GU-Journal 5-2019

Brexit is serving as a catalyst for the transformation of British politics ... ADRIAN G.V. HYDE-PRICE PAGE 28

GUJournal INDEPENDENT JOURNAL FOR THE STAFF AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG #5 NOVEMBER 2019

NEWS

New start for Skagerak NEWS

Promotion reform – for good and bad REPORT

The research group behind the success

FLYING PHOTOS HEATHER REESE USES DRONES IN HER RESEARCH

VICE-CHANCELLOR The climate framework determines our direction

Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

NE OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANt events to take place during the autumn was the university joining the Climate Framework for Universities and Colleges.

The framework describes how higher education institutions should handle climate change in order to reach the so-called 1.5-degree goal.

Chalmers and the Royal Institute of Technology took the lead and before the summer, they invited more universities to join. For me, it was important to secure in-house support for this, which is why the Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV) was commissioned to investigate and make a recommendation as to whether the university should join or not. The investigation showed that there was a broad consensus among responding faculties and student unions, as well as within the joint administration.

Going in the direction indicated by the climate framework requires action and will affect us all.

Therefore, the fact that every part of the university supported the decision made it even more significant. I did not want it to simply be about signing a document, but about all of us being prepared to work together to bring about

change. A team headed by Pro Vice-Chancellor Mattias Goksör is now tasked with coordinating the endeavour and developing proposals for measures that are in line with the objectives of the Climate Framework. The team includes Dean Malin Broberg, Faculty of Social Sciences; Head of Department Henrik Aronsson, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences; and student representative Elin Gunnarsson.

WHEN WE JOINED the Climate Framework, climate demonstrations were being held all over the world. With our research and education, our universities will be able to provide the greatest benefit for both climate transition and other societal challenges linked to sustainability, now and in the future. But the framework also states that we must clearly communicate our climate initiatives to inspire and to disseminate knowledge. In that regard, I think we can do much more!

EVA WIBERG

Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

MASTHEAD

Anglo-Saxon culture is taking over “THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG

shall endeavour to promote opportunities for students and lecturers to read scientific literature in languages other than Swedish and English.”

This quote is from the University of Gothenburg’s language policy from 2015. However, in a recent thesis Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi shows that these noble words are rarely put into practice. Compared to the 1970s, when knowledge of languages other than English was still encouraged, English today completely dominates the university world.

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With respect to the Swedish language, this could entail a risk of domain loss, that is, some areas of science cannot be discussed in Swedish, simply because there will be no Swedish terminology.

There is also a risk that the Anglo-Saxon culture and world view become the one that Swedish researchers are increasingly comparing themselves to, instead of looking for interesting examples elsewhere.

In this issue, we have included Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi’s thesis, but we have also published a letter to the

editor from Henrik Rosenkvist, Professor of Nordic languages, about the University of Gothenburg and the Swedish language. He believes that we have a particular responsibility as a public body to use comprehensible Swedish. An example of a term that does not exist in Swedish is human resources management.

We also write about the importance of having time to concentrate on one’s writing, for example at a writing retreat in Jonsered.

ALLAN ERIKSSON & EVA LUNDGREN

38 18

Mattias Linholm forskar om ljunghedar.

Bradley Peter is doing research on the mitochondria.

Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

CONTENTS NEWS 04–17

04. New start for the ship project.

06. Promotion reform – for good and bad.

08. More English than ever.

10. How to lecture with digital technology.

12. 20 years of European studies

PROFILE 14–17

14. Heather Reese studies marshland from above.

FOCUS 18–22

18. Trying to understand how the mitochondrie works.

REPORT 23–25

PEOPLE 38–51

26. Doctoral conferment ceremony – the most important event of the year 28. Adrian Hyde-Price on the Brexit comedy.

THE MOMENT

30. Denis Mukwege visits Sahlgrenska.

23. New Nordic platform for researchers within media.

24.The Humanities - an area like any other.

NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

New start for Skagerak What do you mean, problems? The Skagerak will be ready. The question is when, and what it will cost, says Mats Hjortberg, new manager for the research vessel project.

ON APRIL 2 2019, four years behind schedule, the research vessel Skagerak was finally due to be delivered to the University of Gothenburg.

However, the Skagerak is still at the quay in Gdansk, shiny and new but unfinished. Bringing the ship home and just paying the shipyard for the work carried out, which the university has the right to do, has never been discussed.

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“Experts advised us not to, especially if the shipyard wants to finish the job and deliver a vessel that is operational. And they do. The advantage of this, is that the vessel will come with a warranty, which we would not have otherwise,” says Göran Hilmersson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and chair of the steering group for the shipbuilding project.

To take over an unfinished vessel

would also force the university to start a new procurement process for the remaining work – a process that could take months. In addition, there is a risk of the tenderers from the original procurement process claiming damages, in light of the fact that the ship will be more expensive than the Polish shipyard’s winning tender.

“We have assessed that the quickest way is for the shipyard to finish the job,” says Göran Hilmersson.

TO SPEED UP the process, the Uni-

versity of Gothenburg has appointed an external investigator, as well as appointing a new project manager.

After 4½ years and after signing five supplementary agreements which have all been broken, the university no longer has confidence in the pre-

NEWS Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

Facts When the new research vessel Skagerak was commissioned by the University of Gothenburg in 2013, the building contract was won by the Polish shipyard Nauta. The shipyard’s tender was the cheapest, SEK 127 million. The shipyard, which had not built a ship like it before, was to deliver the 49 m long and 11 m wide vessel on May 15, 2015, but the construction has been fraught with problems. The latest problem is the propulsion system, which is not working properly. Prior to that, they had to lengthen the ship by 3 m to regain buoyancy as it was too heavy. Then, in 2017, it was discovered that the ship’s centre of gravity was too high, which was remedied using lead ingots placed at the bottom. And in August last year, the ship had to be repaired after colliding with the quay on its way back from having its hull cleaned of the microorganisms that had accumulated during the long period the ship lay idle in the water.

vious project management team.

“We need a fresh start – someone new to tackle this.”

The new project manager is Mats Hjortberg who began work on October 23. He immediately went to Poland to ascertain the scope of the problems.

“I have been reading up on this and looking at drawings, calculations and documentation.

