PhD project that I have been working on for the last four years. It is about our discovery of how intestinal bacteria can degrade extracellular ATP, a powerful proinflammatory molecule. We discovered the enzymes responsible for the eATP degradation pathway, and we characterised exactly how they degrade eATP to hypoxanthine. We also showed the implications using mutants and cell cultures. Currently we are also expanding to in vivo mouse models."</p><p>"I think people enjoyed the story because it is well structured and an (almost) completed story. People can easily see the gap in the current knowledge about the topic, and how we filled it with our data. It is also a rather basic research topic, focused on basic knowledge of bacterial physiology, which can attract people from all different fields, in contrast to more specific, more applied kind of science. Our data has potential implications in health, natural environment or industry. Importantly, we have a lot of data on the topic, so most of the questions and concerns of the jury could be addressed.&ldquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">How have you worked to visualize and communicate your research on the poster?</h2><p>&ldquo;I made my poster during the course <em>Visualize your Science</em>, a renowned science communication course in Sweden. They are quite successful at helping people generate high-quality posters. The course was very helpful in providing me feedback and advice. In general, I would say that the best way to go when creating a poster is to ask for feedback from a lot of different people. They will always have some useful input on what is unclear or not looking good."</p><p>"Since my project has a lot of data, the decision of what to include and what to leave out on the poster was a big challenge. I tried minimizing the amount of &ldquo;noise&rdquo;, keeping things simple, not saturating the poster with data. When you spend half a year to generate a figure, you of course want to add it, but maybe it is detrimental for the whole flow or understanding of the poster. To be able to <em>kill your darlings</em> is important.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">What do you think stood out in your poster?</h2><p>&ldquo;Most posters nowadays have beautiful layout and nice colours. Young researchers are good at those things.&nbsp; For me, I had to learn design by force, attending courses and looking for examples. I think the winning point was actually my presentation of the poster. Presenting has always felt natural to me. I think the way I explain the data, very simplified and trying to avoid overcomplicated experiments or terms made people engaged and appreciating the poster a lot more. Additionally, not learning what you are going to say by heart and improvise instead, helps to keep things very casual, so people are more relaxed and feel more encouraged to ask questions."</p><p>"I did talk to<em> a lot</em> of people during the poster presentation, and it looked like most of them were interested.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">What was the biggest benefit for you with presenting a poster about your research?</h2><p>&ldquo;I got to know some research teams that work on similar things as my group at Ume&aring; University and we had interesting discussions. I also exchange contact information with them; in case we want to do a collaborative work together. I had long discussions with PIs and journal editors who were interested. To summarise, it was a great opportunity to make new contacts and find new possible collaborators."</p>/en/news/carlos-wins-european-best-poster-prize-in-great-competition_12139856//en/news/intimate-partner-violence-services-fall-short-for-women-with-disabilities_12139505/Women with disabilities who are exposed to intimate partner violence are doubly affected – both by abuse and by the inadequacy of society's support system. This is shown in a new thesis at Umeå University with recommendations for structural changes.Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:25:49 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/67a664f6227c4458941f4d410d46daeb/anyango_catrine_2523_210908_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/67a664f6227c4458941f4d410d46daeb/anyango_catrine_2523_210908_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/67a664f6227c4458941f4d410d46daeb/anyango_catrine_2523_210908_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/67a664f6227c4458941f4d410d46daeb/anyango_catrine_2523_210908_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/67a664f6227c4458941f4d410d46daeb/anyango_catrine_2523_210908_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/67a664f6227c4458941f4d410d46daeb/anyango_catrine_2523_210908_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cartrine Anyango, doctoral student at the Department of Epidemiology and Global Health. <span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></p></div></div><p>"Even if there is support, in practice it is not available to everyone. Coordination, inclusion and humanity are needed to build a 'bridge' from violence to safety, justice and dignity," says Cartrine Anyango.</p><p class="quote-left">a bridge from violence to safety</p><p>In her doctoral thesis in public health, Cartrine Anyango has interviewed eleven women with disabilities who have suffered from violence in close relationships, interviewed 18 professionals in support institutions, police, social services, health care and women's shelters and conducted a survey with 1,151 professionals in those institutions.</p><p>The interviewed women described how they had been exposed to several types of violence, both physical and psychological, sexual, digital and financial. It was also about actions directly linked to their disability, such as degrading comments or that help was withheld. It was not only a partner who was responsible for the violence, it could also come from family members, colleagues or assistants.</p><p>Psychological violence was particularly difficult, something that the women felt was often not taken seriously and which could continue even after a relationship ended, for example in the case of shared custody or financial dependence. The women felt unseen and misunderstood when they sought help for abuse.</p><p>Many of the providers stated that they had met women with disabilities who had been subjected to violence. But more than half did not indicate whether they routinely ask women with disabilities about violence. Where &nbsp;disability specific guidelines existed, they were often not followed.</p><p>"Despite the fact that Sweden is a relatively equal welfare country, society's support system can inadvertently exclude this group if their complex and doubly vulnerable situation is not taken into account," says Cartrine Anyango.</p><p>The thesis concludes that structural changes are needed. Psychological violence must be taken seriously, accessibility to support must be ensured, training of those working in support systems needs to take place and be designed in consultation with women who have experienced different types of violence.</p><p><em>Cartrine Anyango grew up in Nakuru, Kenya. She holds a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Sociology from Maseno university in Kisumu, Kenya and a master&rsquo;s degree in public health from Ume&aring; University.</em></p>/en/news/intimate-partner-violence-services-fall-short-for-women-with-disabilities_12139505//en/news/new-campus-plan-for-the-development-of-umea-arts-campus_12139545/The University Board has decided on a campus plan for Umeå Arts Campus, effective from 1 July 2025 until further notice. This new vision document is intended to guide the physical development of Umeå Arts Campus based on the site’s unique characteristics.Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:02:44 +0200<p>The aim is to create a vibrant, sustainable, and attractive area for students, staff, and visitors. The campus plan will support the continued development of the site&rsquo;s distinctive qualities, including the river landscape, architecture, arts education, and public attractions. This includes enabling the integration of the campus area into Ume&aring;&rsquo;s urban development, preserving and enhancing architectural and environmental values, and strengthening recreational opportunities. Ume&aring; University and the property owner will also establish a joint sustainability initiative.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The themes of the campus plan are:</h2><ol><li>A unique, vibrant, sustainable, and attractive campus</li><li>Sustainable provision of premises</li><li>Shared sustainability focus</li></ol><p>The planning process began in February 2024. The working group gathered information through meetings with Ume&aring; Municipality, workshops, interviews, and site visits. Feedback from internal university stakeholders, student unions, and trade unions has been taken into account as far as possible to reflect the perspectives and needs of the organisation.</p><p>Ume&aring; University is committed to the long-term development of its campus environments. Previously decided plans include the Campus plan for the main campus (2015) and the Campus plan for Norrland University Hospital in Ume&aring; (2017).</p><p><a href="~/link/6566ac4bbc5e4c40a959a08e46909dc8.aspx">Read the Campus plan for Ume&aring; Arts Campus</a><br><a href="~/link/48ec5bc2718741ccac44ba8b04c317f9.aspx">Read the Campus Plan for the Main Campus (In Swedish)</a></p>/en/news/new-campus-plan-for-the-development-of-umea-arts-campus_12139545//en/news/jan-researches-the-role-of-bacteria-in-periodontal-disease_12138880/Periodontitis is a common but often overlooked disease. Jan Oscarsson at Umeå University is researching how this can be detected early and treated effectively – using cell and molecular biology methods. We ask him five curious questions.Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:10:21 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/jan_pa_labb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/jan_pa_labb3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/jan_pa_labb3.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/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/jan_pa_labb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/jan_pa_labb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/jan_pa_labb3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jan Oscarsson is a researcher at the Department of Odonthology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">These bacteria gradually break down the tissues that hold the teeth in place</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">What is periodontal disease and what causes the disease?</h2><p>&ldquo;Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a chronic inflammation of the mouth that is initially caused by bacteria. These bacteria gradually break down the tissues that hold the teeth in place. Due to this inflammation, our own osteoclasts ultimately cause the breakdown of jawbone. The disease is widespread worldwide, especially among the elderly, and one of the biggest risk factors is poor oral hygiene.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;When bacteria accumulate around the teeth, the risk of the gums becoming inflamed increases. Over time, an environment is created that is both oxygen-free and rich in proteins &ndash; perfect conditions for certain bacteria in the oral flora to grow and worsen the condition.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">What is the research focus in your group?</h2><p>&ldquo;We are studying how bacteria linked to periodontitis can trigger inflammatory processes in the mouth. The focus is both on how the bacteria interact with each other and on identifying genetic markers in particularly aggressive bacterial strains &ndash; something that could improve the possibilities for early diagnosis in the future.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;As model organisms, we use, among others, <em>Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans</em>, a bacterium that is often found in aggressive forms of periodontitis in younger people. We are also investigating <em>Filifactor alocis</em>, a relatively newly discovered possible pathogen in the oral cavity.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">What is the dream goal of the research?</h2><p>&ldquo;One of our goals is to find reliable markers that make it possible to identify young people who carry particularly aggressive bacterial strains with a simple saliva sample &ndash; and thus run an increased risk of developing periodontitis at an early stage.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;Another track in the research is about understanding the mechanisms that bacteria use to trigger inflammation. By mapping these processes, we hope to find ways to block them &ndash; without having to kill the bacteria, which is the case with antibiotic treatment.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Tell us about new knowledge you have developed!</h2><p>&ldquo;In a study among young people in V&auml;sterbotten, we found signs that saliva samples may be sufficient to analyse bacteria linked to periodontitis &ndash; a finding that was presented in Mark Lindholm&rsquo;s doctoral thesis. In collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet, we have also identified a previously unknown toxin and possible virulence factor in the bacterium <em>Filifactor alocis</em>. In a broader research collaboration, which also includes colleagues from the Department of Molecular Biology, we have shown that<em> Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans</em> &ndash; a bacterium linked to aggressive forms of periodontitis &ndash; can be killed by its closest relative <em>Aggregatibacter aphrophilus</em> via a so-called type VI secretion system. Since <em>A. aphrophilus</em>, that is also found in the mouth, is not associated with the disease, the question arises: could it contribute to better oral health?&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Tell us a little about your background!</h2><p>&ldquo;I grew up in Br&aring;n outside of V&auml;nn&auml;s and completed my undergraduate education at Ume&aring; University, where I also received my PhD in molecular biology in 1999. After a postdoctoral period at Karolinska Institutet, I have been active in odontology at Ume&aring; University for almost two decades.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;My interest in bacterial&ndash;host interactions developed towards the end of my undergraduate education, if I remember correctly. I was lucky enough to delve into the subject as a doctoral student under the supervision of Professor Bernt Eric Uhlin &ndash; and it has remained a central focus of my research ever since.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/filifactor_alocis_-_kolonier_pa_blodagarplatta2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/filifactor_alocis_-_kolonier_pa_blodagarplatta2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/filifactor_alocis_-_kolonier_pa_blodagarplatta2.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/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/filifactor_alocis_-_kolonier_pa_blodagarplatta2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/filifactor_alocis_-_kolonier_pa_blodagarplatta2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/37d082f09b2b43c182e1f61df4efa3b5/filifactor_alocis_-_kolonier_pa_blodagarplatta2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p><em>Filifactor alocis</em> may be an oral pathogen, but it looks kind and "hearty" when cultivated.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Jan Oscarsson lab</span></div></div>/en/news/jan-researches-the-role-of-bacteria-in-periodontal-disease_12138880//en/news/uid-launches-international-bachelors-in-industrial-design_12137626/Umeå Institute of Design (UID) is set to introduce its bachelor’s programme in industrial design in English, opening doors to international students. Previously offered exclusively in Swedish, this transition marks a significant step towards internationalisation and inclusivity. Applications open in mid-October 2025.Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:43:33 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Design tomorrow at one of Europe's leading design schools</h2><p>UID is inviting prospective designers to develop their skills within an international, creative environment focused on sustainable design practices. The programme is shaped to take ideas from vision to reality through a creative, people-centred design process. Small class sizes foster a tight-knit community that benefits from cultural diversity and collaborative learning.</p><p>"By offering the programme in English, we have not only expanded our potential student base but also taken the opportunity to reimagine our curriculum. This includes new content such as interaction design, service design, design research, and a strong sustainability perspective, ensuring our students are well-equipped to tackle contemporary design challenges," says Eva-Lena B&auml;ckstr&ouml;m, programme director.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Industry-integrated learning experience</h2><p>Students develop their concepts through traditional sketching and prototyping techniques, alongside hands-on experience in well-equipped workshops and digital labs. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills forms the foundation of the UID educational experience.</p><p>A cornerstone of the programme is its practical approach, with students engaging in collaborative projects with business partners, public sector organisations, and authorities. These real-world challenges span diverse areas including digital solutions, medical equipment, and industrial applications. The programme&rsquo;s strong links with industry, including a ten-week internship, enhance graduates' employability.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Exploration and individual pathways</h2><p>The programme embraces a philosophy of exploration, experimentation, and play, allowing students to forge their own paths as designers. Professional industrial designers guide students in developing research-based, norm-critical approaches that challenge existing systems and conventions within the field.</p><p>"We believe in nurturing individuality and critical thinking, enabling our students to become agents of change in the design world," says Per Sihl&eacute;n, lecturer.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="448294cc-d535-4a1f-af9b-41ae563f5625" data-contentname="BFA ID">{}</div>/en/news/uid-launches-international-bachelors-in-industrial-design_12137626//en/news/some-information-has-been-leaked-following-the-cyber-attack_12137367/IT supplier Miljödata has investigated the consequences of the cyber attack. It is now known that some information about employees and former employees at Umeå University has been leaked. Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:14:55 +0200<p>Last week, it became known that Milj&ouml;data, the supplier of Adato, the system support used by Ume&aring; University in the rehabilitation process for employees, had been subjected to a cyberattack. A number of measures have been taken and a thorough investigation is underway into the incident and its consequences.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>It has now become known that certain personal data belonging to all current employees and some former employees of Ume&aring; University has been leaked from Adato to the attacker.</p><p>The data that has been leaked includes:</p><ul><li>names</li><li>personal identification numbers</li><li>contact details</li><li>gender</li><li>number of sick days (over 15 days)</li></ul><p>Milj&ouml;data emphasises that no information containing details of medical certificates, union membership, notes made by managers or information about the reasons for rehabilitation plans has been leaked. &nbsp;</p><p>Individuals at Ume&aring; University who have protected personal data have not had their protected data disclosed. &nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">The investigation continues</h2><p>Milj&ouml;data has reported the incident to the police and is continuing its intensive work to investigate what happened and what consequences it may have. Milj&ouml;data has reinstalled the Adato system with additional security measures to prevent future intrusion attempts.</p><p>In accordance with its procedures, Ume&aring; University has reported the matter to the Swedish Data Protection Authority (IMY) and is monitoring developments closely.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>At present, Ume&aring; University has decided to keep the Adato system shut down.</p><p>If you are an employee or former employee and have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the <a href="mailto:ah.adm@91��ý����">Human Resources Department by emailing</a>: ah.adm@91��ý����. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>/en/news/some-information-has-been-leaked-following-the-cyber-attack_12137367//en/news/researchers-uncover-how-immune-cells-use-zinc-to-fight-infections--challenging-long-held-beliefs_12137001/A research team from Umeå University, in collaboration with Ghent University, has made a groundbreaking discovery about how the body's first immune defense, neutrophils, orchestrate the mobilization of zinc to fight microbes. The study is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.Fri, 05 Sep 2025 07:43:58 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7048-250902-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7048-250902-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7048-250902-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/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7048-250902-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7048-250902-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7048-250902-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Professor Constantin Urban and postdoc Nadeem Ullah at the Department 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">Our results reveal the delicate balance of trace metals in the immune system</p><p>&ldquo;We show that immune cells drain microbes of zinc, making them more vulnerable. At the same time, the ability of neutrophils to kill microbes is clearly affected by how much zinc is available. Our results reveal the delicate balance of trace metals in the immune system,&rdquo; says Constantin Urban, professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Neutrophils are specialized immune cells that respond rapidly to infections by capturing and destroying microbes &ndash; a process called phagocytosis. During phagocytosis, the cell surrounds the microbe with its membrane and forms a fluid-filled vesicle, a phagosome, where the microbe is digested.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Intense struggle for trace metals</h2><p>Trace metals such as zinc, copper, and manganese are vital for the survival of all living organisms, from animals to microbes. During an infection, an intense struggle for these metals occurs, with both disease-causing microbes and the body's immune system trying to gain access to them. This phenomenon is called "nutritional immunity."</p><p>Until now, it has been uncertain whether neutrophils can extract zinc ions from microbes inside the phagosome. The prevailing hypothetical model suggests that neutrophils intoxicate microbes by pumping excess zinc into the phagosome.</p><p>To answer this question, Constantin Urban and his colleagues used cutting-edge high-resolution chemical imaging techniques to monitor the redistribution of zinc in real-time in neutrophils during phagocytosis. The study used the common model organism <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> &ndash; yeast.</p><p>Surprisingly, their data showed that the prevailing theory is incorrect.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7150-250902-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7150-250902-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7150-250902-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/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7150-250902-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7150-250902-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/876c0d6826604573b292dfc7667a33f4/constantin-och-nadeem-_7150-250902-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Yeast cells stained with FluoZin-3 AM, a striking green fluorescence recorded at 40X magnification using Agilent BioTek Cytation 5. This breakthrough visualization highlights zinc distribution inside cells and sheds light on how essential metal like Zinc shapes cellular biology.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We can show that the movement of zinc is tightly coordinated by the neutrophils, which dynamically regulate the availability of zinc in the phagosome,&rdquo; says Nadeem Ullah, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Regulated balance</h2><p>The study shows that zinc levels affect the efficiency of neutrophils. When zinc levels were low, yeast cells were killed more efficiently, while high zinc levels in the phagocytized yeast cell significantly impaired the neutrophil's ability to fight microbes. This highlights the importance of a carefully regulated balance of trace metals for a strong immune response.</p><p>&ldquo;Our findings open up new ways to strengthen the immune system,&rdquo; says Nadeem Ullah. &ldquo;By adjusting zinc levels, we could help neutrophils fight infections more effectively. Understanding how metals, especially zinc, affect immune cells could lead to new treatments for infections and conditions where immune function is weakened.&rdquo;</p><p>The research group now plans to continue with studies that focus on the molecular mechanisms behind zinc mobilization.</p><p>&ldquo;In upcoming projects, we want to identify the membrane transporters that control the flow of zinc ions between the phagosome and the microbe,&rdquo; says Constantin Urban.</p>/en/news/researchers-uncover-how-immune-cells-use-zinc-to-fight-infections--challenging-long-held-beliefs_12137001//en/news/erc-funding-for-research-on-sami-in-swedish-farming-areas_12136489/Gudrun Norstedt, researcher at Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research, has been awarded ERC Starting Grant. This prestigious funding enables in-depth research into the history of Sámi living in farming areas.Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:14:03 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7b2c81eb30cb4ea7b5c71da5ddaabce9/gudrun_norstedt_img_3214-33.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7b2c81eb30cb4ea7b5c71da5ddaabce9/gudrun_norstedt_img_3214-33.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7b2c81eb30cb4ea7b5c71da5ddaabce9/gudrun_norstedt_img_3214-33.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/7b2c81eb30cb4ea7b5c71da5ddaabce9/gudrun_norstedt_img_3214-33.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7b2c81eb30cb4ea7b5c71da5ddaabce9/gudrun_norstedt_img_3214-33.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7b2c81eb30cb4ea7b5c71da5ddaabce9/gudrun_norstedt_img_3214-33.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, V&aacute;rdduo &ndash; Centre for S&aacute;mi Research, has been awarded ERC Starting Grant.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Per Melander</span></div></div><p>The grant provides five years of funding for the project&nbsp;<em>Sesame &mdash; Unlocking Hidden History: The Sami in Swedish Farming Areas.</em> The research focuses on S&aacute;mi people who lived and worked in farming areas outside the traditional S&aacute;mi territories (known as &ldquo;lappmarker&rdquo;) prior to the 20th century. Through this project, Gudrun Norstedt aims to increase knowledge about where and for how long S&aacute;mi have lived in these areas. The project seeks a broad understanding of this group&mdash;not only in Sweden, but also by examining their social ties and family connections with similar groups in Finland and Norway.