Alumni of the Year: species under threat and safe perinatal care

Digital twins – an aid to tailor medication to individual patients

Advanced computer models of diseases can be used to improve diagnosis and treatment. The goal is to develop the models to “digital twins” of individual patients. Those twins may help to computationally identify and try the best medication.

Autonomous vehicles learn to find the best path

Kristoffer Bergman, doctoral student in Automatic Control, describes in his licentiate thesis methods to enable autonomous vehicles find the fastest or most energy-efficient path from starting point to a destination, even if obstacles are in the way.

Flying vehicles find their own path 

Flying vehicles, manned and unmanned, are today equipped with large numbers of sensors. The vehicles are still controlled manually, but WASP doctoral student Per Boström-Rost shows in his licentiate thesis how the control can be made more autonomous.

Andreas Nobel celebrates eco-friendly wood

Nothing beats wood for the manufacture of furniture, says Andreas Nobel, newly inaugurated professor of furniture design at Malmstens Linköping University. 

LiU’s Tetralith ranks 74th in TOP500 list

Two supercomputers in Sweden are among the world’s most powerful supercomputers. The 2019 TOP500 list is dominated by the United States and China, but Sweden also appears, with Tetralith at National Supercomputer Centre, NSC, and Beskow at KTH.

Self-injuring young girls overestimate negative feedback in social media simulation

Adolescent girls who self-injure feel that they receive more negative feedback than they actually receive, and are more sensitive to thumbs down responses, compared to other girls. These are the findings presented by Irene Perini, researcher at CSAN.

The interlayers help perovskite crystallisation for light-emitting diodes

Scientists at LiU working with colleagues from China have shown how to achieve efficient perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In an article in Nature Communications, they provide guidelines on fabricating high-quality perovskite light emitters.

Resistance training can relieve menopause discomfort

Resistance training two to three times a week can reduce hot flushes and night sweats in post-menopausal women, according to a Linköping University study. 

Pain signalling in humans more rapid than previously known

Pain signals can travel as fast as touch signals, according to a new study. The discovery of a rapid pain-signalling system challenges our current understanding of pain.

Biogas can increase the capacity of pulp and paper mills

The wastewater streams from kraft mills have been considered to be too difficult to digest for biogas production, despite containing large quantities of organic substances. Eva-Maria Ekstrand reveals a solution in her doctoral thesis.

Unclear regulations lead to misleading reports

The accounting standard IAS 10 is ambiguous, and may lead to the annual reports of companies giving a misleading picture. The standard should be thoroughly revised. Jan Kellgren, professor at LiU, makes these points in a newly published article.

Green light for ECIU University

LiU and the consortium of universities in ECIU has been awarded funds from the European Commission to form the virtual university of the future – ECIU University. The education provided is to be challenge-driven and interdisciplinary.

First master’s graduates in sustainable design

The first year-group from the international master’s programme in design has graduated.“It suited me perfectly that the programme was new and a bit disorganised. I’ve benefited from everything in the master’s programme” Caspar Reuterswärd assures us.

Biogas production can be more efficient, with the right choice of organic material

Luka Šafarič doctoral thesis shows that the organic material that is fed into the reactor affects the thickness of the sludge, and ultimately, the reactor’s efficiency.

Multiresistant bacteria spread widely in Vietnamese hospitals

Around half of patients admitted to hospital in Vietnam are carriers of multiresistant intestinal bacteria. The longer the patients are in hospital, the greater is the risk that they have been infected by these bacteria.

Big city growth escalates the urban-rural divide

Microdata from Swedish population registers provide new insights into cities' economic growth paths. The data reveal a surge in regional inequality, with more and more resources flowing to cities atop the urban hierarchy.

Mistra to continue funding research into circular economy transition

The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research has granted SEK 47 million for four years to Mistra REES. The aim of the programme is to facilitate the transition by Swedish manufacturing industry to a circular economy.

Mobility and social skills critical for consultants

Technical expertise is not sufficient if consulting firms are to be successful: social skills and mobility between workplaces are also important. This is the conclusion of a new doctoral thesis from Linköping University.

