Research Themes for the ACCESS Forum 2024
Thirteen interdisciplinary Research Themes have been selected for the ACCESS Forum 2024. You can read more about each Research Theme below.
The Call for Participation in the Research Themes closed on November 6, 2023.
For more information about the ACCESS Forum 2024, click here.
1. Artistic Research, Experimentation and Cultural Sustainability in Chile and Sweden
Addressed Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Keywords: Arts, Culture and Communities; Artistic Research; Critical Sustainability; Sustainable Cities; Experimentation
Abstract: Arts and culture are two topics generally ignored in the discussions of sustainable development strategy. However, we would like to propose that Cultural Sustainability plays a far greater role in the life of societies than is usually described by activists and NGOs. We propose that culture, through its artistic practice, engages in sustainable development. Unfortunately, globalization and the assimilation of artistic works as passive entertainment have a negative impact on artistic and cultural sensibility as powerful advertising through dominant media manufactures public tastes, enabling a passive role of communities in the construction of social values and identities. It is to this extent that Artistic Research, an academic field with an inherent plurality of epistemologies and methodologies which crucially involves the embodied knowledge implied in artistic practices, seems to be the most pertinent approach to address these issues. This workshop gathers artists, researchers and artist-researchers from Sweden and Chile to discuss the crucial encounters between Artistic Research, Critical Sustainability and experimental practices, aiming that more people can participate in the construction of community values in the artistic realm.
Expectations for Participants:
We seek for artist-researchers presenting their research and artistic work, engaging in discussing critical sustainability and experimentation from their disciplinary perspectives, including the most diverse disciplines such as music, visual arts, performing arts, dance, theater, bioacoustics, vocology and philosophy among others.
We understand culture to engage in sustainable development through experiments that question those comforting hypotheses we carry with us about art and its place in the world. This attitude is similar to what a researcher once told Edgerton about the nature of scientific inquiry, which is that a scientist does not try to that prove an idea is correct, but rather to try one's best to prove the dea wrong. If not possible, then the idea will have merit.
Therefore, we envision the contribution of participants to engage in dialogue of sustainability through workshops, lectures, performances and to plan for future activities leading to new compositions/artworks and research initiatives.
Possible site visits:
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Michael Edgerton, Lund University
Michael Edward Edgerton is an active composer with performances around the world. His compositions have received international prizes and recognition. Edgerton is at the forefront of vocal exploration and has influenced an entire generation through his book, The 21st Century Voice (Rowman & Littlefield, 2nd edition, 2015), which proposes methods for investigating singing within the framework of voice science.
Diego Castro, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Diego Castro is a Chilean music performer and researcher mostly devoted to new music and Artistic Research. Both his artistic and academic work has been internationally disseminated through performing activity (including recording in renowned labels of experimental and new music) and several publications on journals and edited books on new music and Artistic Research. Diego is a pioneer of new/experimental music practices and Artistic Research in Chile and Latin America.
2. Biodiversity Changes in a Changing World: Challenges and Experiences from Chile and Sweden
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 14: Life below water and Goal 15: Life on land
Keywords: Biodiversity; Chemicals of Emerging Concern; Land Use; Risk Assessment
Abstract: In recent decades, increasing awareness has emerged regarding the detrimental impacts of chemical pollution and land use changes on aquatic biodiversity globally. Contemporary societies utilise a broad range of chemicals and manipulate their surroundings to maintain and increase food production, manage and combat diseases, and facilitate the manufacturing of goods. Consequently, there exist numerous toxic chemicals that enter our environment in low concentrations but possess the potential to cause detrimental effects on aquatic life and disrupt biodiversity patterns. The majority of these chemicals are not regulated within national environmental regulatory frameworks, thereby qualifying them as Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs). Toxic pesticides significantly diminish aquatic biodiversity, while antibiotics are recognized for altering functional biodiversity and promoting antimicrobial resistance, which is among the largest threats to global health. The UN Sustainable Development Goals underscore the imperative for action, calling for national and global strategies for a sustainable future, including those related to the matters discussed herein. This research theme aims to rise to these challenges, elucidating the occurrence of CECs in the aquatic environment, discussing the major drivers altering aquatic biodiversity with a particular emphasis on chemical pollution and land use changes, and outlining contemporary and future environmental risk assessment strategies to safeguard aquatic life.
Expectations for Participants:
The participants in the research theme would help in understanding the role of chemical pollution and particularly of Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the aquatic environment. The participants would identify the specific impacts on various levels of the aquatic food chain, from microorganisms to animals. This research would provide valuable insights into the mechanisms through which chemical pollution disrupts ecosystems and affects aquatic life. Through sharing past and current research experience, an active discussion is expected around methodologies used and/or needed to assess comprehensively and systematically the effect of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity.
Furthermore, the participants would collaborate in developing strategies for environmental risk assessment. By evaluating the risks associated with the presence of CECs in rivers and coastal areas, they would contribute to establishing effective monitoring and mitigation measures. Their research findings would inform policy and regulatory frameworks aimed at controlling and reducing chemical pollution, thereby safeguarding aquatic biodiversity and water quality.
Possible site visits:
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Pedro Inostroza, Gothenburg University
Pedro is a researcher at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and a member of the FRAM - Centre for Future Chemical Risk Analysis and Management at the University of Gothenburg. His research focuses on biodiversity loss due to chemical pollution. Pedro has applied high-resolution target screening and molecular tools (metabarcoding, genomics, and transcriptomics) to characterise chemical pollution and unveil its effects on aquatic organisms. He also works on conducting environmental risk assessments of complex organic chemicals in the aquatic environment.
Gerdhard L. Jessen, Universidad de Concepción
Gerdhard is fascinated by biotic and abiotic interactions, which in turn will impact ecological processes. He conducts his research through an interdisciplinary approach to study microbial communities inhabiting a wide range of environments, from moderate to extreme naturally and anthropogenically impacted. Using genomic tools to unveil the intimate genetic and physiological relationship between microorganisms and their environment, he combines high-resolution geochemistry and growth experiments with metabolic reconstructions of genomes to visualise interactions in complex communities.