<br><br>&ldquo;I want to present a multifaceted picture of S&aacute;mi life and conditions outside the traditional S&aacute;mi districts, and above all understand the role that S&aacute;mi played in agrarian society,&rdquo; says Gudrun Norstedt.</p><h3>Studies of historical sources and place names</h3><p>Gudrun will work with historical material such as church records, court documents, and royal letters. These sources allow the research back to the mid-1600s. For even earlier periods, the origin of place names will be studied.<br><br>&ldquo;My previous experience identifying individuals and locations in historical material and reconstructing kinship and networks will be of great importance in this work,&rdquo; she says.</p><h3>Funding enables extensive research previously lacking</h3><p>Some research of S&aacute;mi living in farming areas already exists, but it is mostly focused on southern Norrland, portraying that group as isolated from the traditional S&aacute;mi territories. Gudrun hopes her research will fill previous gaps in knowledge and deepen the understanding of how different S&aacute;mi groups interacted.<br><br>&ldquo;I want to investigate to what extent S&aacute;mi living in farming areas descended from and interacted with S&aacute;mi living in the traditional S&aacute;mi territories," Gudrun explains.</p><p>Historically, S&aacute;mi living in farming areas have been a highly mobile group, making it difficult to trace their family ties and social networks. Such research requires extensive efforts to provide a coherent picture of the group's history. Thanks to the funding now received from the European Research Council (ERC), this type of in-depth research is possible.<br><br>&ldquo;This means that over the next five years, I will be able to devote most of my time to researching a subject that I am truly passionate about," says Gudrun.<br><br>&ldquo;Gudrun Norstedt&rsquo;s receipt of this prestigious grant is truly gratifying. It is important for her research, and for the entire research environment at V&aacute;rdduo. I hope that Gudrun's success will inspire other researchers at the faculty to submit applications to the ERC,&rdquo; says Christer Nordlund, <br>Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.</p>/en/news/erc-funding-for-research-on-sami-in-swedish-farming-areas_12136489//en/news/emmanuelle-charpentier-visits-umea-university_12135910/In 2023, it was announced that the municipality of Umeå appoints Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry and former employee at Umeå University, as an honorary citizen of Umeå. In September, she will make a long-awaited visit to her former workplace.Tue, 09 Sep 2025 08:33:31 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/94c4701f6a4146e4bb2a1d3cb15a9cec/dsc_43233.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/94c4701f6a4146e4bb2a1d3cb15a9cec/dsc_43233.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/94c4701f6a4146e4bb2a1d3cb15a9cec/dsc_43233.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/94c4701f6a4146e4bb2a1d3cb15a9cec/dsc_43233.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/94c4701f6a4146e4bb2a1d3cb15a9cec/dsc_43233.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/94c4701f6a4146e4bb2a1d3cb15a9cec/dsc_43233.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, Honorary Doctor at Ume&aring; University and former group leader at the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS).</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hallbauer&amp;Fioretti</span></div></div><p>In autumn 2023, it was announced that Ume&aring; Municipality would appoint Emmanuelle Charpentier as an honorary citizen of Ume&aring;.</p><p>And now, on 26 September, Charpentier will make a long-awaited visit to Ume&aring; in connection with the honorary citizenship ceremony organised by Ume&aring; Municipality. On the same day, the Nobel Prize laureate will visit her former workplace for a talk in Aula Nordica before colleagues, students and other interested parties.</p><p>The talk will focus on the important role of research and researchers in society, the future of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool, and what it is really like to be awarded a Nobel Prize. Upper secondary school students have also been invited and encouraged to contribute questions.</p><p><a href="~/link/7bf2f104217040aaa9af5a7e89a08e0c.aspx">Read more about the event at Ume&aring; University, and register to attend, here.</a></p><p>Emmanuelle Charpentier is the fifth person to be named an honorary citizen of Ume&aring;. Previous recipients of the award include Stieg Larsson, Anita Ingegerd Gradin, Gunnar Nordahl and Lars Widding.</p>/en/news/emmanuelle-charpentier-visits-umea-university_12135910//en/news/ai-designed-paint-can-cool-buildings-during-heatwaves_12135258/Researchers have used artificial intelligence to develop a paint that can keep buildings cooler. The method, presented in Nature, may lead to both energy savings and more comfortable indoor climates. Max Yan at Umeå University has contributed to developing the method and interpreting the results.Tue, 02 Sep 2025 08:00:08 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The new paint, developed using AI, reflects solar radiation and helps buildings maintain a more comfortable indoor temperature.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>John&eacute;r Bildbyr&aring; AB</span></div></div><p>On a sunny day, buildings absorb much of the sun&rsquo;s radiation and quickly heat up. Now, researchers from the USA, China, Singapore and Sweden have succeeded in creating a variety of advanced thin metamaterials which not only block solar radiation but also emit heat, hence lowering the indoor temperature. One of the materials can be sprayed or brushed from paint.</p><p>&ldquo;A roof painted with the specially designed material maintained an indoor temperature 5.6 degrees lower than another building painted with conventional white paint,&rdquo; says Max Yan, Associate Professor at Ume&aring; University and co-author of the study published in the scientific journal Nature.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Machine learning creates complex structures</h2><p>Metamaterials are artificially engineered materials with properties that are superior to those found in natural materials. Developing cooling metamaterials has previously been a time-consuming process where researchers had to rely on trial and error. The new method is based on machine learning and artificial intelligence, which in just a few days can generate thousands of complex structures with the desired properties of reflecting solar radiation and emitting thermal radiation. The best candidates are then identified in terms of mass producibility and cost.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Max Yan, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>The new paint can provide significant energy savings by reducing the need for air conditioning. Calculations show that if the paint is applied to the roof of a typical four-storey apartment building with a roof area of 780 square metres in Bangkok, it could save about 12,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.</p><p>In addition to being used on buildings, the new paint can be applied to other objects, such as cars, trains, or machines. The need for effective cooling is increasing as the climate changes and heatwaves become more frequent and intense.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Saves energy in a warming world</h2><p>&ldquo;This type of material can contribute both to improved living environments and considerable energy saving,&rdquo; says Max Yan.</p><p>In the longer term, the technology might be used for regulating the climate on a global scale.</p><p>&ldquo;Will massive deployment of this type of radiative cooling metamaterial help to slow down global warming? I have not spent much time on this question, but I would say it is worth investigating,&rdquo; says Max Yan.</p><p>In countries with cold winters, like Sweden, the AI approach can be adapted to design thin materials or paints that can help retain heat in buildings.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="44c6c286-a629-4b6c-81fc-bb26c9388bb6" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/ai-designed-paint-can-cool-buildings-during-heatwaves_12135258//en/news/the-2024-sustainability-report-for-umea-university-shows-progress_12134285/With curiosity and a strong commitment to both education and research, Thomas Wågberg and Karolina Broman are stepping into their new roles as dean and deputy dean. For them, leadership is above all about teamwork and developing the faculty together.Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:11:33 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/61dc6ff17300453d8f9ff98e1a635db5/thomas-o-karolina4355-250819-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/61dc6ff17300453d8f9ff98e1a635db5/thomas-o-karolina4355-250819-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/61dc6ff17300453d8f9ff98e1a635db5/thomas-o-karolina4355-250819-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/61dc6ff17300453d8f9ff98e1a635db5/thomas-o-karolina4355-250819-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/61dc6ff17300453d8f9ff98e1a635db5/thomas-o-karolina4355-250819-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/61dc6ff17300453d8f9ff98e1a635db5/thomas-o-karolina4355-250819-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Thomas W&aring;gberg and Karolina Broman, dean and deputy dean at the Faculty of Science and Technology.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>On 1 July, Thomas W&aring;gberg took office as dean and Karolina Broman as deputy dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology. Together with the faculty board, they form the faculty&rsquo;s highest academic leadership and are responsible for developing its core activities: education, research and collaboration.</p><p>Both are alumni of Ume&aring; University. Thomas studied physics, while Karolina trained as an upper secondary school teacher in chemistry and biology. For the past eight years, Thomas has been head of the Department of Physics while continuing his research in nanomaterials and materials physics, with applications in areas such as hydrogen technologies and solar cells. He also has a strong passion for teaching.</p><p>&ldquo;Meeting students gives me an incredible amount of energy; it is one of the things I enjoy most,&rdquo; he says.</p><p>For Karolina Broman, teaching has always been the common thread. She worked as an upper secondary school teacher for five years before pursuing a doctorate and becoming a researcher in chemistry education. In 2017 she became a member of the faculty board, and from 2022 she served as associate dean with responsibility for education and educational collaboration.</p><p>Their experiences have given them both valuable insight into the organisation and a wide network of contacts. They describe the faculty as well-functioning and humbly step into their new assignments as dean and deputy dean.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Strengths of the faculty</h2><p>&ldquo;The faculty&rsquo;s strength lies in its staff and students. In addition, the STEM strategy provides political incentives to work with subjects linked to our faculty. Our programmes are in demand, and we attract talented staff,&rdquo; says Karolina Broman.</p><p class="quote-center">We need to work to put Ume&aring; University on the map and compete for the most prestigious grants.</p><p>Thomas W&aring;gberg highlights the faculty&rsquo;s development in recent years:</p><p>&ldquo;The faculty has been on a very positive trajectory, not only thanks to its strong breadth but also its excellence, which we aim to develop further. We want to achieve breakthrough research &ndash; the major discoveries that truly make a difference in the world.&rdquo;</p><p>He also points to the international mix of colleagues and the many collaborations between the faculty&rsquo;s research groups, departments and centres that create a dynamic research and educational environment.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Challenges and ambitions</h2><p>The appointments as dean and deputy dean cover 75 per cent of their working time and also include serving as chair and vice-chair of the faculty board. The board makes decisions on issues such as finances, organisation and administration.</p><p>While research and education are Thomas W&aring;gberg&rsquo;s and Karolina Broman&rsquo;s respective main areas of responsibility, they will work closely together. On the research side, Thomas wants to continue strengthening the faculty&rsquo;s competitiveness.</p><p>&ldquo;Funding is a challenge; costs are rising faster than resources. We need to work to put Ume&aring; University on the map and compete for the most prestigious grants. In five years, I hope every department will have one or more projects funded by an ERC grant,&rdquo; he says.</p><p class="quote-center">I want to talk about education not only in terms of what we teach, i.e. the subjects, but also how and why we teach.</p><p>Karolina Broman, in turn, wants to raise the profile of educational matters within the university.</p><p>&ldquo;I want to talk about education not only in terms of <em>what</em> we teach, i.e. the subjects, but also <em>how</em> and <em>why</em> we teach,&rdquo; she says.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">A team effort</h2><p>For both Thomas and Karolina, the appointments are an opportunity to develop and to work closely with others. They are curious and enthusiastic about the coming four years of their mandate.</p><p>&ldquo;Above all, I am a team player. It feels both challenging and rewarding to work for the whole faculty,&rdquo; says Thomas.</p><p>Karolina agrees:</p><p>&ldquo;The faculty is a &lsquo;we&rsquo;. It feels reassuring to take on this role together with Thomas, knowing that we are both rooted in the core activities.&rdquo;</p><p>Most of all, they look forward to working with issues they are truly passionate about.</p><p>&ldquo;To be able to do something so meaningful is a privilege. I am truly grateful for it,&rdquo; says Karolina Broman.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="77d6362b-b2ba-488f-b832-6b2db8dffc2c" data-contentname="About the faculty">{}</div>/en/news/moving-the-faculty-forward-together_12133923//en/news/pride-on-campus--umea-universitys-new-rainbow-week_12133058/Last year, Umeå University participated for the first time as an official part of the Pride parade in Umeå. This year, the commitment has developed into an entire Pride week in rainbow colours, with everything from lunch lectures to craft workshops and Pride coffee. Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:04:41 +0200<p>Ume&aring; University works for equal rights and opportunities for all, and against all forms of discrimination. The Student Health Service at Ume&aring; University is also an LGBTQI-certified organisation according to RFSL guidelines. These values are of great importance all year round, but in connection with the Umepride event, the university takes the opportunity to show it a little extra.</p><p>In autumn 2024, Ume&aring; University participated for the first time as an official part of the Pride parade in Ume&aring;, where both students and staff marched in the large parade. We are doing the same this year, and our commitment is expanding into a whole week of events: Pride on campus, 22&ndash;26 September.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/28c1173d9e1d4c5cb5a31e0b9a44c04b/persson_jenny_saba_366_03092024_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/28c1173d9e1d4c5cb5a31e0b9a44c04b/persson_jenny_saba_366_03092024_hkn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/28c1173d9e1d4c5cb5a31e0b9a44c04b/persson_jenny_saba_366_03092024_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/28c1173d9e1d4c5cb5a31e0b9a44c04b/persson_jenny_saba_366_03092024_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/28c1173d9e1d4c5cb5a31e0b9a44c04b/persson_jenny_saba_366_03092024_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/28c1173d9e1d4c5cb5a31e0b9a44c04b/persson_jenny_saba_366_03092024_hkn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Jenny Saba Persson, coordinator of working environment and equal conditions for students, at the Student Services Office.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Standing up for equal rights for all is particularly important in times when these rights are increasingly being called into question. It is so wonderful to see the great commitment and willingness to come together around Pride on campus. Working together on important issues gives us strength and energy in our continued work for equal conditions at Ume&aring; University,&rdquo; says Jenny Saba Persson, who works with working environment and equal conditions for students, and is involved in coordinating Pride on campus at the Student Services Office.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Different organizers involved</h2><p>The programme includes lectures, a craft workshop and general Pride hangouts, all in rainbow colours, of course. There will be opportunities to learn more about minority stress, heteronormativity and tools for creating a good working environment for LGBTQI people, as well as just meeting up and socialising. In addition, rainbow flags will be hoisted at the Ume&aring; University campuses.</p><p>In addition to Ume&aring; University's organizers, led by the Student Services Office and the Human Resources Office, the University Chaplaincy, student unions and trade unions are also involved in various ways. All events are free and open to everyone, but some require pre-registration.</p><p><a href="~/link/710266c95d5748f8aca57c8c4e585a79.aspx">The entire Pride on Campus programme can be found on this page (for the events in Swedish, see the Swedish page version)</a></p><p><a href="~/link/1c2f3248c3e5493baa6070ffd905a171.aspx">Here you can read more about this year's Pride parade and how to register to participate with Ume&aring; University</a></p>/en/news/pride-on-campus--umea-universitys-new-rainbow-week_12133058//en/news/life-at-the-limits-meet-the-lab-that-hunts-for-life-on-mars_12133579/In the cellar of the KBC building, a group of researchers are collecting signatures of life. In the windowless room, with artificial UV-lights, freezers and saline solutions, they put microorganisms like yeast and cyanobacteria through extreme environments, pushing them to their limits. Their goal? To discover biosignatures on their favorite planet: Mars.Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:22:00 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813574.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813574.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813574.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/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813574.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813574.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813574.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Group leader and assistant professor Merve Yeşilbaş, postdoc Alef dos Santos, student assistant Frida Folkesson Ragnebrandt, PhD student Zoe Asimaki and postdoc Surendra Vikram Singh. Together, they are searching for biosignatures on Mars.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;We needed a place that is dark, cold and alone, just like space, so this is perfect,&rdquo; laughs Merve Yeşilbaş, assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, as she opens the door to her lab.<br><br>When she arrived in Ume&aring; for the first time, in 2010, it was as an Erasmus student with the goal to study spectroscopy. It was a record cold January with metre-high piles of snow &ndash; extreme weather that set the course for her research. &ldquo;Being born and raised in Istanbul, my dad joked that I was going the North pole,&rdquo; she says.<br><br>Falling in love with spectroscopy in Ume&aring;, her Erasmus turned into a master&rsquo;s degree in physics and a PhD in chemistry. Ultimately, this led her to her childhood dream: NASA, where she spent 3 years as a postdoc. <a href="~/link/eb1c3aa9422d41299815da4d19dab3b4.aspx">In 2022</a>, Merve&nbsp;Yeşilbaş&nbsp;had just returned to Ume&aring; and was setting up her own space lab in an old storage room.<br>&nbsp;<br>Now, three years later, I visited the lab to see how far things have come, and to talk about mentoring, the vision of the lab, and of course: Mars.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812402.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812402.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/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812402.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812402.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 space lab, bacteria and yeast are cultivated and exposed to UV, cold, and salty environments similar to those on Mars. What chemical signals do the microorganisms emit? By creating a catalogue of these signals, the hunt for life becomes clearer. <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;">Rebecca Forsberg</span></p></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Icy cool science&nbsp;</h2><p>Merve Yeşilbaş radiates energy as she shows me around the lab. Her team &ndash; two postdocs, a PhD candidate and a student assistant &ndash; move between workstations where experiments are being prepared. In one corner, a newly installed spectrometer hums with a sign saying: &ldquo;Experiment in progress.&rdquo; A small Tintin figurine with his rocket to the Moon keeps watch besides a Mars globe covered in sticky notes.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="afd75a1c-1ce5-47a7-8c60-68c8fcfef83d" data-contentname="Photo cyano">{}</div><p>Postdoc Alef dos Santos, with a background in organic chemistry, tends to cultures of cyanobacteria and bacteria from Antarctica, growing them in salty solutions similar to those on Mars.</p><p>&ldquo;They are like my babies,&rdquo; he says, explaining that on Earth cyanobacteria survive in some of the most hostile places imaginable &ndash; inside rocks, lava tubes and below the upper surface. &ldquo;Perhaps it&rsquo;s the same on Mars, waiting to be discovered underneath the surface&rdquo; he says in <a href="~/link/061a6b03a0654828a56b865951762483.aspx">an interview</a> from earlier this year.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>By another bench, PhD student Zoe Asimaki, with a background in biology and planetary science, is busy grinding rocks into fine powders.&nbsp;<br>&ndash; I&rsquo;m preparing Mars regolith analogues, by exposing the powder to oxidation and radiation, she explains.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813142.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813142.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/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813142.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81813142.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 Zoe Asimaki has hammered and ground down rock into a fine powder. The purpose is to create dust &ndash; regolith &ndash; similar to that on Mars surface. <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;">Rebecca Forsberg</span></p></div></div><p>But what really makes the Yesilbas lab unique is its focus on ice. &ldquo;We believe biosignatures on Mars will be found in the ice,&rdquo; says Merve Yeşilbaş. Just as heat can drive chemical reactions, so can cold. Mars cycles through extremes, from &ndash;100&deg;C nights to days that barely reach +20&deg;C, repeatedly freezing and thawing. This process can trap salts, dust and organics within ice layers, preserving traces of life, or chemistry that resembles it.</p><p>&ldquo;Ice chemistry is very fascinating,&rdquo; says postdoc Surendra Vikram Singh, who, although he has a background in physics, now studies how RNA reacts to icy Martian conditions. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s key to understanding how and where we might detect life on Mars.&rdquo;<br><br>&ldquo;At NASA, I was taught to be a brave scientist, to ask outside-the-box questions and to dare to dream big,&rdquo; says Merve Yeşilbaş, a legacy she is passing on to her team. &ldquo;I feel a lot of trust from Merve in our ability to do the right thing, which gives freedom to explore and learn,&rdquo; says Zoe Asimaki.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812823.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812823.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812823.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/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812823.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812823.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/704200515a1d4761bb87d8580de1ab8d/p81812823.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>During the summer, Alef dos Santos, together with student assistant Frida Folkesson Ragnebrandt, studied extremophiles &ndash; organisms that survive in extreme environments on Earth. <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;">Rebecca Forsberg</span></p></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence&nbsp;</h2><p>The phrase &ldquo;Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence&rdquo;, popularised by astronomer Carl Sagan, is the foundation for the team's research. The spacelab does not work in a vacuum, and to get the most data out of their samples, the lab collaborates with several scientists, groups and infrastructures at the Chemical-Biological Centre. &ldquo;Having close access to infrastructures like the <a href="~/link/b3535c2f6803442f8cf20120b93e6074.aspx">Swedish Metabolomics Centre</a>, <a href="~/link/7ad40d1b1e824ed090819213088c0afb.aspx">NMR</a>, <a href="~/link/fb48be8ddb6347308d7622d64012b103.aspx">UCEM</a>, and the expertise of the helpful staff scientists, is invaluable for our research,&rdquo; says Alef dos Santos.</p><p>Having a diverse set of backgrounds is what makes the team so successful. &ldquo;In a way you have to shift your identity, from being a biologist to something more diverse&rdquo; says Zoe Asimaki. &ldquo;Although reading papers that are outside of your own field might take a bit longer, we get help from each other and in the end, we know more as a team.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9ddbe845-f6b9-49b8-990b-cda2600388b0" data-contentname="Photo tintin">{}</div><p>The aim of the lab is to build a catalogue of both abiotic and astrobiological signatures &ndash; traces of processes that are biological in origin, and those that are not. &ldquo;On broad terms, we are pioneering the way we search for life,&rdquo; Zoe Asimaki says, Merve Yeşilbaş filling in: &ldquo;The key is to have a common vision, sharing a goal. I believe that the learning progress is endless, and every day we explore together.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">From the cellar to space</h2><p>Today, the lab is filled with ambition and laughter. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve made this room into my happy place, where everything is possible. Now, I&rsquo;m in a good place,&rdquo; says Merve Yeşilbaş.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f93f1438-77c1-4f4d-b8a6-ef2476285a04" data-contentname="Photo Surendra">{}</div><p>Student assistant Frida Folkesson Ragnebrandt describes the atmosphere as supportive. &ldquo;Everyone &nbsp;shares the fascination with space, and that makes it fun to come here&rdquo;.<br>&nbsp;<br>So where is the lab going next, up and beyond? Together, they are preparing for the next generation of Mars missions, aiming to equip ESA and NASA with tools and constraints for detecting reliable biosignatures. Merve Yeşilbaş, who still collaborates closely with NASA, hopes to expand the lab, and continue to influence and be involved with future Mars- and space missions.