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Larissa Dietz, doctoral candidate in environmental law, is interviewed in the portrait of February 2025
With a legal education from both Hamburg and Bristol, Larissa Dietz has found her way to Sweden and the doctoral programme at the Faculty of Law in Uppsala. She knew early on that environmental law was “her” field of law and started thinking about doing a doctorate during her master in England. Her master thesis was about renewable energy and spurred further research ideas. Larissa’s doctoral thesis is on the theme offshore wind energy.
- When I was living in Hamburg, I was a trainee for two years, which is mandatory for practicing law in Germany, and I also worked at a law firm in Munich for a year. I was in their energy team, and really liked working there. But I had thoughts of returning to university. I wanted to live in Sweden and checked almost all Swedish universities for available research positions.
Larissa’s fiancé (since two weeks, congratulations!) is Swedish, but raised in Germany, and the couple dreamt of moving to Sweden. In May 2024, Larissa was accepted as one of five new doctoral students at the Law Faculty and started her doctoral project in September 2024.
-I knew that the research group in environmental law in Uppsala was strong, and also knew about the offshore wind energy research at other faculties at Uppsala University.
Larissa Dietz Photo: Julius Wegdell
We talk about the fact that she was accepted with her own project and not a pre-decided theme or subject matter for research, which is very common in Germany as well as at other faculties at Swedish universities.
-It is such a nice thing that I could elaborate my own research ideas and pitch them, and be free to do research about what I think is interesting. After the interview in the application process, I felt very happy, everyone seemed genuinely interested in my ideas.
Larissa is writing a monography, most likely, since she wants to make a comprehensive comparative study. Sweden is one of the countries she wants to include.
-So much is happening within the field of wind energy in Sweden. Just a few months ago, 13 applications to build offshore wind energy parks were denied, for security reasons. The Swedish defense would somehow be affected negatively. So suddenly this topic becomes highly political.
I ask about the political aspects of Larissa’s research. With an ongoing climate crisis, it seems natural that researchers in environmental law are very engaged, maybe extra engaged, in their research area.
-There are various angles in environmental law researchers’ engagement and political positions, but I would say we all feel an intrinsic need to do something, to contribute. It certainly gives me a sense of satisfaction and purpose to work with these issues.
Environmental law research often needs interdisciplinary approaches, such as including geography, economics and political sciences.
- It is a challenge, but I am used to working with various types of material. It is about finding the way back to the law all the time. I got the advice to never forget my own position in my research; that I am a lawyer; the law is what I do research on!
Larissa seems to have had a good start as a doctoral candidate. She has taken one introductory course, done some teaching, participated in conferences and joined a national and interdisciplinary research network called StandUp for Energy. She feels at home in the working environment at the Faculty.
- There are always colleagues at the Department, and the doctoral candidates have a WhatsApp group where there is always someone asking for lunch companions. Maybe by the end of this project, I will feel that I am all alone with my text, but right now I definitely do not feel lonely.
We talk about how she feels being in the very start of a five year project. The doctor’s degree seems quite abstract, she says. I ask if she likes to structure a lot, or more to go with the flow…
-A mix, I think. I like some structures, like the two-year probation which is very good. And I will set up some internal deadlines with my supervisors (Professor David Langlet and Associate professor Melina Malafry). But otherwise, I like to go with the flow!
Speaking of flow, Larissa engages in many things apart from wind energy. She has recently joined a book club in Stockholm. She also takes a Swedish course and runs in a running club. Another thing that engages her is gender equality and feminist perspectives. We talk a long time about this. Larissa hopes to be able to somehow do research or engage in this more in the future.
Thank you, Larissa, for a lovely chat and fika. I wish you all the best and a continued flow in your wind energy research!
Fågelsången, January 15, 2025