The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology

News

• 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

• 2025-05-06

  Karlstad University took the next step in groundbreaking 6G project

  The 6G-PATH (6G-Pilots and Trials Through Europe) project at Karlstad University has entered a new phase where the technology is being tested in practice. The goal of the project is to enhance healthcare education by utilizing advanced communication technologies such as 5G and 6G, combined with Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

  A central component of the project is the use of an advanced patient simulator, a manikin that can mimic various medical conditions and reactions. With the help of 6G technology, the manikin is planned to be used in more realistic environments, such as simulated accident scenes, providing students with a more authentic training experience.

  "Advanced mobile technology enables interactive training in environments that were previously difficult to recreate in the classroom," says Anna Brunström, professor of computer science and project leader at Karlstad University.

• 2025-04-29

  Open satellite image archives to boost sustainable development goal

  A new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that commercial satellite image archives should be opened to enhance research on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Access to very-high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery is crucial for monitoring smallholder farms, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where such farming is vital for food security.

  "Smallholder farmers, who often cultivate less than two hectares of land, produce more than 30%of the world’s food.Yet their farming practices and productivity are poorly documented, partly due to the lack of accessible VHR satellite images, says Felicia O. Akinyemi, Associate Professor of Geomatics at Karlstad University. These images, which can cost up to 2 euros per square kilometer, are often too expensive for research institutions working in these regions."

• 2025-04-14

  Collaboration and Opportunities at the Graduate School’s Spring Meeting

  Over two days, the industrial graduate school Exact held its spring meeting, focusing on collaboration and development opportunities as well as career planning for doctoral students.

  – It has been two days filled with fascinating presentations from our doctoral students and many fruitful discussions about the graduate school’s collaboration and development opportunities, says Jörgen Samuelsson, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Graduate School. We invited representatives from the research groups DAMI, Pro2Be, and Mirai as well as the new industrial graduate school M3C, and we see many opportunities for even broader cooperation. Career planning for the doctoral students was also an important theme during these days.

• 2025-04-07

  Research for durable organic solar cells

  Organic solar cells have great potential in renewable energy, however their long-term stability and operational lifespan are challenges.

  Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) are at the forefront of next-generation renewable energy technologies, due to their lightweight, flexibility, transparency, and potential for low-cost production. Recent advances in the development of new molecules have propelled OSCs to record-breaking power conversion efficiencies of up to 20 percent.