</p>/en/news/life-at-the-limits-meet-the-lab-that-hunts-for-life-on-mars_12133579//en/news/a-unique-shopwith-a-50-year-legacy_12129043/For over 50 years, the Chemistry Store “Chem Store”, or Kemiförrådet, has been the central hub for chemicals and laboratory equipment at Umeå University. Just in time for the university’s 60th anniversary, Hans Sjöström – the man behind the shop's development – shares the story of how a cluttered collection of metal cabinets became a well-oiled research service. Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:16:08 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p6241123-25.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p6241123-25.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p6241123-25.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/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p6241123-25.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p6241123-25.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p6241123-25.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Boris Jonsson at Chem Store (Kemif&ouml;rr&aring;det) and Hans Sj&ouml;str&ouml;m who spent 40 years of his working life to develop the shop into the research support it is today.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">I have never regretted accepting that job, not for a second</p><p>&ldquo;When I arrived here in 1976, it became something of a small revolution,&rdquo; says Hans Sj&ouml;str&ouml;m, formerly employed at the Department of Chemistry, who developed the Chem Store from the ground up.</p><p>In the 1970s, the store was simply a small storage space at the Department of Chemistry. It wasn&rsquo;t until Hans came on board and began to organise the operations that the shop the researchers know today began to take shape. He started by cleaning and tidying, putting up a blackboard for orders, and removing the doors from the numerous metal cabinets. Making all equipment visible and easy to access was important &ndash; both for efficiency and for creating a pleasant work environment.</p><p>&ldquo;It gave me a much better overview of what we had and what needed to be purchased,&rdquo; Hans recalls. In the first decade, he kept track of everything bought and sold, along with every researcher&rsquo;s customer number, neatly organised in binders. Those customer numbers, still in use today, are second nature to Hans.</p><p>&ldquo;Back then, every research group had its own number, a bit like an area code, and I knew everyone in the building,&rdquo; he says.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p62411332.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p62411332.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p62411332.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/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p62411332.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p62411332.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/afe4c672ddb14a658fcce07b7c28d70e/p62411332.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Old "Vi p&aring; Kemikum" ("We at Kemikum") and catalogues from Chem Store.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rebecca Forsberg</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">From the lathe to logistics&nbsp;</h2><p>Hans began his career as an instrument maker at the mechanical workshop &ldquo;Blockverkstaden&rdquo; (later known as <a href="~/link/ed1b42f2b42d46ae9203fa0e3bc432cb.aspx">UNIMEG</a>). When the stationary work by the lathe started giving Hans back problems, he began looking for other work &ndash; preferably something more active. He heard about a position at the Department of Chemistry and decided to give it a try, despite having limited knowledge of chemistry.</p><p>&ldquo;I was simply really interested in stacking goods and playing shop at home &ndash; this was exactly what I wanted to do. I have never regretted accepting that job, not for a second,&rdquo; says Hans.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="a1c5ec95-02b8-4c13-a4a8-d3fbbf6ea81e" data-contentname="Photo Hans Sjöström">{}</div><p>He quickly discovered the international nature of the work and had to learn English to communicate with visiting researchers from all over the world.&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;I felt immediately at home &ndash; I find it easy to talk to people, and there were a lot of people coming and going to talk to.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>But running Chem Store in its early days was hard work. Among other things, it initially produced its own liquid nitrogen, with staff on call for urgent needs.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Liquid nitrogen is a staple in laboratories for cooling instruments and samples &ndash; it&rsquo;s like milk and butter for a researcher &ndash; so naturally, everyone wanted access to it as often as possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">A facility in constant development&nbsp;</h2><p>Over time, word spread about the well-stocked and service-oriented Chem Store, and researchers from several departments began using it. In 1986, a computerised system for bookkeeping and inventory management was introduced, making the work significantly easier.&nbsp;</p><p>Hans remained at Chem Store for 40 years. Although he retired eight years ago, he still visits every year to catch up with his former colleague, Boris Jonsson.</p><p class="quote-center">With the digital system we have today, we&rsquo;re light-years ahead of other facilities trying to get started elsewhere in the country</p><p>&ldquo;The Chem Store is quite unique &ndash; apart from Ume&aring; and Stockholm University, there&rsquo;s nothing quite like it in Sweden, as far as we know,&rdquo; explains Boris, adding that Karolinska Institutet has made site visits to learn from the effective system developed at Ume&aring;.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;With the digital system we have today, we&rsquo;re light-years ahead of other facilities trying to get started elsewhere in the country,&rdquo; Boris notes.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="1af124d1-4ab0-4c3d-b4aa-aea837a1c002" data-contentname="Photo Boris Jonsson by desk">{}</div><p>Thanks to the system that Hans helped to establish, four people now work at the Chem Store, assisting researchers with purchases and orders in line with current procurement agreements (in accordance with the Swedish Public Procurement Act, LOU).</p><p>The time researchers save by not having to find suppliers and contracts themselves, Hans and Boris hope, is spent doing what they do best &ndash; research.</p><p>&ldquo;The Chem Store is here for everyone at the university,&rdquo; they conclude.&nbsp;</p>/en/news/a-unique-shopwith-a-50-year-legacy_12129043//en/news/global-climate-issues-through-an-arctic-lens_12131710/The visit of Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, the President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), to Umeå on 15 August underscores the global significance of the Arctic Centre. Through long-term strategic initiatives, Umeå University’s Arctic research engages directly with international organisations tackling climate change. The visit reaffirms the university’s role in polar science and shows that WMO regard the Arctic as vital to future climate solutions.Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:35:55 +0200<p class="quote-center">When the world&rsquo;s leading organisations in climate and meteorology choose to visit Ume&aring; University, it shows that we are more than a strong research environment &ndash; we are a natural partner in the effort for building a sustainable Arctic</p><p>The Arctic plays a pivotal role as the Earth&rsquo;s cooling system, and knowledge connects it far beyond its borders. That WMO President Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, who also serves as Director General of the United Arab Emirates&rsquo; National Centre of Meteorology, chose to visit the Arctic Centre in Ume&aring; highlights the international relevance and appeal of the university&rsquo;s research and position in the Arctic.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="c4711aa5-3dfe-4db4-8bff-6ef9b96c1b61" data-contentname="PIC WMO">{}</div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Arctic research in breadth and depth</h2><p>The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Thomas Olofsson, welcomed the delegation and introduced Ume&aring; University and the Arctic Centre. The programme continued with presentations from researchers showcasing the breadth of Arctic science at Ume&aring;: permafrost hydrology, space weather, ecosystem modelling, and indigenous livelihoods. Key national and European organisations, including the S&aacute;mi Council, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, and the European Polar Board, presented other important perspectives.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f4ed22d7-01d6-4560-94b4-984894013317" data-contentname="PIC WMO audience">{}</div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">International dialogue for a sustainable Arctic</h2><p>The discussions highlighted the need for stronger international collaboration in preparing for major initiatives such as the International Polar Year 2032&ndash;33 and the Emirates Polar Research Programme launch&mdash;a clear signal of the country&rsquo;s ambition to become an active partner in international polar science.</p><p>&ldquo;When the world&rsquo;s leading organisations in climate and meteorology choose to visit Ume&aring; University, it shows that we are more than a strong research environment &ndash; we are a natural partner in the effort for building a sustainable Arctic,&rdquo; says Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre.</p><p>He also emphasises the importance of visits like this:</p><p>&ldquo;By creating meeting places where research connects with society and decision-makers, we can drive forward knowledge that makes a difference. Our ambition is to support societally relevant research and be the primary contact point for those seeking to contribute to a positive Arctic future.&rdquo;</p><p>The visit underlines the global weight of the Arctic issues discussed in Ume&aring; and the university&rsquo;s role in bringing together researchers, decision-makers, and societal actors. Through such encounters, new knowledge gains momentum and becomes a catalyst for change &ndash; in the Arctic and beyond.</p>/en/news/global-climate-issues-through-an-arctic-lens_12131710//en/news/engaging-workshop-on-the-energy-districts-of-the-future_12131958/How can future cities produce more energy than they consume? That question was at the center when researchers, students, and stakeholders from Umeå gathered for a workshop on Positive Energy Districts.Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:28:54 +0200<p>On 15 May 2025, representatives from Ume&aring; Energy, Ume&aring; Municipality, researchers from TFE, and students from the Master of Science program in Energy Engineering took part in a half-day workshop on Positive Energy Districts.</p><p>The discussions focused on the challenges of the energy transition, new business models to accelerate change, and ways to engage different stakeholders in the process.</p><p>The workshop was moderated by Bahanur Nasya from the Austrian organization Wonderland and was characterized by lively discussions and strong engagement.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f8a9206d321f4d9ca07de10cc435acac/gireesh_workshop_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f8a9206d321f4d9ca07de10cc435acac/gireesh_workshop_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f8a9206d321f4d9ca07de10cc435acac/gireesh_workshop_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/f8a9206d321f4d9ca07de10cc435acac/gireesh_workshop_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f8a9206d321f4d9ca07de10cc435acac/gireesh_workshop_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f8a9206d321f4d9ca07de10cc435acac/gireesh_workshop_23.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"><span class="photo">Image</span></span></div></div><p>The event was part of the PED-ACT project, a collaboration between Sweden, T&uuml;rkiye, and Austria. The project is funded within the framework of JPI Urban Europe and the strategic innovation program Viable Cities, which is supported by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Formas.</p>/en/news/engaging-workshop-on-the-energy-districts-of-the-future_12131958//en/news/gonorrhoea-is-spreading-and-outsmarting-antibiotics_12131315/The sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea have increased in the past ten years. No one knows exactly why gonorrhoea is spreading—but experts suspect a mix of better testing and changing sexual habits. At the same time, we face reduced treatment options due to antimicrobial resistance.Wed, 20 Aug 2025 14:41:01 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/tomas_gustafsson.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/tomas_gustafsson.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/tomas_gustafsson.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/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/tomas_gustafsson.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/tomas_gustafsson.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/tomas_gustafsson.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tomas Gustafsson is infectious disease physician at Sunderby Hospital and researcher at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Frida jakobsson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">resistance is increasing against the current first line treatment ceftriaxone, which is very troublesome</p><p>&ldquo;Over the years, the bacteria that cause gonorrhoea has developed resistance to antibiotic after antibiotic and resistance is increasing against the current first line treatment ceftriaxone, which is very troublesome&rdquo;, says Tomas Gustafsson, infectious disease physician at Sunderby Hospital and researcher at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium n<em>eisseria gonorrhoeae</em> (gonococci). It spreads through sexual contact, and it is the second most common sexually transmitted disease (STD). The incubation period is short &ndash; from a couple of days to a few weeks.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">No symptoms to infertility</h2><p>The most common symptoms of gonorrhoea are burning or discomfort when urinating and discharge from the urethra, vagina or rectum but can also give throat symptoms. However, many&mdash;especially women&mdash;may have no symptoms, which makes it easy to spread unknowingly.</p><p>&ldquo;The disease is quite contagious. The best way to avoid gonorrhoea is to use a condom which also gives protection against other STDs and HIV, but also to get tested if you have symptoms and participate in contact tracing&rdquo; says Tomas Gustafsson.</p><p>Gonorrhoea is rarely fatal, but if left untreated it can give rise to endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), prostatitis and sometimes septic arthritis.</p><p>&ldquo;If gonorrhoea is not treated, it can even lead to infertility in women because the infection can cause lasting damage to the reproductive organs&rdquo;, says Tomas Gustafsson.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Reduced treatment options&nbsp;</h2><p>Gonorrhoea has developed resistance to&nbsp;nearly all antibiotics&nbsp;historically used to treat it, and in recent years antibiotic resistance has increased rapidly.</p><p>Tomas Gustafsson splits his time between treating patients as an infectious disease physician and conducting research at Ume&aring; University. This dual role gives him a unique perspective on the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.</p><p>&ldquo;I see the consequences of resistant infections firsthand in the clinic,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;That experience is what pushed me to explore new treatment options in the lab.&rdquo;</p><p>While working with an antibiotic candidate which originally focused on other bacteria, he decided to test it against gonococci. Since then, the focus has mostly shifted towards development of methods to facilitate the drug-development process against gonococci, which are often much more challenging to work with than other bacteria.</p><p>&ldquo;We are trying to patch up some holes in the drug development pipeline to prevent it from running dry.&rdquo;</p><p><em><strong>What is the dream goal with your research?</strong></em></p><p>&ldquo;I guess I share it with most researchers involved in antibiotic development&hellip; to see an antibiotic candidate you have worked on, enter the clinic and be used to cure patients. That would be great!&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/2017-04-13_n._gonorrhoeae_vs_aur_img_56052.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/2017-04-13_n._gonorrhoeae_vs_aur_img_56052.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/2017-04-13_n._gonorrhoeae_vs_aur_img_56052.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/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/2017-04-13_n._gonorrhoeae_vs_aur_img_56052.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/2017-04-13_n._gonorrhoeae_vs_aur_img_56052.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/cccca061546d43e9bedd877894559fab/2017-04-13_n._gonorrhoeae_vs_aur_img_56052.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Disc diffusion test with an investigational compounds with activity against gonococci.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Tomas Gustafsson</span></div></div>/en/news/gonorrhoea-is-spreading-and-outsmarting-antibiotics_12131315//en/news/new-research-facility-allows-scientists-to-watch-molecules-in-action_12131582/The C-Trap Facility at Umeå Plant Science Centre is the result of a joint effort of different departments and faculties at Umeå University. Now fully operational, it opens up exciting new possibilities for research at the single molecule scale. At the heart of the facility is the C-Trap instrument, which combines laser-based optical tweezers with advanced microfluidics and confocal microscopy, enabling scientists to manipulate and observe dynamic molecular processes in real time.Wed, 20 Aug 2025 14:49:46 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8779-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8779-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8779-250527-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/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8779-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8779-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8779-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Rub&eacute;n Casanova S&aacute;ez is loading a sample into the microfluidics unit of the C-Trap instrument.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Sitting in a windowless room, the C-Trap instrument may appear unremarkable at first glance. Yet, its capabilities are very powerful. At its core lies an optical tweezer, two highly focused laser beams capable of trapping tiny particles to which single molecules can attach. The laser beams can hold the molecules steady and their mechanical properties can be analysed while the surrounding is manipulated.</p><p>&ldquo;The C-Trap allows us for example to visualize how a single protein binds to a DNA or RNA molecule that is held in place by the laser traps,&rdquo; explains Rub&eacute;n Casanova S&aacute;ez who is the manager of the newly established C-Trap Facility at the Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre. &ldquo;We can monitor how quickly and strongly the protein binds and test how different substances or mechanical forces affect this interaction &ndash; all in real time.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8716-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8716-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8716-250527-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/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8716-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8716-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8716-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Inside the flow cell, a tiny chamber, molecules and the surrounding liquid flow through narrow channels. Trapping lasers and confocal microscopy opperate inside the flow cell, which makes it possible to manipulate and image single molecules in real time.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">New capabilities for studying molecular dynamics</h2><p>In addition to the optical tweezer, the C-Trap instrument includes a microfluidics unit and a confocal microscope. The microfluidics unit allows researchers to adjust the flow and to rapidly introduce new substances, enabling precise control over the environment around the trapped molecule. At the same time, the confocal microscope captures high-resolution images of the trapped molecule, along with the surrounding molecules as they move and interact with it.</p><p>&ldquo;We can also observe dynamic molecular events such as DNA transcription, where proteins not only bind but also move along the DNA strand,&rdquo; says Rub&eacute;n Casanova S&aacute;ez. &ldquo;The C-Trap allows us to measure the speed at which these proteins move, detect where they pause and for how long, and quantify the force they exert on the DNA as they move. It is also ideal for studying how strongly certain molecules interact with cell membrane receptors, or for measuring forces involved in protein folding.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8885-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8885-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8885-250527-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/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8885-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8885-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8885-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Using the joystick, the laser beams - shown as a small red circle on the middle screen - are controlled to trap a molecule.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>While Ume&aring; University already had facilities for imaging single molecules such as the Biochemical Imaging Centre Ume&aring; and even in-house developed optical tweezers from the Biophysics and Biophotonics group at the Department of Physics, the C-Trap offers new possibilities. What makes it unique is the integration of multiple capabilities, allowing researchers to study molecular mechanisms and mechanical properties in a dynamic real-time setting.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">A central tool for advancing research across fields</h2><p>&ldquo;This technology is fundamental to a wide range of research fields, including immunology, cell mechanobiology, microbiology, virology, physics and beyond,&rdquo; adds Rub&eacute;n Casanova S&aacute;ez. &ldquo;The C-Trap can help answer many different research questions and I am excited to collaborate with researchers from across disciplines. Anyone interested in using the C-Trap, or even just curious about how it might support their research, is welcome to visit the facility&rsquo;s homepage and contact me.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8938-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8938-250527-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8938-250527-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/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8938-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8938-250527-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/2eba15698de843b2b59cf5c03acdef02/ruben-casanova-saez-8938-250527-mpn2.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 L&eacute;a Bogdziewiez (left), one of the first users of the facility, is using the C-Trap to study single-molecule adhesion mechanisms in plant cells.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Currently, three projects are running at the C-Trap Facility, with several more in preparation from departments including Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Clinical Microbiology and Physics. Users of the facility receive comprehensive support throughout the process, from experimental design and sample preparation to feedback during data acquisition. Anyone interested can join an introductory training on how to operate the C-Trap and receive support for data analysis and interpretation.</p><p>&ldquo;When we first began setting up the facility, everything seemed challenging,&rdquo; reflects Rub&eacute;n Casanova S&aacute;ez. &ldquo;But I was fortunate to receive great support, especially from our C-Trap steering group and its chair &Aring;sa Strand. At this point we are an official KBC facility and have recently been recognised as a research infrastructure at Ume&aring; University. With a growing number of projects and collaborations in future, I hope to see the C-Trap Facility grow into an interdisciplinary research hub at Ume&aring; University.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="7ba6c26c-3d49-4e40-9c3c-e56c4e0f5bb3" data-contentname="About the C-Trap Facility">{}</div>/en/news/new-research-facility-allows-scientists-to-watch-molecules-in-action_12131582//en/news/umu-60-ar-en_12119854/When Nils Eriksson left the world of industry and healthcare to try something new. Life took an unexpected turn, love led him to Umeå University. In this interview he reflects on a time before email, when smoke lingered in the corridors, and shares what his years at the university ultimately meant to him.Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:15:09 +0200<div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="5a486576-9982-42e2-9980-98bc60871156" data-contentname="Faktaruta (en)">{}</div><p>Over nearly four decades at Ume&aring; University, Nils Eriksson has played a key role in shaping both teaching and research. He has driven initiatives that have fueled development and innovation. Through efforts like digital examinations and pedagogical certification, he has demonstrated how small steps can spark significant change.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="b064d8eb-4d83-4931-a177-736d387db84f" data-contentname="Faktaruta (en)">{}</div>/en/news/umu-60-ar-en_12119854//en/news/swedens-most-powerful-laser-delivers-record-short-light-pulses_12130002/For the first time, researchers at Umeå University have demonstrated the full capabilities of their large-scale laser facility. In a study published in Nature Photonics, the team reports generating a combination of ultrashort laser pulses, extreme peak power, and precisely controlled waveforms that make it possible to explore the fastest processes in nature.Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:00:03 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The laser system is 11 metres long and generates extremely short laser pulses.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>The custom-built laser system, called the Light Wave Synthesizer 100 (LWS100), spans 11 metres in length and 1.5 metres in width &ndash; far larger than many commercial lasers which are comparable in size to a pencil or a book. Its size is necessary to generate and amplify ultrashort laser pulses to extreme peak power. At its peak it generates 100 terawatts &ndash; equivalent to five times the average power consumption of the world &ndash; although only for a few millionth of a billionth of a second. This makes the system the most powerful laser in Sweden and opens the doors to groundbreaking applications like understanding ultrafast processes in biomolecules, developing light-driven electronics and improving solar panel efficiency.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">"Films" electron movements</h2><p>What sets the system apart is that the pulses are not only extremely short (4.3 femtoseconds) and powerful &ndash; they also have a reproducible and controlled electric field waveform, identical from pulse to pulse. Achieving this level of control is particularly challenging in large-scale laser systems, but critical for many advanced applications. This can generate even shorter attosecond x-ray pulses that can be used to "film" the movement of electrons in real time.