There is a preconceived notion that working-class boys and men in rural areas are less keen and less qualified readers than other groups. Through his research, Stig-Börje Asplund, newly appointed professor of educational work, paints a more nuanced picture.
Stig-Börje Asplund’s research is interdisciplinary and his research interests include boys and men in rural areas and their relationship to reading.
This is one of the questions that Anna-Lena Almqvist, Professor of Social Work at Karlstad University, is exploring. Her current research focuses on the participation of children and young people in foster placements and how safer relationships can be created in vulnerable life situations.
Hello Anna-Lena! Can you tell us about your research?
"My main research areas are child welfare, men's work against violence, and LGBTQI-related issues.
On 1 November 2024, Karlstad University welcomed a new professor as Sofia Wijkmark was appointed professor of comparative literature.
"It feels very exciting! I’m mostly looking forward to having more time for research," she says.
"There are a number of projects that I would like to dedicate more time to, and now I finally have the opportunity to do so," says Sofia.
Over the next two years, a new research project at Karlstad University is going to develop concrete resources to increase user influence in mental health services.
Hello there Linda, and congratulations on your new title as docent! Can you tell us about your research?
"Thank you! My research focuses on systematic and user-centred digitalisation with an emphasis on increasing knowledge about how organisations can harness the opportunities of digitalisation in a sustainable and value-creating way.
Over Christmas and New Year, as well as during other big holidays, food takes centre stage and Swedish households tend to buy and prepare large quantities of food. Despite the fact that large sums are spent on food this time of year, a large part ends up being thrown away.
"Reflect, plan and buy smart!
Collaboration with regional and municipal actors are crucial for triggering social innovation – says sustainability scientist Avit Bhowmik. He was awarded with two research grants from Vinnova and Swedish Energy Agency for collaboratively driving sustainability transformation in Värmland.
Research has to break boundaries and engage in collboration with regional and local actors to make societal impacts, particularly for navigating sustainability transformation.
In the Swedish Sports Confederation's Guidelines for Children's and Youth Sports, it is stated that everyone in sports should work to create safe and inclusive sports environments for children and youth. In our contemporary society, these guidelines may have become even more important.
Kauresearch is the university’s Instagram account dedicated to research information. For the second year in a row, the themed week Kau Science Week is held at the same time as the Nobel Week.
Kau Science Week is mainly featured on the Kauresearch account. A post will be published every day throughout the week, drawing attention to researchers and research at Karlstad University. The posts will be accompanied by stories and hashtags for further reading or listening.
Andrea Schalley, professor of English, has received funding from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (RJ) to conduct full-time research in 2025-2026. She will complete a monograph on language maintenance, synthesising and contextualising a decade of research.
“I am extremely grateful for the RJ sabbatical and the opportunity to focus exclusively on my research,” says Andrea Schalley.
Teachers across the Nordic countries are happy to include literature in their teaching. But what they want their pupils to learn from the literature differs between the countries. This is one of the findings of a doctoral thesis by Anna Nissen at Karlstad University.
"I hope my research offers teachers new insights, helping them identify areas for improvement in their teaching as well as what they are already doing successfully.
New technology is something threatening and often dangerous. At least that is the picture presented if you read modern children’s literature.
– This is contradictory. Technology is becoming an increasingly integral part of everyday life, including in literature. But at the same time, there is often a concern or a hidden threat in technology, says Jakob Olsson, researcher at Karlstad University.
Jakob Olsson has studied 249 books, published between 2000 and 2019.
Research on justice in connection with disasters and sustainable development is becoming increasingly important in a world where climate change and social inequalities create new challenges.
Petter Falk, new doctor in Political Science at Karlstad University and the Service Research Centre (CTF), sheds light on conditions and grounds for datafication in his doctoral thesis “Assemble Care // Align Data”.
– What surprised me the most was that datafication is intuitively accepted, despite a kind of intellectual resistance, says Petter Falk.
The term “big data” is frequently used nowadays, but your research emphasises the importance of the small details.
