Finn Nilson, professor of Risk and Environmental Studies

Finn Nilson was born in Skåne, but he grew up in Great Britain. He has a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy and a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Medical Science from Karolinska Institutet in 2003, a Degree of Master in Public Safety Management from Karlstad University in 2006, and a Degree of Doctor in Risk and Environmental Studies from Karlstad University in 2014. He has worked at Karlstad University since 2011, currently as a professor.

"My professorship in Risk Management is specialised in damage prevention and public safety. My research is based on a will to understand which individuals or groups who are most exposed to risks, for example fires, traffic accidents or fall damage, and how the risk varies depending on sociodemographic or societal aspects, as well discuss issues regarding how society tries or wishes to prevent these risks."

His interest in this comes from the fact that risk and risk management often form the foundation for, or are the defining factors of, the society we live in. Risk has the power to bring communities together, which we have seen in many countries during the pandemic, but also after events such as terror attacks or catastrophes. At the same time, risks and our understanding of them have a polarising effect, for example regarding the tolerance for forced measures from the government, in relation to the individual’s freedom to choose how much they want to expose themselves to risks.

"In our lives, both individually and as a group, we spend a lot of time focusing on how to minimise the risk of, for example, catastrophes, accidents and poverty. We constantly compare different risks and we assess what risks are acceptable to expose ourselves and others to. This often happens without us really thinking about it. At the same time, there is a sub-conscious understanding of, and a deeper conflict in, the fact that we have to accept risk, decease and death, and learn to live with it. There are always risks, and many people have opinions about this. Since these issues are so big and broad, there are always new ways of looking at things, so you can always improve, learn more or find new perspectives."

Both international and national agencies have integrated Finn Nilson’s research into their guidelines, advice and recommendations. In the end, the main goal of the research is to create knowledge and to question existing knowledge by using new and robust methods, as well as combining different theoretical perspectives.

"My research and my career have been characterised by curiosity and a will to understand and look beyond the simple, obvious answers Consequently, I believe that it is important to follow and participate in the current discourse in society, in order to make sure that falsehoods or obsolete knowledge are not repeated."

In his private life, Finn Nilson lives with his family in Stockholm. He enjoys travelling, running and alpine skiing, as well as cooking dinner and serving it with a nice wine.