</p><p>&ldquo;We can now show that the system delivers exactly what we envisioned when it was built. This is a milestone for our research,&rdquo; says Laszlo Veisz, Professor at Ume&aring; University.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>L&aacute;szl&oacute; Veisz, professor at the Department of Physics, has built the unique laser together with his colleagues.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Experiments underway</h2><p>A wide range of experiments are planned using this laser system, taking advantage of its extreme temporal and spatial light concentration. By shaping and focusing ultrashort pulses, attosecond electron bunches can be accelerated to ultra-relativistic energies in compact micro-accelerators, or next-generation X-ray sources can be created to advance attosecond science.</p><p>The laser system was installed and inaugurated at the Department of Physics at Ume&aring; University in 2022. This newly published paper is the first scientific study to demonstrate its full performance.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="7e42a389-6d26-4b48-9999-df99a8fcc924" data-contentname="About the scientific article">{}</div>/en/news/swedens-most-powerful-laser-delivers-record-short-light-pulses_12130002//en/news/who-warns-of-chikungunya-virus-outbreak--5-questions-to-virus-researcher_12129990/This summer, the World Health Organization, WHO, has appealed to prevent a repeat of an epidemic of the chikungunya virus, that swept the world twenty years ago. Let us learn more by asking Lars-Anders Carlson, Associate Professor at Umeå University, five questions.Wed, 20 Aug 2025 08:10:01 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fdd37b07281b4c3f8119c1cf517b2092/carlsson_lars-anders_8369-241022-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fdd37b07281b4c3f8119c1cf517b2092/carlsson_lars-anders_8369-241022-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fdd37b07281b4c3f8119c1cf517b2092/carlsson_lars-anders_8369-241022-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/fdd37b07281b4c3f8119c1cf517b2092/carlsson_lars-anders_8369-241022-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fdd37b07281b4c3f8119c1cf517b2092/carlsson_lars-anders_8369-241022-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fdd37b07281b4c3f8119c1cf517b2092/carlsson_lars-anders_8369-241022-mpn3.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's group at Ume&aring; University is doing research on the chikungunya virus.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">Luckily, the mosquitos we have in Sweden do not carry the virus</p><p>The cause for concern is new outbreaks reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe (France and Italy). A major outbreak is underway in China, especially in the southern part. The most common symptoms of chikungunya virus infection are fever and muscle and joint pain. Chikungunya virus is spread to humans by infected mosquitoes and cannot be spread directly from person to person.</p><p>The infection is caused by a virus belonging to the alphavirus group. It creates &ldquo;factories&rdquo; on the cell surface where its genes are copied when the virus infects a cell. Lars-Anders Carlson's research group wants to understand how these viral factories work, to ultimately help in the efforts to design new antiviral strategies.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Is the chikungunya virus very contagious and how does the virus spread?</h2><p>&ldquo;Yes, the virus is contagious, but only if you get bitten by an infected mosquito. Luckily, the mosquitos we have in Sweden do not carry the virus!&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;The viruses are spread through bites by mosquitos of the genus <em>Aedes</em>. Some twenty years ago, it seemed like Chikungunya virus was primarily spread by <em>Aedes aegypti</em>, a tropical mosquito. But in 2006, a massive outbreak took place on the island La R&eacute;union, and scientists could show that the virus, with a minimal mutation, had adapted itself to a new mosquito species, <em>Aedes albopictus</em>. This mosquito, which is known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is more widely spread, which allowed chikungunya virus to also spread more widely, for example to Southern Europe.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Is the chikungunya fever dangerous?</h2><p>&ldquo;Most infections are probably mild, but this is hard to know exactly since many infections probably go undiagnosed. But infections can become more severe. The most devastating consequence is probably severe joint pain which can last for several months. There are also rare reports of chikungunya-caused encephalitis.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Is there a cure or vaccine?</h2><p>&ldquo;As of very recently (2024) there is actually a vaccine, called Ixchiq. It is based on Swedish research from Karolinska Institutet. It is very exciting to see some progress on this. Unfortunately, there is now a temporary restriction on giving this vaccine to people older than 65 due to some side effects observed, so we will see how it develops.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Should we be afraid that chikungunya virus reaches Sweden?</h2><p>&ldquo;That is not my expertise, but my understanding is that it probably will not come here any time soon. However, the <em>Aedes</em> mosquitos are slowly moving up from southern to middle Europe, and only this year I saw that they may expect chikungunya infections in southern Germany.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;A related virus called Sindbis virus can sometimes be spread by Nordic mosquitos to cause what in Swedish is called &ldquo;<em>Ockelbosjukan</em>&rdquo;, which resembles a milder chikungunya fever. The Norwegians have a fun name for this &ndash; they call it <em>b&aelig;rplukkersyken</em>, the berry-pickers disease.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Why are you doing research about this virus and what is the dream goal?</h2><p>&ldquo;I am interested in some very fundamental aspects of the virus factories that the virus creates to copy its genes. This machinery is fascinating to me! We are using electron microscopy to create detailed tree-dimensional images of the virus factories and use these images to gradually understand how the factories work. Eventually this might allow us to see how the virus copies its genes at the resolution of individual atoms. We are not quite there yet, so some work remains. Eventually, I think we can get a complete understanding of how they work!&rdquo;</p>/en/news/who-warns-of-chikungunya-virus-outbreak--5-questions-to-virus-researcher_12129990//en/news/welcome-to-usbe-advisory-board-henrik-skyttberg_12129330/Henrik Skyttberg, CEO of Coop Nord, is a determined and capable leader who, with strong commitment, leads one of Sweden’s largest consumer cooperatives. Since 2020, he has guided Coop Nord through an impressive growth journey, where profitability and local engagement have gone hand in hand. His background in retail and strategic acumen have made him a key figure in the development of commerce in northern Sweden – and now he is welcomed as a member of the USBE Advisory Board!Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:24:30 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/13cdd877527a42e08bd0da555ba8f851/skyttberg2.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13cdd877527a42e08bd0da555ba8f851/skyttberg2.png?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13cdd877527a42e08bd0da555ba8f851/skyttberg2.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/13cdd877527a42e08bd0da555ba8f851/skyttberg2.png?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/13cdd877527a42e08bd0da555ba8f851/skyttberg2.png?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/13cdd877527a42e08bd0da555ba8f851/skyttberg2.png?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Henrik Skyttberg, CEO of Coop Nord.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>COOP</span></div></div><h3>What are your thoughts on being appointed to the Ume&aring; School of Business Advisory Board?</h3><p>&ndash; I&rsquo;m both happy and proud to be part of the School of Business Advisory Board. The school plays an important role in shaping talents and future stars who will develop organizations across industries for many years to come. I have many years of experience in retail, especially in the grocery sector, and I hope to contribute with insights from that field.</p><h3>What is a hot topic in retail that currently engages you?</h3><p>&ndash;&nbsp; Retail as a whole is challenged by new buying behaviors and price pressure. One pressing issue right now is how to create or maintain an attractive employer brand in a tough economic climate.</p><h3>The School of Business offers a program in Retail and Logistics. What do you think is the most important takeaway for students aiming for a career in retail?</h3><p>&ndash;&nbsp; The most important thing is to gain an understanding of the bigger picture and how the business is interconnected through various flows in a business model. You don&rsquo;t need to know everything or be a specialist when you graduate, but having a broad understanding and interest in the business is a valuable asset. It&rsquo;s also crucial to understand that human interaction, both in the workplace and especially with customers is absolutely essential for a sustainable business.</p>/en/news/welcome-to-usbe-advisory-board-henrik-skyttberg_12129330//en/news/risky-alcohol-habits-among-older-adults_12128934/New research from Umeå University shows that risky alcohol consumption is common even among people over 80 years old, a group often excluded from alcohol research. The study is based on data from nearly 12,000 older adults in northern Sweden, western Finland and Åland and reveals both health-related and social factors influencing their drinking patterns. The results are important for better understanding and preventing health risks among older adults.Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:53:10 +0200<p>The current study examined two types of drinking patterns. The first is risk consumption, which refers to regular alcohol use that may harm health. The second is intensive consumption, so-called &ldquo;binge drinking,&rdquo; where a person drinks a large amount of alcohol at one occasion.</p><p>&ndash; Risky alcohol consumption is common even among the very oldest, including those aged 80 and above. Including their experiences in research is important in itself,&rdquo; says Wossenseged Birhane Jemberie, Current assistant professor at the Department of Social Work and CEDAR, Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The study is based on data from nearly 12,000 individuals aged 65&ndash;90. The results show clear differences by region, gender, and age. For example, in V&auml;sterbotten, almost 40 percent of men aged 65&ndash;75 drank at risk levels. Among men aged 80&ndash;90, the share was about 20 percent. For women, the levels were generally lower.</p><p>Researchers also found that many older adults with cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks or high blood pressure, still consumed alcohol at high levels, despite general advice against drinking.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Different risk factors for men and women</h2><p>The study showed that the risks associated with drinking varied between the sexes. Women with higher education or income were more likely to drink at risk levels. This also applied to those with depressive symptoms and those who had lost family members.</p><p>For men, higher BMI, fewer medications, and greater independence in daily life were more common among those who drank more.</p><p class="quote-center">We have found that older adults&rsquo; drinking patterns are linked to health, social life, and emotional well-being</p><p>One factor that reduced the risk of high consumption was active participation in religious or spiritual activities. This was true for both men and women.</p><p>&ndash; We have found that older adults&rsquo; drinking patterns are connected to health, social life, and emotional well-being. Understanding these reasons is crucial if we want to promote healthier aging, says Jemberie.</p><p>Jemberie emphasizes that alcohol consumption in old age must be understood in a broader perspective than just physical health.</p><p>&ndash; For some, alcohol represents autonomy; for others, it is a way to promote social connection and engagement. When we communicate risks, we must also understand the psychosocial reasons for drinking, he says.</p><p>He points out that loss of structure and routines after retirement can be an important cause of increased drinking. We often weigh the immediate rewards of drinking, such as relaxation and social bonding, against health risks that may seem distant.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Need for preventive measures</h2><p>Researchers believe the results show a need for interventions that do not only focus on informing about health risks but also strengthen older people&rsquo;s social and psychosocial well-being.</p><p>&ndash; I therefore believe that all preventive work and risk communication should be based on the factors older adults themselves see as important for their quality of life, says Jemberie.</p><p>The current study is a cross-sectional study. A cross-sectional study means researchers collect information at one point in time to get a snapshot of the situation. The study can show patterns and correlations but cannot determine cause and effect. The next step is to understand development over time.</p><p>&ndash; We need more studies and analyses to understand the mechanisms behind, so we can develop more precise preventive measures, says Jemberie.</p>/en/news/risky-alcohol-habits-among-older-adults_12128934//en/news/millions-of-lakes-reveal-new-patterns-when-viewed-as-one_12128601/By analysing data from millions of lakes, researchers have created global models that treat the world’s lakes as one composite lake. This reveals new relationships and emergent properties, reshaping how researchers view freshwater’s role in climate change.Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:32:52 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-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/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/71962374aa874725a851ba2cb11c10c2/gudasz_cristian_7513-250514-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cristian Gudasz, researcher at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>Scientists have long seen lakes as miniature worlds &ndash; natural laboratories for studying ecosystems. But understanding what they do at a planetary or regional scale is a scientific challenge. Viewing lakes as an integrated whole can capture emergent behaviors that no lake-by-lake analysis can reveal.</p><p class="quote-center">It&rsquo;s like zooming out and suddenly seeing hidden structures and responses take shape.</p><p>Research published in the scientific journal Nature Water now shows that the ensemble of lakes, taken as a composite system, may hold vital clues about how freshwater systems function globally and interact with the planet&rsquo;s response to climate change.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Working with high-performance computing</h2><p>Researchers at Ume&aring; University, together with colleagues internationally, analysed large amounts of data from lakes around the world, integrating information on their depth, shape and climate. Using high-performance computing, they built global models that aggregate lakes&rsquo; physical characteristics and functions into so-called &Uuml;ber-lakes &ndash; composite representations of lakes globally and in different regions or climate zones.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="bd157429-79f3-446f-aae5-64d151d4d6ae" data-contentname="Film lakes">{}</div><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve known for over a century that lakes are powerful ecological testbeds. What we&rsquo;re showing now is that, taken together as a composite, they also reveal emergent patterns that help us understand how freshwater systems contribute to Earth system resilience,&rdquo; says Cristian Gudasz, researcher at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience at Ume&aring; University and first author of the study.</p><p>At the heart of this new approach is lake hypsography, how a lake&rsquo;s area changes with its depth. This determines how it mixes, stores heat, exchanges gases, and cycles nutrients. Hypsography makes it possible to model lake functions and has allowed researchers to uncover new patterns in the composite, such as how lakes in cold, glaciated regions differ structurally and functionally from those in warmer climates.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Lakes mirror land more than oceans</h2><p>The models also reveal a striking insight: the combined structure of the world&rsquo;s lakes more closely mirrors land than oceans. Unlike oceans, which are dominated by depth, most lake area worldwide is shallow &ndash; a feature that strongly influences their ecological and climatic roles.</p><p>&ldquo;This work bridges the gap between the complexity of individual lakes and the patterns that emerge when you analyse millions of them. It&rsquo;s like zooming out and suddenly seeing hidden structures and responses take shape,&rdquo; says Cristian Gudasz.</p><p>The concept of &Uuml;ber-lakes makes it possible to not only understand how the world&rsquo;s lakes reflect environmental change, but also how they can influence it.</p><p>&ldquo;We can average their properties, but what really matters is that composite lakes reveal how lakes interact with the climate system in a way that is more than the sum of individual lakes. Understanding how they function together as a global system gives us a powerful new lens on climate feedback and ecological stability,&rdquo; says Cristian Gudasz.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="59773fc6-412d-4754-9fe7-798e217879ee" data-contentname="About the article">{}</div>/en/news/millions-of-lakes-reveal-new-patterns-when-viewed-as-one_12128601//en/news/alzheimers-like-disease-in-patients-with-parkinsons_12116038/One in ten patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease may have another neurological disease that is more similar to Alzheimer's than Parkinson's. This is shown by a new Swedish study that is based on samples that have been taken from patients in Umeå, Sweden.Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:37:15 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/75469515c45c4d7a8256e964c810d6ea/david_backstrom_120922_spn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/75469515c45c4d7a8256e964c810d6ea/david_backstrom_120922_spn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/75469515c45c4d7a8256e964c810d6ea/david_backstrom_120922_spn2.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/75469515c45c4d7a8256e964c810d6ea/david_backstrom_120922_spn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/75469515c45c4d7a8256e964c810d6ea/david_backstrom_120922_spn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/75469515c45c4d7a8256e964c810d6ea/david_backstrom_120922_spn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>David B&auml;ckstr&ouml;m, neurologist and researcher at Department of Clinical Sciences, Ume&aring; University<span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Samuel Petterson, Fri Tanke publishing house</span></p></div></div><p>"This is an important result that can change our understanding of the course of the disease and, in the long run, affect the treatment of some patients diagnosed with Parkinson's," says David B&auml;ckstr&ouml;m, neurologist, senior lecturer at Ume&aring; University and one of the study's lead authors.</p><p class="quote-left">can change our understanding</p><p>The researchers have performed a so-called &alpha;-synuclein seed amplification assay (&alpha;Syn-SAA) of cerebrospinal fluid in 140 patients at Norrland University Hospital who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and similar diseases, as well as in 30 healthy people in a control group.</p><p>The protein &alpha;-synuclein is usually linked to Parkinson's disease. Surprisingly, the sampling showed that about ten percent of the Parkinson's patients examined lacked aggregation of this protein, which is otherwise considered a marker for Parkinson's.</p><p>When the researchers examined these &alpha;-synuclein-negative patients more closely, they found that they often had typical markers in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease, such as amyloid and tau proteins. These patients also showed slightly poorer cognitive ability and balance than normal for Parkinson's patients.</p><p>It seems to be something of an intermediate form of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's that the researchers have now found. It has previously been clinically observed that some patients with Alzheimer's have also shown symptoms similar to Parkinson's. What is new that the researchers can now show is that the similarity is so great that many of these patients have instead been diagnosed with Parkinson's, and that these patients have a specific profile of biomarkers. This may affect how diagnosis and treatment are made in the future.</p><p>"One possible development is that these patients can be treated with drugs used for Alzheimer's. It is at least a track to research further and something that could be tested in drug studies," says David B&auml;ckstr&ouml;m.</p><p>The research has been carried out in collaboration between researchers in Ume&aring;, Gothenburg, Sweden, and San Diego in the United States. The study is published in the scientific journal Alzheimer's &amp; Dementia.</p>/en/news/alzheimers-like-disease-in-patients-with-parkinsons_12116038//en/news/the-arctic-six-urge-the-european-union-to-prioritise-the-arctic_12117849/The university alliance The Arctic Six has released a position paper for the upcomning EU Framework Programme 10, calling for a stronger focus on Arctic research. The position will be presented at the EU Arctic Forum on 27 June 2025.Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:23:33 +0200<p>The Arctic Six has released a joint position paper calling for a dedicated Arctic research programme in the European Union&rsquo;s upcoming Framework Programme 10 (FP10). With the European Arctic undergoing rapid environmental, societal, and geopolitical change, the paper underscores the need for sustained EU investment in Arctic research and innovation to support climate adaptation, regional security, and a just green transition.</p><p>Firmly rooted in northern communities, the Arctic Six universities emphasise their role as engines of regional development and knowledge co-production with Indigenous and local actors. Their recommendations echo the European Polar Board (EPB), which also urges EU leaders to secure long-term polar research funding, <a href="https://www.europeanpolarboard.org/news-events/news/article/news/epb-calls-on-eu-leaders-to-secure-long-term-polar-research-funding/">EPB Position</a>.</p><p>The position paper will be presented to EU policymakers in June ahead of the FP10 negotiations at the EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples Dialogue in Kittil&auml;, Finland. It calls for action that reflects the urgency of Arctic change and the opportunities for Europe to lead through research excellence and cross-border cooperation.</p><p>Find the position paper at the <a href="https://www.arcticsix.org/arctic-six/news/news-archive/2025-06-27-the-arctic-six-urge-the-european-union-to-prioritise-the-arctic-in-research-funding">Arctic Six website</a>.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="9725acfe-7a81-424e-94e8-839b5ccd80ea" data-contentname="Fakta A6">{}</div>/en/news/the-arctic-six-urge-the-european-union-to-prioritise-the-arctic_12117849//en/news/umea-university-within-the-same-range-in-sustainability-ranking_12115633/This year's ranking results from the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking have been released. Umeå University's score has increased and the university is within the same range as last year, despite more universities participating in the ranking. “We are now analysing the results and seeing what we can do even better to contribute to the most sustainable world possible,” says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor at Umeå University. Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:35:07 +0200<p>The global sustainability ranking system Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, THE Impact Ranking, assesses higher education institutions based on their work with the 17 global sustainability goals. The assessment is made across a range of criteria in the areas of research, education, collaboration and support/management.</p><p>On 18 June, the results of the 2025 THE Impact ranking were presented. Ume&aring; University is ranked in the range 201-300, which is the same position as last year. But the difference this year is that the number of ranked universities has increased by 300 &ndash; this year 2318 universities are ranked, compared to 1963 in 2024 &ndash; which can be interpreted as this year's result for Ume&aring; University being an improvement even though the range is the same.</p><p>In terms of total score, the university has increased slightly &ndash; this year the score is 82.9, compared to 82.3 last year.</p><p><a title="Till rankingsidan" href="https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking">Se all results at THE Impact Rankings website.</a></p><p class="quote-center">Above all, the purpose is to facilitate the work to contribute to the implementation of the global sustainability goals, which is part of the realisation of the university's vision.</p><p>Ume&aring; University joined the ranking in 2021 and there has been an increase each year. In 2023, the score was 73 points and the ranking within the range 301-400 and in 2022, the score was 65.8 and the ranking 401-600.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/f0a5fb4f7f244c40802caf2e23fb5030/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f0a5fb4f7f244c40802caf2e23fb5030/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f0a5fb4f7f244c40802caf2e23fb5030/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/f0a5fb4f7f244c40802caf2e23fb5030/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/f0a5fb4f7f244c40802caf2e23fb5030/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/f0a5fb4f7f244c40802caf2e23fb5030/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>&ldquo;There are several purposes for participating in the ranking: it provides a picture of the university's sustainability work and highlights what could be improved, and it compares the university's sustainability performance with that of other higher education institutions. But above all, the purpose is to facilitate the work to contribute to the implementation of the global sustainability goals, which is part of the realisation of the university's vision,&rdquo; says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Improvements and deteriorations</h2><p>Breaking down this year's results into the different categories reveals both improvements and deteriorations compared to previous years, with an increase in six objectives, a deterioration in ten objectives and one objective remaining in the same position as last year.&nbsp;</p><p>The university has <strong>lost the most</strong> in the objectives:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Gender Equality (goal 5).</li><li>Sustainable cities and communities (goal 11).</li><li>Sustainable consumption and production (goal 12).</li><li>Peace, justice and strong institutions (goal 16).</li></ul><p>&nbsp;The <strong>largest increase</strong> has occurred in the goals:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Affordable and clean energy (goal 7).</li><li>Climate action (goal 13).</li><li>Partnership for the goals (goal 17).