ONE PROBLEM IS that the integration of the ship’s electrical system does not work with the propulsion system. I am sure that the components are excellent, but it’s a question of integrating them, getting them to work together. One of the shipyard’s subcontractors has been unable to understand this and deal with

it. Shipyards do not have that skill in-house.”

Mats Hjortberg should know. He is a naval architect and has extensive experience of the shipbuilding industry. So has Roger Karlsson, who has been recruited to provide naval engineering support.

“We have extensive experience of similar projects. Our most recent project was in Spain, where a tugboat was being built for Luleå harbour. It was delivered last summer.”

And do you have any experience of actually delivering boats?

“Yes, it was quite amusing when I was asked what the problem was with the ship. ‘What? There is no problem’, I answered. This ship is not unique. My job is to find the

cheapest and quickest way possible to complete it. The question is just how painful it will be, how long it will take and how much money it will cost,” he says.

“It all depends on the extent of the technical problems. If they are considerable, a skilled firm needs to be enlisted, if they are minor in nature, perhaps the shipyard can resolve it with some outside support.

So, to the big question: when will the ship be delivered? Göran Hilmersson will not commit to an exact date.

“I think it is probable that we will have a ship in place sometime next year.”

Göran Hilmersson.

LARS NICKLASON NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

Promotion reform stirs up emotion The number of professors at the University of Gothenburg is growing.

The cause of the increase is the right to promotion. Of all the professors appointed over the past few years, almost 80 percent were promoted.

Is this viable over the long term? Opinion is divided.

LARGE INTERNATIONAL universities

take pride in recruiting the very best talent. An internal candidate who is aiming for a professorship can expect a rigorous screening process.

At many Swedish universities, the opposite is true. Universities in large urban centres such as Stockholm, Uppsala, Malmö and Gothenburg recruit internally. And Gothenburg is leading the way. Over a three-year period, from 2016-2018, the university appointed 116 new professors, of which 91 were promoted. Naturally, this has consequences, at least if you believe the report, Den främste läraren – att bli professor (The Foremost Teacher – Becoming a Professor) which was published recently. The researcher Olle Häggbom identified several obvious risks, such as reduced mobility and renewal, poor quality and insufficient equality. He also foresaw financial issues, particularly at the University of Gothenburg, where “the increase in the number of professors, which has been difficult to control within large sections of the university, will make it even more difficult for the University of Gothenburg to plan for increased baseline funding for professors”.

“It will not be operational requirements that govern the number of professors. Irrespective of whether

6 GUJOURNAL NOVEMBER 2019

there is a need for them or not, there will be more of them sharing a given amount of money. And the rigid culture of treating all professors the same will lead to depletion of resources”, says Olle Häggbom.

How many professors can we have in relation to the number of PhD students? This is the question posed by Anna Peixoto, Head of the Department of Sociology and Work Science. “The promotion system can certainly be a positive thing, not least because it can provide a competitive edge to be able to offer a place where you can develop and qualify yourself within the field. But it also comes at a cost. Doubly so. Anyone who is promoted is given a new salary and dedicated research time.

So we need to employ someone else to provide lecturing.”

AT THE DEPARTMENT, research and teaching staff comprise approximately 90 people (including 20 PhD students). Of these, 15 are professors.

“Salaries are increasing at a faster pace than the grants. But on the other hand, we do not yet know what the effect will be. More professors with plenty of time to do research could mean that we will become better at attracting external funding.”

Irrespective of whether there is a need for them or not, there will be more of them sharing a given amount of money.

OLLE HÄGGBOM

But so far, she finds the situation unpredictable.

“It puts pressure on our finances.

The needs of the organisation are superseded by the individual’s right to be assessed for the role. And we have amazingly talented employees.

If you look at how they produce and deliver, you get the feeling that a number of them will apply for promotion in the future.”

Anna Peixoto believes that retaining the right to be assessed will cause problems.

“The needs of the organisation must somehow also be considered if we consider that a professorship will also mean a higher salary and more time for research.”

Kristian Daneback, Pro Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences, believes that the problem partly stems from the expectations of what a professorship entails.

“In some places, promotion reform has led to us having two different types of professors in the system, with different conditions in terms of salary as well as dedicated research time. But it is the departments themselves who regulate the positions and maybe we need to consider whether the professors can be utilized differently than they are today? Professors can be seen as a financial burden, but maybe also as an asset.”

BUT NOT ALL sections of the Uni-

versity have seen an increase in the number of professors. At the Department of Education and Special Education, Head Anna-Carin Jonsson thinks there is a shortage. However much pressure there is on our finances, you have to manage your mandate, and that is not possible without professors.

“We are on the brink of a generational shift. We had one promotion this year and are hoping for another one next year. We have too few professors in relation to the large number of students we have.”

She thinks the system of promotion in itself works – there is

Photo: ANDERS ÖSTERBO

“THE MAIN PROBLEM that was evident in Olle Häggbom’s report is that internal recruitment is close to 90 percent in some places. That can easily lead to a very closed and non-transparent environment.

At Sahlgrenska Academy, they have tried to solve the problem by applying stricter assessment criteria to promotion.

“But it will still be difficult for the review panel, because they are, in a sense, assessing the candidate against the candidate himself/herself.

Within medicine, the problem is even more pronounced, because the number of people with doctorates is greater than the number of positions. That is why Agneta Holmäng would prefer not to have to use promotion at all.

“That is the fairest approach and it would also promote the quality of the research and education.

Anna Peixoto is critical of the promotion system, because it does not reflect the needs of the organization.

thorough scrutiny and the professors’ salaries are at reasonable levels.

“There is not only national competition, but also international competition for the professorships.

We must do all we can to retain the ones we have. There is an exodus underway, they are being better paid at the university colleges and institutes”, she says.

Björn Rombach, Professor at the School of Public Administration, cannot understand how the departments can question the promotion system from a financial perspective.

“That is not very intelligent.

These are problems they have created themselves. The departments set the salaries and a professorship today does not need to mean anything beyond a couple of gold stars on one’s epaulets. But if you can afford it, you can certainly provide both more time for research and higher salaries.”

He believes that there is something else bothering them.

“The people who have already become professors think that now that they have achieved it, we need to put a stop to it. The title must not be devalued.”

But at several departments, the professors will, in the long term, become the largest employee category among the academic staff, Björn Rombach predicts.

“I HAVE DIFFICULTY seeing that as

a problem. If you are qualified, you should be able to call yourself a professor, no? At the end of the day, it is about your expertise and what you do. Gold stars mean nothing.