Artificial muscles powered by glucose

Artificial muscles made from polymers can now be powered by energy from glucose and oxygen, just like biological muscles. This advance may be a step on the way to future autonomous microrobots powered by biomolecules in their surroundings.

Helping elderly hear better

Hearing researchers at Linköping University are addressing the hearing problems of the elderly. The aim is to improve the quality of life of the millions of elderly who suffer from hearing loss. 

LiU doctoral student to meet Nobel laureates

Tim Cornelissen, IFM, is one of the young researchers invited to this year’s Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany. 580 undergraduates, doctoral students, and postdocs will have the opportunity to meet and discuss science with Nobel laureates.

O-ringen

Sustainable food production and the art of expanding the ecosystem

Global food needs are increasing. In the short term, agriculture requires better conditions. In the long term, we must transform how business is done for a sustainable society – with green services, according to LiU researchers in business marketing.

Collaboration with South Africa to focus on global issues

A new Swedish collaboration with South Africa is to strengthen global research issues and make it easier for researchers to contact each other. Research collaboration in fields such as the climate, medical care and education is planned.

“We gain a lot from each other”

For 30 years, Linköping University and Moi University in Kenya have worked together, in a collaboration that the universities believe benefits them both. Contact between the two universities is now set to increase.

CEO with an eye for innovation

She wants to foster new types of collaborations, in order to address global challenges. Meet Lena Miranda, LiU alumna and CEO of Science Park Mjärdevi in Linköping.

A trip across the surface of Mars

At Visualization Center C, Campus Norrköping, you can take a trip far out into the universe or deep down into the smallest constituents of matter. The first part of WISDOME, the Wallenberg Immersive Science Communication Dome, is now up and running.

A virtual team for post-disaster communication

Create a team with nine students from LiU and Stanford, from different programmes of education and four different countries. Ask them to solve a task from Saab and give them nine months to do it. What’s the result? The DaMD course.

Converting safari jeeps to electricity

A group of eco-conscious LiU students has moved to Kenya and started a company devoted to electric safari vehicles. In less than a year it has grown to 28 employees, most of whom are Kenyan engineers.

Studenthuset to open on 30 August

The university’s new meeting place, Studenthuset, is nearing completion and will open on Campus Valla after the summer break.

Farewell LiU!

This year saw the largest number ever of international master’s students saying goodbye to LiU at the Farewell Ceremony. 229 students came up onto the stage at Forumteatern in Kårhuset Kollektivet to receive their diploma.

He prevents the spread of infection

An outbreak of an infectious animal disease can have disastrous consequences for the complete social economy of a country. LiU researcher Tom Lindström has the task of improving preparedness for such an outbreak in the US.

United by music

Music-based activities at Linköping University include both choirs and orchestras, and offer great opportunities for visiting students and staff. Swedish friends, a sense of community, and – in the best of cases – true love.

New ways to stop tuberculosis

Maria Lerm, newly installed professor at Linköping University, wants to find out whether it is possible to strengthen the body’s own protection against tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is the deadliest bacterial disease in the world.

Food production with greater sustainability – how?

The food we eat has a profound effect on the world. Researchers at LiU have examined possible measures to increase sustainability in Swedish food production.

Social businesses better than traditional development aid

Social businesses can play an important role in reducing poverty and stimulating progress in developing economies. Indeed – such businesses often achieve better results than traditional aid. They face, however, huge challenges.

Dogs mirror owner’s stress

The levels of stress in dogs and their owners follow each other, according to a new study. The scientists believe that dogs mirror their owner’s stress level, rather than vice versa.

Kungsgatan to communicate with Norrköping citizens

The Testbädd Kungsgatan project has been awarded SEK 1.5 million from the Norrköping Fund for Research and Development until May 2021. The grant will be used to develop an IoT platform as a service that will collect data along the street. 

Global conference in railway research in Norrköping

Linköping University is host for the international research conference RailNorrköping 2019, where more than 250 participants from 20 countries will discuss and present their results. One hot topic is how to ensure that more trains arrive on time.

Article by LiU scientist accepted by Heart

Kristofer Hedman, currently a postdoc at Stanford University,  has led a study into high blood pressure in elite athletes. An article with its results has been accepted for publication in the scientific journal Heart. 

