The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology

News

• 2026-04-21

  Industrial PhD Students in EXACT Present Their Research in Short Films

  How do you explain advanced research in a way that is understandable even outside academia? Industrial PhD students in the research school EXACT at Karlstad University have now taken on that challenge in front of the camera. Four new short films, in which the doctoral students present their research in a popular‑science format, have recently been published.

  The films are part of a new element in the doctoral education, with a strong focus on communication. Instead of presenting their research solely through traditional academic formats, the doctoral students were tasked with summarising their work in a short film aimed at a broad audience.

• 2026-04-17

  DHINO brought together academia, the public sector, and industry for dialogue on digital health innovation

  On April 14–15, DHINO hosted the annual Partner Days, bringing together around 30 representatives from academia, the public sector, and industry to exchange experiences and discuss the development of digital health innovation in healthcare.

  “The Partner Days are a recurring activity where we invite our collaboration partners to share good practices,” says Charlotte Bäccman, project manager for DHINO and associate professor of Psychology at Karlstad University.

  Jakob Trischler, deputy project manager and associate professor of Business Administration, continues: 

  “It is unique to bring together so many different areas of expertise in one place. This type of collaboration is essential for addressing complex societal challenges related to digital health innovation”.

• 2026-04-16

  Cybersecurity in focus during Ethical Hackarinas

  On April 8–9, the first Ethical Hackarinas event was held at Karlstad University. It was two intensive days that put ethical hacking in focus and contributed to increased knowledge and awareness in the field of cybersecurity.

  The program offered a mix of inspiring lectures and hands-on activities, with participants from industry, academia, and the public sector. The event was aimed at both beginners and individuals with a broader interest in technology, security, and issues related to inclusion and representation within tech. With a strong emphasis on practical elements, participants had the opportunity to try things out themselves, and no prior knowledge was required.

  Two of the attendees explained why they were interested in participating:

• 2026-04-15

  Spring Meeting of the EXACT Research School

  On April 14–15, the EXACT research school held its spring meeting, an opportunity for doctoral students and partner companies to exchange knowledge and experiences. Day one focused on leadership and entrepreneurship, while day two centered on the doctoral projects and the participating companies.

  Bernt Svensson, former Head of Products at Absolent prior to his retirement and a member of the EXACT board, gave a lecture on leadership and the difference between a leadership role and an expert role. The doctoral students reflected on these different roles and shared their concerns, including workload and relationships with colleagues, which make many hesitant to take on a leadership position. A survey by the trade union Ledarna on young managers highlights the same issue: many people aged 18–35 do not want to become managers, for the same reasons expressed by the doctoral students.

• 2026-04-01

  New insights into hornification could strengthen the future of paper production

  When paper dries and is subsequently rewetted, its properties change permanently. This phenomenon is known as hornification. New research now shows that the process is more complex than previously assumed, and that temperature, humidity, and fibre type all play decisive roles.

  Hornification means that fibres in paper products lose some of their ability to absorb water. This has major implications for everything from paper manufacturing to recycling, where controlling the material’s strength and durability is crucial.

  “Fundamentally, hornification is more about removing water than adding heat, and this means that we can actually control the material’s properties and avoid unnecessary strength losses,” says Björn Sjöstrand, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and project leader for the research project.

• 2026-03-18

  When winter turns lake hunting upside down

  Sweden’s lakes are changing rapidly. Climate change is bringing milder winters and increased precipitation. The result? The water becomes both warmer and browner. As rain and meltwater flow through forests and land, organic material (humus) is carried into the lakes. It darkens the water and reduces light penetration.

  For a long time, researchers have assumed that this would strongly affect predatory fish like pike. They hunt by sight—poorer visibility should mean poorer hunting. But new research from Karlstad University shows that reality is far more complex.

  – We were actually surprised. The pike ate just as much in almost coffee-brown water as in crystal-clear water, says Viktor Nilsson, senior lecturer in biology.

  Coffee-brown water is no problem