3. Breaking the Tide: Blue-Green Innovations for Preserving Our Coastal Seas
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities, Goal 14: Life below water, and Goal 15: Life on land
Keywords: Sustainability; Blue-Green Innovation; Land-Sea interactions; Climate Change; Coastal Seas
Abstract: Marine environments face increasing pressures from pollution, climate change, and unsustainable resource extraction practices. Reversing current trends will require efforts focused on initiatives to preserve biodiversity and develop sustainable food, fuel and the use of other natural resources both from, sea and land. In this working group, we will focus on blue-green innovations and basic research aimed at biological and technological approaches to sustainable resource management, with an emphasis on bio-engineering processes, promoting sustainable practices in different areas like aquaculture and green energy production, in relation to SDG 14, Life Below Water. To address current challenges, a better understanding of land-sea interactions is required, based on an interdisciplinary perspective from the scientific, governmental, and private sectors, with an emphasis on reducing pollution, increase the sustainability of current practices for the use of natural resources aiming to mitigate effects of climate change. This topic opens novel scientific collaboration opportunities between Chile and Sweden for improving current regulations regarding blue-green innovation at all levels globally.
Expectations for Participants:
Participants are expected to come from different areas of science related to the theme proposed in the workshop. These participants will have different academic representations, such as senior researcher, young researchers and PhDs. Showing the different research work capacities, the discussions generated during the workshop and the possible contribution that each one could make to the "Breaking the Tide: Blue-Green Innovations for Preserving Our Coastal Seas" initiative. In this way, a transdisciplinary contribution to these blue-green innovations is envisioned, which should focus on biological and technological approaches.
Possible site visits:
As a workshop we are considering two possible visits. To provide support for Early Career Researchers (ECRs), a visit to Young Academy of Sweden, aiming to facilitate knowledge exchange and potential collaborations and a second to an aquaponics company located conveniently close to the airport in Stockholm. This tour would provide valuable insights into innovative practices in the field of aquaponics.
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Helena Filipsson, Lund University
Professor Helena Filipsson is a marine scientist, passionate about issues concerning both present and past marine environments and global change. Helena Filipsson is especially interested in studying low oxygen areas such as estuaries, fjords, and open ocean oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). Her geographical focus is on the Baltic Sea, Skagerrak, and coastal upwelling areas in the Pacific and Atlantic. To decipher the past, her team is using marine sediment cores as environmental archives and their content of different microfossils and biomarkers.
Jurij Wacyk, Universidad de Chile
Jurij Wacyk is an Agronomic Engineer from University of Chile, with a PhD in fish physiology. He currently holds a full-time professorship at U of Chile. His research interests are focused in how fish can use their nutrients more efficiently, balancing animal requirements and the use of natural resources sustainably. Using traditional and molecular tools he has study the effect of different protein sources, anti-nutritional factors and plant extracts (terrestrial and marine) over fish growth, feed conversion, nutrient retention as well as immune and reproductive responses. He has carried out studies with salmonids (trout and salmon), tilapia, red and golden cusk eel, halibut and yellowtail. Currently he is specifically working to develop new strategies to improve the absorption and use of molecules of interest like pigments, fatty acids (EPA and DHA), metabolism modulators, as well as antibiotics, helping reduce environmental outputs of aquaculture.
4. Collective Action for Just, Inclusive, and Sustainable Societies: Micro, Meso and Macro Perspectives
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities and Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Keywords: Collective Action; Inclusive, Just and Sustainable Societies
Abstract: Chile has gained global attention as a result of the massive wave of protests in 2019 and the subsequent launch of a constituent process it triggered. Meanwhile, Sweden has emerged as a frontrunner in leading a global movement against climate change inaction, while simultaneously experiencing an increase in the frequency of riots that reveal underlying racial inequalities and tensions. This proposal unites senior and junior researchers from four ACCESS Chilean universities and four ACCESS Swedish universities, with the aim of broadening our understanding of how collective action can contribute to the development of more just, inclusive, and sustainable societies. We approach this endeavor from an interdisciplinary perspective (including sociology, political science, psychology, media studies, and urban studies), and adopting a multi-level approach. At the individual level, we will center on the role that early socialisation processes play in the development of inclusive and sustainable societies, examining how to promote pro-environmental, pro-social, pro-gender behaviors, and analysing individual attitudes and behaviors regarding climate and sustainability and income inequality. At the meso level, our examination will revolve around understanding how civil society elites articulate collective action and the significant role social movements play in counteracting inaction across multiple policy levels. Finally, at the macro level, we will analyze how social movements are able to exert an impact on public policy. We envision an engaging workshop that serves as a foundation for future collaborative research endeavors. Building upon this experience, we aim to foster joint research projects, facilitate student exchanges and collaborate on publications.
Expectations for Participants:
We invite scholars from all career stages, including junior, early career, and senior researchers, who study the antecedents, articulation, and impact of collective action in the construction of more just, inclusive, and sustainable societies. The research theme is addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective, including sociology, political science, psychology, media studies, and urban studies. We embrace a multi-level perspective that recognizes the importance of examining collective action and social change at various levels of analysis. At the individual level, we aim to investigate the processes through which individuals develop attitudes and behaviors that contribute to the construction of more inclusive societies. At the meso level, our focus is on how social movements articulate collective action to promote social justice. At the macro level, we examine how political institutions respond to collective action and channel societal discontent into public policy. Participants will be requested to submit an abstract that outlines how their research contributes to the various dimensions encompassed in the research theme. Additionally, participants will be encouraged to elucidate how their research can contribute to a comparative agenda, emphasising the potential for cross-cultural and cross-national insights and collaborations. During the workshop, each participant will present a paper, highlighting key findings, methodologies, and theoretical contributions. In addition to presenting their own work, participants will also discuss a paper presented by their fellow participants. This approach will facilitate the identification of common themes, connections, and opportunities for further comparative research that can enhance our understanding of collective action in diverse contexts.