Norrköping to support research into learning, traffic and smart forestry textiles

Four projects at Linköping University and one at RISE Acreo have been awarded funds from the SEK 5 million distributed by the Norrköping Fund for Research and Development in 2019.

Money remains in men´s hands

Economics is still a sphere in which men dominate. They have deeper knowledge of fundamental economic concepts, and greater self-confidence. The differences can have a profound effect on people’s lives.

Finding boat locations using images

In his doctoral thesis, Bertil Grelsson shows that it is perfectly possible to navigate at sea and in the air with the aid of images. As long as it’s not too misty. The methods provide an important component in safe and robust navigation.

Images from the Academic celebration 2019

Last weekend, 74 new doctors received their diploma and hat or laurel wreath, and 18 new professors were installed. The festivities included the university gala concert. The image carousel below gives some glimpses from the celebrations.

Segregation and inequality are results of marketised school system

Greater differences in study results between schools and increased segregation. These are examples of what the marketisation of the education system in Sweden has led to.

A newly discovered mechanism reveals how Parkinson’s disease can spread

Tiny channels between nerve cells are involved in a newly discovered mechanism of how Parkinson’s disease can spread throughout the brain. Harmful protein aggregates can “hitch a lift” with channel-forming proteins, and spread to healthy cells.

Regime oppression brings Hungarian researcher to LiU

Restrictions on academic freedom in Hungary have become so serious that researcher Károly Takács has moved from Budapest to Norrköping and LiU. He brings with him his family and a large part of his research group.

Honorary doctor from Sudan fighting for women in academia

Physics researcher and LiU master's alumna Nashwa Eassa has a vision – that women in Sudan will gain equal opportunities for education and research as men. At Linköping University’s annual Academic Ceremony, she was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Future sea rescue systems at Gränsö Manor

The next major demonstration of autonomous sea rescue is being planned here. Forty-five people have gathered at Gränsö Manor. Researchers and technologists, doctoral students and undergraduates – everyone is working towards the same goal.

Progress in hunt for unknown compounds in drinking water

When we drink a glass of water, we ingest an unknown amount of by-products that are formed in the treatment process. Researchers have been able to detect new compounds – where every water treatment plant has a unique combination.

Large positive secondary effects when industry saves energy

Improvements in energy efficiency in industry often give rise to large positive secondary effects. Even so, these added values are seldom given weight when considering whether to reduce energy consumption.

77 new doctors to be promoted 

The 2019 Academic Ceremony at Linköping University will take place on Saturday 25 May. Eighteen new professors, 77 doctors and seven honorary doctors will be honoured at the ceremony, to be followed by a banquet.

International student exchanges offer rewarding perspectives

Knowledge about HIV/AIDS and fascination that teachers listen to students. Swedish and Kenyan medical students learn lessons for life, as they swap countries for a few months.

Research into energy conservation in the aluminium industry

Two company-based factors – support from management and owners, and a long-term energy strategy – are high on the wishlist of the aluminium industry, as it moves to reduce energy consumption. LiU researchers have investigated barriers and drivers.

A new sensor for light, heat and touch

Inspired by the behaviour of natural skin, researchers at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics have developed a sensor for use with electronic skin. It can measure changes in body temperature, and react to both sunlight and warm touch.

Successful collaboration for medical care in Kenya

A delegation from LiU and Region Östergötland recently visited Moi University and the university hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The collaboration between the two countries has led to improved medical care at the Kenyan hospital.

Global learning in Kenya widens LiU students’ horizons

The upper secondary school Kenswed Academy in Kenya provides free education for young people from Nairobi’s slums. The school operates with the aid of students of teaching from Linköping University, who gain insight into global issues.

Research to aid smart urban energy planning

Researchers at LiU are to develop a platform that allows municipalities and urban areas to obtain support when making decisions about energy. The FlexSUS project lies under the EU Horizon 2020 programme, and is led by Associate Professor Yang Liu.

Manufacturing industry facing major challenges from servitisation

With more than 80 participants – some from Asia and America – interest for this conference on industry servitisation has reached a record level. The meeting in Linköping is world-leader in this research field.