</li></ul><p>However, this year's results are not fully comparable with those of previous years, as some changes have been made to the system.</p><p>&ldquo;But we are taking the results on board, analysing them and will develop a plan for how we can work in the best way to improve where we are weaker and where we have lost ground. Our goal is to reach the top 100 range,&rdquo; says Tora Holmberg.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">EC2U universities rank high</h2><p>A total of four Swedish universities are affiliated with the ranking. Of them, Ume&aring; University is in third place.</p><p>As the university is now part of the European Alliance of City-Universities, EC2U, it is interesting to follow the rankings among the other participating members. It can be noted that Ume&aring; University is second best among them and that one of the other universities, the University of Coimbra, is in 80th place.</p><p>&ldquo;It's great to see that one of our partner universities is so high. It may of course be interesting to talk more with them about how they work with the sustainability goals,&rdquo; says Tora Holmberg.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="7776036a-eb84-4935-a42f-8e45525288c6" data-contentname="FACTS">{}</div>/en/news/umea-university-within-the-same-range-in-sustainability-ranking_12115633//en/news/umea-university-climbs-in-qs-ranking_12115676/The QS World University Ranking has released its results. Umeå University has climbed 55 places and is thus one of three Swedish universities that have increased compared to last year. There has been a particularly strong increase in sustainability. “It is very positive that we are increasing, but at the same time we obviously have some work left to do,” says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University. Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:08:55 +0200<p>QS World University Rankings ranks in several indicators, ranging from sustainability to education, research, academic reputation, citations and employability. On 19 June, this year's results were released and show that Ume&aring; University is ranked 401, which is an improvement of 55 places compared to last year. In total, 1501 universities in the world are ranked in this year's edition.</p><p>Ume&aring; University is ranked eighth out of all eight participating Swedish universities, the same as last year. But Ume&aring; University is also one of the few Swedish universities to have risen, the others being Uppsala University (up ten places) and Lund University (up three places), while the rest have dropped places in this year's ranking.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Decreased and increased</h2><p>Compared to the partner universities in the European Campus of City-Universities, EC2U, participating in the ranking, Ume&aring; University is in the middle, below University of Coimbra (Portugal) and University of Turku (Finland), but higher than Universit&agrave; degli Studi di Pavia (Italy) and Universit&auml;t Jena (Germany).</p><p>The indicators where Ume&aring; University<strong> lost positions</strong> are:</p><ul><li>International research network, &nbsp;</li><li>Academic reputation. &nbsp;</li><li>International Students. &nbsp;</li><li>Citations per Faculty.</li></ul><p>As of this year, the university is ranked in more reputation indicators, where it is not so high. Ume&aring; University also ranks low in the new International Student Diversity indicator.</p><p class="quote-center">It is very positive that we have increased so much in sustainability and that we are climbing in the ranking at all.</p><p>Ume&aring; University has, however, <strong>increased its score and ranking</strong> on the indicators: &nbsp;</p><ul><li>Faculty Student Ratio. &nbsp;</li><li>International Faculty.</li><li>Sustainability. &nbsp;</li></ul><p>The sustainability indicator is particularly strong as Ume&aring; University has increased 265 places &ndash; from position 478 last year to position 213 this year.&nbsp;</p><p>"It is very positive that we have increased so much in sustainability and that we are climbing in the ranking at all. But we also realise that we have a lot to work on, including reputation. Not least because we know that it weighs heavily in rankings like these and is a measure that increases awareness and makes Ume&aring; University's research and education more visible in our surroundings," says Tora Holmberg, Vice-chancellor at Ume&aring; University.&nbsp;</p><p><a title="ranking" href="https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings">Se all the ranking results.&nbsp;</a></p>/en/news/umea-university-climbs-in-qs-ranking_12115676//en/news/laura-carroll-awarded-future-research-leader-grant--receives-15-million-sek-to-resolve-microbiomes-at-the-single-cell-level_12115356/Laura Carroll, who joined Umeå University in 2022 with expertise in bioinformatics, has been selected as one of Sweden’s “Future Research Leaders” by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF. Combining computational tools with biological data, she wants to resolve microbiomes at the single-cell level.Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:23:07 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/carroll_laura_220913_hkn-123.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/carroll_laura_220913_hkn-123.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/carroll_laura_220913_hkn-123.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/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/carroll_laura_220913_hkn-123.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/carroll_laura_220913_hkn-123.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/carroll_laura_220913_hkn-123.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Laura Carroll, Assitant Professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology and fellow at SciLifeLab&rsquo;s Data Driven Life Science, DDLS, in Ume&aring;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">I&rsquo;ve never been anywhere as welcoming and collaborative, and it&rsquo;s this environment that makes exciting research like this possible.</p><p>Laura Carroll is one of 16 researchers chosen from 213 applicants to receive this competitive award, which provides SEK 15 million over five years, including leadership training, to support promising research leaders. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&ldquo;I'm excited because I've never had any formal leadership training before, so I'm looking forward to learning new ideas, techniques, and skills,&rdquo; says Laura Carroll, Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology, and fellow via SciLifeLab&rsquo;s Data Driven Life Science, DDLS.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>Her project, &ldquo;Maximising microbiome resolution with singel-cell genomics&rdquo;, aims to provide microbiologists with methods to sequence the genome of every single cell in a microbiome, allowing them to determine which species or strains are present, and which genes they carry, at maximum resolution.<br><br>&ldquo;It is a fundamental question in microbiome research, but answering this question is really challenging, as current state-of-the-art methods lack resolution and/or throughput,&rdquo; Laura Carroll explains. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>To overcome some of the challenges, her group, together with collaborators at Ume&aring; University, including <a href="~/link/4ff513f074d14351928252bedfaa73e6.aspx">Johan Henriksson&rsquo;s group</a>, recently developed a new method that can produce up to a million bacterial genomes from a single sample. This method, described in <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.06.20.660799v1">a preprint</a>, provides unprecedented resolution, and could transform how microbiomes are studied.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/henriksson_johan_5595-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/henriksson_johan_5595-250130-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/henriksson_johan_5595-250130-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/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/henriksson_johan_5595-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/henriksson_johan_5595-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/88956e72d1f34043ab78513ab064eea9/henriksson_johan_5595-250130-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Laur Carroll collaborates with Johan Henriksson's research group in her project.&nbsp;</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;Now, with the support from SSF, we'll be taking our method to the next level by developing novel computational methods to make sense of massive amounts of data.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>It is her hope that the methods developed through this project will allow microbiologists to gain maximum-resolution insights into microbiomes, which could improve infectious disease treatment and surveillance, as well as lead to the developement of microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics.<br><br>&ldquo;This grant comes at the perfect time,&rdquo; she adds. &ldquo;Until now, our teams have made tremendous progress by pooling our resources, but to take this work to the next level, we need to grow. SSF&rsquo;s support will allow us to expand our team and advance our methods even further.&rdquo;<br><br>Laura Carroll highlights the collaborative atmosphere at Ume&aring; University as key to the success of this project: &ldquo;I love how collaborative Ume&aring; University researchers are! I&rsquo;ve never been anywhere as welcoming and collaborative, and it&rsquo;s this environment that makes exciting research like this possible.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/laura-carroll-awarded-future-research-leader-grant--receives-15-million-sek-to-resolve-microbiomes-at-the-single-cell-level_12115356//en/news/christina-storm-mienna-elected-new-secretary-of-the-uarctic-assembly_12114037/At the UArctic Assembly in Inari, Finland, on June 9, Christina Storm Mienna, Director of Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research at Umeå University, was elected the new Secretary of the UArctic Assembly. She succeeds Lena Maria Nilsson, Research Coordinator at the Arctic Centre, Umeå University, who was thanked for her long-standing contributions to UArctic over more than a decade, most recently as Secretary.Mon, 23 Jun 2025 11:41:24 +0200<p class="quote-center">It is an important forum for cooperation, sustainable development, and for promoting inclusive research environments in the Arctic</p><p>The UArctic Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the University of the Arctic &ndash; an international network of nearly 200 universities and research institutions from around the world. As Secretary, Christina Storm Mienna takes on an honorary role that includes insight into and responsibility for the organization&rsquo;s strategic decisions. In addition to duties at the annual Assembly meetings, the Secretary is also part of the interim decision-making body, Toyon, which handles urgent matters between meetings.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/vardduo_konferens_img_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/vardduo_konferens_img_32.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/vardduo_konferens_img_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/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/vardduo_konferens_img_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/vardduo_konferens_img_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/vardduo_konferens_img_32.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Christina Storm Mienna talar vid invigningen av konferensen Insikt och utblick</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Per Melander</span></div></div><p>"I am honored to have been elected Secretary of the UArctic Assembly. It is an important forum for cooperation, sustainable development, and for promoting inclusive research environments in the Arctic. I look forward to contributing to this work", says Christina Storm Mienna.<br><br>Cristina has long been engaged in Arctic cooperation and Indigenous research, including through her work in the Arctic Human Health Expert Group (AHHEG) under the Arctic Council&rsquo;s Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG), and as Sweden&rsquo;s representative in the Standing Committee on Indigenous Involvement (SCII) within the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). She is also a member of NordForsk&rsquo;s working group on Indigenous research guidelines.<br><br><a href="~/link/55ae7f2966514cfb96a9a1a7153d5aaa.aspx?epslanguage=en">Christina Storm Mienna</a> is part of the research network of affiliated researchers at the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University and was nominated for the position by Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre.</p><h3><a href="https://www.uarctic.org/about-us/organization/">More information about UArctic and its vision</a><br><br></h3><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/uarctic_assembly_2025_group_photo_2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/uarctic_assembly_2025_group_photo_2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/uarctic_assembly_2025_group_photo_2.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/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/uarctic_assembly_2025_group_photo_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/uarctic_assembly_2025_group_photo_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/6f8eb84de25346a5af32d2daa93b8f5c/uarctic_assembly_2025_group_photo_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>UArctic 2025<br>Image:Hannele Palviainen</p></div></div>/en/news/christina-storm-mienna-elected-new-secretary-of-the-uarctic-assembly_12114037//en/news/expedition-maps-risks-of-balthicseabed-mining_12113617/This year’s winner of the USBE Research Institute Scientific Award is Angelos Kostis! The award was established to promote research within USBE, and the idea behind the scientific award is to celebrate scientific writing as well as highlight high-quality research in the field.Thu, 19 Jun 2025 11:16:06 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/db558dddf2994118968b3d7882854e8e/angelos_kostis3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/db558dddf2994118968b3d7882854e8e/angelos_kostis3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/db558dddf2994118968b3d7882854e8e/angelos_kostis3.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/db558dddf2994118968b3d7882854e8e/angelos_kostis3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/db558dddf2994118968b3d7882854e8e/angelos_kostis3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/db558dddf2994118968b3d7882854e8e/angelos_kostis3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Angelos Kostis</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Private</span></div></div><p>Marie Wiberg, Chair of the USBE Research Institute:<br>&ldquo;Angelos Kostis has published high-quality research in leading international journals, while also building an extensive international network and achieving great success in securing research funding. His scientific contributions make him a truly deserving recipient of this year&rsquo;s USBE Scientific Award.&rdquo;</p><p>Angelos Kostis, recipient of the USBE Research Institute Scientific Award:<br>&ldquo;The scientific award is a recognition that reflects a collective accomplishment and the support of I've received from the University, the department, my colleagues, my co-authors, and my students. Receiving such an award is the outcome of a collective commitment to an environment where curiosity is valued, ambition is wisely nurtured, individual wins are seen as manifestations of teamwork successes and care is generously guaranteed. Thank you very much for the USBE Scientific Award, which is a big honour, but nothing else than a manifestation of teamwork, success and care.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Jury&rsquo;s Motivation</h2><p>&ldquo;The idea behind the Award is to celebrate scientific writing and to distinguish high-quality research. Since defending his award-winning doctoral thesis in 2020, Kostis has produced remarkable research output, both in terms of quantity and quality. His work has been consistently published in high-ranked and well-recognized international journals. In addition, Kostis has established a broad international network for collaboration with researchers at world-leading universities and has successfully secured research funding.</p><p>Overall, the achievements of Angelos Kostis make him a truly well-deserved recipient of the Scientific Award for 2025.&rdquo;</p>/en/news/usbe-research-institute-scientific-award-2025_12114049//en/news/exploring-future-food-through-science-and-education_12113226/This autumn, Umeå University is hosting two highly relevant conferences focusing on future eating habits, health, and the role of schools in food education. Researchers, educators, decision-makers, and other interested parties are welcome to join these events that combine science, practice, and societal perspectives.Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:01:52 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/3260e6cdd8ab4fe1a26cd664cbf0537e/kostvetenskap_9552_180124_mpn_kopia2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3260e6cdd8ab4fe1a26cd664cbf0537e/kostvetenskap_9552_180124_mpn_kopia2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3260e6cdd8ab4fe1a26cd664cbf0537e/kostvetenskap_9552_180124_mpn_kopia2.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/3260e6cdd8ab4fe1a26cd664cbf0537e/kostvetenskap_9552_180124_mpn_kopia2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/3260e6cdd8ab4fe1a26cd664cbf0537e/kostvetenskap_9552_180124_mpn_kopia2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/3260e6cdd8ab4fe1a26cd664cbf0537e/kostvetenskap_9552_180124_mpn_kopia2.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;">Mattias Pettersson</span></p></div></div><p>In September and October, the role of food in society takes center stage at two conferences addressing current issues from both research and applied perspectives. One focuses on plant-based fermentation and sustainable food production, while the other explores meals and learning in school environments. Both conferences are organized by the Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary science at Ume&aring; University and welcome both national and international participants.</p><h3>September 8 &ndash; International Symposium on Plant-Based Fermented Foods</h3><p>The symposium&nbsp;&ldquo;Plant-Based Fermented Foods: Present and Future&rdquo;&nbsp;brings together researchers and experts in microbiology, fermentation, nutrition, social sciences, and consumer behavior. The event is part of the EU-funded HealthFerm project and offers an interdisciplinary program featuring keynote lectures, research presentations, and networking opportunities.<br>Topics include microbial processes, health effects, consumer insights, and ethnographic perspectives on fermentation. <br><strong>Guest speakers:<br></strong>- Associate Professor D. Giacalone: <em>Diverse perceptions: How sensory quality and personal factors drive acceptance of (fermented) plant-based foods</em><br>- Professor D. Nielsen: <em>Enhancing the nutritional and eating quality of plant-based fermented foods using Bacillus and moulds</em></p><p><a href="~/link/b149efc213e34f6d8534f33c75a6251b.aspx"><em>Read more and register here.</em></a></p><h3>October 10 &ndash; Nordic Conference on Food, Meals, and Learning in Schools</h3><p>The Nordic conference&nbsp;&ldquo;Food, Meals, and Learning in Schools&rdquo;&nbsp;targets researchers, educators, and policymakers interested in the role of school meals in education, health, and sustainable development. Participation is possible either on-site in Ume&aring; or online via Zoom.<br>The conference focuses on both challenges and opportunities related to school meals, learning environments, and collaboration between research and practice.</p><p><a href="~/link/0cd3ac076eb04dc5a8fb38f3b1641137.aspx"><em>Read more and register here.</em></a></p><p>Both events offer unique opportunities for knowledge exchange, inspiration, and networking across scientific, educational, and national boundaries.</p>/en/news/exploring-future-food-through-science-and-education_12113226//en/news/sailing-for-science-umea-students-on-the-one-ocean-expedition_12113603/In early spring 2025, master’s and PhD students from Umeå University were able to apply for a month-long course onboard the ship S/S Statsraad Lehmkuhl, which will voyage across the north-west passage as a part of the One Ocean Expedition. Among the applications, two participants from Umeå University were selected.Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:41:20 +0200<p>After the application deadline on 7 April, the hosting university UiT &ndash; the Arctic University of Norway selected two participants from Ume&aring; University: Lena Leimgruber and Nikiforos Staveris. Lena Leimgruber is a Doctoral candidate in Language Studies, and Nikiforos Staveris is a Master student in Computer Science. They will board the ship in September and voyage between Cambridge Bay, Canada and Whittier, Alaska. Onboard, they will take part on the course &ldquo;Arctic Future Pathfinders &ndash; A journey through the Northwest Passage&rdquo;.</p><p>Lena Leimgruber is a Doctoral candidate in English literature at Department of Language Studies at Ume&aring; University. Her research focuses on speculative fiction, postcolonial literature and ecocriticism, with a focus on the Arctic.</p><p>Nikiforos Staveris has a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in computer science from the Athens University of Economics and Business, and studies the master&rsquo;s program in Artificial Intelligence at Department of Computer Science at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>The course &ldquo;Arctic Future Pathfinders &ndash; A journey through the Northwest Passage&rdquo; is a 10 ECTS course for master&rsquo;s and PhD students. It is linked to Norway&rsquo;s Arctic Ocean 2050 initiative and the upcoming International Polar Year in 2032/33, aiming to train students and young academics to become essential Arctic researchers.</p><h3>Representing The Arctic Six</h3><p>The hosting university is one of the Arctic universities within the alliance The Arctic Six. They tasked all other Arctic Six universities to nominate researchers or students to the expedition, which enabled people from Ume&aring; University to apply. The Arctic Six is represented on the voyage by at least one participant from each university.</p><p><a href="https://www.oneoceanexpedition.com/">More about the One Ocean Expedition</a></p><p><a href="https://www.arcticsix.org/">More about The Arctic Six</a></p>/en/news/sailing-for-science-umea-students-on-the-one-ocean-expedition_12113603//en/news/how-small-changes-in-atoms-improve-hydrogen-production_12113583/Researchers at Umeå University have identified the inner workings of a highly efficient and stable catalyst for hydrogen production, a process central to many sustainable energy initiatives.Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:28:51 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d29b8807829142da85ce4f87194adda9/mouna-rafei-press-release3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d29b8807829142da85ce4f87194adda9/mouna-rafei-press-release3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d29b8807829142da85ce4f87194adda9/mouna-rafei-press-release3.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/d29b8807829142da85ce4f87194adda9/mouna-rafei-press-release3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d29b8807829142da85ce4f87194adda9/mouna-rafei-press-release3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d29b8807829142da85ce4f87194adda9/mouna-rafei-press-release3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mouna Rafei, doctoral student at the Department of Physics.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Eduardo Gracia</span></div></div><p>In a recently published study in the scientific journal Communications Materials, researchers have found a way to improve catalysts for water electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen to generate clean fuel.</p><p>The study tackles a long-standing mystery: how can catalysts made of nickel, iron and molybdenum maintain their exceptional activity and continue to efficiently split water, even after a significant portion of their molybdenum is lost during operation.</p><p>Hydrogen is an excellent energy source, and its production from water through electrolysis forms the basis of several sustainable energy initiatives. The problem has been that the catalysts responsible for generating oxygen often wear out under harsh operational conditions, a major limitation for widespread adoption.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Works even after losing components</h2><p>For years, the activity and stability of these nickel-iron-molybdenum catalysts has been a puzzle: How could they maintain their exceptional performance even after molybdenum, a key component, washed away?</p><p>The key lies in subtle but critical changes in how the atoms are arranged. When molybdenum is present at the start, it influences how nickel and iron are positioned in the material.</p><p>&ldquo;You can think of it like stretching a perfect diamond into a slightly enlarged shape. This makes it easier for the catalyst to react with water and form compounds that are important for splitting water,&rdquo; says Mouna Rafei, first author of the study.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Like building a stable foundation</h2><p>Interestingly, even after molybdenum has disappeared, these changes in the atomic structure remain. It is like building a stable foundation: even after removing the scaffolding, the structure still stands and works as it should.</p><p>These results will guide the development of even more robust and cost-effective catalysts for water electrolysis, and may also inspire similar strategies for designing durable catalysts in other electrochemical applications.</p><p>&ldquo;We were able to understand what the role of molybdenum is, and why we need it in our material even if it eventually washes away,&rdquo; says Eduardo Gracia, senior author of the study. &nbsp;&ldquo;This makes us wonder if there are other, more accessible chemical elements or processes that could create similar distortions. Our results suggest that other materials might experience similar effects if molybdenum, or other elements, are added. In a way, this opens new routes to design entirely new types of catalysts.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="eceefd30-8fc3-41dc-8ab5-ac608bd28297" data-contentname="Explanation of terms">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="e650138f-17c5-477f-8c94-2c27b40a6f32" data-contentname="About the scientific study">{}</div>/en/news/how-small-changes-in-atoms-improve-hydrogen-production_12113583//en/news/here-is-the-new-academic-leadership-at-umea-university_12109811/A new research project at the Department of Geography has received nearly six million SEK from Formas to investigate how social infrastructure can enhance social inclusion in small villages located in sparsely populated areas in Sweden, Austria, and Australia. The project, led by Doris Carson, is based on international collaboration and comparative case studies looking at how to develop sustainable and inclusive social meeting spaces for local communities.Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:58:43 +0200<h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">A growing need for social meeting places</h2><p>In many small rural villages, opportunities for social interaction have declined over time largely because schools, shops, and other key meeting places have shut down or vanished. The project "<a href="~/link/7332e45ae2bd45bba6210e2ac1244444.aspx">Social futures of small villages</a>" will investigate how villages can rebuild and expand social infrastructure that strengthens inclusion, particularly for groups at risk of social exclusion.