NEWS
RESEARCH
THE ALUMNUS
Tipping point for climate may already be here
Läckö Castle gets facelift with the aid of research
Johan Eklöf wants to make science a bit less egghead
Science Faculty Magazine The Faculty of Science University of Gothenburg
”My curiosity has always governed my choices, my Stavroula Golfomitsou # 2, 2020 research and my career.”
Life science a hot area in research Gisela Brändén studies proteins using new method Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten, Göteborgs universitet
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SCIENCE FACULTY MAGAZINE// THIS ISSUE
In this issue MY SUBJECT JAKOB BJÖRNBERG
The mathematician who doesn’t like mental arithmetic It was the abstract and slightly elusive aspect that got him to become a mathematician. Today he studies models related to magnetic phase transitions.
The conservator with a passion for art and cultural heritage. Stavroula Golfomitsou investigates how metal objects deteriorate.
Science Faculty Magazine
Science Faculty Magazine is for those interested in the University of Gothenburg and in particular the work at the Faculty of Science.
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Läckö Castle to be refurbished with the aid of conservation research. Senior lecturer Jonny Eriksson has taught plasterers antique crafts.
Editor: Camilla Persson +46-31-786 9869 camilla.persson@ science.gu.se Editorial staff: Carina Eliasson Kasper Holgers Madelene Szabó Tanja Thompson
Publisher: Gustav Bertilsson Uleberg Graphic form: Rubrik AB Layout: Camilla Persson Cover: Malin Arnesson
Address: University of Gothenburg Faculty Office of Science Box 460 SE-405 30 Göteborg E-mail: info@science.gu.se
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
EDITORIAL// GÖRAN HILMERSSON
Instagram: @naturvetenskapgu Twitter: @naturvetenskap facebook.com/naturvetenskapgu
”We’re helping make Sweden a leader in life science” gothenburg and västra Götaland are a strong, unique environment for research, education and development in life science. It’s why we have a lot to offer in making Sweden a leading life science nation, which is the government’s goal. the national strategy ’ s
main focus in the area is health care. But it’s much broader and encompasses so much more. Many of us scientists study the li”Proximity ving and conditions for is a key life in areas such as bisuccess odiversity, biology and factor.” biochemistry. advances in medical research you also need many additional key skills that other scientists can provide. Skills in mathematics and biostatistics are essential to processing large quantities of data, and identifying relationships and solutions. Scientists are also developing new methods for studying to make great
RESEARCH
Research in life sciences is on the rise The focus for many researchers in Gothenburg is drug development and life sciences. Structural biologist Gisela Brändén is one of them.
cells at molecular level. We use modelling to understand complex processes, which is something that comes in handy in life science. proximity is a key success factor. I’m referring to proximity between disciplinary domains, researchers and students, as well as other key actors. Our colleagues at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Chalmers University of Technology are just a short stroll away. The Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Västra Götaland Regional Council, AstraZeneca and the GoCo Health Innovation City venture are all major actors located nearby. Together, we form a complete research, education and development environment that is helping make Sweden a leading life science nation. Personally, I find it incredibly rewarding to participate in this work and I look forward with great excitement to developments in the coming years. Y
Print: Exakta Online magazine: www.sciencefacultymagazine.com
Göran Hilmersson, Dean and Professor hilmers@chem.gu.se The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
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RESEARCH// LIFE SCIENCE
Life science Life sciences is an interdisciplinary branch of science that studies biological life. According to some definitions, it is mostly about medicine and health, while others give it a broader definition.
The Swedish government’s National Life Sciences Strategy: “Sweden aims to be a leading life sciences nation. Life sciences contribute to improving health and quality of life of the population, ensuring economic prosperity, advancing the country as a leading knowledge nation and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The life sciences sector includes companies, higher education institutions, and public stakeholders at municipal, regional and state level whose activities contribute to promoting human health. The sector comprises research, higher education and innovation, the development of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and treatments, as well as prevention, implementation and monitoring.”
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Science ScienceFaculty FacultyMagazine Magazine| |Nummer Number X, 2, 20XX 2020
Research in life sciences is on the rise “Sweden aims to be a leading life sciences nation.” This is one of the statements in Sweden’s National Life Sciences Strategy, which was published by the Government Offices of Sweden last year. So how are we doing? “I feel that in Sweden, and in Gothenburg, we are well advanced in this area,” says researcher Gisela Brändén. an increasing focus on research into drugs and people’s health, especially in the last year. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, life sciences was a phrase that was already on the lips of many. There are major investments being made in the field: most recently in October, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation announced that they will invest SEK 3.7 billion in life sciences research over the next twelve years. Gisela Brändén is one of the researchers at the University of Gothenburg working in the area of life sciences. Her research investigates the structure of proteins in order to understand how they work – knowledge that there has been
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
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RESEARCH// LIFE SCIENCE
Gisela Brändén and her research group are entirely dependent on synchrotron light source facilities such as MAX IV in Lund to be able to carry out their experiments.
can be vital in processes such as the development of new drugs. “If a protein features in a specific disease and you are familiar with its structure, that means you can design a molecule that is perfectly suited to block that protein. That molecule can then be developed into your new drug candidate.” of proteins, she uses a method called serial crystallography. Traditional crystallography involves researchers looking at proteins in a frozen state, meaning that the proteins are resting. However, serial crystallography allows them to see completely new things. “The advantage of serial crystallography is that we work at room temperature. That means we can trigger a reaction in the protein and capture images while it is working. Then we can combine these images to creato study the structure
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te a kind of ‘molecular movie’ to allow us to understand how it works,” Gisela Brändén explains. One of the proteins being studied is cytochrome oxidase, which is part of the cellular respiration process. The protein has been exceptionally well studied – Gisela herself studied it during her own doctoral studies – but it has still not been possible to determine how the chemical reaction that occurs is connected to the work done by the protein. “With this new method, we hope to analyse in detail how the protein functions and thus understand exactly how the final stage of transforming the energy from the food we eat into a form that can be used by the cell happens.” Serial crystallography is a method developed in the last decade, and there is now a focus on making it easier to use, thereby making it accessible to more researchers. They car-
”Working together with the industry is incredibly important, and it is something that I’m trying to increase.”
