The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology

News

• 2025-09-19

  Research for energy-efficient paper manufacturing

  Paper manufacturing is very energy-intensive, but there is great potential for improving energy efficiency. In a comprehensive research project conducted in close collaboration with industry, researchers at Karlstad University have used data modelling and laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to generate new knowledge that can help streamline the processes.

  – Wood fibres have an incredible ability to retain water and clump together, which poses challenges in the production of paper and paperboard, says Björn Sjöstrand, docent in chemical engineering at Karlstad University. To create smooth and even paper products, we must prevent the fibres from clumping together. So, what is the solution? Lots of water. As much as 99.8 per cent water at the start of the process. Water helps separate the fibres and creates physical space between them, which makes it possible to create a smooth sheet of paper.

• 2025-06-26

  Quantum Physics Research in Collaboration with Indian Institution

  Over the course of several weeks, two researchers from Bangalore, India, have visited the university as part of an ongoing collaboration funded by STINT, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education.

  This is a long-term collaboration, says Sergej Moroz, Associate Professor of Physics. This time, it’s a PhD student, Ankush Chaubey, and his advisor, Subhro Bhattacharjee, who are here for a couple of weeks. Our joint work includes the study of spin liquids.

• 2025-06-10

  Research for Sustainable Paper Manufacturing

  A new research project has been launched to improve production efficiency and reduce resource consumption within the forestry industry.

  – Sustainability is a central focus of the project, which aims to decrease energy and resource usage in the forestry sector, says Björn Sjöstrand, Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering. By developing user-friendly numerical models for optimizing dewatering and drying, the project promotes energy-efficient production and lower carbon emissions. The models enable simulations of various strategies without costly trials, accelerating the development of energy-saving processes.

• 2025-05-22

  Solar cell researchers in international collaboration

  International mobility enables valuable collaboration for researchers from Karlstad University and UMONS, the University of Mons in Belgium. The collaboration promotes research in materials science through exchange of knowledge on methods for studying material properties at the nanoscale.

  – My visit here at Karlstad University has been enriching in many ways, says Philippe Leclere from UMONS. Since we work in the same field of research, that is, materials for organic solar cells, it is very interesting to exchange experiences. We study the material’s properties at the molecular level and how the molecules in the active layer organise themselves. This includes the material’s mechanical, chemical and electrical properties, which we study using scanning probe microscopy.

• 2025-05-09

  Seed funding through MIRAI and STINT enhances international research collaboration

  Two projects led by researchers at Karlstad University have through MIRAI been granted seed funding, which will provide our researchers with opportunities for international collaboration and increased mobility.

  MIRAI, with support from STINT, announced funding to support research collaborations between the member universities in Japan and Sweden. The aim is to develop new and existing collaborations through innovative projects. Out of 43 applications, eleven projects were selected for funding, two of which are led by researchers at Karlstad University.

• 2025-05-09

  Mussels as nature's own engineers

  Raviv Gal does research that he hopes will contribute to healthier watercourses and increased biodiversity. Fewer blackflies, higher biodiversity, and slower decomposition – these are some of the unexpected effects that freshwater pearl mussels have on their surroundings in the stream. Raviv Gal recently defended his PhD in biology at Karlstad University.

  The freshwater pearl mussel is one of Sweden's longest-living animals – some individuals can live up to 280 years. But it is also a so-called ecosystem engineer. By filtering water, slowing down water flow, and producing nutrient-rich faeces, mussels affect all life in the stream. 

  "They do so much more than you think," says Raviv Gal. "They may look a bit like stones and don't move much, but they have a big impact on their surroundings."

  Research with Unexpected Findings