</p><p class="quote-center">With this project, we want to contribute to strengthening the capacity of the villages themselves to create inclusive social environments.</p><p>&ldquo;We can see how the loss of social meeting places affects people, especially newcomers, the elderly, and young people,&rdquo; says Doris Carson, Associate Professor and project leader at the Department of Geography.&nbsp;&ldquo;With this project, we want to contribute to strengthening the capacity of the villages themselves to create inclusive social environments. Key to this is recognising that village communities are diverse and constantly changing as a result of migration and mobility. This also means that the places and modes of social interaction are changing. New social infrastructure solutions will need to include a range of formats that meet the needs of different village populations, not just traditional physical spaces, but also mobile, temporary, and technological ways of connecting people.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">An International Research Collaboration</h2><p>The project is a collaboration between Ume&aring; University, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg in Austria, and the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. By studying villages in different countries and sharing ideas and experiences, the researchers aim to co-create new models for social infrastructure.</p><p>&ldquo;The international collaboration is crucial,&rdquo; emphasises co-investigator Dean Carson, who has long-standing research connections in rural Australia and is currently a visiting professor at Ume&aring; University&rsquo;s Department of Epidemiology and Global Health.&nbsp;&ldquo;Small villages look different depending on culture and social systems, and we have a lot to learn from each other. By connecting villages from different countries, we hope to develop and exchange ideas that really work in practice.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">From Research to Change</h2><p>The researchers will apply an innovative method known as a &ldquo;social festival,&rdquo; where village residents engage in an ongoing dialogue about social inclusion, identify barriers, and co-design ideas for new social spaces. The project will culminate in a festival day in each country, during which the results will be shared and ideas disseminated to additional villages and municipalities.</p><p class="quote-center">Our goal is to foster tangible improvements in social infrastructure and inclusion directly within the villages themselves.</p><p>Professor Andreas Koch from Paris Lodron University of Salzburg has previously worked with social festivals in peripheral villages of the Austrian Alps and emphasises the societal value of such action-oriented research methods:</p><p>&ldquo;Our goal is to foster tangible improvements in social infrastructure and inclusion directly within the villages themselves,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about scientific research but about engaging local communities and providing people the tools to shape their own social future.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">For a More Sustainable Countryside</h2><p>The project responds to Formas&rsquo; strategic agenda for sustainable spatial planning and aims to redirect attention to the lived realities and social infrastructure needs of small villages located in what&rsquo;s often referred to as declining rural peripheries. By focusing on the villagers&rsquo; own resources and engagement, the researchers seek to demonstrate how local knowledge and creativity can serve as a catalyst for development. Ultimately, the project aims to inspire more small villages to chart their own pathways forward, strengthen community cohesion, and cultivate a vibrant countryside where residents feel empowered to shape their own futures.</p><p><br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/social-infrastructure-for-inclusion_12110435//en/news/14-new-arctic-six-fellows-ready-to-shape-the-future-of-the-arctic_12110378/The university alliance The Arctic Six has recently appointed 14 new Fellows who will carry out their projects relevant to the Arctic during the academic years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027. From Umeå University, two research fellows were appointed.Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:30:35 +0200<p>Every second year, The Arctic Six appoints a new team of early-career researchers tasked with initiating new research and education projects over a two-year period. Their mandate is to find innovative ways to build interdisciplinary collaboration between six Arctic universities in Norway, Sweden and Finland.</p><p>For the academic year 2025&ndash;2026, 14 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and doctoral candidates, have received grants to conduct research. Their projects span fields such as cold climate research, climate and environmental studies, food security, education, reconciliation processes, technology, digitalisation, geography, and business development.</p><p>From Ume&aring; University, two Postdoctoral fellows were selected: Dorothee Bohn and Michel Rouleau-Dick.</p><p><a href="~/link/53e9d09e81714e4d9b8d7d273fddfc7c.aspx">Dorothee Bohn</a> is Postdoctoral fellow at Department of Geography. Her research project focuses on sustainable business strategies for Arctic regions, and aims to map how innovation and specialisation strategies, particularly in tourism, can affect employment and adaptability in Arctic regions.</p><p><a href="~/link/fd24d8340fd242b09631e7895b8d706d.aspx">Michel Rouleau-Dick</a> is Postdoctoral fellow at Department of Law. His research project asks whether digital citizenship can protect against future threats, and hopes to provide solutions for protecting minorities such as the S&aacute;mi, as well as populations in states threatened with disappearance due to climate change.</p><p><a href="https://www.arcticsix.org/arctic-six/news/news-archive/2025-06-04-14-new-arctic-six-fellows-exploring-pathways-to-the-future">Read more about all Arctic Six Fellows here</a></p>/en/news/14-new-arctic-six-fellows-ready-to-shape-the-future-of-the-arctic_12110378//en/news/umu-researchers-represented-in-uarctics-shared-voices-magazine_12109904/Earlier this year, the University of the Arctic (UArctic) published their annual magazine called “Shared Voices” where they share member research and activities related to the circumpolar North. Out the 16 articles, two of them were co-written by researchers at Umeå University.Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:03:10 +0200<p>UArctic is an organization which gathers universities, colleges, research institutes, and other organisations concerned with education and research in and about the North, with the aim to develop knowledge to address challenges in the Arctic. Ume&aring; University is one of the member institutions. In late 2024, members were asked to share their activities to the next magazine, and among the applications, two were selected from researchers at Ume&aring; University: Ylva Sj&ouml;berg and Danielle Wilde.</p><p>Ylva Sj&ouml;berg is Associate professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science. Her research focuses on how a changing climate and cryosphere impact Arctic water resources at local and regional scales. She co-authored an article for the magazine about the launched PermaIntern project, where the aim is to bridge the gap between universities and real-world permafrost work.</p><p>Danielle Wilde is Professor at Ume&aring; Institute of Design, and Arctic Six Chair. Her expertise lies in embodied design, and ways of knowing, being, and doing. Her research uses participatory, sensory, and co-creative methods to explore how direct engagement with what is at stake can inspire new ways of thinking. Her co-authored article describes a workshop where workers and authorities explored differences and challenges between policies and lived experiences.</p><p>Find more about the articles below.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="77ba9010-6c36-4ce0-b226-9c56aeed7163" data-contentname="Ylvas artikel">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="59e31985-22ac-4b5f-8eb4-50da9b3c7219" data-contentname="Danielles artikel">{}</div><p><a href="https://www.uarctic.org/about-us/shared-voices-magazine/shared-voices-2025/">Find the Shared Voices Magazine 2025 here</a></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="84f026ee-ee79-482c-b0ad-5f72aa1f6e89" data-contentname="Kontakt">{}</div>/en/news/umu-researchers-represented-in-uarctics-shared-voices-magazine_12109904//en/news/nordea-thesis-award-in-diversity-and-inclusion-2025_12109846/Alva Lind and Markus Leautwiler, students at the Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics (USBE), are the recipients of this year’s award and a prize of SEK 15,000 for their thesis “Women’s Effect on the ESG Performance.”Wed, 11 Jun 2025 12:00:28 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/nordea_bild_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/nordea_bild_13.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/nordea_bild_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/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/nordea_bild_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/nordea_bild_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/nordea_bild_13.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Alva Lind and Markus Leautwiler.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Privat</span></div></div><p>The award aims to stimulate and sustain student interest in how topics within business administration, economics, and statistics relate to diversity and inclusion. The prize, awarded as a scholarship, is made possible through USBE&rsquo;s strong collaboration with Nordea.</p><p>Fredrik Stenling, Head of the Business Banking unit at Nordea:<br>&ldquo;The winning thesis applies a gender perspective to corporate sustainability efforts. Combined with a comprehensive and well-executed empirical analysis, this has resulted in a piece of work that is truly deserving of Nordea&rsquo;s scholarship for the best thesis in the field of diversity and inclusion.&rdquo;</p><p>Alva&rsquo;s comment:<br>&ldquo;A huge thank you to USBE, and especially to Nordea! We also want to thank our supervisor Henrik H&ouml;glund for all the support and guidance throughout the thesis process. It feels amazing to receive this award &ndash; diversity and inclusion are such important topics, and we&rsquo;re happy to contribute to highlighting them.&rdquo;</p><p>Markus&rsquo; comment:<br>&ldquo;We are incredibly grateful to receive this award from Nordea and USBE. We&rsquo;re glad to see this topic being recognized. Hopefully, this can inspire others to continue shedding light on the challenges we face regarding diversity and inclusion in the business world.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Jury&rsquo;s motivation:</h2><p>&ldquo;The thesis addresses a relevant and timely question regarding the relationship between female board members and ESG scores in publicly listed European companies, as diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly central to corporate success and sustainability. The results and conclusions are both current and practically applicable.</p><p>The authors not only highlight the challenges of achieving board diversity but also offer potential solutions and examples of best practices. This contributes to a deeper understanding of how companies can actively work with diversity and inclusion to improve their ESG performance, which in turn can lead to increased corporate value and societal benefit.&rdquo;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/usbe_graduation-ceeremony-2113-250605-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/usbe_graduation-ceeremony-2113-250605-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/usbe_graduation-ceeremony-2113-250605-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/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/usbe_graduation-ceeremony-2113-250605-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/usbe_graduation-ceeremony-2113-250605-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/8a166ffb740a4c94b0d046baecdaddb1/usbe_graduation-ceeremony-2113-250605-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Markus and Alva receive the award from the Dean of USBE Mats Bergman.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div>/en/news/nordea-thesis-award-in-diversity-and-inclusion-2025_12109846//en/news/highest-number-of-newly-admitted-doctoral-students--women-in-the-majority_12101014/There has been an increase in the number of new doctoral students at Umeå University. Every faculty had more women than men among newly admitted doctoral students last year.Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:33:13 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/31a72617d24042678155a354852a8b11/campus-8298-240625-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/31a72617d24042678155a354852a8b11/campus-8298-240625-mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/31a72617d24042678155a354852a8b11/campus-8298-240625-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/31a72617d24042678155a354852a8b11/campus-8298-240625-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/31a72617d24042678155a354852a8b11/campus-8298-240625-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/31a72617d24042678155a354852a8b11/campus-8298-240625-mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>There are more newly admitted doctoral students at Ume&aring; University.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>In 2024, 210 new doctoral students were admitted to the University, which is the highest number in 10 years. Compared with 2022, this represents a 7.1 per cent increase.</p><p>The number of active doctoral students last year totalled 1,042, which was an increase of 20 per cent compared with 2020. At the Faculty of Social Sciences, the number of active doctoral students increased by nearly 60 per cent between 2020 and 2024.</p><h3>Attractive place to develop</h3><p>For the first time since 2019, last year the Faculty of Science and Technology had more women than men among new doctoral students &ndash; 51 per cent were women.</p><p>At the Faculty of Medicine, women made up 66 per cent of newly admitted doctoral students during the same period.</p><p>&ldquo;It is encouraging that Ume&aring; University and the Faculty of Medicine are seen as an attractive place to develop as a researcher. We are constantly working to improve the work environment for doctoral students and increase opportunities for work-life balance,&rdquo; says Ann S&ouml;rlin, Director of Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine.</p><p>She emphasises that both the number of newly admitted doctoral students and the proportion of women among these have varied greatly in recent years at the faculty. In 2020, 68 per cent of newly admitted doctoral students were women; in 2023, the percentage decreased to 59 per cent and then increased again to 66 per cent in 2024. There is no clear trend, according to Ann S&ouml;rlin.</p><p>&ldquo;At the Faculty of Medicine, the number of newly admitted doctoral students is often a reflection of researchers having received external research grants.&rdquo;</p><h3>More women complete their doctoral degrees</h3><p>Since 2021, there have been more women than men among doctoral students in the country as a whole. More women than men have also completed a doctoral degree in the last three years in Sweden. The gender distribution among all graduating doctoral students in Sweden in 2023 was 50 per cent women and 50 per cent men.</p>/en/news/highest-number-of-newly-admitted-doctoral-students--women-in-the-majority_12101014//en/news/spectroscopy-expert-appointed-honorary-doctor-at-umea-university_12105687/Professor Kevin K. Lehmann from the University of Virginia, USA, has been appointed honorary doctor at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Umeå University for 2025. He is recognised for his strong commitment to research at the Department of Physics and for his important contributions to spectroscopy.Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:00:09 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Kevin K. Lehmann, University of Virginia.</p></div></div><p>&ldquo;I was very surprised and grateful for the honor. I associate honorary doctorates with individuals of outstanding accomplishments which, to be honest, isn&rsquo;t how I usually think about myself. It&rsquo;s moving to know that my contributions to the field of spectroscopy are so highly valued,&rdquo; says Kevin K. Lehmann.</p><p>Kevin K. Lehmann is an internationally recognised expert in molecular spectroscopy &ndash; a technique that uses laser light to study how molecules behave and interact. His research has influenced both fundamental science and real-world applications, such as measuring greenhouse gases, analysing human breath for medical purposes, and monitoring industrial chemical processes.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Returns to Ume&aring;</h2><p>His connection to Ume&aring; University began in 2017 when he met Professor Aleksandra Foltynowicz at a conference in Europe. Their shared scientific interests quickly led to a collaboration that continues to this day. He first visited Ume&aring; in 2019 and has since returned several times, most recently for a six-month sabbatical which ended in March 2025.</p><p>His influence and close collaboration have led to a new research orientation at the department, which has gained significant international recognition and resulted in the awarding of several major research grants as well as multiple high-impact publications.</p><p>&ldquo;Professor Lehmann has played a key role in the development of a new line of research in our group,&rdquo; says Aleksandra Foltynowicz. &ldquo;His ideas helped us use our frequency comb method to tackle some unresolved problems in molecular spectroscopy, and his generous and collaborative spirit has been a real source of inspiration &ndash; not least for our doctoral students and postdocs.&rdquo;</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">&ldquo;Followed my curiosity&rdquo;</h2><p>During his time in Ume&aring;, Professor Lehmann has not only worked closely with the lab team, but also given lectures for students and shared his expertise.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always followed my own curiosity and worked on questions that seemed important to me &ndash; sometimes in unconventional ways,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Collaborating with researchers at other universities has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. That&rsquo;s why this recognition from Ume&aring; University feels especially meaningful.&rdquo;</p><p>The installation of the faculty's new honorary doctorate will take place at Ume&aring; University's Annual Celebration in October.</p>/en/news/spectroscopy-expert-appointed-honorary-doctor-at-umea-university_12105687//en/news/one-single-rule-helps-explain-life-from-ocean-depths-to-open-savannas_12106068/A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution has found a simple rule that seems to govern how life is organised on Earth. The researchers believe this rule helps explain why species are spread the way they are across the planet. The discovery will help to understand life on Earth – including how ecosystems respond to global environmental changes.Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:05 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Rub&eacute;n Bernardo-Madrid, Department of Physics, is the lead author of the study.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Gabrielle Beans</span></div></div><p>At first glance, Earth seems like a collection of wildly different worlds. Each region has its own species and environmental conditions. Yet, beneath this variety, there is a universal organising pattern, new research led from Ume&aring; University shows. This finding can help scientists explore how biodiversity has been shaped through time and how biodiversity can response against global change.</p><p>The planet is divided into large biogeographical regions, or bioregions, separated by oceans, mountain ranges or extreme climates. These barriers limit the movement of species, turning each region into a natural experiment where distinct groups of species have evolved under different conditions, timescales, and histories.</p><p class="quote-center">It seems these cores provide optimal conditions for species survival and diversification.</p><p>In this study, an international collaboration of research institutions from Sweden, Spain, and the UK examined species from very different life forms in bioregions across the world: amphibians, birds, dragonflies, mammals, marine rays, reptiles, and trees. Given the vast differences in life strategies &ndash; some species fly, others crawl, swim, or remain rooted &ndash; and the contrasting environmental and historical backgrounds of each bioregion, the researchers expected that patterns of species distribution would vary widely across bioregions. Surprisingly, they found the same pattern everywhere.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>The researchers were surprised to find that the pattern of species distribution was the same, regardless of the life form.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Wirestock/Freepik</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;In every bioregion, there is always a core area where most species live. From that core, species expand into surrounding areas, but only a subset manages to persist. It seems these cores provide optimal conditions for species survival and diversification, acting as a source from which biodiversity radiates outward,&rdquo; explains Rub&eacute;n Bernardo-Madrid, lead author and researcher at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>These findings support the disproportionate ecological role that some small areas play in sustaining the biodiversity of entire bioregions, and their conservation value.</p><p>The research also identifies the plausible mechanisms driving this pattern: the environmental filtering &ndash; the principle that only species able to tolerate local conditions, like heat or drought, can survive and colonise new areas. While this has long been a central theory in ecology, global empirical evidence has been scarce. This study provides broad confirmation across multiple branches of life and at a planetary scale.</p><p>&ldquo;The predictability of the pattern and its association with environmental filters can help to understand better how biodiversity may respond to global change,&rdquo; says Joaqu&iacute;n Calatayud, co-author from Rey Juan Carlos University.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="8971d0f2-f0a4-4a4d-9539-b338316da5ba" data-contentname="About the study">{}</div>/en/news/one-single-rule-helps-explain-life-from-ocean-depths-to-open-savannas_12106068//en/news/umea-university--2025-international-masters-graduates_12105617/On the afternoon of Tuesday, 27 May, Umeå University proudly honoured the achievements of nearly 300 students from 38 international master’s programmes at its annual Graduation Ceremony. This year’s event held special significance as it marked the inaugural ceremony led by newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg, who offered inspiring words of encouragement to the graduates as they embarked on their next journey.Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:11:49 +0200<p>Before a packed Aula Nordica auditorium at Campus Ume&aring;, master&rsquo;s degree students from around 50 countries proudly celebrated their achievements, joined by more than 600 guests, faculty, and staff. Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg delivered an inspiring graduation address, offering words of encouragement and advice.</p><p class="quote-center">The world needs people like you who dare to innovate, to care, who want to make a difference.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9099-250527-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9099-250527-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9099-250527-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/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9099-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9099-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9099-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg delivers an address to the 2025 international master's graduates.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>"The best thing about knowledge is that it stays with you for a very long time," said Tora Holmberg. "It is through knowledge that we enrich our lives, but also how we change the world around us. The world needs people like you who dare to innovate, to care, who want to make a difference. Even if you travel further afield, I hope you will remember Ume&aring; University. Our doors will always be open to you.&rdquo;</p><p>This year's student speaker was Linde Wits from the Netherlands, who is graduating from the Master's Programme in Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology. She spoke about her strong desire to connect to people&rsquo;s well-being, which she found again at Ume&aring; University, in addition to enjoying the small feel of a big green campus and vibrant sports culture.</p><p class="quote-center">I really feel that I&rsquo;ve found a second home here, and it has truly been a joy to study again.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9767-250527-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9767-250527-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9767-250527-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/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9767-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9767-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-9767-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Linde Wits delivered the student speech to her fellow graduates and hundreds of guests at the 2025 Graduation Ceremony.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p><br>"I really feel that I&rsquo;ve found a second home here, and it has truly been a joy to study again," said Linde Wits to her fellow graduates. "I hope each of you has found something meaningful in your time here &ndash; something that has made this experience uniquely yours."</p><p>The alumni speaker was Emma F&auml;llman, who has bachelor&rsquo;s degree in law from Ume&aring; University and currently works as an attorney at her own law firm. She primarily represents women who have experienced violence and sexual abuse. During her studies, she had the invaluable opportunity to study abroad in both Copenhagen and Cambridge, experiences that have greatly enriched her professional career.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-0445-250527-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-0445-250527-mpn.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-0445-250527-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/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-0445-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-0445-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/a2f5a52f219242ab997bf8c9d46517a8/graduationceremony_ceremony-0445-250527-mpn.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Attorney Emma F&auml;llman delivered an inspiring alumni speech at the Graduation Ceremony 2025 in Aula Nordica.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">We live in a world where democracy and human rights cannot be taken for granted.</p><p>"Each one of you are role models - always remember that!" said Emma F&auml;llman. "We live in a world where democracy and human rights cannot be taken for granted. And it&rsquo;s we together in our global community, who have to stand up for, defend, and fight for development."