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
Although crystallography requires the experiments to be done in a particular facility, all preparation is done in the researcher’s own lab. One of the difficulties with the method is that the samples must be crystallized, which does not always work.
ry out the preparations in their own lab, but then Gisela Brändén and her research group are completely dependent on synchrotron radiation facilities in order to conduct their experiments. One such facility is the MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, where big investments have been made in the new method and where the Gothenburg research group are involved in developing the technology. “We are completely reliant on securing beamtime and being able to visit these facilities, so it is just amazing that we are able to make use of MAX IV, which is fairly close and just happens to be one of the best facilities in the world. In particular during the pandemic, when most facilities elsewhere in the world have closed down,” says Gisela Brändén.
mia and industry. This is also true for Gisela Brändén. Her own background is from AstraZeneca, and she is currently involved in a research project together with this pharmaceutical company in which they are testing serial crystallography as a method. She considers this partnership to be incredibly valuable, both to the research itself and to her doctoral students, who are gaining insight into how the industry operates. “Working together with the industry is incredibly important, and it is something that I’m trying to increase. I believe that we can inspire each other quite a lot.”
one way of doing this is to have a shared doctoral student – what’s termed a collaborating doctoral student. Gisela Brändén is life sciences is an area in which many dif- involved in two such research projects with ferent actors work together, and where the- AstraZeneca and MAX IV. She thinks this is re is tangible collaboration between acade- a great way to establish a collaboration.
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
Gisela Brändén Position: Senior Lecturer specialising in structural biology. Age: 45. Family: Husband and three children. Fun fact: She once lived with a Mãori family in New Zealand.
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Life Sciences at Medicinareberget Medicinareberget in Gothenburg is a natural gathering place for life sciences. Now a whole new building, Natrium, is being built there for the Faculty of Science, which will gather even more research and education at the site.
“If you have a shared doctoral student, then you have to collaborate. Otherwise, you might not bother to take the time.” Yet collaboration can also pose one of the biggest challenges in life sciences, according to Gisela Brändén. She believes that this may be because many in academia traditionally work more independently and are less accustomed to collaborating in large projects. “Nevertheless, if we want to be able to carry out these kinds of difficult and expensive experiments, we need to collaborate – both within academia and with industry.”
“It isn’t easy getting back into academia if you haven’t chosen that path from the start, but my experience from AstraZeneca is tremendously useful in my current job.” despite the challenges ,
Gisela Brändén believes the future is bright in the field of life sciences research. “We are in the midst of an incredibly exciting time in structural biology, and as regards life sciences on the whole I think there are a lot of very positive things happening in Gothenburg. Of course, it could be even better if we collaborated more.”
”I think there are a lot of very positive things happening in Gothenburg”
she notes that another challenge is mobility between academia and industry. Or indeed, the absence thereof. Many people with ) Text: Camilla Persson PhDs go on to work in the private sector, but ) Photo: Malin Arnesson. MAX IV: Perry Nordeng, it's a one-way mobility. Few people do what Lund University. Aerial view over Medicinareberget: Gisela did in moving from industry to a care- Akademiska Hus (from 2013). Illustration: Kanozi Architects er position in academia.
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Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
) Text: Tanja Thompson ) Photo: Malin Arnesson
RESEARCH// THREE VOICES
Three voices on ...
Three experts offer their perspectives on a current topic.
... life sciences in Sweden. What does Sweden have to offer when it comes to life sciences? What skills will be needed in future, and what impact is the current pandemic having on life sciences research?
Jenni Nordborg
Beritte Christenson
Agneta Holmäng
National Coordinator for Life Sciences in Sweden.
Senior Director, Early CVRM, Astra Zeneca
Dean of Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.
“Life sciences are about
better health and competitiveness. Sweden has what it takes to be a leading life sciences nation. We have world-class research, infrastructure and capabilities for innovation, a health care system of a high international standard, and a population that is technologically mature and willing to contribute to medical research and innovation. Sweden’s life sciences industry accounts for at least eight per cent of its net exports. Data-driven innovative solutions are set to affect developments in health care and in the life sciences industry. To be a leader in the transition to precision medicine, we need high-level expertise in diagnostics and artificial intelligence, as well as knowledge in how to make assistive technology accessible to users and staff in the care sector. These changes are generating a need for new professions that combine medicine and technology.”
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
“In Sweden, we have the
necessary base in the form of good university degrees, an openness to collaboration between academia and pharmaceutical and biotech/medtech companies and the health care sector, and a climate that fosters creativity. For example, we are already well-advanced when it comes to ventures in advanced new therapies such as cell therapy. In future, we will still need broad competence in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and medicine. Other areas where we need to be at the cutting edge are informatics and the omics, data analysis, machine learning, and AI. The pandemic has put the spotlight on how important life sciences are to society – in terms of both health and the economy. Personally, I hope more students will open their eyes to life sciences and choose to continue their studies in science to advanced levels. There are so many exciting things to work with.”
“Sweden is an international
leader in innovation, research, and research infrastructure and also has a high quality health care sector and a strong business community. In order for us to remain strong and build a robust life sciences cluster, we need good collaboration between higher education institutions, the public sector and business and industry. This is how we will create attractive environments that will draw the most talented students and researchers. We also need to work more across and between disciplinary boundaries in order to find new solutions to increasingly complex questions in research. This is essential if we want to deploy our results more rapidly for utilisation in the health and care sectors and to develop new treatments. The current pandemic has hampered clinical research, with many studies being delayed or postponed due to difficulties recruiting participants.” / 9
The planet of the future ) Text: Carina Eliasson ) Photo: Aleksandra Mazur, Hans Linderholm and Ellen Schagerström
THE NUMBER
percent of all mammal extinctions of the last hundred years can be explained by human impact.
