Views on donations
Donations mean a lot both to those who generously donate and to those who gratefully receive them. Meet some of those who give and receive donations at Uppsala University.
Financier Anders Wall
For many years, financier Anders Wall has shown a great commitment to Uppsala University. Through his foundations, he has funded pioneering genetic research, the Anders Wall Professorship in Entrepreneurship, scholarships for Master’s students and much more besides.
Entrepreneur Niklas Zennström
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Niklas Zennström wants to help solve global climate problems and believes more research and education are essential to succeed. He has combined his two passions by establishing a ten-year visiting professorship in climate leadership at Uppsala University.
Businessman Anders Wiklöf
Thanks to a donation from businessman Anders Wiklöf from the Åland Islands, Uppsala University has been able to establish a new centre for heart research – the Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research – based on data from large-scale population registers and biobanks.
“The plan is to bring about a significant expansion of research!”
Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith
For many years, Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith has supported runic research at Uppsala University. Over and above repeated generous donations, she has pledged a legacy of USD 1.5 million to support the establishment of a professorship in runology. Her ultimate aim is to secure and advance the future research environment in runology and linguistic history.
“I hope runic research will continue to develop and flourish in future too”
Physicist John Colonias
Thanks to a donation totalling USD 100,000, a new scholarship fund has been established for doctoral students at the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Colonias-Jansson Foundation will award one scholarship per year to a doctoral student, preferably of Greek origin.
Professor Karin Forsberg Nilsson
As cancer researcher Karin Forsberg Nilsson sees it, donations create a personal relationship between the donor and the researcher. People give to the causes they care most about and so the relationship is dependent on the donor feeling confidence in the researchers and their research.
Professor Tobias Sjöblom
Donations have given Professor Tobias Sjöblom and his research team the opportunity to develop better tools for more personalised cancer treatment.
Professor Olof Karis and Professor Gabriella Andersson
Research in physics and astronomy at Uppsala University ranges from the unimaginably tiny to the enormously large. In research in astronomy, which extends from planetary systems and stellar physics to the large-scale structure of the universe, donations play an important role.
Master’s scholar Yan Shao
Yan Shao was one of the first Chinese students to receive an Anders Wall scholarship to study for a Master’s degree at Uppsala University. At the time, he knew next to nothing about Sweden. Six years later, he has completed his doctorate and regards Uppsala as a home from home.