The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology

News

• 2025-10-06

  Naturally Fast-Growing Spruce Trees Have Many Long Fibers

  Rapid height growth may positively influence fiber length in Swedish spruce wood. A case study investigated wood samples from 38-year-old of Norway spruces (Picea abies) at one of Sweden’s most naturally fertile forests.

  – Long fibers produce strong paper and cardboard products due to an increased number of bonds, says Björn Sjöstrand, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Karlstad University. The advantage of increased strength broadens the range of applications, and the same strength can be achieved with less material.

  The hypothesis for the study was that trees with fast height growth may have longer fibers, and thus provide longer pulp fibers, compared to lengths previously reported in Sweden.

• 2025-10-06

  Autumn Meeting with AI Theme

  The autumn meeting of the EXACT industrial graduate school offered two days filled with discussions and workshops. This time, the theme was AI — its possibilities, but also its ethical aspects.

  – It’s always a pleasure when the industrial graduate school can bring together PhD students, supervisors, and company mentors to discuss project progress, says Jörgen Samuelsson, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of the graduate school. Our autumn and spring meetings are important opportunities to exchange experiences and discuss ongoing research. It’s also a chance to talk about shared challenges in doctoral work, and this time we focused on AI.

• 2025-10-01

  The hedgehog is a garden friend in need

  The hedgehog is one of our most beloved garden visitors, but the species is under threat. A new red list for 2025 is underway, and preliminary findings suggest that the hedgehog may be moved from its current status of “Near Threatened” (NT) to “Vulnerable” (V). Petter Sjöström at Karlstad University is analysing thousands of observations from across the country as part of this year’s Hedgehog Awareness Week, initiated by WWF and Nordens Ark.

  – I wanted to write about something that truly matters, says Petter Sjöström, master’s student in biology. People care about hedgehogs, but this is also about biodiversity. By protecting the hedgehog, we protect many other species as well.

  Citizen research in practice
  
  Thousands of individuals reported their hedgehog observations and whether the animals were present (alive or dead) or absent to WWF and Nordens Ark between 11 and 17 August. Petter is now analysing this comprehensive amount of data as part of his degree project.

• 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.