Underwater channels linking the ‘Doomsday Glacier’ with the sea under Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica can be one way that warm, salty seawater is transported under the glacier, something that can cause the ice to melt. This is the finding of new research that included researchers from University of Gothenburg. Thwaites Glacier takes up an area half the size of Sweden, and its position in a deep cavity makes it sensitive to changes in the sea. The glacier has been called the ‘Doomsday Glacier’ because it connects such large amounts
NEWLY DISCOVERED CHANNELS
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of ice and melting of the ice can have such tremendous consequences. Anna Wåhlin, professor at the University of Gothenburg and co-author to the study, feels the new research findings are important for understanding the processes ongoing under the ice and for understanding how sensitive the area is for changes to sea temperature. “By identifying the most important channels, we know where to measure ocean currents in the future and where the key areas are.” Y
Human impact larger than the effects of climate Over the last 126,000 years, there has been a 1600-fold increase in mammal extinction rates, compared to natural levels of extinction. According to a new study, this increase is driven almost exclusively by human impact. This is at odds with views of some scholars, who believe that strong climatic changes were the main driving force behind most pre-historic mammal extinctions. Rather, the new findings suggest that in the past mammal species were resilient, even to extreme fluctuations in climate. “However, current climate change, together with fragmented habitats, poaching, and other human-related threats pose a large risk for many species”, says Daniele Silvestro, one of the researchers behind the study. Y Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
The recent pattern of increased warming and drought in inner East Asia indicate that a tipping point in the climate is close, a change that could be irreversible and lead to a much dryer climate in the region.
Tipping point for the climate can already be a reality East Asia may already have reached a tipping point, where recent years’ transition to abnormally hot and dry summers can be irreversible. This is the finding of a new international study by researchers at University of Gothenburg now published in Science. Associated with the ongoing global warming, are changes that impact regional climate and ecosystems. In a worst- case scenario, these can reach
THE CLIMATE IN INNER
what is known as a tipping point, at which point changes are fast and often times irreversible. which includes Mongolia and nearby areas, is a sensitive region that has experienced a clear increase in the number of heat waves during the summer in recent decades. Together with stable high-pressure systems, which raise temperatures, reduced soil moisture can cause intense
INNER EAST ASIA,
Ancient hereditary traits passed on without mating
First sea cucumbers bred in captivity
HOW CAN ORGANISMS whose DNA is so different that they cannot produce offspring when they mate still exchange genes? This mystery has puzzled biologists for many years. New studies published in the journal Nature reveal an unexpected mechanism that allows the exchange of DNA despite sexual reproduction not normally being possible. It’s all thanks to the discovery of a live fossil yeast with an ancient genome structure. Y
FOR THE FIRST TIME , red sea cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus) have been bred in captivity at Kristineberg Marine Research Station. The aim is to replenish stocks of sea cucumbers in the Gullmarn fjord and to increase knowledge about the role of sea cucumbers in sustainable aquaculture. “This is a big first step towards being able to farm large numbers of sea cucumbers so that they can be released into the sea and strengthen populations that have declined for various reasons,” says marine biologist Ellen Schagerström.
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
and long-lasting heat waves because of enhanced interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere. “By combining observations, reconstructions and climate model data, we discovered that the link between land surface and atmosphere has become more pronounced in inner East Asia over the last 20 years”, says Peng Zhang, first author of the study and researcher at the University of Gothenburg. Y
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MY SUBJECT// JAKOB BJÖRNBERG
The mathematician who doesn’t like mental arithmetic There are fundamental questions in physics that remain unanswered. Jakob Björnberg, who hated maths at school, is now working on trying to solve the mathematics behind phase transitions.
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Jakob B jörnberg’ s
office looks just like you would expect a mathematician’s office to look. The room is dominated by a whiteboard covered in Greek symbols and equations. In response to the question of what it all means, he replies enthusiastically: “This project is about the Heisenberg model. What I find so cool is that it combines probability theory and representation theory, which you might say is part of algebra. To un-
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
The Heisenberg and Ising models THEN:
The Heisenberg and Ising models derive from the early twentieth century when thermodynamics was new. It was known that phase transitions happened, but there was no way of describing them mathematically. Ising’s doctoral supervisor, Wilhelm Lenz, formulated the Ising model, and Ising showed that it was impossible to use it to describe phase transitions in a one-dimensional material. Werner Heisenberg introduced an alternative model that incorporated quantum theory, and it was later proven that the simpler Ising model works if you have two dimensions.
NOW:
In purely mathematical terms, no one has yet shown how a phase transition with three dimensions in the Heisenberg model can occur. This is something that mathematician Jakob Björnberg is working on.
derstand the model, we can use both theories.” Although he simplifies his explanation as far as possible, it’s still not easy to keep up with what it’s about. Jakob Björnberg’s work is on probability theory, which he applies to physical problems. In particular, he is interested in phase transition, such as when something freezes and transitions from a liquid to a solid form. “I mostly look at models that are related to how phase transitions in magnets occur. For example, iron can become magnetic at a lower temperature. And this is not a gradual transition – it occurs at a critical temperature, just like when water freezes,” he says. This may not sound like a difficult phenomenon to explain in mathematical terms, The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
THE FUTURE:
The holy grail is to prove mathematically how a phase transition can occur in the three dimensional Heisenberg model. If we can’t show this in concrete terms, then something is missing in our understanding of something fundamental. In the words of Jakob Björnberg, the real challenge is to “find the missing tools that will confirm what we believe to be true”.
