Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Water
Managing the Earth's water resources in a sustainable way is a major challenge. The purpose of the knowledge environment Water is to tackle this societal challenge by gathering and disseminating the knowledge required to create and manage a healthy water landscape.
Our society is facing great challenges within a number of different fields. Meeting these societal challenges with knowledge in creative environments that integrate education, research, and collaboration – knowledge environments – is something that permeates Linnaeus University’s vision and work.
Seven of the university’s knowledge environments have been appointed Linnaeus Knowledge Environment. These focus on the fields of education, materials, democracy, water, digitalisation, environment, and health. They all work interdisciplinary and link together subjects, departments, and faculties in order to get a broad take on the societal challenges within each field.
Societal challenge: water
Water is essential for life on Earth. More specifically, reliable access to clean water is a major global challenge and a key issue for sustainable development.
The natural cycle of water involves transitions from land to sea and these are critically influenced by human actions. Thus, sustainable management of water resources represents a true societal challenge. Such a challenge cannot be resolved by a single discipline or organisation, but rather requires transdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration among different stakeholders in society.
In the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment Water we work together to contribute to a healthy water transition from land to sea. We consider water as an important resource we have to manage as well as respect. Importantly, the knowledge environment gathers a critical mass of knowledge required to obtain and inform on the management of a healthy water landscape. Our aim is to position the knowledge environment as a national and international hub for blue sustainability.
Research, education and collaboration
Our researchers come from a variety of faculties and disciplines with different perspectives on water. We also educate students on all levels directly about water and indirectly in issues related to sustainability and the UN's sustainable development goals. To achieve this, we also have a wide network of collaborations with external actors, both within and outside of academia, We also continuously welcome new collaborators and challenges rooted in everyday issues, from local to global.
Welcome to contact us about everything that has to do with research, collaboration and teaching in the field of water!
Approach
We conduct solution-oriented research leading to transformative actions in the Småland region, to strengthen two multidisciplinary research themes tackling urgent issues:
(I) Water as Resource
The goal of this research theme is to promote the shift from a mindset where water is seen as an open access resource, to one where it is sustainably managed and provides crucial ecosystem services to society (i.e., to avoid the “tragedy of the commons”).
- Study factors influencing individual behavior and promoting sustainable water usage on domestic and municipal levels.
- Explore industrial symbiosis to promote efficient circulation and reuse of water at the industrial level.
- Determine innovative ways to monitor and manage water large-scale usage in the built environment and in agriculture.
(II) Water from Land to Coast and Sea
Understanding how global change influences the ecological status of natural waters is crucial to assure a constant provision of ecosystem services.
- Study entrepreneurial scenarios for sustainable livelihood and value creation in coastal Småland and Öland with aquaculture, tourism and wellbeing.
- Monitor biological and environmental parameters in coastal waters and rivers to inform climate adaptation measures and sustainable fisheries (both sport and commercial fishing), recreation and culture.
- Explore the interconnections of animal, wildlife and human health in aquatic environments, through novel studies of animal movements and disease/antibiotic resistance distributions below and above the water surface, to inform societal stakeholders of threats to potable water and recreational uses.
Important features in both themes include strengthening the already close connection between Linnaeus Knowledge Environment Water research and education, to address the themes and contribute to the training of future water managers and researchers. To further broaden the curiosity and imagination in Water, and extend beyond a linear narrative on sustainable water management, we will collaborate with artists and designers to explore the waterways that are usually not explored. Citizen science initiatives will engage the broader society and bring about informed citizens able to influence decision makers on water in a sustainable society.
Current
Research
Our main two approaches for research are:
- Water as resource
- Water from land to coast and sea
More information about our research interests are found under the heading Approach above and in each research group below.
Research environments
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Bioresource Technology Bioresource Technology is the umbrella term for the university's research in the fields of bioenergy, biotechnology, combustion engineering, chemical engineering and process…
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Center for International Business Studies on Emerging Markets (CIBEM) We specialize in research on international marketing, international business strategies and international entrepreneurship. The…
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Environmental Geochemistry Our research group consists of environmental scientists working with issues related to environmental geochemistry, which is the study of how chemical processes and flows in…
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Knowledge Platform: Entrepreneurship and social change Within the knowledge platform Entrepreneurship and social change, research, teaching and collaboration are integrated.
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Knowledge Platform: Global Mind – Business competitiveness in changing landscapes The Global Mind platform aims to provide the necessary knowledge and understanding to effectively navigate the…
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Linnaeus University Centre for Data Intensive Sciences and Applications The DISA research centre at Linnaeus University focuses its efforts on open questions in collection, analysis and utilization of…
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Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems The research that is carried out at the Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems…
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Palaeoecology, Environment And ClimatE (PEACE) Our research focuses on understanding past short- to long-term interactions between the environment, human activities and climate. This is necessary to…
Research projects
A list of all research projects carried out within the frame of the knowledge environment Water would be extensive. Please find the projects by clicking on the desired research group in the list under the heading Research environments above.
Education
Our education spans several faculties and departments. A list of our main programs is found below.
Programmes and courses
First-cycle level (bachelor, bachelor of science in engineering)
- International Business Programme (180 credits; main field of study: economics)
In Swedish:
- Biologiprogrammet (180 credits; biology)
- Energi och miljö, högskoleingenjör (180 credits; bioenergy technology)
- Enterprising & Business Development (180 credits; economics)
- Miljöanalytiker (180 credits; environmental science)
- Sjöingenjör (180 credits; maritime science)
- Sjökapten (180 credits; maritime science)
- Skog och träteknik, högskoleingenjör (180 credits; forestry and wood technology)
Second-cycle level (master)
- Aquatic Ecology, Master Programme (120 credits; biology)
- Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Social Change, Master Programme (120 credits; economics)
- Environmental Science and Sustainability, Master Programme (120 credits; biology)
- International Business Strategy, Master Programme (120 credits; economics)
- Sustainable Energy Processes and Systems, master programme (120 credits; bioenergy technology)
We also offer a large number of courses in English in the knowledge environment’s main fields of study. Carry out a search for courses in these subjects.
Collaboration
We often conduct our research in collaboration with other actors from the public sector, the private sector and the civil society. These collaborations are highly valued and they also provide added value in the education, for example through guest lectures and degree projects. We also work actively to make our activities visible through popular science lectures and other events.
- Elin Lindehoff Senior lecturer, promoted lecturer
- +46 480-44 73 59
- elinlindehofflnuse
- Giangiacomo Bravo Professor
- +46 470-70 87 82
- giangiacomobravolnuse
- Jarone Pinhassi Professor
- +46 480-44 62 12
- +46 72-594 94 48
- jaronepinhassilnuse
- Joacim Rosenlund Senior lecturer
- +46 480-49 71 13
- joacimrosenlundlnuse
- Jörgen Forss Senior Lecturer, Head of Department
- +46 470-70 82 33
- +46 72-207 59 81
- jorgenforsslnuse
- Marcelo Ketzer Professor
- +46 480-44 62 55
- marceloketzerlnuse