Gathering for new forestry materials

Treesearch held its first meeting with researchers from academia and the forestry industry. In addition to networking and sharing results, over 200 participants listened to minister Ibrahim Baylan, and Sara Mazur, once head of research at Ericsson.

SOF - Sweden’s largest student-organised festival

Since 1973, a festival of student music known as SOF has spread happiness among students and Linköping residents. But how was it that the largest student-organised festival in Sweden ended up in Linköping?

Water creates traps in organic electronics

Poor-quality organic semiconductors can become high-quality when manufactured correctly. Researchers at Linköping University have shown that the motion of charges in organic electronic devices is dramatically slowed by minute amounts of water.

AFM 2019 Infrastructure Support Call for proposals

Hereby, Advanced Functional Materials, the Strategic Research Area (SRA, SFO) of LiU in Materials Science, announces a call for Infrastructure support, for purchase of equipment (minimum 3 MSEK, maximum 10 MSEK per equipment).

Welcome the spring on Walpurgis Night (30 April)!

The LiTHe student orchestra will parade from St. Lars Church to Borggården at Linköping Castle, where the Male Voice Choir will take over to welcome the spring. The event will be broadcast live. It’s a Swedish tradition for Walpurgis celebrations.

Great value in selling more than just products

The transition from simply selling products to delivering functions involves fundamental changes for many industrial companies. Done the right way, it can both create significant added value and lead to solutions that are more sustainable .

Information about book borrowing exposed online

Information about library users and books borrowed through the self-service machines in the LiU libraries has been exposed online since 2012. The library is taking the event seriously, and the machines have been taken out of use.

Top marks for teacher education at LiU

Linköping University receives top marks in a survey of teacher education in Sweden carried out by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ). All of the teacher education programmes examined at LiU were given the assessment “High Quality”.

Improving chickens’ living conditions

Methods used to calculate airflow in the aeronautical and motor industries have been tested for calculating the airflow in animal houses, in this case poultry houses with tens of thousands of chickens. With excellent results.

Circular economy brings hope for the future 

The circular economy can’t solve all the world’s problems, but it can solve several. And, to be honest, what’s the alternative? If we continue to consume the Earth’s resources at a rapid pace, we will bring the human race to catastrophe.

NIH research grant to study harmful proteins in the brain

Fluorescent tracer molecules developed by scientists at LiU will be used to develop new diagnostic methods in dementia. Peter Nilsson and researchers at Indiana University have now received a grant from the National Institutes of Health in the USA.

Field studies gave new perspectives 

By carrying out field studies in a developing country, students can contribute to a better world, while gaining different and memorable experiences. The Minor Fields Studies programme is open for students from all academic fields.

Peter Wallenberg awarded honorary doctorate

Peter Wallenberg Jr. is one of those awarded an honorary doctorate by Linköping University in 2019. He will receive the honour together with six international researchers at the Commencement Ceremony on 25 May.

LiU-student plays lead in Netflix series

Hanna Ardéhn is a fourth-year student of psychology at Linköping University. At the same time, she is in the news as lead actor in Sweden’s first Netflix production, “Quicksand”, which premières on Friday 5 April.

Students to organise conference on humans and technology

For 25 years, students taking the Cognitive Science programme have organised an annual conference about humans and technology. The topic this year is assuring the quality of the future by understanding both human and machine. 

Several innovations from LiU on IVA toplist

Three innovations from Linköping University are included on the IVA Top 100 List: Translating Knowledge to Competitiveness. “An important signal and a great honour”, says one of the prize-winners.

New polymer mixture creates ultra-sensitive heat sensor

Scientists at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics have developed an ultra-sensitive heat sensor that is flexible, transparent and printable. The results have potential for a wide range of applications – from wound healing to smart buildings.

Maria Boyce is votet best teacher - for the fifth time

A subject that can be considered boring, and a compulsory course – the prospects are not great when Maria Boyce walks into the lecture theatre. Even so, she has been nominated as best teacher – for the fifth time. “I just love teaching”, she says.

Major investment in bioelectronics against serious diseases

Magnus Berggren, director of research in the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, has been awarded a personal European Research Council Advanced Grant of around EUR 3 million, for research in the borderland between medicine and electronics.