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MY SUBJECT// JAKOB BJÖRNBERG
”We don’t know why, but mathematics seems to be fundamental to how reality works” Jakob Björnberg, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics
but the fact is that we do not fully understand how it happens. For example, a piece of iron can be described mathematically by letting each atom be a point in a grid, a system of mathematical points in other words, where each point can be positive or negative. During a phase transition, which requires energy, the iron will then randomly select a state that lies close to the one that minimises energy consumption. “The thing is that a piece of iron might contain 10²³ atoms, meaning the number of particles is basically infinite. It’s fairly easy to formulate the problem in terms of probability theory, but difficult to solve,” he says. time, we know that phase transitions actually do occur, and it might seem a minor matter to get all the mathematical details to line up. But physics is perhaps the at the same
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Jakob Björnberg Age: 37. Lives: On the island of Asperö Family: Partner and two cats. Interests: He is passionate about sport and runs, does orienteering, windsurfing and sailing. He has a gold medal from the Swedish national rowing champion- ships. He recently ran the “Hemmavasan” race on Asperö, covering a distance of 90 km on a 3.4 km circuit. Music tastes: He has a lifelong passion for hard rock, and loves listening to Dark Funeral while researching.
most basic of the sciences, and mathematics is the language of science. Basic research in mathematics in relation to questions in physics therefore has to be one of the most fundamental things you can do as a researcher, and there is always an interplay between mathematicians and physicists. “In some cases, the physicists have worked out a lot of things, and then the mathematicians come along a few years later and fill in the details. In other cases, it is the mathematicians who develop new methods that the physicists then use to do new calculations that they didn’t know how to do before,” says Jakob Björnberg. to basic research, it can sometimes be tough to explain to those not involved in it why society should invest resources in things where we don’t know what the when it comes
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
Pudam, sam resequam cum re nis dolecus sitist aliquameniet lia sandis as estrum simos restio eaturec atecti doloria que nonsequatur.
returns will be. Jakob Björnberg has no problem with this, and especially not when it comes to mathematics. “I think basic research is really fascinating, and increasing our understanding of mathematics is so fundamental. When you think about issues like that, you soon arrive at the question ‘why do we do anything at all?’ What is humanity contributing to? We don’t know why, but mathematics seems to be fundamental to how reality works,” he says. in fact , it was
actually the abstract and somewhat elusive aspect that persuaded him to become a mathematician to begin with. He comes from a family full of social scientists, being the child of a professor of sociology and a judge, and with two sisters who have both chosen the social sciences path.
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
“Despite the fact that I’m the member of the family who works in the natural sciences, I’m probably also the worst at mental arithmetic. I struggled quite a lot with maths until high school. It was only when it got more abstract that I began to find it fun,” he says. In fact, he hated maths at the primary and intermediate levels of school. His view is that at those levels it’s too narrow and focuses solely on a small part of the subject. “What we did was to study one special case – real numbers – and had it drilled into us exactly how they worked. It was only when maths began to broaden out that I got interested,” he says.
) Text: Henrik Sandgren ) Photo: Malin Arnesson, Jakob Björnberg / 15
Sustainable everyday life ) Text: Carina Eliasson ) Photo: Sara Kvistborn, Eduardo Infantes
Vital eelgrass protected in Gothenburg
Renaissance for sustainable gardening practices fail to take into account their environmental impact or biodiversity. And it’s why different tools and methods may be needed. A new doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg presents historical gardening practices that can also be applied today. “While my research is historical and retrospective, it is also focused on finding solutions to contemporary problems,” says Joakim Seiler, a collaborative doctoral student at the Department of Conservation and Head Gardener at Gunnebo House and Gardens in Mölndal. Gunnebo House has served as the laboratory for Joakim Seiler’s doctoral thesis work, allowing him to study how lawns and hedges were tended in the 18th century and how they could be tended today. His study has resulted in proposals for new approaches that are not only focused on skilled practices as a way of preserving historic gardens and remembering the past, but also shedding light on these practices as meaningful activities in themselves for people in the present. “This kind of approach to gardening encourages quality and sustainability and combines best practice from the past with contemporary concerns for biodiversity and sustainability, as well as people’s passion for cultural heritage and their interest in learning about the past.”Y MANY OF OUR GARDENING PRACTICES
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are essential to the survival of many species in the sea. The City of Gothenburg is now working to create protected areas specifically for eelgrass. “The eelgrass meadows in Southern Bohuslän have declined by almost 80 per cent over the past decade. It’s why it is incredibly important that we protect the remaining eelgrass there,” says Per Moksnes, a researcher at the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. A meeting of the city executive board held on 11 November voted to establish marine habitat protection areas for eelgrass. Precisely which areas will be subject to protection will be determined by the local building committee. A nature reserve already exists in the Billdal archipelago and around the island Amundön. Y EELGRASS MEADOWS
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
THE IMAGE
Coral reefs to be recreated in the Koster Sea small areas in Sweden that are home to living Lophelia pertusa coral reefs. One is found in the Kosterhavet National Park, while the other is in the Väderöarna Nature Reserve. There were coral reefs in at least four other locations previously. Artificial reef structures are now going to be deployed in the sea to give our Swedish corals a chance to recover. “The larvae of Lophelia pertusa are found naturally in our waters, but they need hard surfaces sticking up from the seabed to attach to, letting them thrive and grow into coral reefs,” says Anita Tullrot, Project Manager for LIFE Lophelia at the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland. Y THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO
THE WORD
Microplastics is a collective term for small fragments of plastic that are up to five millimetres in size. Microplastics can start life being manufactured as tiny particles, or can be formed as a result of wear and tear and the breakdown of plastics. New research shows that the majority of microplastics in and around the oceans are fragments from larger pieces of plastic.
Microplastics
u
Voluntary work vital to the preservation of historic ships
High school students become marine researchers
protect historic ships in Norway is paying dividends for both Norwegian society and the volunteers themselves, according to a thesis in conservation at the University of Gothenburg. “Today, historic ships are publicly acknowledged as an important element in Norway’s cultural heritage. The ships also receive significant state funding each year to support their preservation. The Norwegian government not only provides funding for the docking and repairs of heritage-listed ships in commercial shipyards, but is also encouraging volunteer schemes,” says doctoral student Erik Goth Småland.
