Alumni of the Year

Each year, Linköping University chooses two Alumni of the Year to recognise the work and commitment of previous students. 

To be chosen as Alumni of the Year, the candidate must have studied at Linköping University for at least two years on a full-time basis, and subsequently achieved highly, devoted her- or himself to an important cause or done something else worthy of recognition.

Nominate someone for Alumni of the Year

To nominate a candidate for Alumni of the Year, email alumni@liu.se, including the candidate’s name, programme of study, a brief description of what the candidate has done and of why you feel she or he deserves the award.

Alumni of the Year 2021 - Cecilia Bödker Pedersen and Martin Hultman Show/Hide content

"Sexual violence is surrounded by wordlessness"

Putting words to one’s experience of violence is a first step in being able to move on in life, explains Cecilia Bödker Pedersen, one of LiU’s Alumni of the Year. She is secretary general of an organisation for people subjected to sexual violence.

Climate denialism dominated by men

Knowledge about climate change is not enough to stop global warming. One of the LiU Alumni of the Year is Martin Hultman. He leads the world’s first researcher network for the study of climate change denialism.

Alumni of the Year 2020 - Linnea Bergman and Anders Tegnell Show/Hide content

Linnea Bergman’s life-saving solar cells

Around four million people die every year from diseases caused by the smoke they inhale when cooking over an open fire. This is a problem that this year’s Alumna of the Year, Linnea Bergman, hopes to solve.

Combatting an elusive coronavirus with patience

State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell stood in the centre of events when the novel coronavirus started to spread around the globe. He is one of the Alumni of the Year for 2020.

Alumni of the Year 2019 - Sara Magnusson and Andreas Norlén Show/Hide content

Solidarity drives Super-Sara

Put two cans, Classic and Light, of fizzy drink into water. One floats, the other sinks. Magic! Sara Magnusson wanted her Experimentfabrik to make children curious. But they must also be able to read, so today she’s measuring reading ability.

Speaker of the Swedish parliament discusses democray

Speaker of the Swedish parliament Andreas Norlén, alumnus from Linköping University, shares his views on democracy and describes how they guide him in his work.

Alumni of the Year 2018 - Rebecka Le Moine and Eva Uustal Show/Hide content

A passion for protecting biological diversity

Optimism or pessimism? Rebecka Le Moine, conservation biologist and Alumna of the Year 2018, prefers optimism. With limitless energy she works to spread knowledge about everything that we can do to preserve biological diversity.

Care for the newly delivered gives Alumna of the Year award

A cry of delivery resounds across Sweden. Women are telling their stories of birth injuries, and they are demanding the right to professional care. In the eye of the storm stands gynaecologist and Alumna of the Year Eva Uustal.

Alumni of the Year 2017 - Sofie Lindblom and Oskar Henrikson Show/Hide content

The innovation expert who leads by example

If it doesn’t work out on the first attempt, she finds a different, better way. Innovation expert Sofie Lindblom wants more girls to become master problem-solvers in the tech sector. Now she has been honoured as one of LiU’s two Alumni of the Year.

He wants to exercise your brain

Oskar Henrikson is the psychologist who swam outdoors for an entire year – to see how long it took to establish a habit. In a society where poor mental health is increasing, he wants us to focus on what is healthy.

Alumni of the Year 2016 - Suad Ali and Thomas Lunner Show/Hide content

An ordinary civil servant

The number of people seeking refuge has never been as high as today. Suad Ali is an expert on Sweden’s refugee quota, and has worked tirelessly for refugees worldwide. She is one of Linköping University’s two Alumni of the Year.

Thomas Lunner – one of this year’s Alumni of the Year

Thomas Lunner’s research has given improved hearing to millions of people with impaired hearing. He has been chosen as one of this year’s Alumni of the Year.

Alumni of the Year 2015 - Kajsa Andersson and Mihai Aldén Show/Hide content

“A big laugh a day is a must”

Having fun on the job is a common denominator for the Alumni of the Year 2015: Mihai Aldén, Oscar-winning developer at DreamWorks Animation in Los Angeles, and Kajsa Andersson, award-winning vice-chancellor for Skäggetorpsskolan.

Oscar for advanced effects

As a young boy, Mihai Aldén moved from Romania to Sweden. Now he has his dream job in Los Angeles and can boast a technical Oscar.

Alumni of the Year 2014 - Elnaz Baghlanian and Peter Agnefjäll Show/Hide content

Elnaz Baghlanian

LiU alumna from Literary Studies, who uses her passion for social issues, her artistic talents and her knowledge of literature to enable others to express themselves freely.

Peter Agnefjäll

LiU alumnus from Business Administration, who has had a remarkable career, starting out on the sales floor and advancing to CEO of a world-leading corporation.

Alumni of the Year 2013 - Maha Bouzeid and Jonas Ludvigsson Show/Hide content

Maha Bouzeid

LiU alumna from Industrial Engineering and Management, who inspires others by way of her fascinating career and her efforts to see more women reach senior management roles.

Jonas Ludvigsson

LiU alumnus from Medicine, who combines a successful career as a researcher with his practice as a paediatrician, and generously shares his knowledge and engagement.

Alumni of the Year 2012 - Carina Brage and Melker Becker Show/Hide content

Carina Brage

LiU alumna from Education, who is passionate about sustainable, joyful learning – outdoors and with one’s whole body – in science and engineering.

Melker Becker

LiU alumnus from Culture, Society and Media Production, who can convey knowledge to a TV audience in a way that is easy to grasp, in fields as diverse as hard rock and neo-gothic church architecture.

Alumni of the Year 2011 - Jeanette Mikkelsen and Erik Thorstensson Show/Hide content

Jeanette Mikkelsen

LiU alumna from Social Work, who works to bring improvements to elderly care.

Erik Thorstensson[No text in field]

LiU alumnus from Mechanical Engineering, who contributes to a sustainable world by creating new products out of surplus materials from the industrial sector.

How LiU keeps in touch with former students Show/Hide content

LiU Alumni

LiU Alumni is the network for Linköping University alumni (former students). As a member of LiU Alumni you get invitations to alumni get-togethers and information about what is going on at the university.

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