No more than a degree.” That is more or less how Björn Rombach sees it. And a “professorship” might be a good thing to have when applying for research funding, for example.

“How can you feel that you have too many well-qualified researchers?

You know, when you read this type

of report... I think it is based on an outdated mode of thinking. Antiquated, if you like”, says Björn Rombach.

The Dean of Sahlgrenska Academy, Agneta Holmäng, would like to see that each step in an individual’s career path should be taken as a result of advertising in free and open competition.

LARS NICKLASON

Facts Newly recruited Women Men professors

Total

2016 Promoted 9

11 20

Advertised 3 2 5 2017 Promoted

24 24 48

Advertised 7 6 13 2018 Promoted 11

12 23

Advertised 2 5 7

NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

English unthreatened The University’s language policy mentions other languages besides English. But that’s just empty words, says Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi, who recently defended her thesis on the large predominance of the English language in higher education.

“That other languages aren’t viewed as a resource is a sad development,” she says.

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SUSANNE STRÖMBERG JÄMSVI also wrote her thesis in English, which tells a great deal about the position of the English language.

“I thought long and hard, but since the dilemma also exists in other non-English speaking countries, the decision to write in English was inevitable. But I added an extensive 30 pages summary in Swedish, and translated my abstract to 10 different languages,” says Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi.

Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi has made a study of Swedish language policy documents between 1974 and 2009, including the Swedish language legislation, and 12 language policies from Swedish Higher Education Institutions. Her study shows that the English language is increasingly defined by marketing forces with the purpose to attract top students. Courses and programmes in English make universities internationally attractive.

How are we going to disseminate the results in Swedish, if the scientific field is only in English? This can be a democratic problem SUSANNE STRÖMBERG JÄMSVI

Photo: PRIVATE

“English as teaching language has increased enormously all over the world. And nothing suggests that that will decrease.”

HER CONCLUSION IS that financial values and market interests have become the significant viewpoint today when Higher Education Institutions describe their language ideals and language skills. This in comparison to the 1970’s, when English was considered as one of many languages, and multilingual competence was associated with solidarity and responsibility for the world.

“35 years later, English is considered as something necessary and unavoidable, where Swedish Higher Education Institutions should compete on an unregulated global market.

After Bologna, programmes are harmonised and given solely in English.

Neither national minority languages, nor other world languages, are considered to be an asset today.”

“WE TALK ABOUT linguistic diversity, but those are often empty words.

Today, there are no incentives which support other languages besides English.”

This matter also concerns GU’s language policy, which Susanne

Strömberg Jämsvi believes—like the others—emphasises marketing logics and financial interests.

“Although we speak about linguistic diversity, and that we should welcome international teachers and students with a proper linguistic manner, English has an obvious and undisputed position.

For example, the multilingual breadth that we have in Sweden, minority languages included, is not a part of the policy.”

SUSANNE STRÖMBERG Jämsvi points out democratic risks when the English language dominates the scientific vocabulary and discourse.

“How are we going to disseminate the results in Swedish, if the scientific field is only in English? This can be a democratic problem, but it could also mean that guest researchers aren’t given the opportunity to learn Swedish.”

But there doesn’t seem to be any imminent danger that the Swedish academic language will disappear.

But it is important to support, not only the students, but also the teachers. Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi also believes that the Higher Education Institutions’ language policies in many ways face the risk

Facts “The harmonisation of educations in the Bologna system is also a form of linguistic conformity,” says Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi. Her thesis is called Unpacking dominant discourses in higher education language policy. A critical study of language policy in Swedish higher education, and is published at the Department for Education and Special Education.

Susanne Strömberg Jämsvi

of becoming a non-binding vision, especially in relation to parallel language development in Swedish and English.

“This is not an easy task. For example, to develop and give a course in English demands a good linguistic competence. We should make a much larger effort in educating our staff in linguistic awareness and the meaning of language development.”

ALLAN ERIKSSON

Translation to English: Annika Wall NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

Linda teaches digital tricks Everything does not have to be perfect and everything does not have to be done at once. This is just some of the advice that Linda Flores gives to the teachers who consult her to discuss digital tools in education.

“It is okay to contact me as an individual lecturer as a team of lecturers or as a whole department.

The support is free and part of my job description.”

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LINDA FLORES, senior lecturer in Spanish, is one of two lecturers who works 10% with PIL (Pedagogical Development and Interactive Learning, providing support in course development using digital tools. The other lecturer is Mattias von Feilitzen, Educational Developer at the Department of Applied Information Technology.

“It is not important which department we belong to, our job is to support lecturers throughout the entire university,” explains Linda

NEWS Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

dents are then tasked with watching the video footage before the lesson which can then focus on things the students find really difficult. The films are not produced particularly professionally. If I happen to clear my throat or have too correct myself, there is seldom a second take. Even though it takes time to record a video, it ultimately increases efficiency.

The video can be used several times, perhaps also in a different course.

When a student is unsure about something I can then explain that the answer can be found 3½ min into the video, for example.”

LINDA FLORES ALSO provides help

Linda Flores works on behalf of the PIL unit to help colleagues use digital technology.

Flores. “The questions I get can be about specific issues, such as how to get students on an online course to cooperate, or they can be more general, or it might entail just being a sounding board.”

Something Linda Flores struggles with is how to maintain quality in a course, which due to financial cuts has been allocated fewer hours.

“I sometimes use a flipped classroom. It means I prepare a lesson by recording myself where I explain one section of the course. The stu-

when it comes to getting as much as possible out of Canvas.

“The new platform makes it possible to invite observers to a course, for example. If someone is interested in a particular element of my teaching, I can let them follow what I do for a period of time.”

Ellen Breitholtz, linguistics researcher, is one of the lecturers who has received support from Linda Flores. In her case, it was about developing an online course, something she had never done before.

“Our online course must be more organised than a campus course.

All the material should either be available right at the start of the course or it should be clear when the material will be available. Online courses often attract a large number of students but unfortunately many drop out, which may be because it is more difficult to provide feedback to the students. So one question I had was how to retain students.”

One suggestion Ellen Breitholtz received included continual examination.

“IT MIGHT SEEM like hard work having lots of exams, but if the student passes four 1-credit-point exams they may find the motivation to take the remaining 3½ credit points.

