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Research just around the corner

LiU 50 Years is the theme for the lecture series Research just around the corner in 2025.

At Linköping University, knowledge is something not only to be created and collected but also to be shared. This lecture series was developed by the University Library in collaboration with the vice-rector for Research, Matts Karlsson. Via a series of lunchtime lectures, the aim is to disseminate knowledge to the general public, LiU employees and students on a general theme every term. Do you know what is just around the corner at your university?

Everybody is welcome to join us in Lövverket in Studenthuset, Campus Valla. All lectures can also be followed via live stream and viewed online retroactively.

LiU 50 Years

As Linköping University celebrates its first 50 years, we will explore the past as well as future challenges and opportunities. Which revolutionary technologies, societal solutions and research initiatives will shape our future and help to create a resilient and sustainable society?

We will be offered presentations by leading LiU researchers about innovative research projects within artificial intelligence, medical technologies, climate solutions and sustainable economics. Be inspired by world-leading experts and learn about cutting edge research.

Some of the lectures are given in English and some in Swedish. On this page, you can see the program for the current series of lectures and links to recordings of previous lectures in the series.

Grafik över LiU 50 år

Christian Kowalkowski

Time and place

2 September, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

A recording of the lecture is also available on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/5320037

From Products to Platforms: Competing Through Services in the Digital Era

How can companies stand out when products are increasingly similar and customer expectations keep rising?

For more than two decades, Christian Kowalkowski has explored how Swedish industry has addressed this challenge through servitization—the shift from selling physical products to delivering advanced services and complete solutions.

In his talk, he will highlight examples ranging from established business models to today’s digital services and platforms, reflect on successes and setbacks, and consider where we stand now and what the future may hold.

Photo of Christian Kowalkowski

Christian Kowalkowski

Professor

Ericka Johnson 

Time and place

16 September, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

The lecture can also be followed via livestream on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/4834506

När samhället matas in i en AI (In Swedish)

Ericka Johnsons forskning handlar om hur världen blir data. Med en bakgrund i Science & Technology Studies och medicinsk humaniora, jobbar hon med kopplingen mellan ontologier, epistemologier och artificiell intelligens (AI).

Vad händer när data som representerar världen möter AI?

Photo of Ericka Johnson

Ericka Johnson

Deputy Head of Department, Professor

Per Jensen

Time and place

30 September, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

The lecture can also be followed via livestream on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/5320057

Den allvarliga leken – varför leker djur? (In Swedish)

Lek förekommer hos alla ryggradsdjur och till och med hos en del insekter. Ändå är osäkerheten stor när det gäller funktionen av det här utbredda beteendet.

I sin föreläsning berättar Per Jensen om hur leken påverkar allt från sociala relationer och kognition till hjärnans struktur.

Photo of Per Jensen

Per Jensen

Professor Emeritus

Björn Wallner

Time and place

14 October, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

The lecture can also be followed via livestream on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/5320064

Uncovering the Molecular Machines of Life

Proteins are the molecular machines that power every living cell.  Starting as simple strings of amino acids, they fold into intricate three-dimensional shapes that carry out the work of life. For decades, discovering these shapes was painstakingly slow. But now, artificial intelligence has changed everything.

This talk tells the story of how AI cracked biology’s biggest puzzle, resulting in the Nobel Prize 2024 — and what it means for the future of science and medicine.

Photo of Björn Wallner

Björn Wallner

Professor, Head of Division

Eleni Stavrinidou

Time and place

28 October, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

The lecture can be followed via livestream on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/5320248

Plant bioelectronics and sustainable biohybrids

Plants are essential to our planet and life. Climate change and the growing population call for plants with increased tolerance to stress and for plants with higher productivity.

In this seminar, Eleni Stavrinidou will give an overview of the work to develop bioelectronic devices for monitoring and controlling plant processes and talk about repurposing biology for technological purposes.

The integration of living components in materials and devices opens new possibilities for energy efficient, sustainable materials that are dynamic and responsive.

Photo of Eleni Stavrinidou

Eleni Stavrinidou

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Unit

Adel Daoud

Time and place

11 November, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

The lecture can also be followed via livestream on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/5320943

Planetary Causal Inference: Understanding the Environment, Society and Economy Through Earth Observation and Computer Vision

Planetary Causal Inference explores how social science can benefit from Earth observation (EO) data to advance understanding of humans as a species and their impact on their environment, society, and economy.

In this lecture, the emerging field of causally-oriented EO-based machine learning (ML) is introduced, where spatial data derived from images are analyzed using advanced ML models to create proxies for social science metrics and for use in causal inference pipelines.

Photo of Adel Daoud

Adel Daoud

Senior Associate Professor

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

Time and place

25 November, 12.15–13.00

Lövverket, Studenthuset, Campus Valla, Linköping

The lecture can also be followed via livestream on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/event/5320948

Stem cells and cancer: what’s the connection?

This talk explores the fascinating relationship between stem cells and cancer with special focus on leukemia, shedding light on how the properties and unique molecular pathways of stem cells in the bone marrow are hijacked by leukemia cells to promote its development and progression.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms at play and the promise of future medical breakthroughs.

Photo of Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

Vice-Chancellor

Previous lectures

Recordings of lectures

View previous lectures in the series Research just around the corner. Most of them are in Swedish, but some in English.

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LiU 50 Years

Once upon a time, Linköping University was just an idea. Today, we stand as living proof of what courage, curiosity and free thoughts can achieve. We celebrate that throughout 2025!

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