Newsmakers at KTH
Who has received what when it comes to funding? What findings, results and researchers have attracted attention outside KTH? Under the vignette Newsmakers, we provide a selection of the latest news and events at KTH.
Professor profiled in Nature magazine
Nature magazine profiles Professor Joakim Lundeberg and his research within gene technology, and described this as one of the most interesting areas to keep an eye on this year. Under the headline “Seven technologies to watch in 2022”, the magazine looks at Spatial Transcriptomics, a technology developed by Lundeberg’s research group for the safer and more objective analysis of tissues that mean you can detect diseases such as ALS and cancer at an early stage.
Two KTH professors make the Top 50 Influential Researchers list
Danica Kragic and Pontus Johnsson are included on the IDG list of the 50 most influential researchers within the tech area in Sweden. Kragic is described as combining world-leading research with heavyweight director duties and who is making a huge contribution to the development of AI in Sweden. Johnsson is hailed for the part he is playing in training Swedish cyber soldiers and as a frequently cited expert within cybersecurity.
Innovation Director joins the PRV Advisory Council
Lisa Ericsson , Head of Department at KTH Innovation, has been appointed a member of the Advisory Council at PRV. The nine members of the Advisory Council are tasked with assuring the authority acts with transparency and to advise the head of PRV.
Wood Chemistry Professor praised for her innovative research
Monica Ek , Professor in Wood Chemistry and Pulp Technology, has been awarded the Ekman Medal for her work within forestry industry related research, education and collaboration. Ek, a member of the Wallenberg Wood Science Center, has co-authored several textbooks on paper and pulp technology, and has also been involved in the development of cellulose materials that are given new properties by combining them with polymer molecules. The medal is awarded by the Swedish Paper and Cellulose Engineering Association.
Initiatives in sustainable energy
Three researchers at KTH are involved in sharing grants from the Swedish Energy Agency to finance centres of excellence in sustainable energy systems. The money has been awarded to the Swedish Electromobility Centre, where Mats Leksell , a researcher within electric power engineering is involved, the Swedish Centre for Sustainable Hydropower with Stefan Larsson , Professor in Geotechnology and the ANItA Centre of Excellence, an industrial nuclear technology initiative, where Sevostian Bechta , Professor in Nuclear Power Safety, is a member. The centre of excellence model aims to strengthen collaboration between the enterprise sector, the public sector, and higher education, and to support the transition of society to a sustainable energy system. Altogether, eleven centres have received grants totalling SEK 594 million.
Five researchers elected to the IVA
Five professors at KTH have been elected as members of IVA, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. These are Sofia Ritzén , Integrated Product Design, Johan Silfwerbrand, Concrete Structures, Sandra Di Rocco , Mathematics, Daniel Söderberg , Fluid Mechanics, and Sonja Buchegger , Computer Science.
Computer Scientist wins prestigious award
Emil Björnson , Professor in the Department of Computer Science, has been awarded the 2022 Tage Erlander Prize for Research in Natural Sciences and Technology. In the words of the jury, he has been awarded the Prize for his visionary and clarifying research into MIMO antenna technology for wireless communication.
Platform offers more chances for education
Two researchers within integrated product development, Susanne Nilsson and Margareta Norell Bergendahl , are part of a team that has won an international hackathon, Hack for Earth, on the theme of sustainable development. Their winning proposal is for a digital platform that increases opportunities for students from areas lacking high quality education, to study at universities around the world. Via the platform, you can convert grades and take tests to validate your knowledge linked to engineering subjects and sustainability. The idea was presented at the World Expo in Dubai. The KTH team was one of seven winners out of a total of 1,300 participants.
Text: Christer Gummeson