And two students who have passed half the course means another 7½ points, for which the Department receives payment, and that is not insignificant.”

Another suggestion is to divide

“You should start with what you actually want to do and not let yourself get carried away by the many ­possibilities of the technology.”

LINDA FLORES

the students into groups based on the time of day when they normally study.

“Some distance students study in the evenings, others at weekends, and there are others who study during the day. By having groups of students who study at the same time, it is easier to create a sense of community, which makes studying more fun.”

“One interesting option provided

by Canvas is that multiple-choice tests can be corrected automatically,” says Ellen Breitholtz.

“The exam is accessible for a predetermined time after which it is removed, which makes it clear to the students that they have to be aware of the time. As the test is self-correcting, it takes no time at all to carry out a quick check and then enter the results in Ladok. You can also set diagnostic tests, which the students can take any number of times, and mark them themselves.”

IF YOU WANT TO start using digital tools, you should do it one step at a time, says Linda Flores.

“You should start with what you actually want to do and not let yourself get carried away by the many possibilities of the technology. And you should use, at most, a couple of tools per course, so that it does not get too complicated. Discuss this with your colleagues – or use me or Mattias as a sounding board!” ities of the technology. And you should use, at most, a couple of tools per course, so that it does not get too complicated. Discuss this with your colleagues – or use me or Mattias as a sounding board!”

EVA LUNDGREN

Facts Interested in using digital tools in lecturing? Go to: https://pil.gu.se/ resurser/digitala-verktyg/stod-vid-kursutveckling. You will find a list of different tools and a short presentation by the lecturers Linda Flores and Mattias von Feilitzen, who are responsible for providing support.

NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

20 years of European studies On October 11–12, Bachelor’s Programme in European Studies ­celebrated its 20th anniversary with speeches by the Minister for ­ EU Affairs Hans Dahlgren and EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

“We now offer two more programmes in European Studies and we also have partnership agreements with universities in the USA, China and Germany. I am particularly proud to see that the ­students are so committed”, remarks the political scientist,” Urban Strandberg, Director of Studies at the Centre for European Studies.

“IT WAS ALWAYS the students who lead the way. They have inspired us lecturers by being so extremely interested in studying or doing internships in Europe. The students form the foundation of the programme in European Studies, which was initiated in 1999, and of the English-language Master’s programme, which started in 2010. At the Master’s level, approximately two-thirds of the students are from abroad and this has of course made the European studies even more international.

The Master’s programme also includes a double-degree track, which means that the students study

12 GUJOURNAL NOVEMBER 2019

for one year at the University of Gothenburg and for one year at one of our partner universities, Chapel Hill, Universität Konstanz or Fudan in Shanghai.

“The students then receive a degree from both universities. As far as I know, there is no other social science programme in Europe with this type of partnership in the USA, Europe and China,” says Urban Strandberg, and adds that in 2016 another type of programme, EMAES, the Executive Master’s Programme in European Studies, was started, which is a distance learning programme where students study part-time.

“It is aimed at professionals in various fields and is our way of contributing to life-long learning, while also preventing fake news and contempt for knowledge.”

The students then recieve a degree from both universities.

URBAN STRANDBERG

THE PROGRAMME IN European

Studies is a partnership between the Social Sciences and Humanities Faculties as well as the School of Business, Economics and Law. “A paper can be assessed by both a historian and an economist, for example. The fact that three different faculties have worked together for 20 years means that the lecturers have had time to become acquainted

Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

Urban Strandberg and his students celebrate the anniversary.

with one another’s perspectives in a manner which is rather unique in academia. Cooperation in education also promotes cooperation in research. Most of the lecturers are linked to the Centre for European Studies, which creates a complete environment of education, research and cooperation. The programme in European Studies has a board consisting of ten members, three of whom are students,” explains Urban Strandberg. “Our belief in the ability of the students to do more than just study is very strong.

Brännpunkt Europa (Focal Point Europe), for example, is a series

of lunch-time lectures which are arranged solely by the students and sometimes attract so many participants that the Malmsten Hall in the School of Business, Economics and Law is filled to overflowing. The Studentgrupp Europa (Student Group Europe) is also extremely active, providing things such as mentoring.

The students are also involved in disseminating information about the European Union to the public, something they did in connection with the latest election to the European Parliament.”

Facts There are currently three programmes in European Studies: The first-cycle, three-year Bachelor’s Programme in European Studies, which began in 1999, accepts up to 100 students each autumn from around 3,000 applicants.

Since 2010, the two-year Master’s Programme in European Studies accepts up to 45 students each autumn. This includes a

double-degree track where the students receive degrees from two higher education institutions, the University of Gothenburg and Chapel Hill in the USA, Universität Konstanz in Germany or Fudan in China.

Since 2018, the one-year Executive Master’s Programme in European Studies accepts up to 25 students and is a course for professionals.

EVA LUNDGREN NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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PROFILE

Research at a high level Text: EVA LUNDGREN Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

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“Remote analysis is the science, technology and art of observing objects without coming into contact with them,” explains Heather Reese. For three decades, she has studied changing landscapes using satellites. Now she has a new favourite tool: drones. By superposing hundreds of drone pictures, she is able to create three-dimensional maps and examine the vegetation from the south of Sweden to the most remote parts in the north.

ON THE GROUND by the football pitch at Chalmers, Heather Reese has set up an orange landing plate for the DJI Matrice 210 she is in the process of assembling. The drone’s propellers must be securely attached, as well as the two cameras, one of which takes photographs in the infrared spectrum. When finally assembled, the drone looks like an enormous, black insect ready to pounce. Suddenly, it begins to buzz like a swarm of bees and rises vertically into the air; immediately, a dog begins to bark.

“Safety is important. All the parts must be securely attached,” explains Heather Reese, while studying the photographs the drone is taking via a screen mounted on the hand control.

“A drone cannot climb higher than 120 metres without a permit and it must be constantly monitored. But in addition to complying with regulations, it is important to act responsibly and to land the drone if, for example, a helicopter passes by. For reasons of safety, a DJI drone is programmed so that it cannot fly close to an airfield. If you are careful, it is a wonderful tool to work with; the drone can sense the wind speed and remain stable in the air in winds up to 15 m/s; if you lose control, there is a feature that returns it to the spot from which it was launched.”

Last year, Heather Reese together with researchers and students from the Department of Earth Sciences, travelled to Saarikoski and Latnjajauri in the far north of Sweden to map out the vegetation and topography.