Possible site visits:
Urban gardening "Grönhetsrådet" ;
Meeting with people from "Föreningen Klimatriksdagen", a tour guide main protest sites in Stockholm (where Greta Thunberg protested, Sergelstorg, etc.)
A visit to Kulturhuset and their interactive tour on how the European Union works
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Katrin Uba, Uppsala University
Katrin Uba is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Uppsala University in Sweden. Her research focuses on the political consequences of environmental movements in Sweden, climate protests and protest participants, and the Swedish labour movement.
Sofia Donoso, Universidad de Chile
Sofia Donoso is an Assistant Professor in Sociology at Universidad de Chile in Chile. Her research focus on social movements, participation in protest from a comparative perspective, and the institutionalisation of protest.
5. Crime as a Social Problem
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3: Good health and well-being, Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities and Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Keywords: Crime; Victimization; Urban Space; Sensitive Topics; Methodology
Abstract: Crime is among the most noticed social problems in the political debates in Sweden as well as in Chile. It is often argued, not least in the media, that the crime rate is increasing rapidly. The matter is more complicated. For example, Sweden has had a decline in youth crime in general but a sharp increase in firearm violence among young people in criminal gangs, something that torments and creates fear among residents in areas where the gun violence is frequent. Interestingly, something similar has been observed in the last years in Chile, bringing more questions than answers about what is driving the increase in violence. There are also political dynamics in both countries that makes crime issues more salient, not least during election years. The first ‘Crime as a Social Problem’ workshop was held at the ACCESS Forum in Punta Arenas, Chile, 2022. The workshop focused on the current trends in ‘Crime and Reactions to Crime’ in our two very different societies. Further, the availability of comparative data in our two countries was explored, as well as the historical and current trends related to the subject matter of the workshop. The workshop at the 2022 ACCESS Forum was very successful. We want to build on that in the 2024 ACCESS Forum, by developing the theme ‘Crime and Reactions to Crime’, expand by implementing a methodology strand, ‘Researching Sensitive and Highly Charged Topics’ and by implementing a methodological, theoretical and empirical strand focusing on ‘The Determination of Crime and Victimization in the Urban Space’. Through this expansion of the workshop area, we will attract new participants who can bring new insights on the theme of ‘Crime as a Social Problem’. The 2022 workshop marked the beginning of establishing a hub for sociologists, political scientists, economists of crime, criminologists and others interested in ‘Crime as a Social Problem’ within the ACCESS community, to meet and develop ideas, co-write scientific articles, arranging panel at international conferences, visit each other’s departments and develop university courses at master/PhD level. The expected outcome of the 2024 workshop is a consolidation and further development of these collaborations.
Expectations for Participants:
Through this workshop, we want to continue the already started work of establishing a hub for sociologists, political scientists, economists of crime, social work researchers, criminologists and others interested in ‘Crime as a Social Problem’ within the ACCESS community, to meet and develop ideas. We invite new members to join. We envision that the participants will make contributions to the overall theme, from their perspectives and subject areas.
Possible site visits:
The Violence Prevention Centre, Botkyrka municipality in the Greater Stockholm Area. Includes: Mentors in Violence Prevention Program for school-aged children, Violence Prevention Program for young children, Outreach Social Work Program, and a Desistance from Crime Program.
A guided tour at the Police Museum, Stockholm.
Fryshuset Foundation, a global non-profit organization that works to achieve societal change and positive development for young people.
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Margareta Hydén, Stockholm University
Margareta Hydén has studied interpersonal violence for several years, preferably violence within the family. She has developed a ‘teller-focused’ methodology and interviewed men, women and children, victims as well as perpetrators. In particular, she has focused the responses of the surrounding social network. Currently she is engaged in studying the social networks’ responses to gang-related gun violence.
Patricio Dominguez Rivera, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Patricio Dominguez Rivera has been employed at the Inter-American Development Bank as a Research Economist. His areas of interest include problems associated with the evaluation of social programs, applied econometrics, economics of crime and criminal justice. Patricio Dominguez Rivera’s dissertation in Public Policy from UC Berkeley, 2018, focuses on what determines crime and victimization in the urban space.
6. Environmental Exposures, Diseases and Epigenetic Regulation: From Scientific Evidence to Prevention
Addressed Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Keywords: Epigenetics; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Diseases; Policy; Research
Abstract: Epigenetics involve the enzymatic establishment of covalent and reversible chemical modifications on the DNA and associated histone proteins without altering the genetic code but its readout. Epigenetic modifications can be heritable via cell division contributing to maintain cellular identity and function or transgenerationally via the gametes. These epigenetic modifications are reprogrammed early during development and can be modulated by lifestyle and environmental exposures, leaving footprints on our epigenetic clocks, thereby influencing our health and aging. Epigenetic studies are very important to identify exposures to compounds that are currently known to associate with the development of diseases such as metabolic, reproductive and neurodevelopmental disorders. Many of these compounds involve endocrine disrupting chemicals, which mimic the action of our hormones in our receptors and disrupt the microbiota. These compounds are the main components of many daily life products such as plastics, electronics, pesticides and agrochemicals. Because these environmentally induced diseases are ramping in developed and developing countries, it is of utmost importance to understand the sources of our exposures, to try identifying epigenetic mechanisms, and modifications altered and linked to disease phenotypes. The main goal of this workshop is to gather different academic perspectives to establish connections between exposures and diseases in human populations, by comparing the realities between Chile and Sweden. An evidence-based discussion in relation to exposures to endocrine disruptors will be promoted to impact public policies and regulations in both countries. This workshop will gather experts and students from different academic backgrounds to try identifying differences and similitudes between Chile and Sweden in exposures, policy and the incidence of environmentally-induced diseases.
