Environmental Change (TEMAM)

Tema M – Environmental Change is a platform for highly topical, problem-oriented and critical interpretive environmental research and education. At a time when almost the entire nature bears traces of human activity, the state of the environment is strongly linked to the development of society. Today, environmental problems are no longer perceived as ‘problems in nature’ but also as complex social problems that set new standards for scientific breadth, integration and problem-solving.

Environmental Change meets this challenge through a strong combination of analysis traditions and methods for natural science, social sciences, and the humanities. Among these included are analysis of biogeochemical processes and material flows, policy studies developed in close collaboration with user groups, as well as analytical studies of ideas and debates within the environmental and climate field. By promoting interdisciplinary cooperation in the borderland between these different analytical traditions, Tema M ensures that environmental change as a concept, process and political point at issue is not taken for granted but instead subject to constant review and transparency.

Tema M builds on a strong tradition of interdisciplinary environmental studies that have permeated the unit since 1980 and the Center for Climate Science and Policy Research (CSPR) since 2004. At Tema M, these studies are further developed and profiled in relation to contemporary environmental science and environmental policy development.

Strategic Research Areas

A park bench in water.
Pixabay

Climate Change

We study challenges posed by climate change, their implications around the world and actions that could lead to fossil free societies that are robust to the effects of climate change.

Insjö skog around.

Contaminant and Element Cycling

We study natural and human-induced changes using observational, experimental and modeling approaches. From major and trace elements to contaminants, we focus on biogeochemical processes driving their distribution and cycling in ecosystems.
People holding up signs.
Pixabay

Knowledge politics and communication 

We study how knowledge about current environmental and developmental challenges is represented, legitimized, problematized and made sense of in education, research practices, media and policy processes.

Lab environment.
Anna Nilsen

Earth resources 

We study challenges associated with sustainable use and management of resources with focus on waste, water, land, ecosystems, nutrients as well as renewable energy. We co-create knowledge through interactions with societal actors to assess and develop processes, technologies, analytical tools, and frameworks.  

Research Project

Publications

Latest publications

2023

News

News

PhD Programme

Education

Contact

Staff

Staff

Visit us in Tema Building, Campus Valla

Postal adress
Linköping University, Department of Thematic Studies/Environmental Change, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Organisation