Latnjajaure is a research station west of Abisko which is located at a height of 974 metres and consists of high-alpine vegetation. There, among the rocks and ice-covered streams, Heather Reese climbed around with her Ikea-bag containing all that a researcher in remote analysis may need: a drone, six batteries, two cameras and a lunch-box. Saarikoski is located about 120 km north-west of Latnjajaure in a place that is home to Sweden’s largest contiguous palsa bog.

“A palsa is a mound consisting of peat with an NOVEMBER 2019 GUJOURNAL

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PROFILE

“I have always been drawn to high mountains ...

inner frozen core, and is formed in sub-arctic bogs. The ice core consists of ice lenses which lead to frost-heaving, and the palsa can reach a height of several metres.” Palsas have a natural cycle of breakdown and growth, which requires an annual mean temperature of around -3°C and winter precipitation of less than 300 mm. If the climate conditions change, for example if the temperature becomes warmer and winter precipitation increases, the internal permafrost can melt and the palsa will then collapse completely.”

“When compared to aerial photos from the 1960s, we can see that the area with palsas has become much smaller”, explains Heather Reese. “The change in the palsa landscape happens much more rapidly than, for instance, the movement of the tree line, and that makes it important for anyone studying the influence of climate in permafrost regions. Thawing palsas are a source of methane and carbon dioxide emissions and contribute to the release of greenhouse gases.”

HEATHER REESE shows a picture where 400 photos

Heather Reese Role: University lecturer at the Department of Earth Sciences.

Family: Partner and family in New York and Gothenburg.

Research: Contributes to the mapping of mountain regions in a project financed by the Swedish National Space Agency, the mapping of trees and agriculture in Burkina Faso, and the development of a vegetation map of Sweden, financed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

Lives in: Masthugget.

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Interests: Hiking, poetry – both reading and writing.

Favourite poets: Mary Oliver, William Stafford and Robert Frost.

have been placed on top of one another in order to create a very detailed three-dimensional map. It is the new drone technology that makes it possible to repeatedly take pictures where the changes in both the width and height of the palsa can be seen year on year. The infrared drone pictures also provide the researchers with information about the vegetation.

“Remote analysis is a scientific field involving image analysis and consequently it has an artistic dimension,” says Heather Reese. “Human interpretation has become less important the more artificial intelligence has taken over, but it is still there.”

Remote analysis is important in many fields, not only for mapping landscapes or measuring vegetation.

The method is also used in archaeology for example, a subject which has interested Heather Reese since childhood.

“I grew up in the countryside in New York State and when I was small, I used to spend time digging in the backyard at home, where I found old bottles, broken ceramics or a forgotten doll. That was probably why I studied archaeology initially, but it was difficult to get a permanent job, so I decided to study something else. My interest in the environment persuaded me to

It is important to keep the drone under control.

choose something in the natural sciences instead. I found out that the University of Wisconsin-Madison had one of the foremost courses in remote analysis and Geographic Information Systems, so I started studying there in 1990 and took my Master’s degree five years later.”

In 1998, Heather Reese got a position as a research assistant in remote analysis at SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, in Umeå “SOME YEARS LATER, I began to wonder whether I

should study for a PhD or whether I should devote myself to my other passion, poetry. I love American nature poetry, but my own writing is more about playing with words and making little observations of people. However, I took the safer road and began a third-cycle course and in 2011, I received my doctorate and continued to work at SLU”.

In Umeå, Heather Reese’s research has been devoted to the remote analysis of Sweden’s forest and mountain regions.

“I have always been drawn to high mountains, not least because the differences in elevation mean that the environment is continually changing and that the views are always awesome. Since Gothenburg University is so successful with regard to alpine and

Heather Reese checks the pictures from the drone.

polar research, I sought a position here, and have been employed since 2018. Much of my time involves working on the computer, but I am happiest when I am out in the field with colleagues, PhD students and undergraduates.”

Heather Reese finds both the political and the terrestrial climate unnerving, but she is nevertheless a natural optimist.

“Last summer, when I tried to book a train ticket to Kiruna, I found that all the seats had been fully booked for several weeks. That means that people are increasingly choosing to travel by train, even for journeys to the most northerly parts of Sweden. That gives me hope.”

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FOCUS

Text: EVA LUNDGREN Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

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How is the genotype replicated in the mitochondria? How is this replication controlled and what happens when replication does not work properly in the cell? This is what Maria Falkenberg, Professor of Medical Biochemistry, is studying.

Behind her international success is a large research group at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology. The GU Journal has been following the group for about a year.

RESEARCH IS LIKE laborious detecti-

ve work where you constantly conduct experiments, maybe change the concentration of a substance, test again, add another type of protein – and suddenly it works, says Emily Hoberg, Biomedical Analyst.

“Research involves a lot of patience. Still, everyone in our group enjoys being in the lab. That is probably because we really are a team: everyone participates in the Monday meetings, we collaborate on a daily basis in the lab, while everyone is responsible

Bradley Peter presents the reasearch.

for managing their own work and keeping themselves updated about the latest research in the field.”

The research group consists of senior researchers, postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and biomedical analysts. But the group also receives constant visits from researchers from other countries, who share their knowledge or carry out experiments with the special equipment that is available here.

THE GOAL OF the group’s research is

to learn how the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is replicated and how that is linked to the cell’s energy needs.

Mitochondria are usually called the powerhouse of the cell, because it is where the nutrients from the food we eat and the oxygen we breathe are converted into energy in a form that the body’s ATP cells can utilize.

“Almost all DNA can be found in the cell nucleus,” says postdoctoral researcher Bradley Peter. “But not the DNA found in the mitochondria.

The mitochondria are located in the cytoplasm of the cell, i.e., in the space outside the nucleus. Unlike the DNA in the cell nucleus, which is

“We biomedical analysts act as lab managers and, among other things, are responsible for the lab’s equipment,” says Louise Jenninger.

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FOCUS

Research ­involves a lot of patience.

Still, everyone in our group enjoys being in the lab ...

EMELIE HOBERG

inherited from both the father and the mother, the mtDNA is inherited from the mother only. MtDNA is also special as it contains no introns, moreover it encodes only 37 genes; compare that to the DNA in the cell nucleus, which encodes more than 20,000 genes.”