Expectations for Participants:
We envision a multidisciplinary confluence of experts and PhD students, which ideally will include at least the following expertise: Molecular biology, endocrine disruption, medicine, epidemiology, policy making. The goal is that the participants will contribute with knowledge in at least some of these areas. Additionally, the idea is that the participants will have expertise in at least one of the environmental diseases described above: Metabolic, reproductive, neurodevelopment. Therefore, the goal is to congregate participants that will provide expertise from different fields in these diseases. With this contribution from participants we aim to put together the epidemiological realities of environmental diseases in Chile and Sweden, as well as the state of the art of regulations and levels of exposures in relation to endocrine disrupting chemicals. All this will be enriched with the scientific state-of-the-art connecting environmental diseases to exposure to endocrine disruptors. The participants should be willing to meet via zoom before the ACCESS and to work on deliverables beyond the time of the ACCESS.
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Carlos Guerrero Bosagna, Uppsala University
Dr. Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna is currently Associate Professor at the Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden, and leads the ‘Environmental Epigenetics Group’. Previously he was Assistant Professor at Linköping University (2015–2020). His PhD was in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chile, followed by Post docs at Cornell and Washington State Universities. Dr. Guerrero-Bosagna has worked in environmental epigenetics for over 18 years, studying epigenetic responses to environmental exposures in rodents, humans, pigs and chickens. His research has made important contributions to the field of environmental epigenetics, particularly in relation to the epigenetic underpinnings of stress in farm animals (chicken and pigs), and to the concept of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (rodents) followed by early developmental exposures to endocrine disruptors.
Marcela K. Sjöberg Herrera, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Marcela Sjöberg is Associate Professor and Group Leader of the Epigenetic Regulation Lab at the Faculty of Biological Sciences of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She is a Molecular Biotechnology engineer, with a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Neurosciences from Universidad de Chile. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences and, after, at Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK. Her research focuses on the study of epigenetic mechanisms regulating genome function in immune cells and their interplay with metabolism. Her areas of interest include immunometabolism, cancer and how microbiome conditions immunity. She is currently developing a project to address how regional genetic diversity adapts to environmental factors, shaping the immune cell landscape in Latin American populations, using single-cell technologies.
7. Healthy Brain Ageing and Improved Therapies for Brain Disease
Addressed Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Keywords: Neurodegeneration; Healthy Aging; Population Studies; Cell Biology; In Vivo
Abstract: Neurological and mental disorders have a severe impact on global health, accounting for 8.76% of the global disease burden. With aging being a significant risk factor, it is anticipated that the prevalence of these disorders will continue to rise unless significant advancements in prevention and treatment are made. The Brain Aging Workgroup, formed after ACCESS meetings in Chile in 2018 and 2022, has identified common research questions related to brain aging in populations and mechanistic investigations of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Our interdisciplinary group comprises researchers with expertise ranging from cohort studies to molecular interactions, offering great potential for novel contributions to the field. Previous workshops have focused on establishing and deepening collaborations in neurophysiology-guided treatment of disease, stem cells and organoids for regenerative medicine, epidemiological studies in Chile and Sweden, relationship between sleep, memory, and health, and the effects of exercise on cognitive functions. For the ACCESS 2024 meeting in Stockholm, the objective is to bring together Swedish and Chilean researchers working on various aspects of human brain aging. The goal is to foster collaborations, enhance data sharing and access to databases, and align efforts with the European EBRAINS initiative. The research teams from Chile include neurologists, molecular/cellular biologists, and epidemiologists, while the Swedish participants will contribute with expertise in physiotherapy, neurophysiology, molecular and cell biology, and stem-cell technologies. Furthermore, leaders of Swedish cohort studies will be invited to align with corresponding research efforts in Chile, for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the field of aging and health.
Expectations for Participants:
The group of researchers on the Chilean side will include neurologists, molecular/cellular biologists and epidemiologists associated with several ongoing cohorts such as the GERO, the ObAge cohorts and the Chilean branch of the FINGER study.
We expect the Swedish participation to resemble the attendance in the 2022 meeting, contributing with expertise in: physiotherapy, neurophysiologists, basic scientists in molecular and cell biology, including proficiency in the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and other stem-cell technologies.
Possible site visits:
Lab visits - TBD
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Per Petersson, Lund University
Per Petersson leads two research groups at Lund and Umeå University, focusing on how the cortex interacts with the basal ganglia to produce behavior, through recording of brain activity in freely moving animals. His team also studies how these brain circuits are affected in diseases such as Parkinson's disease and how therapies aimed at alleviating symptoms affect brain activity and behavior.
Romulo Fuentes, Universidad de Chile
Romulo Fuentes-Flores is a neurophysiologist focused on understanding how the brain controls movement and its applications in treating motor disorders through spinal cord and deep brain stimulation. Through developing pioneering therapeutic strategies, he aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with motor impairments while advancing the fields of neurorehabilitation and neuromodulation therapies.
8. Integrating Water Soil Food Energy (WSFE) Nexus: Towards Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Sweden and Chile
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3: Good health and well-being and Goal 15: Life on land
Keywords: Water-Soil-Food-Energy Nexus; Collaborative Research; Knowledge Transfer; Sustainable Agricultural Systems; Sustainability
Abstract: Water-Soil-Energy-Food (WSEF) nexus emerges as a framework proposal to consider the complex relationships among water demand, soil health, energy requirements, and food supply in agroecosystems. Advances in the WSEF nexus are thus needed in both Swedish and Chilean contexts, as the components of the nexus are mostly researched separately and their connections and synergies remain poorly understood. Addressing, discussing and bridging across the components of the WSEF nexus is pivotal to achieve sustainability development goals (SDG), with particular relevance for: SDG15 on Life on land; SDG3 on Good health and well-being; and SDG6 on Water and sanitation. Beyond the forum, the proposed activities will have the potential to coordinate a collaborative research effort to write about the outcomes and impact of the shared discussions, proposing a way forward for WSEF nexus as a pillar to increase sustainability. The in-person activities will explore three approaches to enable networking among participants: sharing scientific knowledge, ongoing and planned case studies and participatory action plans for future research. The workshop will be focused on scientific knowledge and real case studies presentations based on interdisciplinary approaches on WSFE Nexus for sustainable agricultural systems. The participatory activities will be geared towards discussing knowledge gaps related to the WSFE and knowledge transfer issues, with a view to science to practice interface. Participants of the workshop will be a maximum of 20, from different backgrounds. Given the strong interdisciplinary focus of the theme, researchers from different academic disciplines are expected to be participating in the WSFE Nexus workshop.