<br><br>The ceremony featured three vocal performances by members of the Ume&aring; Student Choir, a respected ensemble that plays a vital role at various ceremonies at Ume&aring; University and Ume&aring;&rsquo;s cultural scene.&nbsp; Following the formal ceremony, students and guests gathered for a celebratory mingle, enjoying refreshments, and had the opportunity to capture memorable moments at the highly popular photo booth.<br><br>The annual Graduation Ceremony for International Master's Programmes is proudly organized by the International Office.<br><br><a title="Recording of the Graduation Ceremony 2025" href="https://live.mediaflow.com/34NE0ST29X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch a recording of the Graduation Ceremony 2025</a></p>/en/news/umea-university--2025-international-masters-graduates_12105617//en/news/new-ai-research-secures-privacy_12105625/Empathy is often seen as a natural and essential part of the patient encounter – but reality tends to look quite different. In a new doctoral thesis from Umeå University, doctors describe how not only time pressure, but also the structure of medical education and the culture of the workplace, can make it difficult to live up to the ideal.Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:00:04 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"></div><div class="bildText"><p>Johanna Von Knorring.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Hans Karlsson</span></div></div><p>In her thesis, Johanna von Knorring interviewed medical students, practicing doctors, and patients about how they experience and understand empathy in healthcare. The results show that empathy is relational and constantly changing &ndash; and that it is influenced by far more than an individual doctor&rsquo;s will or personality.</p><p>Participants in the study describe empathy as difficult to define, yet a natural part of a good healthcare encounter. It involves being present, listening actively and meeting the patient as a whole person &ndash; not just as a diagnosis. For patients, an empathetic approach can help create safety, trust and greater involvement in their own care.</p><p class="quote-center">There is a clash between what you&rsquo;ve been taught to strive for and what you&rsquo;re actually able to do in your daily work.</p><p>Although empathy is considered an ideal, the study highlights how difficult it can be to achieve in everyday practice. Medical students say that empathy is given attention in the early stages of their education, but once they enter the clinical environment, they face a reality shaped by time constraints, documentation demands and a strong focus on technical and medical efficiency &ndash; all of which make it harder to remain empathetically present.</p><p>&ldquo;There is a clash between what you&rsquo;ve been taught to strive for and what you&rsquo;re actually able to do in your daily work,&rdquo; says Johanna von Knorring, doctoral student at the Department of Clinical Sciences and the Industrial Doctoral School at Ume&aring; University.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Limited space for reflection</h2><p>Experienced doctors also describe how their empathy is negatively affected by the work environment, organisational conditions and a workplace culture that often prioritises efficiency over relational care. Many hope to serve as role models for younger colleagues &ndash; but find that there is limited space for reflection and discussion on patient interaction. At the same time, they emphasise that empathy does not disappear, but that it requires ongoing effort and support to be maintained.</p><p>Patients in the study show great understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare professionals but still call for a more person-centered approach &ndash; to be seen, heard and taken seriously. For them, empathy is not a bonus but a fundamental part of quality care.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Shared responsibility</h2><p>In summary, the thesis shows that empathy does not simply emerge in the encounter between two individuals. It is shaped by the design of medical education, workplace cultures and the values embedded in the healthcare system.</p><p>&ldquo;We need to understand empathy as something shaped and reshaped by its context. Creating better conditions for doctors to maintain and develop their empathy is a shared responsibility &ndash; one that rests with individuals, educational institutions and healthcare organisations,&rdquo; says Johanna von Knorring.</p><p><em>Johanna von Knorring&rsquo;s doctoral project has been funded by the Industrial Doctoral School at Ume&aring; University and Region V&auml;sterbotten. She is also a specialist trainee in oncology and teaches at the medical programme.</em></p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="76ffbd5d-99cb-4b75-b578-63d94a7ce6c7" data-contentname="About the public defence">{}</div><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="74b92039-6a80-4930-ba4f-6ad48cdf6752" data-contentname="Fakta Företagsforskarskolan ENG (standard)">{}</div>/en/news/doctors-struggle-with-empathy-in-a-high-pressure-work-environment_12103472//en/news/new-computational-tool-helps-to-identify-long-non-coding-rnas_12104417/An international research team, led by Jian-Feng Mao, have developed PlantLncBoost, a new computational tool that helps to identify long non-coding RNAs in plants. These RNAs are crucial for numerous biological processes but differ a lot between different plant species. PlantLncBoost addresses this challenge with very high accuracy offering new possibilities for genomic studies in plants. These findings were recently published in the journal New Phytologist.Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:59:57 +0200<p>Long non-coding RNAs, called lncRNAs, are transcribed from DNA as other RNAs but they do not carry instructions for proteins. Instead, they help controlling genes, guide plant development and are involved in plant responses to stress like drought or heat. Identifying these lncRNAs has been difficult because their genetic sequences vary a lot between different plant species.</p><p>The team around Jian-Feng Mao tackled the problem using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence that is trained on large amounts of data to find patterns. They analysed over 1,600 different features of lncRNAs and identified just three key features that could effectively distinguish lncRNAs from RNAs containing the code for a protein.</p><h3>Identification of sequence patterns using mathematical parameters</h3><p>What makes PlantLncBoost particularly innovative is its use of mathematical parameters to capture intrinsic sequence properties beyond traditional biological features. The research team used so called Fourier transformation-based approaches. That allowed them to detect patterns in the RNA sequences that are consistent across diverse plant species despite of the high variability in the genetic sequences.</p><p class="quote-center">We have developed a tool that achieves both high accuracy and strong generalization capabilities.</p><p>&ldquo;Through systematic evaluation of multiple machine learning algorithms and rigorous parameter optimization, we have developed a tool that achieves both high accuracy and strong generalization capabilities,&rdquo; explains Jian-Feng Mao, Associate professor at Ume&aring; University who established his lab at the Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre in 2023.</p><p>To make sure their new tool worked, the team tested PlantLncBoost on datasets from 20 different plant species. It correctly identified lncRNAs with over 96% accuracy, significantly outperforming existing tools. The tool even recognised nearly all 358 long lncRNAs that had been experimentally validated before, including those from twelve species that were not included in the training set used to develop the tool.</p><h3>New possibilities to analyse long non-coding RNAs across species</h3><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="45573d4b-e151-4284-b6fb-a637ada105eb" data-contentname="Xue-Chan Tian">{}</div><p>&ldquo;Developing PlantLncBoost was an exciting opportunity to apply machine learning to solve a complex biological problem,&rdquo; says first author Xue-Chan Tian, who completed this work as part of her PhD thesis at Beijing Forestry University. &ldquo;My doctoral programme focused on combining advanced computational methods with plant genomics to extract meaningful biological insights from complex sequence data.&rdquo;</p><p>The project brought together experts in genomics, bioinformatics and computer science from around the world, including researchers from Sweden, China and Brazil. The tool is now freely available to the scientific community and has been integrated in a larger analysis workflow that was developed earlier by Jian-Feng Mao&rsquo;s group. It allows not only to identify but also to characterise lncRNAs in plants. By implementing PlantLncBoost in this workflow, researchers can now identify long non-coding RNAs from different plant species much more accurate, making it easier to compare and analyse them.</p>/en/news/new-computational-tool-helps-to-identify-long-non-coding-rnas_12104417//en/news/vice-chancellor-blogs-on-the-universitys-role-in-conflicts_12103628/At Umeå University there is a course where students from all over the world can learn more about timeless crafts, cultural history and food habits in Västerbotten.Wed, 28 May 2025 16:58:06 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/75cc6fdbad12477eaeb3dc2f849e63c6/palt_slojd_img_1936-12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/75cc6fdbad12477eaeb3dc2f849e63c6/palt_slojd_img_1936-12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/75cc6fdbad12477eaeb3dc2f849e63c6/palt_slojd_img_1936-12.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/75cc6fdbad12477eaeb3dc2f849e63c6/palt_slojd_img_1936-12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/75cc6fdbad12477eaeb3dc2f849e63c6/palt_slojd_img_1936-12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/75cc6fdbad12477eaeb3dc2f849e63c6/palt_slojd_img_1936-12.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"><span class="photo">Image</span>Per Melander</span></div></div><p class="quote-left">The teaching takes place in a relaxed environment, which means that conversations are often open and personal.</p><p>Swedish Sloyd is an evening woodworking course focusing on carving and traditional woodworking culture in V&auml;sterbotten, says Magnus Wink, one of the teachers &nbsp;of the course, which is given at Ume&aring; University and is aimed at exchange students.</p><p>&ldquo;The students come from many different countries and often have no previous experience of handicrafts. They choose the course to get an insight into Swedish culture and to try their hand at crafts in a practical and creative environment,&rdquo; says Magnus Wink.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="1f45b7f0-a11e-4bbf-9f3f-cda82b1c0957" data-contentname="Sloyd and palts">{}</div><p>He says they &nbsp;want to &nbsp;pass on a piece of our Swedish cultural heritage, particularly &nbsp;linked to crafts, he continues. By working with their hands &ndash; carving and shaping wood &ndash;students get a direct experience of the expression and meaning of woodwork.</p><p>&ldquo;They will make objects such as knives, spoons and a certain &ldquo;shrink wrap&rdquo;, &nbsp;allowing them to &nbsp;try out practical techniques as well as to &nbsp;approach the cultural and historical context of wood work .</p><p>&ldquo;The course is also a place for meetings between cultures &ndash; we encourage the students to reflect on their own cultural heritage, and one evening they shared it through short presentations, &nbsp;flavours or small objects from home&rdquo;.</p><h3>What kind of response do you usually get?</h3><p>&ldquo;The response is usually very positive. For many, it is the first time they have tried woodwork &nbsp;in a practical context. They appreciate the opportunity to work with materials such as wood, to use traditional tools and to learn techniques that are new to them.</p><p>&ldquo;Several describe it as both educational and relaxing &ndash; a welcome break from more theoretical studies&rdquo;.</p><p>In conclusion, Magnus Wink says that the teaching takes place in a relaxed environment, which means that conversations are often open and personal.</p><p>&ldquo;A space is created where students from different parts of the world get the chance to compare life experiences and cultural perspectives. Through the crafts, it becomes natural to talk about differences in upbringing, landscape and traditions&rdquo;.</p><p>Before the afternoon was over, everyone also got to take part in the springtime tradition of carving willow pipes under the supervision of Niklas Wahlstr&ouml;m, one of the teachers on the course.</p>/en/news/sloyd-palt-and-pipes-made-of-willow_12099096//en/news/prestigious-award-to-umea-molecular-biologist_12102961/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Florman Prize to Changchun Chen at Umeå University. The prize sum is 135,000 SEK.Tue, 27 May 2025 13:50:05 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fd2e73ededa343cea0faed59e51690b6/changchun_chen_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fd2e73ededa343cea0faed59e51690b6/changchun_chen_23.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fd2e73ededa343cea0faed59e51690b6/changchun_chen_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/fd2e73ededa343cea0faed59e51690b6/changchun_chen_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fd2e73ededa343cea0faed59e51690b6/changchun_chen_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fd2e73ededa343cea0faed59e51690b6/changchun_chen_23.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Changchun Chen is associate professor at Department of molecular biology at Ume&aring; University</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">For me it is a signal of encouragement to keep going</p><p>&ldquo;I feel great! It was totally a surprise since there are so many excellent young scientists at Ume&aring; University and in Sweden who are doing really great research", says Changchun Cheng, associate professor at the Department of molecular biology at Ume&aring; University. &ldquo;For me it is a signal of encouragement to keep going&rdquo;.</p><p>The jury&rsquo;s motivation is &ldquo;&hellip; for having elucidated neural processes that regulate physiological and behavioural adaptations for survival under extreme living conditions using the nematode <em>C. elegans</em> as a model&rdquo;.</p><p>Changchun Chen is a molecular biologist into basic research and has worked at Ume&aring; University since the beginning of 2018. Using <em>C. elegans</em> as the primary model, he and his group focus on uncovering novel and conserved mechanisms that drive behavioural and physiological responses to stress conditions. This includes hypoxia-induced eating disorders, the remarkable tolerance of certain animals to complete oxygen deprivation, and the neuronal and immune responses to bacterial pathogens.</p><p>&ldquo;The reason why I use <em>C. elegans</em> as model system in my experiments is that it is one of the simplest animals with a nervous system, yet it is genetically very powerful, with a rich set of tools available for research&rdquo;, says Changchun Chen.</p><p>Importantly, many genes and cellular processes are highly conserved between <em>C. elegans</em> and humans, which allows researchers to gain molecular insights that can often be translated to more complex systems. Some well-known examples are programmed cell death, RNAi, and microRNAs.</p><p>Before coming to Ume&aring; University, Changchun Chen studied preventive medicine at Shanghai Medical College, followed by a doctoral thesis in yeast genetics at Ume&aring; University under the supervision of Professor Anders Bystr&ouml;m, and completed by postdoctoral training at Cambridge UK, studying neural control of aggregation behaviour in <em>C. elegans</em>.</p><p>The prize ceremony will take place on 27 November in Stockholm.</p>/en/news/prestigious-award-to-umea-molecular-biologist_12102961//en/news/swedish-trade-federations-chairpersons-award-2025_12102816/Lilly Andersson, currently in her final year of the Business and Economics program with a specialization in Trade and Logistics, has been awarded the Swedish Trade Federation’s Chairperson’s Award. The prize is presented to two outstanding students enrolled in trade-focused programs at Swedish universities.Tue, 27 May 2025 15:54:22 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/dd5f981c519f4bcea4249129e076ae89/lilly_pris_sv.ha_25_dsc055863.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/dd5f981c519f4bcea4249129e076ae89/lilly_pris_sv.ha_25_dsc055863.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/dd5f981c519f4bcea4249129e076ae89/lilly_pris_sv.ha_25_dsc055863.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/dd5f981c519f4bcea4249129e076ae89/lilly_pris_sv.ha_25_dsc055863.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/dd5f981c519f4bcea4249129e076ae89/lilly_pris_sv.ha_25_dsc055863.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/dd5f981c519f4bcea4249129e076ae89/lilly_pris_sv.ha_25_dsc055863.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Lilly Andersson.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Rickard Lindberg</span></div></div><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m incredibly grateful to receive the Chairperson&rsquo;s Award from the Swedish Trade Federation. It&rsquo;s a meaningful recognition of my efforts during my studies and a strong motivation to continue contributing to the future of Swedish trade. I&rsquo;m especially thankful for the experiences I&rsquo;ve gained through my involvement in the student association HHUS, part-time jobs related to my studies, and of course, the education itself at the School of Business. These have all played a crucial role in my development. Trade is a highly dynamic industry that both sustains people and drives continuous innovation. I truly look forward to being part of its future.&rdquo;</p><p>Lilly recently completed her thesis, which explored how Nordic luxury fashion companies approach and make decisions regarding sourcing strategies in their supply chains and production. Her work focused on &ldquo;reshoring&rdquo;&mdash;the strategic decision to relocate production closer to home, either back to the domestic market or from another continent to Europe. Her research reflects a curiosity and commitment to understanding the future challenges of trade, particularly in relation to sustainability and efficient logistics.</p><p>At a time when value chain issues are becoming increasingly central to corporate reporting (CSRD, CSDDD), Lilly&rsquo;s hands-on experience from part-time roles in logistics and auditing has provided valuable insights and learning. Sustainable and efficient supply chains are also a clearly stated professional interest of hers, where she looks forward to contributing to the role of digitalization in transforming trade, and to helping companies balance profitability with sustainability demands in an increasingly complex global market.</p><p><a href="https://www.svenskhandel.se/nyheter/nyhet/arets-vinnare-av-ordforandepriset-2025">Read more (In Swedish)</a></p>/en/news/swedish-trade-federations-chairpersons-award-2025_12102816//en/news/fernstroms-prize-to-schroder_12102276/The 2025 Eric K Fernström Prize for Young, Particularly Promising and Successful Researchers is awarded to Associate Professor Björn Schröder at the Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, for his significant scientific contributions in the research field of host-microbiome interactions.Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:58:49 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/ccad9eb7c2b84795b8c8076f6bc895a2/schroder_bjorn_5343_190405_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ccad9eb7c2b84795b8c8076f6bc895a2/schroder_bjorn_5343_190405_mpn3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ccad9eb7c2b84795b8c8076f6bc895a2/schroder_bjorn_5343_190405_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/ccad9eb7c2b84795b8c8076f6bc895a2/schroder_bjorn_5343_190405_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/ccad9eb7c2b84795b8c8076f6bc895a2/schroder_bjorn_5343_190405_mpn3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/ccad9eb7c2b84795b8c8076f6bc895a2/schroder_bjorn_5343_190405_mpn3.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 Schr&ouml;der, Department of Molecular Biology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden. MIMS.&nbsp;<span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></p></div></div><p>In its citation, the prize committee at the Faculty of Medicine writes:</p><p>"Bj&ouml;rn Schr&ouml;der's research in the field has focused in particular on the molecular mechanisms through which diet affects the gut via the microbiome. His research group has been able to convincingly show that Western diets disrupt the mucus barrier in the colon through specific microbial and diet-related factors, an influence that increases susceptibility to inflammation. Schr&ouml;der's work has provided important insights into how diet-related changes in the microbiome impair gut health at the molecular level, and how these changes affect gut barrier functions and immune function."</p><p>The Eric K. Fernstr&ouml;m Shipowner Prize for young, particularly promising and successful researchers is given each year to young researchers at each of the six medical faculties in Sweden. In Ume&aring;, the prize winner is appointed by a special committee at the Faculty of Medicine.</p><p>The prize is awarded at Ume&aring; University's annual ceremony in October. The prize money is SEK 100,000. The prize winner will also receive a special diploma at a ceremony in Lund.</p>/en/news/fernstroms-prize-to-schroder_12102276//en/news/maternal-health-and-cardiology-in-focus-for-new-honorary-doctors-of-medicine_12102356/A professor of gynaecology and obstetrics from Indonesia and a cardiologist from Scotland will be awarded honorary doctorates by the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University, Sweden, in 2025.Wed, 28 May 2025 10:24:03 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/mohammad_hakimi3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/mohammad_hakimi3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/mohammad_hakimi3.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/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/mohammad_hakimi3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/mohammad_hakimi3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/mohammad_hakimi3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mohammad Hakimi, medical honorary doctor 2025.<span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Wisaksono Adhi, InaHealth, FK-KMK UGM</span></p></div></div><p>Mohammad Hakimi is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. His work spans a wide range of areas with a focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, and public health equity. He has increased the understanding of obstetric care, micronutrient deficiencies, non-communicable diseases, and the health consequences of domestic violence. His academic output includes over 300 publications, alongside educational materials and books that have informed public health policy and practice.</p><p>For over three decades, Professor Hakimi has been a central figure in the longstanding collaboration between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the research and education in epidemiology and global health at Ume&aring; University. He has served as a guest researcher and mentor in Ume&aring;, and many of his former students now hold professorships in both Indonesia and Sweden, strengthening bilateral academic ties. This collaboration has resulted in more than 150 joint publications and 15 completed PhD projects.</p><p>"Mohammad Hakimi is a highly respected person in maternal and public health. His research and collaboration with Ume&aring; University has really made a difference both in Southeast Asia and for us," says Patrik Danielson, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ume&aring; University.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/bhf_-_prof_nick_mills_20252.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/bhf_-_prof_nick_mills_20252.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/bhf_-_prof_nick_mills_20252.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/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/bhf_-_prof_nick_mills_20252.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/bhf_-_prof_nick_mills_20252.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/fc211c4284c34b059d4728290f99407e/bhf_-_prof_nick_mills_20252.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Nicholas Mills, honorary doctor 2025.&nbsp;<span class="bildPhotografer" style="white-space: nowrap;"><span class="photo">Image</span>Stewart Attwood</span></p></div></div><p>Nicholas Mills is an internationally renowned and well-qualified professor of cardiology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland with approximately 450 publications of his own. During his time as a doctoral student, he spent several occasions in Ume&aring;, where he introduced venous occlusion plethysmography to study the cardiovascular effects of acute exposure to various air pollutants, primarily diesel exhaust.</p><p>Professor Mills has contributed to a well-functioning exchange of doctoral students between Ume&aring; and Edinburgh. He has acted as a mentor for researchers and doctoral students in Ume&aring;, which has resulted in five doctoral dissertations and about thirty scientific articles in prestigious journals. In addition, three doctoral students from Edinburgh have completed parts of their doctoral studies in Ume&aring;.</p><p>"Nick Mills' research methodology has been of great importance for studies of the importance of air pollution for cardiovascular disease, research that has become increasingly relevant and where Ume&aring; is now well advanced. It feels very good that we can now tie him more closely to us,&rdquo; says Patrik Danielson.</p><p>The honorary doctors will be conferred at Ume&aring; University's annual ceremony in October.</p>/en/news/maternal-health-and-cardiology-in-focus-for-new-honorary-doctors-of-medicine_12102356//en/news/how-to-navigate-research-on-sensitive-topics_12102235/We are pleased to announce the release of "Risky Research: An AoIR Guide to Researcher Protection and Safety" – the result of over two years of collaborative work by the Association of Internet Researcher’s Risky Research Working Group.Tue, 27 May 2025 14:46:56 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/d7dde48e1f86472ab855a2d71bc72ed9/fateme-alaei-q8w2r2acmaw-unsplash7.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d7dde48e1f86472ab855a2d71bc72ed9/fateme-alaei-q8w2r2acmaw-unsplash7.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d7dde48e1f86472ab855a2d71bc72ed9/fateme-alaei-q8w2r2acmaw-unsplash7.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/d7dde48e1f86472ab855a2d71bc72ed9/fateme-alaei-q8w2r2acmaw-unsplash7.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/d7dde48e1f86472ab855a2d71bc72ed9/fateme-alaei-q8w2r2acmaw-unsplash7.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/d7dde48e1f86472ab855a2d71bc72ed9/fateme-alaei-q8w2r2acmaw-unsplash7.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Image bank picture.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Fateme Alaei</span></div></div><p>This guide addresses the growing personal, institutional, and political risks faced by researchers globally&mdash;particularly those from marginalized communities or working on sensitive, controversial, or politically charged topics such as disinformation, extremism, LGBTQ+ rights, or climate change.</p><p class="quote-center">As someone who regularly teaches and supervises PhD candidates and young scholars, I have witnessed firsthand the increasing challenges they face when conducting research on sensitive, controversial, or politically charged topics.