Columns

Many people like the idea of heading out onto the ice on a fine winter’s day. But how safe is it actually to walk on a frozen lake? Does ice behave in the same way in a warmer climate as it always used to? These questions have been central to an i...

COLUMN. There are clear signs that the current political system is unable to offer all people equal opportunities to participate in political life by voting or standing as a candidate for important political positions. This is the assessment of Ka...

The energy crisis has the potential to spawn more active and flexible electricity consumers and thus a more efficient electricity market and use of the grid. That said, there are factors that may counter this positive development. So writes Cajsa ...

COLUMN. Research into the relationship between food and health is often hampered by universal experts whose authority is based on a combination of combativeness and self-confidence, rather than subject knowledge, write Professor Tommy Cederholm of...

COLUMN. Uncertainty is the fundamental existential condition of democracy. When we go to vote, we share that uncertainty about the future equally among us. We can reassess our decisions and judgements. As Professor of Political Science Sofia Nässt...

COLUMN. Putting off what needs to be done, against our own better judgement, is surely a habit we can all identify with. For some individuals, however, the associated problems may be so severe as to affect their health, well-being and self-image a...

Today, academic freedom and democracy are under threat around the world, including nearby European countries. And Uppsala University has a key part to play. In the next few years, research on democracy will gain new depth. The University will also...

COLUMN. Though studies of the medical effects of cannabis are growing in scope, we still lack essential knowledge. Therefore, all discussions about legalisation and decriminalisation must be preceded by genuine and extensive research, states Fred ...

COLUMN. While more and more people say Yes and Amen when you ask them about the importance of living in a more environmentally conscious and sustainable way, few actually change their behaviour, writes Katarina Graffman, PhD in cultural anthropology.

COLUMN. “I’m passionate about understanding the genetic background of biodiversity development and I’d like our research to culminate in more sustainable use of herring and sprat, which are a superb resource,” writes Leif Andersson, Professor of F...

COLUMN. While every scientifically well-founded study shows that emissions must be reduced both vastly and rapidly if we are to achieve adopted climate goals, to say that ‘they’ are engaging in greenwashing is at best unfounded and lacking in insi...

“The Library’s normal situation has been one of constant change and development, although outsiders haven’t always been at all aware of this,” writes Lars Burman, Director of Uppsala University Library, which celebrates its quatercentenary this ye...

COLUMN. “It is often those who are socially or economically marginalised that are more vulnerable and experience the biggest impacts,” writes Gabriele Messori, Associate Professor and Docent in Meteorology, whose research focuses on extreme climat...

Quantum materials will be one of the cornerstones of future technology and thus a key component of engineering knowledge in our society. If Sweden is to play a prominent role in an international arena, we must provide our engineers with the opport...

Since June 2020, Carl Linnaeus has been a subject of debate in Sweden and around the world. What sparked it off were the actions of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Statues of slave owners have been lambasted or destroyed. In Sweden, the dis...

As historians, it is our job to take a step back and give perspective to our current situation. For anyone looking back, it isn’t hard to find other difficult years. In Sweden’s past, 1710 was undoubtedly one such year, writes Jonas Lindström, res...

Immune cells protect us from contagions and keep us healthy, but sometimes they mistakenly attack our own bodies in autoimmune diseases. There are still no cures for autoimmune diseases, but, in my research team, we are studying how monoclonal, or...

COLUMN. Maths is often seen in terms of a lonely genius trying to answer a difficult obscure riddle. For me, maths has never been like that. In my research at Uppsala University I have used maths to model everything – from ant trails and fish scho...

The police violence in Minneapolis that resulted in the death of George Floyd has once again thrust relations between black and white Americans onto the agenda, a dilemma that will most likely play a central role in this autumn’s presidential elec...

Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and its impact on our lives will continue to expand. With the five-year AI for Research initiative, Uppsala University is taking an interdisciplinary approach to developing this new technology, writes Thoma...