Expectations for Participants:
Participants will contribute by (i) present their work in relation to the Research Theme as well as (ii) share and cooperate in an inclusive and constructive way during the discussion phase. The contribution of each participant will thus consist of a short presentation, but also on co-defining gaps relative to the Research Theme as well as producing knowledge that will be useful beyond the workshop, such as a joint research article regarding the potentials of integrating Water-Soil-Food-Energy Nexus as a priority for agricultural sustainable development. We would like participants to be active agents of this change, and aim to get a measurable impact of their participation. After the workshop, participants will have the chance to share their thoughts about the format of the workshop, as well as reflect to what extent the workshop has met their expectations. This will be done with a second online questionnaire, to reach participants some time after the activity is completed. This will provide a measure of the potential impact the workshop has had on the participants beyond the scientific outcomes, which will likely be the most relevant outcome for the participating scientists.
Possible site visits:
Tovetorp research station at Stockholm University
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Anna Scaini, Stockholm University
Anna Scaini’s line of research consists in improving the link between society, water and sustainable development through a multidisciplinary approach across agriculture, hydrology and society. The lines of research she is developing are focused on the interface between these disciplines and include; i) risk perception and riverine cultural ecosystem services validated against evidence-based data, ii) effects of climate on the capacity of plants to use nutrients, iii) subsurface hydrology combining experiments and modelling, iv) large-scale assessment of combined heat and drought effects on yield.
Osvaldo Salazar, Universidad de Chile
Osvaldo Salazar’s interest in research is in nutrient and water management in agricultural fields, best management practices for inorganic and organic fertilization in crop production and horticultural crops. The lines of research he is developing in collaboration with other colleagues and students include i) studies in nitrogen and carbon dynamics on agricultural soils; ii) mitigation measures for reducing the negative impacts of nitrogen and phosphorus diffuse pollution of water bodies; and iii) application of digital soil mapping, spectroscopy and computer modelling in agroecosystems.
9. Sustainable Aquatic Food and Biomaterial Production; Relevance of Aquaculture Diversification
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3: Good health and well-being, Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities, and Goal 14: Life below water
Keywords: Blue Bioeconomy; Sustainable Food Production; Species Diversification; Novel Aquaculture Systems; Blue Biomaterials
Abstract: The sustainability and growth of aquaculture are essential for the increased demand in global food production. Aquaculture offers high-quality nutrients and contributes to healthy food options while replacing dwindling fisheries. It also promotes responsible production, rural development, and increased food resilience. Sweden, an emerging aquaculture country, and Chile, a well stablished aquaculture country, present similar future challenges for sustainability of the sector. To reach this, key points are aquaculture diversification both regarding species, technological innovations, and circular economy strategies for enhancing the sustainability. During the previous research theme "Aquatic food production" at ACCESS-2022, Swedish and Chilean ACCESS Universities successfully generated consensus and initiated short- and medium-term collaborative activities, including research and writing collaborations and joint applications. The present research theme proposal for ACCESS-2024 therefore propose to bring together the previous participants and to expand the group with new delegates and research groups from member universities in Sweden and Chile. This will enhance collaborations and both broaden and strengthen the thematic scope. Research topics on climate changes and utilization of innovative biomaterials from aquacultured organisms and side streams are example of novel research areas since ACCESS-2022 . The objectives are to intensify bilateral work in aquaculture diversification and sustainability, deepen existing collaborations, foster new partnerships, facilitate student exchanges, develop joint research proposals, and offer cross-national courses.
Expectations for Participants:
The relevance of the research topic for Chilean and Swedish aquaculture infers a high interest of participation also considering the successful work during ACCESS-2022. This will allow us to generate new and diverse network of collaboration, with the initiatives already ongoing together with all new collaborations created during ACCESS-2024. We already have clear interest from new participants along with interest from the ACCESS-2022 research groups. With the inclusion of new groups, we expect that this research theme will create novel contacts within ACCESS and generate new collaborations and exchange networks, as well as allow a fruitful continuation of the already generated collaborations from ACCESS-2022. We expect to incorporate even more interdisciplinarity into the research theme, in terms of new species, technologies and bioproducts to increase sustainability of the sector. We expect and will promote that both previous and new participants contribute to the discussions on the challenges previously identified in Swedish-Chilean aquaculture: (i) legislations not up to date; (ii) impact of consumer attitudes for new species and products i; (iii) absence of long term funding for aquaculture initiatives; (iii) access to governmentally funded hatcheries; (iv) low interest from the industry for transdisciplinary and applied research collaboration; (v) lack of local feed production and utilization; (vi) possibilities for bio-refinement of the raw materials – along with new topics that will emerge during the discussions in this new and broader constellation of researchers. This theme aims to increase and generate new collaborations to contribute in generate a more sustainable aquatic food production.
Possible site visits:
Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, GU, Strömstad - research facility for algae farming, bivalve farming
Nordic seafarm, Dingle - Swedens largest macroalgea farm
Smögenlax AB and Rena Hav, Kungshamn - Industrial symbiosis with water treatment plant, biogasfactory and fish farm through RAS
Swedish Algae factory AB, Kungshamn - microalgae farm
Kristineberg Research and Innovation center, GU, Lysekil - research and innovation facility for algae, bivalves, crustaceans, echinoderms and fish aquaculture
Scanfjord AB, Mollösund - Swedens largest mussel farming company
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, GU, Gothenburg - research facility for basic and applied aquaculture related research on fish physiology and novel aquaculture systems like RAS
Royal technical University, KTH, Stockholm – algae and biomaterial laboratory and sustainability modelling
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Uppsala - research facility for aquaculture feed production
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Kristina Snuttan Sundell, University of Gothenburg
Kristina Snuttan Sundell is director of The Swedish Mariculture Research center, SWEMARC, and the Blue food center. She is professor in Zoophysiology and have more than 35 years experience in aquaculture related invertebrate and fish biology, with focus on life stage transitions, nutrition, stress, health and welfare as well the endocrine control of these mechanisms. Sundell's research also focus on sustainable development of novel feed ingredients, aquaculture systems and diversification of new aquaculture species.