“Diseases caused by mutations in the mtDNA, or in proteins responsible for replicating mtDNA, affect approximately 1 in 10,000 people,” says Louise Jenninger, Biomedical Analyst. “The diseases occur when primarily muscle or brain cells are no longer capable of generating enough energy to function.”

IN A COMPLEX test tube model, which the research group has constructed, they can study how mtDNA is replicated.

“This way we can, for example, study the activity of a malfunctioning protein that causes disease or the activity of a newly identified protein with an unknown function,” explains Bradley Peter. “We can also search for molecules that modify the replication of the mtDNA, which can then be used as therapeutic compounds.”

Occasionally, the research team collaborates with clinical researchers to investigate a disease.

“A clinic may find a previously unknown mutation of a protein in a patient and they want to know if this could be the cause of the patient’s disease,” says Louise Jenninger. “We

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Discussion of some talks that will be presented at a conference where postdoctoral and doctoral students will participate.

Research leader Maria Falkenberg asks some questions.

“Research takes time, you have to read a lot, write articles and analyze other people’s texts. On the other hand, we have a lot of freedom and hopefully we contribute to something good, such as new drugs for serious illnesses.”

Doctoral students Carlos Pardo Hernández and Direnis Erinc explained why they wanted to be researchers during a visit to Hermod’s high school during Researchers´ Night.

Cryorids in liquid nitrogen.

Emily Hogberg prepares cryorids for analysis in a cryo electron microscope located at the Center for Cellular Imaging Core Facility. The proteins that the research group wants to study are on the grid. The proteins are embedded in a thin layer of ice that is stored in liquid nitrogen. When the grid must be loaded very quickly, in one single motion, into the microscope.

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FOCUS are contacted in order to create the actual mutation in the protein in our lab.”

This is done by expressing the protein in recombinant form, for example in E. coli or in insect cells, which is then purified.

“ONCE WE HAVE obtained the pure protein, we can move on to the more interesting phase of the work: studying the activity of the protein to try to understand why the patient is ill.

The protein is mixed with DNA in a test tube, explains Emily Hoberg.

“What we can test is how well the protein binds to DNA, how good it is at replicating DNA or how well it interacts with other proteins that are also necessary for replicating DNA. These analyses can answer the question of why this mutation is causing disease in the patient.

This type of study can take one or two years, says Bradley Peter.

“Most of our work focuses on basic research, and is not clinical.

But the approaches and methods are largely the same.”

Bradley Peter shows successful images of mitochondrial ribosomes made for professors Zofia Chrzanowska-Lightowlers and Robert Linghtowlers, Newcastle University.

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Cryoelectron microscopy is a rather new imaging technique that makes it possible to visualize larger protein complexes that provide information about protein structures.

Nordic platform for media

Are you a researcher in the media sector? Or are you perhaps interested in establishing contact with a media researcher? If so, the NordMedia Network platform is just the thing for you. The Website has only just been launched but has 120 registered researchers already.

NORDMEDIA Network was launched in Malmö in August during the NordMedia conference, which has been held every other year since 1973.

“The conference is also one of the reasons why the platform was started,” says Jonas Ohlsson, who has been the Director of Nordicom for just over a year.

“Although the conference is very well established, it has not had a platform of its own; instead a new website was designed for each meeting. Having a permanent website means that NordMedia now has a home and we can continue to interact in between meetings. The main purpose of the NordMedia Network is to give researchers within the Nordic media sector

an opportunity to present themselves and their research. At the same time, the website enables researchers to find one another,” says Karin Andén, Digital Communicator at Nordicom.

“It is not necessary to come from or to be working in Scandinavia, but people registering on the website must be interested in media research from a Nordic perspective. The platform will also contain all kinds of relevant information, for example on conferences, advertisements for vacant positions, research grants or PhD courses and news, as well as new tools and methods.”

“EVEN IF THE PRIMARY purpose

of the website is to provide support to Nordic media researchers, it will also be useful as an expert database for journalists or officials who have questions that need answering. Nordicom aims to disseminate research and knowledge about the role of the media in the Nordic countries knowledge based on scientific facts, and this website is part of that effort”, says Karin Andén.

Media research is a field that

cuts into many social science disciplines.

“International interest in the Nordic media landscape is quite considerable,” says Jonas Ohlsson. “Scandinavia is often presented as an example, where strong, independent media have contributed significantly to our democracies and where public service has long played an important role. Nordic media companies are also at the forefront in terms of digital development. At the same time, the Nordic model is being challenged and is under considerable pressure, just like media in other countries, not least with regard to financing.”

Jonas Ohlsson emphasizes that the NordMedia Network is fully transparent and accessible.

“Transparency is one of the basic tenets of Nordicom. In contrast to many other digital platforms, we are not driven by commercial interests. The language of the platform is English, which is common practice in a research context – in other circumstances, however, Nordicom respects the different national languages.”

EVA LUNDGREN

Jonas Ohlsson

Karin Andén

Facts Nordicom started in the 1970ies and is today one of the national unities at the University of Gothenburg. The Nordic collaboration is run by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The annual Mediabarometer is presented here, a survey on the use of different media among Swedes and is the oldest study of this type in the world.

The NordMedia conference is organised every other year by the national media research associations in cooperation with Nordicom.

The new website NordMedia Network is available here: https:// nordmedianetwork.org.

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FEATURE

THE HUMANITIES –

– a science like any other?

Is there anything special about being a humanities scholar? Göran Larsson for one does not think so, having recently published a paper on the role of the humanities in science.

“We humanities scholars sometimes say that we are ­different because our research is about mankind, we ­devote ourselves to critical studies and often have a ­long-term perspective – but we are not alone in this.

Instead of cultivating our distinctiveness, we should ­emphasise our part in the common foundation that unites all science.”

considered to be sickness: stress can lead to a heart attack and death, yet it is automatically considered a sickness. How we designate something affects what we see when we study a phenomenon or a certain period of time..”

Text: EVA LUNDGREN Illustration: MARIA KÄLLSTRÖM

essay Humaniora – en vetenskap som andra (The Humanities – a Science like Any Other) as a commentary to the criticism often put forward that the humanities are left leaning, ideologically driven or less scientific.

One possible reason why the public has a rather vague perception of the humanities is that humanities scholars devote themselves to things that people often have their own opinions about, such as literature, cinema and religion. Another problem is how the humanities are presented and discussed.