</p><p>&ldquo;From navigating online harassment to institutional gaps in support, the need for structured guidance and protection has never been more urgent&rdquo; says Professor Copp&eacute;lie Cocq, Humlab, one of the contributors to the guide.</p><h3>Drawing on the expertise and lived experiences of more than 30 international contributors, the guide offers:</h3><ul><li>A framework for identifying and assessing risk in scholarly research</li><li>Practical strategies for mitigating harm at individual, institutional, and community levels</li><li>Guidance for designing ethically sound, risk-aware research projects</li><li>Recommendations for universities, supervisors, and departments</li><li>A curated set of tools and best practices for responding to harassment, surveillance, and doxxing&nbsp;</li></ul><p>The guide is intended for researchers at all career stages, including students, PhD candidates, lecturers, professors and those working in politically restrictive environments. It reflects AoIR&rsquo;s enduring commitment to ethics, care, and collective responsibility in internet research.</p>/en/news/how-to-navigate-research-on-sensitive-topics_12102235//en/news/european-polar-research-in-focus_12099763/At a time when polar science is increasingly entangled with questions of security, diplomacy, sustainability, and Indigenous rights, Umeå emerged as a strategic meeting ground for shaping Europe’s future role in the Arctic and Antarctic. By convening key actors around the upcoming International Polar Year and the UN Decade for Cryospheric Sciences, the city affirms its position as a hub for collaboration, coordination, and critical knowledge production.Mon, 26 May 2025 07:00:11 +0200<p class="quote-center">Arctic research cannot be done in isolation. It requires collaboration, dialogue and mutual understanding.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Global Perspectives, Local Relevance: Ume&aring; Takes the Stage</h2><p>As Polar regions (Arctic and Antarctic) face increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, security challenges, and socio-economic changes, broad collaborations are central to the international response. On the 7th of May, scholars, policymakers, S&aacute;mi leaders, and global science experts convened in Ume&aring; to shape Europe&rsquo;s role in two defining initiatives of our time: the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025&ndash;2034) and the 5th International Polar Year (2032&ndash;2033).</p><p>The event, "European Polar Research in Focus: Enhancing Impact and Presence in the International Polar Year and the Decade of the Cryosphere," is co-hosted by the Arctic Centre at Ume&aring; University and the European Polar Board, in collaboration with the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Lule&aring; University of Technology and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. It marked a strategic moment for Swedish and European polar research to enhance its global significance&mdash;scientifically, socially, and politically.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Building stronger bridges between science and society</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="2fa8bf88-06ed-455a-8f3f-332f30dd2a2e" data-contentname="PIC Elle Merete Omma">{}</div><p>The opening set the tone with insights from Marie-Louise R&ouml;nnmark, Ume&aring;&rsquo;s lord mayor, and Tora Holmberg, the new Vice Chancellor of Ume&aring; University. Presentations followed by Elle Merete Omma, Head of the EU Unit of the S&aacute;mi Council, who highlighted S&aacute;mi Arctic experiences. She stressed that:</p><p>&ldquo;This is a moment for us to look ahead and [&hellip;] take full advantage of this unique setting to build partnerships, ask relevant and pressing research questions and design solutions rooted both in science and in the lived experience of the people who call this region home. Arctic research cannot be done in isolation. It requires collaboration, dialogue and mutual understanding.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="890b4e41-104d-4336-a130-1c9388a3e818" data-contentname="PIC Antonio Quesada">{}</div><p>As Sweden seeks to play a more prominent role in international polar science diplomacy, Sweden&rsquo;s Arctic Ambassador Axel Wernhoff emphasised the nation's ambitions for polar science diplomacy and the nation's strong research profile.</p><p>Keynote speaker Professor Antonio Quesada of the Spanish Polar Committee offered a comprehensive perspective on how polar environmental challenges&mdash;from melting ice sheets to changing ecosystems&mdash;impact communities beyond the poles.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Strategic Dialogue: Science, Policy, and the Public</h2><p>Two dynamic panel discussions, at the core of the afternoon program, examined how European polar research can enhance its global impact through coordination, inclusion, and strategic foresight.</p><p class="quote-center">Scientific cooperation can in itself hold the seed to also political dialogue</p><p>The first panel, "Towards a Unified Yet Diverse European Polar Voice," focused on transforming Europe&rsquo;s rich yet fragmented polar expertise into a cohesive presence on the international stage. Moderated by LTU&rsquo;s Dag Avango, the panel brought together representatives from national science ministries, S&aacute;mi leadership, youth networks such as APECS, and the Arctic Centre&rsquo;s Director, Keith Larson. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration across regions and generations to shape a shared European vision for the future of polar research. Among the panellists were Sweden&rsquo;s Arctic Ambassador Axel Wernhoff, who earlier in the program had emphasised the diplomatic importance of scientific cooperation, stating:</p><p>&ldquo;Scientific cooperation can in itself hold the seed to also political dialogue when the circumstances allow that, and when the stars align. And sooner or later, it will. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year. Or maybe next week. We don&rsquo;t know. But we need to keep some ground elements going while we wait for that moment.&rdquo;</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="6a7da0a2-f9b8-4827-b93c-1c4bdada9a99" data-contentname="PIC Panel">{}</div><p>The second panel, &ldquo;Aligning European Polar Science with Global Initiatives,&rdquo; addressed how European actors can contribute meaningfully to the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY) 2032&ndash;33 and the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences. Participants included global science leaders from the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), UNESCO, and the European Polar Board, as well as local voices such as Dr. Lena-Maria Nilsson from the Arctic Centre&rsquo;s S&aacute;mi health research group. The conversation emphasised the urgency of integrating science with broader societal frameworks.</p><p class="quote-center">We would like 2032-33 to be a peak of activity, a kind of a real burst, a concentration of activity, of research, knowledge, and understanding, both in the Arctic and the Antarctic</p><p>As Chair of IASC and a leading member of the IPY Executive Committee, Henry Burgess offered a glimpse into the vision and planning that now drive this global scientific mobilisation:</p><p>&ldquo;We would like 2032-33 to be a peak of activity, a kind of a real burst, a concentration of activity, of research, knowledge, and understanding, both in the Arctic and the Antarctic. But we don't have to wait until that point. We're conscious that there is a lot that can start now or very soon and lead up to the IPY. And there are things that can start in the IPY years and then continue beyond that as well.&rdquo;</p><p>Burgess remarks captured the spirit of long-term commitment that now defines Europe&rsquo;s role in upcoming polar science efforts.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Why This Matters</h2><p>With the climate crisis accelerating, polar research is no longer limited to remote ice sheets. Its insights are crucial for shaping resilient societies, equitable policies, and sustainable development. By hosting this high-level gathering, Ume&aring; University demonstrates its position as Sweden&rsquo;s Arctic University and deepens its involvement with international research and policy arenas.</p><p>The event exemplifies how academic institutions can facilitate dialogue, connecting local realities and global frameworks, scientific excellence and societal relevance.</p><h2 id="info4" data-magellan-target="info4">Next Steps</h2><p>Organisers hope this gathering will catalyse greater collaboration among European actors in the lead-up to 2032, reinforcing the importance of inclusive, interdisciplinary, and transnational approaches to polar research.</p><p>The event concluded with a reception to continue building the relationships and networks crucial to advancing the polar research and policy agenda.</p><p>All quotes were delivered during the opening plenary session in Ume&aring;, 7 May 2025.<br>&nbsp;</p>/en/news/european-polar-research-in-focus_12099763//en/news/laura-bacete-cano-becomes-a-member-of-the-young-academy-of-sweden_12100337/She wants to help shape the academic environment and highlight the importance of research in plant cell and molecular biology. Laura Bacete Cano, Assistant Professor at Umeå University and group leader at Umeå Plant Science Centre, is one of eight new members that have been elected to the Young Academy of Sweden. In her new role, she will actively engage in research policy discussions, outreach towards young people and other activities the academy is involved.Fri, 30 May 2025 11:39:14 +0200<p><em><strong>- Congratulations! You have been elected as new member to the Young Academy of Sweden. What does this mean for you?</strong></em></p><p>It means a lot, both professionally and personally. I see it as a chance to work with researchers from different fields and backgrounds, and to take part in discussions that go beyond my own research. It is also a way to help shape the academic environment in Sweden and beyond.</p><p><em><strong>- What motivated you to apply for the membership?</strong></em></p><p>I was really drawn to how the Academy brings together researchers from different fields to work on questions that matter for science and for society. The focus on research policy, public engagement, and international collaboration felt like a good match for the kind of work I want to do alongside my research. It is quite rare to find a space where you can have those kinds of conversations across disciplines in a structured but open way.</p><p>I also noticed that there was not anyone in the Academy with a background in plant cell and molecular biology. It is a field that is key both for fundamental science and for real-world issues like sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Sweden has a lot of excellent research in this area, so it felt important to have that perspective represented too.</p><p><em><strong>- What responsibilities come with your membership?</strong></em></p><p>There is a strong expectation to be actively involved, which I really appreciate. In the next months, I will take part in a few in-person meetings held in different parts of Sweden. These gatherings are the heart of the Academy&rsquo;s work and where many ideas and decisions take shape. One thing I really like is that new members are expected to contribute from the beginning, whether that is through participating in policy discussions, taking part in outreach, or helping develop new initiatives. It feels like a very open and hands-on environment.</p><p>For me, another important part is improving my Swedish. Even though the other members are happy to speak English when needed, Swedish is the main working language of the Academy. I am really looking forward to using the language more and getting better at it through this role. It feels like a great opportunity to learn in a supportive setting.</p><p class="quote-left">I think scientists have a responsibility to communicate with the public.</p><p><em><strong>- Do you plan to engage with the public or policymakers through your new role?</strong></em></p><p>Yes, absolutely. I think scientists have a responsibility to communicate with the public, and I have been involved in that kind of work before. But what I am especially looking forward to now is the chance to engage more directly with policymakers. That is not something that is always easy to do in everyday academic life. I am particularly interested in questions around how we support researchers, how we evaluate work, and how we build a research environment that people actually want to stay in; and also about how long-term thinking and evidence can play a stronger role in shaping decisions (for example, regarding new genomic techniques in agriculture). I also appreciate that the Academy works internationally, and I look forward to contributing to those collaborations through my own networks and experience.</p><p><em><strong>- What are you most looking forward to during your time in the academy?</strong></em></p><p>I&rsquo;m looking forward to working with people who care about the same kinds of questions, even if they come from completely different fields. The Academy seems like a rare space where people have time and freedom to talk about how science works, how it could work better, and what role it plays in society. I am also looking forward to the in-person meetings and the chance to get to know colleagues from other disciplines. I think those conversations can lead to unexpected ideas and collaborations, which is something I really enjoy.</p><p><em>Laura Bacete Cano, originally from Spain, is an Assistant Professor at Ume&aring; University and leads a research group at Ume&aring; Plant Science Centre, which she established in 2023. Her research focuses on how plants perceive and maintain their cell walls, especially during growth, development and in response to environmental stress. </em><em>After completing her PhD in 2018, she moved to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim to pursue a postdoc. Laura Bacete Cano has been awarded research funding from the Research Council of Norway and the Swedish Research Council. She is also a co-inventor on a European patent related to strategies for enhancing plant health and resilience.</em></p><p><a href="https://sverigesungaakademi.se/en/press-release/eight-new-top-researchers-join-swedens-young-academy/"><strong>Link to the official press release from the Young Academy of Sweden</strong></a></p>/en/news/laura-bacete-cano-becomes-a-member-of-the-young-academy-of-sweden_12100337//en/news/a-blend-of-science-fun-and-nature-scenery-when-postdocs-meet_12100359/In mid-May, the postdoctoral fellows in the ’Excellence by Choice’ programme at Umeå university gathered for a lunch-to-lunch retreat in Kronlund in Vindeln. The scope of the meeting was to get to know each other, get new insights, and share experiences as an interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellow.Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:20:01 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/postdoc_retreat.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/postdoc_retreat.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/postdoc_retreat.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/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/postdoc_retreat.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/postdoc_retreat.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/postdoc_retreat.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 front: Gabriel Torrens Ribot, Fredrik Almqvist, Joram Kiriga Waititu, and Suvam Roy. In the back: Samuel Agyei Nyantakyi, T&uacute;lio Yoshinaga, Antonio Blasquez, Jagadish Mangu, Harshit Malhotra, Dhruv Agrawal, Baptiste Bogard, Ben Johns, and Marta Bally.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p class="quote-center">It was inspiring to see how different areas of expertise can complement each other</p><p>&ldquo;The highlight of the retreat was realizing just how diverse and dynamic the research within our community truly is," says Joram Kiriga Waititu, postdoc in Kemal Avican, Johan Henriksson and Maria F&auml;llman labs at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>He continues:</p><p>"It was inspiring to see how different areas of expertise can complement each other, and it reinforced the idea that meaningful collaboration has the potential to drive real science breakthroughs.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/img_0381.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/img_0381.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/img_0381.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/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/img_0381.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/img_0381.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/img_0381.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Kronlund kursg&aring;rd is a nature lodge that specialises in offering a quiet, beautiful and relaxing atmosphere.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p>It was an enthusiastic group of eleven postdoctoral fellows who arrived in a minibus at Kronlund kursg&aring;rd.</p><p>&ldquo;The venue was super nice! I like peaceful places in the middle of nature like Kronlund. I hope to get back here another time&rdquo;, says T&uacute;lio Yoshinaga, postdoc in Constantin Urban lab at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Ume&aring; University, Lo Persson&rsquo;s group at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Henrik Jeute at the Ume&aring; County administrative board.</p><p>The uniqueness with the &lsquo;Excellence by Choice' postdoctoral programme in life science is that it aims to cross traditional discipline boundaries. Thus, each postdoc has created and lead a collaborative project under the supervision of at least two principal investigators with different areas of expertise.</p><p>The first &lsquo;EC&rsquo; postdoc started in 2022, and the number has summed up to 15 after four international calls. Some postdocs are in the initial stages and some are ready to take the next step in the career, all with different experiences and subjects.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/konferens_2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/konferens_2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/konferens_2.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/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/konferens_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/konferens_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/konferens_2.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 one of the newest postdoc on board and he explained his research to come.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p>At the retreat everyone presented their project and how they have evolved. The subjects showed a fantastic variety in the field of life science: chemo-optogenetic tools to control cellular processes in bacteria, search for potential drug against the parasite <em>Cryptospodirium</em>, new method to prevent fungi disease in salmonids, the role of protein complexes in regulation of growth and development in plants, the regulation of the host cell epitranscriptome in salmonella infection &ndash; to mention a few.</p><p>For sure, a few postdocs could discover potential areas for new collaboration.</p><p>Through games and other activities, the postdocs spend some relaxing time in the afternoon and evening with valuable conversations about life in general and of course about research.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/game_2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/game_2.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/game_2.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/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/game_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/game_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/game_2.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>An exciting pentathlon took place in the afternoon with a lot of laughter.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div><p>In a final session before going home the next day, UCMR directors Fredrik Almqvist and Marta Bally led a group discussion on future career steps. What opportunities are there after a postdoc? What are my needs in career support? Ho can I navigate to pursue my career in academia or industry?</p><p>It might be important to position yourself for a competitive academic or professional future. The postdocs found this session urgent and were engaged.</p><p>&ldquo;I learned that I should focus on becoming more independent already after my first postdoc position, says Suvam Roy, postdoc in Eric Libby lab at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, and Peter Lind lab at the Department of Molecular Biology at Ume&aring; University.</p><p>&ldquo;This topic is very important for us, and it could have had an even more prominent place in the schedule to ensure everyone has the time and space to share experiences, ask questions, and explore different career paths more deeply,&rdquo; says Joram Kiriga Waititu.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/grill_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/grill_12.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/grill_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/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/grill_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/grill_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/0c8e91438d7447c184166dd34c02c6c1/grill_12.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Perhaps it is right there at the edge of the forest by the Vindel River, with a cup of coffee in hand and a new colleague by your side, that the next major scientific breakthrough begins to take shape.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Ingrid S&ouml;derbergh</span></div></div>/en/news/a-blend-of-science-fun-and-nature-scenery-when-postdocs-meet_12100359//en/news/meeting-with-minister-focused-on-climate-and-commitment_12098592/The Department of Computing Science at Umeå University has grown at record speed in recent years. Now, the efforts are bearing fruit, with as many as seven doctoral theses being defended in the space of three weeks. "This is remarkable evidence of the department's thriving research environment. We are very proud of our doctoral students and their achievements," says Professor Frank Drewes, Head of the Department.Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:33:04 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildText"><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/7d041b8326dd4ee4aa29a97e9c8848bb/frank_drewes3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7d041b8326dd4ee4aa29a97e9c8848bb/frank_drewes3.jpg?format=webp&amp;mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7d041b8326dd4ee4aa29a97e9c8848bb/frank_drewes3.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/7d041b8326dd4ee4aa29a97e9c8848bb/frank_drewes3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=640 640w, /contentassets/7d041b8326dd4ee4aa29a97e9c8848bb/frank_drewes3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=854 854w, /contentassets/7d041b8326dd4ee4aa29a97e9c8848bb/frank_drewes3.jpg?mode=crop&amp;width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Flera talangfulla doktorander vid institutionen f&ouml;r datavetenskap som nu f&ouml;rsvararar nu sina arbeten. &ndash; Vi &auml;r oerh&ouml;rt stolta &ouml;ver v&aring;ra forskare och den livskraftiga akademiska milj&ouml; som de bidrar till att uppr&auml;tth&aring;lla, s&auml;ger professor Frank Drewes, prefekt vid institutionen.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Privat</span></div></div></div></div><p>While many organisations faced uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Computing Science at Ume&aring; University made a strategic round of recruitments &ndash; a decision that is now paying off.</p><p>"We congratulate Mariam Taha, Ayush Kumar Varshney, Maarten Laurits Jensen, Lidia Kidane, Sonakshi Garg, Emil H&auml;glund and Charles Meyers for reaching this important step in their academic journeys. Their work spans a wide range of cutting-edge topics, reflecting the department's broad expertise and commitment to innovation," says <a href="~/link/8d61155f1de64f248dd69815ea48bf84.aspx">Frank Drewes</a>, Head of the Department.</p><p>"These defences are not only a celebration of individual accomplishments but also a reflection of the department&rsquo;s long-term vision and resilience. We are immensely proud of our researchers and the vibrant academic community they help sustain.&rdquo;</p><h3>Defences of doctoral theses</h3><p>The department is looking forward to the presentations of these scholars&rsquo; research work. You are welcome to participate!</p><ul><li><a href="~/link/2198a3e20ee04c6282337f35c6998714.aspx">M</a><a href="~/link/2198a3e20ee04c6282337f35c6998714.aspx">ariam</a><a href="~/link/2198a3e20ee04c6282337f35c6998714.aspx"> Taha</a>, "Probabilistic metric space for machine learning: data and model spaces". Friday 23 May, 09:00 - 12:00. More information can be found <a href="~/link/281bd70c5c9f465ab2e02f463285fee1.aspx">here</a>. Doctoral thesis can be found <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1954823">here.</a><br><br></li><li><a href="~/link/9bd2ca460c4f40c6ae26f4b7e838d5f0.aspx">Ayush Kumar Varshney</a>, "Navigating model anonymity and adaptability.&nbsp; Monday 26 May at 10:00 - 14:00. More <a href="~/link/2d09b31908a041f1a97254fda2e522b5.aspx">information</a>. Doctoral thesis can be found <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1954774">here</a>.<br><br></li><li><a href="~/link/0c25de726b474215aea464b926b7a3cf.aspx">M</a><a href="~/link/0c25de726b474215aea464b926b7a3cf.aspx">aarten</a><a href="~/link/0c25de726b474215aea464b926b7a3cf.aspx"> Laurits</a><a href="~/link/0c25de726b474215aea464b926b7a3cf.aspx"> Jensen</a>, "Dynamic context-sensitive deliberation for social simulations: balancing scalability and realism". Tuesday 27 May, 13:00 - 17:00. More information can be found <a href="~/link/1d741365ea7b49a99a6bd86a4db5f798.aspx">here</a>. Doctoral thesis can be found <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1955085">here</a>.<br><br></li><li><a href="~/link/2e3cd44e029544828a8ef0e691d2b4bd.aspx">Lidia Kidane,</a> "Accurate and low-overhead workload prediction for cloud management". Friday 30 May, 13:15 - 17:00. <a href="~/link/5d2b505c723542fd8a61980ae380b75d.aspx">More information</a>. Doctoral thesis can be found <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1956902">here</a>.<br><br></li><li><a href="~/link/4b979954eed6429fb43a9ab433a4c51a.aspx">Sonakshi Garg</a>, "Bridging AI and privacy: solutions for high-dimensional data and foundation models". More information about the event can he found <a href="~/link/5d2b505c723542fd8a61980ae380b75d.aspx">here</a>. Doctoral thesis can be found <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1955416">here</a>.<br><br></li><li><a href="~/link/dd97344c356649848ed2bf226ce3ca3f.aspx">Emil H&auml;glund</a>, "Contextual intelligence: leveraging AI for targeted marketing. Thursday 5 June at 10:00 - 13:00. More information about the event can be found <a href="~/link/06b9848f928f4568bacac542c0a08f50.aspx">here</a>. Read the doctoral thesis <a href="https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1955463">here</a>.<br><br></li><li><a href="~/link/f0cd46ffe89c42f3beb191917774ed6c.aspx">Charles Meyers</a>, "Trustworthy Machine Learning". Wednesday 11 June at 13:15 - 17:00. More information can be found <a href="~/link/9f3529ee162d45a28a71232faa4151ea.aspx">here</a>. (link to the doctoral theis will be available later)</li></ul>/en/news/record-number-of-doctoral-theses-at-the-department-of-computing-science_12100284//en/news/dna-patterns-provide-key-insights-in-the-diagnosis-of-childhood-leukemia_12080856/