– turning eco-anxiety into eco-action brings together high school students and researchers from the University of Gothenburg to discuss how we can create a more sustainable future. As part of the project, the students have the opportunity to visit the University’s field station on the island Tjärnö, where they can perform their own experiments related to the marine environment. “We want to inspire a feeling of ‘Wow! are there really that many species in our waters?’ and make them realise that even Swedish waters are home to incredible environments that we must take care of,” says researcher Christin Appelqvist. Y
VOLUNTARY WORK TO
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
THE PROJECT OCEAN BLUES
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RESEARCH// SUSTAINABLE EVERYDAY LIFE
Läckö Castle to be refurbished with the aid of conservation research Läckö Castle makes quite an impression even from a distance. Majestic in white, it looms large against the blue sky. The fact that the façade needs repairing isn’t obvious from a distance. It’s hard to guess that a painstaking refurbishment project is under way with the aid of conservation research and a contract education programme provided by the University of Gothenburg. “This has been one of the most challenging and fun things I’ve done,” says Jonny Eriksson, project manager for the programme and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Conservation. the castle's car park and escorts us a couple of hundred metres to the work site, where piles of grey stone blocks are stacked next to a work shed. However, the scene is dominated by the massive brick kiln. In it, grey limestone from Kinnekulle is transformed and shortly thereafter applied to the façade of Läckö Castle. Läckö castle’s façade was last refurbished in the 1970s. Today, the façade is turning grey and the render is letting in penetrating damp. To ensure the refurbishment conserves the building’s cultural heritage, a contractor with knowledge of antique render was required. But no such contractor could be found. That’s why castle architect Allan he meets us in
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Ahlman approached Jonny Eriksson at the University of Gothenburg and asked him to provide a contract education programme. “The Department of Conservation has been involved in research at Läckö on the use of antique craftsmen’s methods for around 20 years. First with researcher Eva Malinowski, and I’ve been involved since 2005,” says Jonny Eriksson, who has a background as a plasterer. His thesis entitled Kalkbruk – krympsprickor och historisk utveckling av material, metoder och förhållningsätt (Lime render – shrinkage cracks and the historical development of materials, methods and approaches) was published last year. Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
Läckö Castle is getting new render WHAT? Läckö Castle is getting
new render similar to that originally used in the 1650s. This refurbishment is being made possible thanks to conservation researcher Jonny Eriksson having taught plasterers at the firm Puts & Tegel how to produce the render using methods that the original plasterers would have used.
WHEN? The contract education
programme began in August 2019 and lasted for just one year. Puts & Tegel, the contractor whose employees participated in the programme, has now begun its refurbishment of the castle. Jonny Eriksson is supervising and inspecting the work.
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
WHY? To preserve historic buil-
dings and pass down antique craftsmanship to modern tradespeople. Render and mortar have a thousand year long history in Sweden. Being able to produce the render in the traditional way is important in maintaining the authentic appearance of cultural heritage buildings.
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FORSKNING// HÅLLBAR UTVECKLING
“No mortar is used between the bricks in this kiln. All the bricks are just stacked on top of each other so that the kiln can be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere.”
One of Sweden’s biggest rendering companies, Puts & Tegel, was awarded the refurbishment contract following a public procurement process. Three of the firm’s plasterers participated in the programme. The basic premise was that render produced using antique craftsmen’s methods could be adapted to modern production conditions. “We started the programme with a trip to Kinnekulle, where we selected suitable limestone, crushed it and sorted it into different fractions. Then we packed the kiln and started it up,” says Jonny Eriksson. worrying creak as we climb a rickety ladder to come up to the level of the kiln’s roof. Jonny carefully moves aside the sheet metal roof, which is in place to protect the kiln and prevent moisture getting inside if it rathere is a slightly
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Jonny Eriksson Position: Senior Lecturer at the Department of Conservation. In the news because: He is Project manager for a contract education programme.
ins. Visible below is a space measuring six cubic metres where the limestone is packed in and burnt. “No mortar is used between the bricks in this kiln. All the bricks are just stacked on top of each other so that the kiln can be disassembled and reassembled elsewhere.” This is where the grey limestone of Kinnekulle changes colour to a golden yellow. It is vital that the firing temperature is between 930 and 960 degrees Celsius. Afterwards, the burnt limestone is packed into well-sealed barrels to be slaked with water in the next stage. A chemical reaction then forms a putty, a binding agent that is mixed with sand to become mortar, which is then used to render the walls of the castle. The plasterers have had the opportunity to test the method and materials on a 25 square metre trial surface. “The trial surface has acted as a palette where we’ve been able to test the recipe for the mortar. We have looked at how the mortar works with the machines, how it bonds to absorbent and non-absorbent bases, and many other parameters.” it is a mild , clear
day without a breath of wind. There is an earthy smell of autumn. The crunch of gravel under our shoes can be clearly heard as Jonny shows us around the site. He explains that the first firing of the kiln last November offered a few surprises. Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
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“We had to deal with the challenges that reality can throw at us. We were able to see what worked the way we expected it to, and what we needed to change.” The contract education programme included methodological development, which is something Jonny is continuing through the supervision of the refurbishment. “If you work the way we do, then the research questions arise out of the actual work process. There’s no other way to develop them.” we leave the work site and slowly stroll
nal render used in the 17th century. In the 1960s and 70s, the castle was refurbished using titanium white, cement and mica, but that’s not how the castle looked originally.”
