Anna Furberg

I work in several research projects on environmental impacts of Information and communication technology (ICT) applying Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle thinking. The aim with my research is to contribute with increased knowledge about potential environmental impacts of digitalization both today and in the future. This involves, for example, contributing to a better understanding on how digitalization can support a sustainable development and reduced climate impact. The projects that I work in are funded by KTH Digital Futures, KTH Climate Action Centre, Ericsson and Formas.

I have a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering with Engineering Physics from Chalmers University of Technology, with specialisation in Sustainable Energy Systems. In 2020, I finalized my PhD degree at the Division of Environmental Systems Analysis also at Chalmers University of Technology. In my PhD work, I assessed environmental, resource and human health impacts of hard materials, mainly using LCA but also other environmental systems analysis methods, such as Material flow analysis (MFA). More specifically, I investigated the possibility to replace conventional hard materials, such as cemented carbide, with novel ones, such as synthetic diamond, by assessing whether these new materials have lower life cycle impacts.

After my PhD, I worked as a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research NORSUS in various LCA projects and in several cases with the role as project leader. In 2022, I was awarded with the SETAC Europe Young Scientist Life Cycle Assessment Award, which recognizes exceptional achievements by a young scientist in the field of LCA.