Anna Delin, Director of WISE Graduate School - Nurturing Sustainability in Materials Science

Anna Delin  has been a full professor at KTH since 2011. She leads a research group specializing in magnetic and quantum phenomena in materials. Over the years she has received awards such as the Naturvetarpriset and the Thuréus prize for her outstanding work. Her current role as the head of the WISE Graduate School underlines her commitment to sustainability through materials science.

Materials science - challenging and solving sustainability

Looking at the sustainability challenges in materials science, Anna Delin highlights the global dependence on non-renewable resources and inadequate recycling practices. This dependency is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and creates environmental, political, and social problems.

However, Anna argues that these challenges should be seen as opportunities and that materials science knowledge could be used in the development of sustainable technologies and functional materials.

“Materials science is central to developing sustainable technologies such as batteries, solar cells, carbon capture materials, to name a few. An emerging challenge in this context is that our mineral needs are increasing rapidly due to this development. The large demand for lithium to be used in batteries is a prime example of this. ”, she says.

By understanding, designing, and controlling complex materials, WISE aims to enable sustainable technologies that positively impact society. This mission aligns with broader sustainability goals, making the WISE Graduate School a key player in sustainability research and education.

“I started as director of the WISE Graduate School in the autumn semester of 2022 and in the beginning have focused on designing the school and planning activities. The first participants, all PhD students and postdocs recruited for WISE research projects, started in late spring.”

High-impact research projects and networking opportunities

Students at the WISE graduate school can expect a rich learning experience. They'll engage in impactful research projects, gain a broad understanding of sustainability, and connect with a vast network of researchers in academia and industry. Study visits provide insights into how sustainability is practiced in the real world, putting theoretical knowledge into practice.

The graduate school actively supports strong multidisciplinary and international professional networking between PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and industry. This year's welcome event brought together over 200 researchers and distinguished guests. The meeting provided an excellent platform for members to connect and initiate collaborations. Presentations from both industry and academia encouraged networking and discussion, leaving attendees inspired and motivated.