“If you work the way we do, then the research questions arise out of the actual work process. There’s no a lot of parties are involved in the other way to develop refurbishment project: architects, curathem.” tors, the Swedish National Heritage Bo-
up towards the castle. The leafy trees on Kållandsö island are blazing with colour on this autumn day: warm yellow, bright orange with a splash of red. In the midst of all this colourful splendour is the fairytale-like castle. Lake Vänern with its intense shade of blue shines on all si- ard, the Läckö Castle Foundation and des. The castle was originally built as an the National Property Board of Sweden, episcopal castle in 1298, but its current which owns the building. There is a desire for consensus, but sometimes opiniaspect dates from the 1650s. Once at the entrance, you notice the ons diverge. “For example, we’ve had a big discusscaffolding. It covers the part of the façade where the castle chapel is located. sion about the colour of the façade. I like Here you can see that the pale cream-co- the soft, pale primary colour in our morloured mortar that Jonny and the plaste- tar. Others think we should paint it with rers from Puts & Tegel have prepared is lime wash to make it lighter. We haven’t slightly less white than the render on the made the final decision yet,” says Jonny rest of the castle. “Our mortar is very close to the origi- ) Text&photo: Carina Eliasson The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
Jonny Eriksson, Senior Lecturer
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Closer look
A picture says more than thousand words. Science Faculty Magazine takes a closer look at a scientific phenomenon.
) Photo: Eye of Science/SPL
Marina skönheter
Animals that can live in outer space Tardigrades, or water bears as they are also known as, are microscopically small animals. They have an incredible ability to survive the harshest of conditions, and have even been sent into space.
Tardigrades are between 50 μm and 1.2 mm long and live in damp moss, but they are also found on the beds of lakes and oceans. There are roughly 500 different species of tardigrade, of which 65 are found in Sweden.
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The ability of these tiny, teddy bear like animals to survive in the most inhospitable environments is nothing short of astounding. They can go into a kind of hibernation that allows them to survive in temperatures of more
than 150°C and less than minus 272°C. Tardigrades and their eggs have been sent into outer space, where they survived challenges such as being in a vacuum and cosmic radiation. Y
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
THE STUDENT// FIVE QUESTIONS
) Text: Madelene Szabó ) Photo: The student's own photo
The Faculty of Science has 7 500 students.
Five questions for... ... Kosala Amarasinghe, who is studying the master’s program in chemistry. Before enrolling at the University of Gothenburg, he studied a four-year bachelor’s degree in computational chemistry in his home country of Sri Lanka.
What are you doing right now?
Why did you become interested in computational chemistry?
“I am a second-year master's student and I am doing my master thesis with AstraZeneca. I am also pursuing research with Professor Leif Eriksson's group. My primary research focuses on computational chemistry in form of computer-based modeling of various biochemical processes and systems.”
“It is not unfair if I state that my scientific interest was always placed in two entirely different disciplines at two different ends of the spectrum. I later found in my dream interdisciplinary subject area computational chemistry that is capable of catering to both my areas of interest.”
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
What is the best thing about your programme? “The best thing about the chemistry master program is the diversity of courses with the depth of learning, up to date content as well as the practical component for each subject. The practical knowledge gain from each subject can directly apply to my research.”
What made you choose the University of Gothenburg? “ The University of Gothenburg is a clear choice for my graduate studies, primarily because the opportunities to undertake interdisciplinary research in the university are quite large. The second reason is that the study culture in Sweden lives up to its excellent reputation and Gothenburg is a lovely city that can be explored at any time.”
What are your plans for the future? “My scientific and research background gained from the University motivated me to continue the scientific journey. I am looking forward to applying for PhD and dedicate my time and effort to accomplish my ultimate goal of serving all living beings for their betterment through active participation in scientific research.”
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ALUMNUS PORTRAIT// JOHAN EKLÖF
“Kids are naturally interested in science” Johan Eklöf is a bat researcher and an author
) As told to: Madelene Szabó ) Photo: Frida Winter
“i ’ m a consultant , I run my own company. During the summer months, I survey bats, and in the winter I write books. Bats hibernate in winter, which means you can’t do much in the way of studies of them then. The very best thing about my job is that there are two such different periods. When autumn comes, I’m happy to head off to the office and bury myself in my work and start writing something. By the time spring arrives, I’ve had enough and look forward to going out into the field. Bats are special in that they have a sense – echolocation – that we don’t fully understand. They can move around at night, when we humans are more or less helpless. I’ve just published my book Mörkermanifestet (The Darkness Manifesto) which is all about artificial light and its impact. When I discovered that bats are affected so
much by floodlighting on churches, I wondered what the situation was for other animals. So I began thinking about this and it ultimately led to a book about darkness. The aspect of my studies that I’ve made the most use of is writing. All those papers and articles that I wrote as a doctoral student. Expressing yourself in writing. Another thing is giving lectures and being able to talk about your own research. These are very valuable assets. I also write children’s books – so far one about bats and one on evolution. Kids are naturally interested in science. I think about it sometimes: the way that people laugh a bit at the science questions in TV quiz shows for example, that it’s sort of advanced stuff. That’s always surprised me because science isn’t harder than anything else. It’s one of the reasons why I write – making science easily accessible a bit less egghead.”
Johan Eklöf Age: 47. Education: Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Gothenburg. Lives: Bollebygd. What do you do in your spare time? It varies a bit. We own a summer cottage that we’re planning to convert into a house. If I just want to kick back at home then I open GarageBand on my iPad and make some music – synth-pop. It’s purely for fun – I don’t have any ambitions.
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Sciencesciencefacultymagazine.com Faculty Magazine | Nummer X, 20XX Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
News
Research at the University of Gothenburg affects our everyday life in large and small.
