The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology

News

• 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.

• 2025-03-31

  The Rights of Young Children and the Best Interests of the Child in Focus When Academia and Practice Meet

  Gisela Priebe, professor of psychology and director of the The Centre for Research on the Mental Health and Life Circumstances of Children and Youth (CBU), is one of the speakers at "Barnrättsdagarna" (the Children's Rights Days) held from 31 March to 2 April in Karlstad. This year's theme, "The Child as a Rights Holder and the Best Interests of the Child," is a constantly relevant topic for Gisela and CBU's research.

  Hello Gisela! What is your presentation about?

• 2025-03-20

  The university collaborates for sustainable manufacturing processes

  Mission 0 House, a collaboration between industry and academia with the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing processes, has secured its first long-term research funding. Several leading companies, together with the Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen), have jointly guaranteed nearly 100 million SEK for the next five years.

  Mission 0 House, led by Polestar and Lindholmen Science Park, started as a pilot project in 2024. The initiative has allowed five Swedish universities to join Mission 0 House in Gothenburg: Karlstad University, University of Borås, University West, Jönköping University and Mid Sweden University. The institutions will contribute scientific expertise and hire a total of 10 new postdoctoral researchers. These researchers, along with senior scientists, will work together to develop future emission-free manufacturing methods.

• 2025-02-18

  Leather substitutes made of fungal biomass can become your new handbag or steering wheel cover

  Imagine a handbag or a steering wheel upholstered in leather – but made of artificial leather made from fungi grown from food waste. In a new research project the goal is to develop just that in collaboration with industry.

  The project aims to meet societal challenges such as food waste and the production of natural leather that is ethically and environmentally questioned due to unsustainable production methods.

  There are already various alternatives to artificial leather. These often contain fossil-based plastics to meet the desired properties. The substitutes also often do not meet the desired quality characteristics and environmental requirements, which makes it interesting to work closely with industry in the project.