“Instead of highlighting good quality research, the focus is often on poor or weak examples that are taken to represent the whole field.

This could never happen when it comes to medicine or natural sciences.”

There is also a perception that “real science” is based on experiments that can be reproduced in an unambiguous way.

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Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

GÖRAN LARSSON has written the

Göran Larsson

“But if all should be based on natural laws, only mathematics and some natural sciences would be left. if we started to make such strict demands on science, only mathematics and certain natural sciences would remain. Medicine, for example, which is usually perceived as credible and objective, involves many judgements. Among other things, there is not necessarily a clear boundary between what is considered to be healthy and what is

HUMANITIES SCHOLARS are also sometimes accused of political activism, Göran Larsson points out.

While this problem is not unique to humanists, some may be blamed for pursuing a personal agenda. “ Among some researchers, there is a view that only those belonging to a particular group can describe that group’s history or situation.

However, that reasoning has absurd consequences; for example, must cancer researchers have had cancer themselves, and what is the point of research results if only someone belonging to a particular group can understand them? Thus, a researcher can absolutely be personally committed, but it must never affect the outcome of the research. It is precisely to avoid this problem that we have a system of peer review, seminars, requirements for referencing sources, methods and so forth.

Another reason why the humanities can be perceived as vague is that it is such a broad discipline, which often borders, or encroaches on, other disciplines.

“The Faculty of Social Sciences was first formed in 1964, thereby leaving the Faculty of Humanities, seemingly without a single protest. A good deal of research and education still take place in the borderland

between the faculties: my own subject, religious studies, for example, often involves text interpretations, but also interviews and field work and is thus similar to sociology and political science. Other subjects in the humanities use large databases for quantitative surveys, just like many natural and social science subjects.”

So, the differences that exist between different fields of research have little to do with faculty affiliation, according to Göran Larsson.

“WE HUMANITIES scholars often say

that we study human beings, but that is also what medical scholars do. We devote ourselves to interpretation and critical analyses, but so do of course also researchers at other faculties. It is true that we often take a more long-term perspective compared to other researchers, although geologists would probably disagree. Something that is still special to the humanities, however, is the emphasis on what it means to be human, even though this also happens in other fields.”

Therefore Göran Larsson thinks that the humanities would benefit from emphasising the similarities to other scientific fields, rather than the differences.

“There is a basic foundation that distinguishes research from

thinking in general, and which is common to all scientific fields. It involves asking open-ended questions and being clear about one’s method.

Research results can be sensitive and contradict the researcher’s personal convictions, but they must nevertheless be presented. Of course, it can be difficult to admit shortcomings.

A well-known example is the Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, who was convinced that vitamin C cured cancer. When he was diagnosed with cancer himself, he concluded that he had started taking vitamin C too late in life, not that his hypotheses about vitamin C could not be proven.”

SO, INSTEAD OF emphasising their

distinctiveness, humanities scholars, as well as representatives of other scientific fields, should strive for more interdisciplinary understanding. Because future discoveries will probably be made precisely in the areas where traditional subjects overlap, Göran Larsson believes.

The fact that the University of Gothenburg invests in interdisciplinary research, such as the UGOT centres, is probably a good thing but it would be better if the initiatives came from the grassroot level. What the University of Gothenburg can do centrally is to promote meetings, such as joint conferences as well as counteracting administrative barriers and financial incentives that hamper collaboration in teaching, research and collaboration within the university and the surrounding community.

Facts Göran Larsson, Professor of Religious Studies and Pro-Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, has written the essay, Humaniora – en vetenskap som andra, published by Timbro.

You can find out about the general public’s attitude to science in the SOM Institute’s survey Vetenskap i samhället 2018 (Science in Society 2018).

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PEOPLE

Conferment of doctoral degrees 2019

A tribute to knowledge innovators – that is one way of summing up the ceremony held for the conferment of doctoral degrees on October 18 in the hall of the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre. During the three-hour ceremony, many new doctors, honorary doctors and the winners of awards were honoured. The festivities had just begun.

AFTER THE TRADITIONAL procession, the MCs Monica Danielsson and Henrik Andersson took to the stage and began by singing the Swedish versions of “The Bare Necessities” and “The Best of Times”, before welcoming everyone and alluding to this year’s theme of knowledge and enlightenment, as well as asking jokingly whether knowledge was primarily a question of power.

This year, 195 new doctoral degrees and 12 honorary doctoral degrees were conferred. More than half the doctors came from the Sahlgrenska Academy and almost 70 percent were women, which is probably a record. The youngest was 39 and the oldest was 74.

After the University’s very own fanfare had sounded, it was time for Vice Chancellor Eva Wiberg to take to the stage. The theme for this year’s graduation ceremony was inspired

26 GUJOURNAL NOVEMBER 2019

by Gothenburg’s 400-year jubilee, for which the city has chosen to highlight education, research and skills provision. “Knowledge and enlightenment go hand in hand with that”, said Eva Wiberg.

“TO UNDERSTAND HOW history

impacts the present, to see relationships and to follow the trail from the past to the present is essential if we are to understand our society and the world around us. I am therefore proud to see that several representatives of the university have reacted strongly to the proposal to remove the study of Antiquity from the school curriculum. We spoke up on behalf of education, knowledge and enlightenment,” she said with a special word of thanks to all the new doctors for being our university’s foremost innovators, developers and disseminators of knowledge.

Gunilla Backman was honored with a doctor’s hat by the Sahlgrenska Academy.

The message she wanted to convey was the importance of always standing up for and defending academic freedom.

AFTER THE AWARD ceremony, the faculties took to the stage in order to confer degrees on their respective doctors and honorary doctors. Latin was spoken, diplomas were presented and a fanfare was played as they donned their hats and laurel wreaths.

The programme went smoothly, everything had been planned down

What does this day mean to you?

“Oh, this day means a great deal to me. I have been working on my thesis for many years and have taken sabbaticals from time to time, so I feel very proud and satisfied today. I have succeeded. It feels good to be part of this fine tradition. This is also the first time I have had an opportunity to wear white tie and tails.”

