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• 2026-09-02

  International Chamber Musician Appointed Visiting Professor

  Fredrik Sjølin grew up in Trondheim and is today one of Scandinavia’s most sought-after cellists and chamber musicians of his generation. For more than twenty years, he has been a member of the Danish String Quartet, which continues to be the main focus of his professional career. The quartet also serves as Quartet in Residence at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where Fredrik has taught both cello and chamber music since 2021. Beginning in the autumn semester of 2026 and for the following two years, he will also serve as a Visiting Professor at the Ingesund School of Music.

  The Danish String Quartet maintains an extensive international touring schedule, performing around 100 concerts each year. The ensemble records regularly for ECM Records and frequently teaches as guest instructors at institutions around the world.

• 2026-09-02

  Urban living-condition challenges extend far beyond megacities

  When urban challenges are discussed on the global stage, the spotlight often falls on megacities such as Mumbai, Lagos and Nairobi. However, a new study led by researchers at Karlstad University reveals that a substantial share of people living in disadvantaged urban environments are found in much smaller cities.

  "The most important finding is that more than one-third of the people we identified live in small and medium-sized cities," says Sai Ganesh Veeravalli, PhD student in Risk and Environmental Studies/Geomatics at Karlstad University and lead author of the study.

• 2026-09-01

  Mathematics paving the way for smarter designs

  I juni disputerade Mario Setta vid Karlstads universitet med sin doktorsavhandling i matematik: Boundary-Aware and Multiscale Methods for Topology Optimization. Hans forskning handlar om att utveckla och förbättra metoder för topologioptimering.

  What is topology and why did you choose this topic?

  "My thesis focuses on how topology optimization can be improved, that is how computers can be used to find an optimal shape for a structure so that it is as efficient as possible while using as little material as possible. Among other things, I investigated how to account for very small details and different material layers. This is becoming increasingly important as technical products become smaller and as advanced shapes can be manufactured using 3D printing, where objects are built layer by layer."

• 2026-08-31

  From Office to Lifestyle: Research on the Post-Digital World of Work

  In the special issue The Touristification of Work in the Post-Digital City, two major societal trends are brought together: the “touristification” of work and the “post-digital” city.
  – The six articles in this issue explore how these dynamics are reshaping cities around the world, says André Jansson, Professor of Media and Communication at Karlstad University, who served as editor together with Karin Fast of Karlstad University and Magnus Andersson of Malmö University.

  The title The Touristification of Work in the Post-Digital City encapsulates a dual societal trend: the touristification of work and the post-digital city. The touristification of work refers, among other things, to the rise of digital nomads and to new forms of office environments, such as coworking spaces, which are not merely practical workplaces but are increasingly packaged as relaxed lifestyle experiences resembling leisure travel.

• 2026-08-26

  Opportunity to speak with politicians ahead of the election

  On Thursday, 3 September, representatives from the political parties will visit Karlstad University to meet students, staff and visitors in the foyer outside Aula Magna to discuss their policies ahead of the elections to the Swedish Parliament, the Regional Council and the Municipal Council.

  During the day, representatives of the eight parties represented in the Swedish Parliament will also take part in panel discussions in Gläntan. The sessions will be moderated by Malin Rönnblom, Professor of Political Science. Topics will include education policy, and the discussions will be divided into two sessions, from 11.15 to 12.00 and from 12.15 to 13.00 respectively.

• 2026-08-25

  Cooperation agreement between the University and Saab signed

  On Tuesday, Vice-Chancellor Jerker Moodysson and President and CEO Görgen Johansson signed a cooperation agreement between Karlstad University and Saab Dynamics AB.

  The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen the strategic partnership in education, research and innovation over the long term. The collaboration will contribute to the generation of knowledge, the assurance of expertise and quality, and the development of solutions that benefit Saab, the University, and ultimately the region and society as a whole.