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News

• 2025-05-09

  Mussels as nature's own engineers

  Raviv Gal does research that he hopes will contribute to healthier watercourses and increased biodiversity. Fewer blackflies, higher biodiversity, and slower decomposition – these are some of the unexpected effects that freshwater pearl mussels have on their surroundings in the stream. Raviv Gal recently defended his PhD in biology at Karlstad University.

  The freshwater pearl mussel is one of Sweden's longest-living animals – some individuals can live up to 280 years. But it is also a so-called ecosystem engineer. By filtering water, slowing down water flow, and producing nutrient-rich faeces, mussels affect all life in the stream. 

  "They do so much more than you think," says Raviv Gal. "They may look a bit like stones and don't move much, but they have a big impact on their surroundings."

  Research with Unexpected Findings

• 2025-05-06

  Karlstad University took the next step in groundbreaking 6G project

  The 6G-PATH (6G-Pilots and Trials Through Europe) project at Karlstad University has entered a new phase where the technology is being tested in practice. The goal of the project is to enhance healthcare education by utilizing advanced communication technologies such as 5G and 6G, combined with Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

  A central component of the project is the use of an advanced patient simulator, a manikin that can mimic various medical conditions and reactions. With the help of 6G technology, the manikin is planned to be used in more realistic environments, such as simulated accident scenes, providing students with a more authentic training experience.

  "Advanced mobile technology enables interactive training in environments that were previously difficult to recreate in the classroom," says Anna Brunström, professor of computer science and project leader at Karlstad University.

• 2025-05-06

  Course provides doctoral students with tools for research utilisation

  The course Impact and the utilisation of research is offered by the Innovation Office Fyrklövern and is aimed at doctoral students from four universities. The course focuses on how research results can be used to benefit society, industry, and academia through non-academic strategies. Elise Meurs, a doctoral student in chemical engineering whose research is conducted in collaboration with an industrial company, finds the course especially valuable.

  “In my doctoral project, we are investigating industrially feasible solutions for chemical recycling of cotton, by reusing cotton waste in the viscose process instead of wood fibers. Our research aims to explore performance differences and propose solutions for achieving a commercially viable alternative to the current viscose production from wood fibers. The project is run through the Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences and is carried out in close collaboration with the company Circulose.”

• 2025-05-06

  Words from our senior management: AI in education – a balance between responsibility and exploration

  In a recent opinion article published in one of our local newspapers, the union Akavia raised the need for clarity regarding students’ use of generative AI and the importance of higher education institutions encouraging a responsible approach. This is an important and topical discussion, and in my response, I describe the measures we have taken to address this challenge at Karlstad University.

  Since January 2024, we have established guidelines for both students and teachers that clarify how generative AI tools may be used in education. The guidelines specify what is permitted and what is not, with a focus on supporting students’ learning, ensuring legally secure examinations and preparing students for a future where AI is a natural part of working life. The goal is to promote responsible use of AI while safeguarding academic integrity and fair conditions for all.

• 2025-04-30

  Research contributes to understanding venture builders

  John-Erik Hassel recently completed his PhD in business administration at Karlstad Business School and The Service Research Center (CTF) and has done research on venture builders.

  John-Erik Hassel, tell us about your research

  – My research is about understanding a relatively new actor in entrepreneurial ecosystems called venture builders and how they can be understood in a larger context. Venture builders are actors who use a structured process to establish startups one after the other in collaboration with individual entrepreneurs.

• 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."