) Text: Carina Eliasson ) Photo: Johan Wingborg
Marine species take a genetic leap and other marine spe~ Cod cies stocks in the Baltic Sea
New knowledge about the world’s rarest element contains only 70 milligrams of astatine, so the element is extremely rare. Now, however, researchers at the University of Gothenburg have succeeded in producing negative ions of astatine in the particle accelerator at the CERN laboratory, enabling them to study the element in more detail. “Though the amounts we have obtained are very small, we can now fundamentally clarify and describe how the astatine atom works,” says Dag Hanstorp, professor of atomic physics at the University of Gothenburg. “Astatine is not only rare, but also difficult to produce and retain because it decays quickly,” says Julia Karls, a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Physics, who built the new detector called GANDALPH (Gothenburg Anion
THE EARTH’S CRUST
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
Detector for Affinity Measurements by Laser) that was used for the measurements. Astatine is a semimetallic radioactive element belonging to the halogen group. There are four naturally occurring isotopes. These exist only in radioactive form, and they all have a short half-life. Through these studies, the researchers have now collected basic information on how astatine works at the atomic level. “We have been working towards this for five years and have finally managed to produce a result! This is the first time we have succeeded in performing this type of experiment on a radioactive element, and with these results we are paving the way for measuring elements that are heavier than astatine,” says Julia Karls. Astatine can be used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Y
are genetically distinct from their cousins in Skagerak and the Kattegat and the North Sea. These stocks have developed characteristics that make it possible for them to survive and reproduce in the unique environment of the Baltic Sea. This has been shown by a new study from the University of Gothenburg. “This is important information because it means that Swedish west coast stocks cannot be used to replace stocks in the Baltic if they are lost,” says Kerstin Johanneson, Professor in Marine Ecology. Y
Seafood venture biggest venture to date ~ The to invest in Swedish seafood is being launched thanks to funding of SEK 48 million from Formas, a Swedish government research council for sustainable development. A national consortium of research and innovation hubs, regions, municipalities, organisations and approximately forty companies from across Sweden are behind the establishment of the Blue Food centre. “A shift towards more seafood (blue food) will reduce competition for arable land and fresh water,” says Kristina Snuttan Sundell, Professor at the at the University of Gothenburg. Y / 25
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NEWS// RESEARCH
) Text: Carina Eliasson ) Photo: Mostphotos
Status of the earth's plants and fungi Plants and fungi can offer solutions to major future challenges such as lack of access to medicines, food and energy. This according to a major new report from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in which researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the Botanical Garden in Gothenburg participate. plants and fungi are building blocks of life on earth. Ignoring their potential can cost humans their planet, according to the report, in which 210 researchers from 42 countries are participating. The new studies show how plants and fungi are used today and point to how we could and should be using them – but are not doing so – and what humanity risks losing as a result. “We have become dependent on far too few species. At a time of rapid loss of biodiversity, this means we fail to gain access to the treasure chest that biodiversity offers and that can save us and future generations,” says Alexandre Antonelli, director of science at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and a professor at the University of Gothenburg.
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Data from the 12 scientific articles (published in the open access journal Plants, People, Planet) form the basis of the report. They represent the first time a joint global assessment has been made of the status of the earth’s plants and fungi. New data also show that we use only a fraction of existing species for food and fuel; at the same time, almost 40 per cent of these plants are endangered. As a result, humans depend on a small number of crops, even though thousands of species in nature have the potential to become food and provide us with energy. “As we soon begin the most critical decade our planet has ever faced, we hope that this report will provide the facts needed to
demand nature-based solutions that can address the triple threats: climate change, biodiversity loss and future food shortages for a growing population,” says Professor Alexandre Antonelli. Y
State of the World's Plants and Fungi 2020 Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi project provides assessments of our current knowledge of the diversity of plants and fungi on Earth, the global threats that they face, and the policies to safeguard them.
a
Read the rapport: www.kew.org/sotwpf
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
) Text: Camilla Persson ) Illustration: Pixabay
RESEARCH// SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
At the Faculty of Science, we carry out research in a wide range of subjects that relate to different aspects of sustainable development.
The third global goal relates to developing drugs and reducing the number of deaths as a result of harmful chemicals and contaminants. FRAM maps contaminants The University’s contriin Lake Victoria bution to the life sciences The Centre for Future Chemical Risk Analysis and Management (FRAM) is an interdisciplinary academic centre focusing on chemical mixtures. During 2020, FRAM initiated an interdisciplinary case study in Lake Victoria in Kenya. Its purpose is to identify contaminants in the lake and its tributaries and look at how these could be minimised. The study is a collaboration with researchers at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP) at the University of Nairobi.
The Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine conducts research in the fields of metabolism, neuroscience, cancer, inflammation, degenerative diseases, genomics and bioscience. The centre is part of the national effort in life sciences from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, which was announced in October. “I am particularly delighted that this major effort also encompasses basic research in more or less all areas of the natural sciences and medicine,” says Göran Hilmersson, Dean of the Faculty of Science.
Naturvetenskapliga The Faculty of Science, fakulteten, University Göteborgs of Gothenburg universitet
Increased understanding of aquaporins in cells Aquaporins are proteins that channel and regulate the transport of water between cells. Many diseases, such as tumours, Alzheimer’s and diabetes, are caused by the failure of these aquaporins in one way or another. This is why researchers want to understand them better, as well as the networks of proteins in cells that aquaporins are a part of. The new thesis A Holistic View on Aquaporins: Production, Structure, Function and Interactions by Florian Schmitz provides in-depth understanding of how aquaporins function and bind together.
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With a passion for art and cultural heritage At first, she wanted to become an architect. But in the conservation programme, Stavroula Golfomitsou found the perfect combination of culture and science. As a Senior Lecturer, she ensures that research students expand their knowledge in everything from dirt to hefty metal.
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Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
GETTING TO KNOW// STAVROULA GOLFOMITSOU
) Text: Kasper Holgers ) Photo: Malin Arnesson
apparent that Stavroula Golfomitsou has a passion for cultural encounters and discussions. She refers almost unconsciously to various museum podcasts she listens to and brings up her own examples of cultural clashes around the world. During her childhood in Greece, she had many opportunities to cultivate an interest in cultural heritage and its conservation. But in her profession – as a Senior Lecturer, doctoral supervisor and conservation researcher – she has primarily focused on Islamic art and culture. This included a six year spell living in Qatar. it quickly becomes
How did you end up in Gothenburg? Before I came here, I worked at University College London’s Qatar campus. While there, I had the opportunity to develop and work on a Degree of Master (60 credits) programme in Conservation. It was an amazing experience and very rewarding. But after six years I’d had enough because it was so difficult to become part of the society. I was ready to come back to Europe, and then I saw the ad for my current post. You always
What are your driving forces, Stavroula Golfomitsou?
take a chance when you move to a new country. But it has been incredibly inspiring, especially meeting the students. What is special about here? In many ways, Sweden is my biggest cultural challenge to date. When I ask students here what they consider their most important cultural heritage, they almost always say “nature”. They want to pick something that isn’t man-made. This is incredibly fascinating and opens up many avenues of discussion. How did you become interested in conservation? As a student, I was interested in both science and art. Initially, I planned to study architecture. But when I found a metal conservation programme, there was something about the name that appealed to me. Then I happened to bump into a student in the programme, and I realised it was just right for me. Conservation studies was the perfect combination – getting to study art and cultural history from a scientific foundation.
