Research effort results in good dividends

2010-10-22

RESEARCH. It is going well for researchers at the Department of Urban Studies at Malmö University. Several of them have recently received positive approval on their research applications and related external research funding. Per Olof Hallin is pleased that the department’s research efforts have started to bear fruit.

Per Olof Hallin, human geography professor and director of the Urban Studies research network at Malmö University.

- What we see right now is the result of several different factors. To begin with, for several years we have made a concerted effort to recruit capable researchers, younger as well as more experienced. Currently we have three permanent professors, two visiting professors and four deans. During the next two years we aim to have 12-13 professors, including visiting professors, says Per Olof Hallin, human geography professor and director of the Urban Studies research network at Malmö University.

Another factor that positively influences Urban Studies research is a goal-oriented effort to further develop teachers. Nine of the department’s lecturers are currently undertaking post-graduate studies.

- We have also found ourselves in various research networks, mostly regional but also national, during a longer period, which gives us good insight. Several of the research projects that have received approved funding are the result of a focused commitment to collaboration with municipalities, voluntary organisations, businesses and regions, among others. We want our research to be practice-oriented.

Positive affects

The start of new research projects and money coming into the department will be noticed by all. Due to the new funding, many future researchers will devote more time solely to research and less time to teaching.

- It gives us space to recruit more teachers, which we are currently doing. We have five to six new positions on the way. After being a teaching heavy organisation, research is starting to become more prominent. It feels like a new qualitative addition that gives us the possibility for a clearer link between education and research, says Per Olof Hallin.

In addition to the research projects that have had their applications granted (see list below) Per Olof Hallin and his colleagues are waiting for decisions on three or four additional applications.

- Our major task ahead is to send an application in order to be granted our own postgraduate rights. We have formed a working group that is working on this, says Per Olof Hallin.

Since June 2010 Urban Studies has received approval for the following projects:

Carine Listerborn and others have received 6.6 million Swedish Crowns from Formas for the project, “Transformation of fragmented cities. A study of integrating sustainability through urban traffic paths.”

Per Olof Hallin and others have received approximately 6 million Swedish Crowns from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency for the project, “Social risks, civil society transformation and strategic risk management. For preparedness in light of 21st century crises.”

Per Olof Hallin has also received a grant for 800,000 Swedish Crowns from Länsförsäkringar for the project, “Fires, vandalism, neighbourhoods and social capital.”

Gunnar Blomé och Eva Öresjö have received a grant from Länsförsäkringar for approximately 1 million Swedish Crowns for a project on real estate certifications.

Mattias Kärrholm, Katarina Nylund and others have received approximately 3 million Swedish Crowns in funding for the projects, “Chronotope – time-space planning for resilient cities.”

Jerry Nilsson has received a two-year post doctorate from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency for “Practitioner’s learning of their crisis management.”

Text: Martha Spalding