Record efficiency for perovskite-based light-emitting diodes

Efficient near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diodes of perovskite have been produced in a laboratory at Linköping University. The external quantum efficiency is 21.6%, which is a record. The results have been published in Nature Photonics.

Markus Heilig appointed Wallenberg Clinical Scholar

Markus Heilig is one of five medical doctors active in research appointed to be Wallenberg Clinical Scholars. He receives a research grant of SEK 15 million to investigate why some, but not all, people become dependent on alcohol.

New cellulose-based material gives three sensors in one

Cellulose soaked in a carefully designed polymer mixture acts as a sensor to measure pressure, temperature and humidity – at the same time! The sensor may be highly significant in fields such as robotics, healthcare and security.

New surface treatments can improve gas turbine effiency

New surface treatments can give increased temperatures and higher efficiency in gas turbines. A new thesis demonstrates how the lifetime of such surface coatings can be calculated – and how much better they are than previous technology.

Three new Wallenberg Scholars at LiU

Three professors at LiU, Anders Ynnerman, Erik G. Larsson and Igor Abrikosov, have been selected as Wallenberg Scholars in 2019, which means that they each receive SEK 18 million for free research in the coming five years.

Adolescents’ everyday problems not always mental ill-health

Alarming reports about increasing mental ill-health among adolescents may be seriously exaggerated. This is the conclusion of LiU researchers after studying replies from young people in a Swedish investigation.

Helping others to master maths

The date 14 March has been selected as Pi Day, and as the International Day of Mathematics. LiU-student Björn Runow has his own YouTube channel where he uses short videos to help others get to grips with the mysteries of maths.

The sharing economy needs both heart and wallet

Both the heart and the wallet must be involved if collaborative consumption is to work. Certain operations have a more non-profit character, others are more commercial, and both types are equally important. This is the conclusion of a new thesis.

From LiU student to minister

Åsa Lindhagen took a master’s degree in engineering at Linköping University. Now, 10 years later, she has been appointed minister for gender equality. The advice she gives to today’s students: “Sit down occasionally and reflect. Think about how you can contribute to society.”

Agriculture: a guarantor for peace and freedom

Society must reconsider the role of agriculture. Major investment is required in innovation, not only to feed the world’s increasing population, but also to avoid more wars and crises, claims LiU researcher Per Frankelius in The Lancet.

New method opens the way for cutting tools with longer lifetime

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a theoretical model that enables simulations for showing what happens in hard cutting materials as they degrade. The model will enable manufacturing industry to save both time and money.

Application for ECIU university submitted

LiU is one of thirteen European universities behind an application to the European universities call of the EU Commission. The objective is to forge a common and innovative university, dedicated to solving contemporary challenges.

Why you lose hearing for a while after listening to loud sounds

When we listen to loud sounds, our hearing may be impaired for a short time. Researchers at LiU have discovered a mechanism that helps to explain how this happens.

Award to Eleni Stavrinidou for work with electronic plants

Eleni Stavrinidou, Laboratory of Organic Electronics, is to receive the 2019 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Prize for her research into electronic plants. It will be presented by the Swedish minister for higher education and research.

LiU takes AI to the public

With the aim of making it easier for the general public to learn more about artificial intelligence (AI), Linköping University is to begin a collaboration with the Finnish online course Elements of AI.

Wetlands to purify water in South African informal townships

Karin Tonderski of the Division of Biology has been awarded SEK three million over three years from Formas to contribute to the installation and evaluation of wetlands in South African informal townships.

30-year collaboration celebrated in Kenya

Linköping University has collaborated with Moi University in western Kenya for 30 years. This April a LiU delegation will travel there, to mark the anniversary and to discuss new joint projects.

Three new research grants from Horizon 2020 to LiU

Scientists Feng Gao and Daniel Aili, both at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, have been awarded research grants from the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The amount involved is approximately EUR 600,000 for 2 years.

Cause and effect in the transformation of ecosystems

How can we distinguish between cause and effect when changes take place in a ecosystem? Can new methods give a more accurate picture of the interaction between society and the natural world? These are important questions for a new research programme.