WHAT IS YOUR DRIVING FORCE IN YOUR WORK?
HOW DO YOU COPE WITH TOUGH CHALLENGES?
WHICH PEOPLE HAVE MEANT THE MOST TO YOU?
First and foremost, my love of art and cultural heritage. My curiosity has always governed my choices, my research and my career. I’m in this field to explore cultures and the significance that art and cultural heritage has for different people.
Two things give me the strength to carry on in challenging circumstances. The first is being connected to people in different contexts. The second is seeing my students make progress and take their first steps towards successful international careers. Challenges are an opportunity for change and moving forward. In some cases, I’ve realised that being honest – with myself and others – is the only way forward. I also draw on the support of my wide network of friends around the world, and naturally that of my family in Greece.
Many of my professors, colleagues and students have been inspirational and vitally important to me. My professor in chemistry and materials science in Greece, Dimitris Charalambous, challenged my thinking and made me examine things more critically. The same is true of my supervisors, especially Professor Thilo Rehren, who became Director of UCL Qatar. His positive attitude towards teaching was absolutely inspirational. I’d also like to mention my classmates, especially those in London who have become lifelong friends, but also my other friends and family.
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
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GETTING TO KNOW// STAVROULA GOLFOMITSOU
What’s your specialisation in conservation? “Conservation My main research interest restudies was the lates to how objects, primarily perfect combimetal objects, slowly deterionation – getting rate. I’m currently studying the to study art and corrosion of different metals in cultural history outdoor art installations. For from a scientific example, slow-rusting weathefoundation.” ring steel (COR-TEN steel), as Stavroula Golfomitsou in Richard Serra’s East-West/ West-East work located in the Qatari desert. Or silicon bronze as in the case of The Miraculous Journey by Damien Hirst in Doha. In the long-term, that knowledge could lead to new methods of protecting outdoor materials.
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What else are you working on? I’m also working on a project about how to clean cultural heritage buildings. The project is called “Coming Clean” and examines issues such as the decision-making processes in conservation. You might think that everyone has the same ideas about cleanliness and dirt, but there are big differences across contexts and cultures. There is still a lot to explore in this area.
Stavroula Golfomitsou Age: 48. Position: Senior Lecturer. Works at: The Department of Conservation. Leisure interests: Art, museums, film, music and travel.
Science Faculty Magazine | Number 2, 2020
Our faculty
) Text: Tanja Thompson ) Photo: Johan Wingborg, Marie Jensen, Malin Arnesson
Thesis Prize to Therese Karlsson the Faculty of Science awards its Thesis Prize for “successful and novel research that has been presented in a well written thesis”. This year, the prize went to Therese Karlsson from the Department of Marine Sciences, who studied plastic particles in marine environments – where the plastic comes from and what happens when it ends up in the ocean. Why is that important? “Plastics are a groups of materials that are used in so many different ways, so by understanding what the pollution pattern looks like, we can more easily work with sustainable, evidence-based solutions,” says Therese Karlsson. The thesis is entitled Sources and fate of plastic particles in Northern European waters. Y EVERY YEAR
New online conversation series “ HOW DO WE know that? Researchers discuss” is the name of a new education and outreach conversation series available online. In the series, researchers discuss issues that are topical and important in our society. The researchers also talk about how they work to produce the factual information that forms the basis for their research findings. The topic of the first conversation of the autumn was “Bohuslän’s Plastic Coastline”, which focused on the
plastics found in our seas and their impact on our natural environment. The second conversation of the autumn was about mathematics all around us in daily life, and trends in society that are driving technology and research forward. These conversations will also be available on YouTube. Y gu.se/naturvetenskap @naturvetenskapgu
Awards
Karl Börjesson,
Kerstin Johannesson,
Donald Blomqvist,
Erik Sturkell,
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology has received the Faculty of Science’s research prize.
Professor at the Department of Marine Sciences, has been named the first recipient of the Synergy Award at the Faculty of Science.
a researcher at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, has received the Faculty of Science’s Pedagogical Award.
Professor of Geophysics, has received the Geological Society’s 2020 Hiärne Prize for significant education and outreach activities.
The Faculty of Science, University of Gothenburg
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Eureka! ) Text: Thomas Melin and Carina Eliasson ) Illustration: NASA/JPL-Caltech
“These discoveries have changed how we view the world” Black holes, that is astronomical objects with such strong gravity that not even light can escape from them, are something that researchers have been contemplating since the time of Newton. When Einstein developed his general theory of relativity in 1915, it was discovered that black holes were a natural consequence of this theory. Black holes have continued to fascinate physicists the world over, and this year saw Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discoveries linked to black holes. According to Mattias Marklund, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Gothenburg, the Nobel laureates’ discoveries have led to black holes going from being perceived as exotic, theoretical structures to becoming a very real part of modern astronomy and part of how we understand the dynamics of the Universe. “The discoveries being recognised this year have changed how we view the world in terms of our understanding of what the Universe is made of, and have led to us having an even better understanding of how things like galaxies evolve over time.” Y
Suddenly, it happens. In a long-term research project, a breakthrough suddenly occurs or chance plays into the hands of the researchers. A new crucial discovery is made.