Phillip Dettleff, Universidad Católica
Phillip Dettleff is an Academic at the School of Veterinary Medicine of Universidad Católica de Chile. He is a professor in Genetics with ten years of experience in the aquaculture area, associated with environmental stressors effects and host-pathogen interaction in fish, focusing on the diversification of Chilean aquaculture species. The research line focus is contributed from genetics and genomics to solve problems of commercially important animal species and native species for sustainable production.
10. Sustainable Lithium Mining in Salt Flats, Preserving Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3: Good health and well-being, Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities, Goal 14: Life below water, Goal 15: Life on land, and Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Keywords: Lithium; Salar / Salt Flat; Sustainable Mining; Water Stress; Environment
Abstract: The proposed theme will serve as a catalyst for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and future partnerships to ensure ongoing progress in sustainable lithium mining practices. The following are key takeaways of the proposed theme: (1) Thorough ecosystem assessments to identify sensitive habitats and establish a baseline for monitoring and mitigation efforts. (2) Technological innovation to reduce the environmental footprint of mining, including cleaner extraction processes, water recycling and treatment systems, energy-efficient practices, and advanced waste management. (3) Responsible water management practices, viz. water-efficient extraction, recycling, and sustainable sourcing strategies. (4) Strategies to protect and conserve biodiversity, including protected areas, habitat restoration, and minimizing disruption to critical habitats and migration corridors. (5) Effective measures for ecosystem rehabilitation and restoration post-mining, including reclamation, habitat reconstruction, and soil stabilization. (6) Stakeholder engagement, including local communities, indigenous groups, and environmental organizations, to ensure inclusive decision-making and create shared value. (7) Robust monitoring programs to track environmental impacts, comply with regulations, and assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures. (8) Collaboration and knowledge sharing among researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and communities to develop innovative solutions and leverage interdisciplinary expertise. (9) Advocating for strong environmental policies and regulations specific to lithium mining that promote sustainable practices and provide incentives for environmentally friendly technologies. (10) Continuous improvement by regularly evaluating and refining mining practices through ongoing research and development. By following these steps and a holistic approach, sustainable methods for lithium mining can be developed, reducing the impact on fragile ecosystems and supporting the transition to cleaner energy.
Expectations for Participants:
Firstly, the interdisciplinary collaboration will be fostered to develop a holistic approach considering technical and ecological aspects. Participants from diverse backgrounds, such as environmental scientists, ecologists, engineers, policymakers, and community representatives, will be encouraged to participate. Knowledge sharing and pooling will be facilitated to promote the exchange of experiences, best practices, and innovative technologies. Presentations, workshops, and panel discussions will allow researchers and industry experts to share findings and approaches to mitigate environmental impacts associated with lithium extraction. Comprehensive ecosystem assessments will be emphasized, encouraging participants to share methodologies, tools, and case studies. Long-term monitoring will be highlighted to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures and promote ecosystem recovery. Technological innovation will be a focal point, discussing advancements and strategies to minimize the environmental footprint of lithium mining. Research on cleaner extraction processes, water recycling, energy efficiency, and waste management will be shared to identify sustainable technologies with minimal ecosystem impacts. Stakeholder engagement will be highlighted, emphasizing the involvement of local communities, indigenous groups, and affected stakeholders.
Participants will exchange experiences on community engagement, social responsibility, and sustainable development initiatives, fostering dialogue and collaboration between mining companies, researchers, and communities. Policy and regulatory frameworks will be explored, including discussions on policy developments, environmental impact assessments, and legal frameworks.
Finally, knowledge transfer and capacity building will prioritize long-term sustainability beyond the forum. Training workshops, mentorship programs, and educational initiatives will empower local communities and professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement sustainable methods for lithium mining.
Possible site visits:
Visit and collaborative learning of the Bergby Lithium Project, located in central Sweden, 25 km north of Gävle, which covers three exploration permits for a total of 1903Ha where a prospecting campaign is underway for mapping and sampling of an extensive lithium-mineralized spodumene pegmatite boulder field and outcrops.
Also, a visit to KTH Royal Institute of Technology laboratory facilities that the participants can avail as a part of collaborative work.
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Prosun Bhattacharya, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Dr. Prosun Bhattacharya has expertise in sedimentary geochemistry and groundwater contamination and has held various academic positions and affiliations, including at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and the University of Southern Queensland in Australia. Dr. Bhattacharya is actively involved in international collaborations and initiatives, including research capacity-building programs and safe drinking water access projects. He is also engaged in global efforts such as wastewater-based epidemiology for combating COVID-19 and other emerging viruses.
Mohammad Ayaz Alam, Universidad de Santiago
Dr. Mohammad Ayaz Alam is a geologist with a specialization in Geochemistry and Hydrogeology with application in areas of Geothermal (geothermal exploration and development), Volcanology (volcanic risks), Environment (water and soil contamination), and Sustainability (sustainable development, environmentally friendly extraction of lithium in the salt flats). Dr. Alam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geospatial and Environmental Engineering of the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH). He holds the professional title of Geologist, a degree of Doctor in Geology, an MBA with a mention in Management in Finance, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Management of Water Resources in the face of Climate Variability and Change, all awarded by the University of Chile.