Eduardo Jiménez Tornatore defended a thesis in Spanish literature

Claes Eriksson is a new honorary doctor at the Faculty of Humanities and Denis Mukwege is honorary doctor at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

to the smallest detail. The only surprise was when the five doctors in education victoriously raised their diplomas toward the audience. Three hours later it was time to file out to the music of Bernhard Crusell. Once outside, people mingled with champagne and canapés before the hall was rearranged for the 740 guests who enjoyed a three-course dinner with selected wines. They were entertained by students from the University of Gothenburg’s Academy of Music and Drama, they laughed at witty speeches, and, last but not least, danced to the music of the student band Tongångarna.

Text: ALLAN ERIKSSON Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

We spoke up on behalf of education, knowledge and enlightenment.

“Celebrating an academic achievement together with loved ones means a lot to me. It is a way to honour an effort and a milestone that deserves attention. It is also a wonderful ritual that signifies closure and marks the beginning of something new.”

Karin Boson defended a thesis in psychology “I think it’s good to draw attention to the importance of science. What we have done is serious research and therefore I feel particularly proud of all the work we have carried out over the past four years.”

Karolina Shams Hakimi defended a thesis in medical science.

“It felt great walking onto the ­stage and hearing the applause from the audience. It feels like closure. ­Working on the thesis has been both a blessing and a curse. It has been good fun as well as very tiring. To be part of a memorable and festive ­ritual that does not exist in Germany, my homeland, means more than you can imagine.”

Janna Meyer–Beining defended a thesis in education “Not an easy question. But it ­certainly­ means a lot. To experience this is a reward for the years of toil and struggle. It is a wonderful ­ceremony­ and today I feel very happy and proud.”

Jonas Andersson defended a thesis in nuclear physics

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CHRONICLE

Brexit and Beyond WHEN WILL THE agony and frustration of

Brexit end? Brexit is a never-ending saga of incompetence and confusion, which has thrown British politics into crisis, and consumed vast amounts of time and energy across the European Union. It is as if a pack of lemmings, racing helter-skelter towards the cliff edge to throw themselves into the void, stopped at edge and started debating how to jump; when to jump; or even, whether to jump.

When the news of agreement of a new Brexit treaty was announced on Thursday 17 October, my first reaction was a sense of relief. At last, despite the Northern Ireland conundrum, a new treaty had been agreed with the EU. I hoped this would mean an orderly exit from the European Union, and the start of the long-term project of shaping a new cooperative partnership between the UK and its EU neighbours. At last, I thought, British politicians could turn their attention to the burning problems facing my country – including the crisis of the NHS (National Health Service); the economic problems of northern English towns and cities; deepening social cleavages; knife crime in London; and the constitutional relationship between the peoples and nations that make up the ‘United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland’.

BUT IT WAS NOT to be. Once again, the political deadlock that has gripped this divided nation has resulted in parliament unable to agree on how and when to deliver the promise of Brexit. Don’t get me wrong: I voted Remain in the referendum, and believe that leaving the EU will create a series of unnecessary difficulties and complications. But the British people were promised a one-off referendum that would decide the contentious issue of EU mem-

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bership for a generation, and a majority voted to leave. It was a devastating decision for me personally. But it was a democratic decision, and as Winston Churchill said in November 1947: ‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time’.

DESPITE THE ADVICE of experts and leaders from virtually the entire British establishment – from the CBI (the Confederation of British Industry) to the TUC (the Trades Union Congress) – the British people narrowly voted to leave the EU. It is tempting to dismiss this as ‘populism’, or ascribe it to anti-immigrant prejudice. Uncontrolled immigration certainly was an issue. But Brexit is about more than this. It reflects widespread alienation against the perceived failures and duplicity of out-of-touch establishment elites: a reaction against parliamentarians who had fiddled their expenses to line their own pockets; against bankers whose greed and incompetence inflicted austerity on already hard-pressed working-class communities – and who were in turn rescued by the political elite; and yes, against unelected Brussels bureaucrats. Ironically, this latter-day ‘peasants revolt’ was led by a tragi-comic ragbag of classic upper-class British twits – Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnston – who appear to be drawn straight from a Monty Pythons sketch. In the end, however, the Brexit vote was decided not by utilitarian economic interests, but by a desire to ‘Take Back Control’ and reassert national identity and sovereignty.

Personally, I still think it is a pity that we are leaving the EU. But now the electorate has voted to leave, the sooner it is done the better. Britain can then begin to have a serious debate about its relationship with Europe, and about the sort of country it wants to be. I am by nature an optimist. I believe that dire predictions about Britain’s economic decline after Brexit are overblown.

There are enormous reserves of energy and dynamism in the UK’s vibrant economy, and in its open, tolerant and multicultural society. Brexit is serving as a catalyst for the transformation of British politics, which hopefully can lead to a reshaping of its political system – creating a new political landscape beyond the current moribund two-party system. Serious people are already discussing a future for Britain as an outward-looking, globally engaged country, working in close partnership with our European neighbours, but free to shape its own future according to its own traditions and preferences. A post-Brexit Britain can be open, tolerant, dynamic and independent – rather like Canada, or Australia.

After all, this is the country that gave the world the priceless gifts of football, the Beatles and HP Sauce.

ADRIAN G.V. HYDE-PRICE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Photocollage: Anders Eurén

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THE MOMENT WHERE: Östra sjukhuset (Eastern hospital), part of the Sahlgrenska University Hospital WHO: Denis Mukwege WHEN: October 18, 2019

Ne x t i s s ue b e ou w i l l t i n De ce m b er

SHORT DESCRIPTION: In connection with the promotion to honorary doctor at the University of Gothenburg, Denis Mukwege visited the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. During the tour at the ­maternity ward at the Östra sjukhuset, he met, among others, Therese Olsén and ­Christopher Bäckström, together with their newborn son, Oliver.

Denis Mukwege is head of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo and professor at the Université Evangelique en Afrique. In 2018 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his fight against sexual violence and for women’s rights.

Photo: Johan Wingborg

GUJournal EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Allan Eriksson 031–786 10 21 allan.eriksson@gu.se

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eva Lundgren 031–786 10 81 eva.lundgren@gu.se

PHOTOGRAPHER Johan Wingborg 070–595 38 01 johan.wingborg@gu.se

LAYOUT Anders Eurén 031–786 43 81 anders.euren@gu.se

Address: GU Journal, University of Gothenburg, Box 100, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden E-mail: gu-journalen@gu.se Web address: gu-journalen.gu.se ISSN: 1402-9626 Please feel free to quote but give us credit. Translation: Hero Tolk.