Sustainability day at Karlstad Business School

Poster Sustainability Day

The Sustainable Community: From Everyday Services to Resilience in Crisis

  • 8 December
  • 13:00 – 16:00
  • Lagerlöfsalen (1A 305)
  • Karlstad University

Through keynote presentations and shared experiences, we will examine how communities can foster sustainability through everyday services while strengthening their capacity to withstand, adapt to, and recover from crises.

Sustainability Day will also feature a short case presentation from the project “Laundry Room as a Community Hub,” developed jointly by Karlstad Business School, Karlstads Bostads AB, and Karlstads Energi AB. Building on insights from the project and a thought-provoking poster exhibition will explore ethical dilemmas that arise when balancing economic, legal, social, and environmental perspectives.

In situations such as power outages, disruptions to the water supply, or other crises, important questions emerge: Which functions should be prioritized? How should scarce resources be allocated? How can limited spaces best be used to support residents with diverse needs?

– Together, students, academics, and professionals from both the public and private sectors will have the opportunity to exchange perspectives, explore solutions, and discuss practical approaches to building communities that are both sustainable and resilient, says Samuel Petros, assistant professor in business administration at Karlstad Business School.

Thoughts on living labs as approach for research will summarize the event.

Resilience as a Relational Phenomenon - What Service Research Can Teach Us About Sustainable Societies in an Age of Uncertainty

Mikael Johnson, Associate Professor, Service Research Center

Resilience is often described in terms of robust systems and technological solutions. At the same time, research shows that the adaptive capacity of societies is largely shaped by the relationships among people, organizations, and resources. This presentation explores how a service perspective can contribute to our understanding of societal resilience. By viewing communities as interconnected service ecosystems, it discusses how coordination, trust, and resource integration can become key capabilities in the transition toward more sustainable and resilient local communities. This perspective opens up an alternative way of understanding everyday services as strategic resources for the future development of society.

Food, Care and Resilience

Helén Williams, Associate Professor Environmental and Energy systems

How can caring for food contribute to resilience? Drawing on research on food waste, school meals, and local food, this talk explores how connections to food, people, and place can strengthen our willingness to value and care for our resources.

 

  • Venue: Lagerlöfsalen (1A305), Karlstad University
  • Registration deadline: December 1, 2026
  • Language: English
  • Format: Hybrid — attend in person or online via Zoom, according to your preference
  • Full programme will be presented shortly
  • Register

We look forward to welcoming you to an engaging afternoon of dialogue, knowledge sharing, and inspiration on sustainable and resilient communities.

Poster Sustainability Day