11. Sustainable Water Use, Food Security and Transformative Climate Policy: Interdisciplinary and Comparative Perspectives from Chile, Sweden and Beyond
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities and Goal 15: Life on land
Keywords: Sustainable Water Use; Food Security; Climate Change Policy; Territorial Governance
Abstract: This research theme aims at producing innovative knowledge for sustainable water use and food security in the context of climate action in Chile and Sweden. The theme addresses the challenges of transformative climate policy in a comparative and interdisciplinary way, bringing also empirical insights from cases in other countries of the EU and Latin America. A main premise for this proposal is that there is an urgent need to better understand how water security and food security interplay with climate change politics in Chile and Sweden. Thus, we will analyse the prospects and barriers to transformative climate policy in both settings. The research theme will focus on case studies based on research conducted by the PIs and workshop’s participants. We are especially interested in exploring alternative sustainability paths in contexts where water governance problems and food vulnerability are aggravated by climate change. Specific objectives of the research theme are: 1) interdisciplinary analysis and multicultural approach of social factors undermining possibilities for food security and sustainable water use in Sweden and Chile, including the perspectives of indigenous and marginalised people in both countries. 2) synthesis of empirical examples showing efforts to achieve sustainable water management and food security in Sweden, Chile and other relevant contexts. 3) comparative assessment of interlinks between water governance and food security and the local implementation of SDG 11 and 15.
Expectations for Participants:
We expect an engagement of the participants with the proposed guiding questions for the workshop. We believe that these questions will foster an interdisciplinary and productive comparative engagement with issues of food security, sustainable water use and climate policy in the two countries.
We will expressly ask potential participants to propose further guiding questions for the workshop. Thus, the participants will have the possibility of bringing issues that we have not considered in the guiding questions, but are deemed important to address the objectives and aim of the workshop. This will also allow for deeper engagement and inclusiveness in the workshop activities,
We expect to engage participants in the collaborative work for writing a policy brief based on the outcomes of the workshop.
After the meeting in Stockholm, the webpage that we will create for the workshop will help the participant to continue the contribution to the research theme.
A group will be created to facilitate the planning and writing of a review paper and a research proposal. The group will be open, and we will identify and define clear tasks for this group and a clear timeframe to the next activities proposed in the workshop.
We expect that the participants will actively contribute to the networking we want to initiate in Stockholm.
Participants will be engaged in defining a clear roadmap for cooperation in PhD and master’s education in Chile and Sweden.
Possible site visits:
Based on ongoing collaboration and research projects of PI Alarcon in Sweden, we will organise a field visit to rural and urban areas of Uppsala County. The place is located around 1.5 hours from Stockholm University. The visit will be organised together with Tämnaren Water Association (Föreningen Tämnarens Vatten) which is an association that includes local actors around the lake Tämnaren and the three municipalities that administer the lake, namely, Uppsala, Heby and Tierp Municipalities. The area is important because of food production and water management arrangements to supply water to the Uppsala water system. We expect to visit the area during the whole day, for meetings with : 1) farmers, 2) actors within the Tämnaren Water Association, 3) staff at the municipalities.
The main goal of the study visit is to foster discussion in the field about challenges for sustainable water use, food security and climate policy in Sweden, with the perspective of our comparative approach. We will prepare background information in English for the participants to the trip. The trip will be a unique opportunity for Chilean researchers to get more knowledge about the practical and local challenges for food security and water governance in Sweden.
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Cristian Alarcon Ferrari, SLU
Cristian Alarcon is a social scientist and researcher in rural development at SLU. He holds a PhD from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and was Postdoctoral Research fellow at Cornell University. His expertise includes comparative political ecology, development sociology, legal theory and natural resource governance and policy. He has developed extensive fieldwork using interdisciplinary approaches to research natural resources governance and policy in different settings including Sweden, Chile and the US. He also serves as the Faculty Coordinator at SLU Global with responsibilities for contributing to global development initiatives with partners in low-income countries, including supporting action for better governance and policies in local contexts. He is the coordinator and main teacher in several interdisciplinary MSc. courses focused on governance and policy dimensions of rural development and natural resource management. Currently, he is the principal investigator in a FORMAS research project (2023-2025) focused on agroecology and food security in Sweden, Chile and Italy.
Massimiliano Farris, Universidad de Chile
Massimiliano Farris is a social scientist and researcher in rural development at Universidad de Chile. He holds a PhD from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) and was Postdoctoral Research fellow at Universidad de Chile (ANID Postdoctoral Found). His expertise includes comparative study of rural development policies in Europe (Common Agrarian Policy and LEADER rural development measures in Italy and Spain), specially analysing the transition to sustainable agrarian productions (organic agriculture and agroecology approach) and multi-functional rural system; socio-environmental conflicts and Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Chile and Latin América by a political ecology and territorial governance approaches. He is the Principal Researcher of the ANID Research project “Exploring the geographies of Chilean forestry holdings, between territorial hegemony, rural governance and sustainability” (2023-2025).
12. Territories and Commons in the Global North and South: An Intersectional Look at Forests, Land, Water and Bodies
Addressed Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 15: Life on land
Keywords: Epistemic Exchange; Common Goods; Neo-extractivism; Intersectionality; Sustainability
Abstract: The Research Theme aims to contribute to unraveling the complex relationships between territories and commons in current extractivism frontiers. We welcome research on contemporary issues equally affecting Chile and Sweden around the extractive economy. We invite researchers interested in the current expansion of the extractive production model in South America and the Artics from a critical environmental approach.
We are interested in looking at the impacts of the extractivism in its manifold’s forms (mining, large-scale monoculture, etc.) on forests, land, water and bodies but also the contestations, resistances, and alternatives against it, from approaches ranging from critical theories on development and political ecology to those that draw on decolonial and feminist perspectives on post-development.
Expectations for Participants:
Privileging an intersectionality as a research analysis tool this Research Theme calls for researchers interested in discussing on some of the following questions:
● The relationship between the extractivist model and socio-biodiversity degradation and violence. Plantations of exotic species and agroindustry are presented as the triggers of the loss of biodiversity, long periods of drought, contamination of soil and water, as well as the weakening of farmers, peasants, and indigenous economies. Mining, mineral and gas exploration disrupt herding, local cultures, and their relations with their natural environment. What is the relation between the extractive economy, socio-biodiversity degradation, and (slow) violence?
● Global production chains motorising extractivism emerge in particular geographies of the Global North and South (e.g., urban areas) reshaping territories and commons in ‘marginal’ spaces (e.g., indigenous lands, urban peripheries). How can a decolonial approach assist us to better understand new colonial relations (global, internal, economic, political, ecological) in the world economy and its materialisations in territories and bodies?
● Large-scale forestry and agricultural monoculture or metal and fossil fuel exploitation represent a plundering of natural common goods (such as soil, water, or minerals) and deepens the sexual and spatial division of labour. Women see their subsistence threatened since they have a central role in the management of natural resources and ecosystem services. In some spaces, they are forced to enter precarious salaried work which violates their own bodies-territory. Despite this, women manage to develop different ways of relating to nature through innovative agricultural, agroecological, governance practices of water, forests and soils. How can these practices allow us scholars to envision the potential of building decolonizing paradigms of development through the collective work of rural women (and men) (and together with them) in the identification of other ways of living on Earth and valuing nature and socio-cultural relations?
Furthermore, we invite participants interested in consolidating academic collaboration on issues related to extractivism, territories and commons within the Global South and North and from a relational and multi-scale approach. For this we envision jointly research funding applications, transdisciplinary projects (academic and non-academic knowledge creation), development of new methodological approaches, teaching exchanges, etc. Our ambition is to have periodic meetings using available online technologies. Possible outcomes of the collaborative platform could be:
- Collaborative funding applications both in Chile and Sweden in topics related to extractivism, territories, bodies, and commons.
- Joint publications of comparative case studies on the advance of extractivism, similarities, continuities, etc. (‘neo-extractivism’, ‘post-extractivism’).
- Design and implementation of PhD courses (related to extractivism, but also alternative methodologies to study territories and commons).
- Guest lectures by members of the platforms in different institutional spaces they participate (e.g., in graduate and post-graduate courses).
- Joint seminars for master's and doctoral students on topics to agree upon related to research approaches, methods, ethics, politics, etc. related to extractivism.
Possible site visits:
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Maria Andrea Nardi,
Lund University
Maria Andrea’s research is focused on globalisation trends in rural areas in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. She pays particular attention to the expansion of the agrarian frontier lead by the advance of the commodification of nature under neoliberal policies based on classical understandings of development and anthropocentric worldviews. Her research is also interested in ‘the other side of the coin’, namely, other ways of understanding development (e.g., from a decolonial approach) and materialising it in concrete practices of food production, consumption, and distribution. Maria Andrea is interested in showing how certain socio-ecological practices (material, symbolic, legal, institutional) challenge current hegemonic understandings of nature while at the same time demonstrating the possibilities of other ways of relating and valuing nature. Her studies cover cases in forest regions in border areas of Argentina (Brazil, and Paraguay), Cameroon (and Nigeria), Uganda (DRC and South Sudan) and soon also Colombia and Syria.
Sandra Fernandez, Universidad de Concepción
Sandra's research is based on a critical perspective of development understood as a project in which economic growth, the exploitation of nature, the logic of the market and the search for material and individual satisfaction prevail. This involves a cultural and epistemic transformation, from ways of knowing and models of the world, towards “worlds and knowledge in another way”. It moves away from the classical visions of development as perpetual economic growth, linear progress, and anthropocentrism. In this context, Sandra’s research has studied the economic homogenization associated with the extractivist industry – large companies, salaried work, unlimited consumption, monetary relations – particularly associated to forestry and agroindustry which pay attention to other economic relations that are neither reducible to the paradigms of conventional economics, nor are they capable of being codified in the binary: mercantile vs. solidarity, capitalist-non-capitalist. These discussions would contribute to the decolonization of the development discourse. Some of the IP’s research topics are related to peasant economies, agroecology, indigenous community tourism, natural commons, in which the gender perspective is transversal to all these topics.
13. The Politics of the Low-emission Energy Transition (POLTRANS)
Addressed Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities and Goal 15: Life on land
Keywords: Energy Transition; Critical Minerals; Green Extractivism; Environmental Justice; Research Partnership
Abstract: The envisioned shift from fossil fuels to a low-emission energy system by way of advanced technological innovation implies a historical shift in society’s metabolic relation to the environment (Lenton et al. 2019). This shift is predicated on a massive increase in the extraction of raw materials to produce a new energy infrastructure which will profoundly shift the metabolic basis of high-energy societies from fossil fuels to materials and minerals (IEA 2021). While uneven development and geopolitics of fossil-dominated economies is quite well understood (e.g., Mitchell, 2011, Malm, 2016), little is still known about the global social relations, risks, and opportunities implicated in the rising surge for innovation-critical materials to build and drive a global renewable energy system with minimal greenhouse gas emissions. The ACCESS Research Theme “The Politics of the Low-emission Energy Transition” (POLTRANS) aims to build and strengthen existing relations between Chilean and Swedish universities and institutions to study the global and planetary change of redirecting energy production towards renewable energies in which both countries are deeply involved and also intimately connected, e.g., through the extraction of lithium in Chile and the building of lithium-ion batteries in Sweden. We invite scholars and artists focusing on the social, environmental, and institutional tensions inherent to this transformation and our interdisciplinary, interactive workshop will aim to build a strategic Chilean-Swedish partnership for multi-sited research that can target and bid for major research grants in the coming years, including facilitating collegial and PhD exchange.
Expectations for Participants:
We have consciously created a quite open frame on what kind of scholars or artists we are looking for, opening towards wider and hopefully surprising perspectives and ideas.
After selection, they would all be asked to participate in the two video meetings before the physical workshop meeting. Based on this, each participant would before the physical meeting submit a text where they have developed their extended abstracts and described in a concept note more in detail their scientific contribution (an empirical case study and/or development of a theoretical concept), or a design or artistic intervention in relation to resource extraction, environmental justice and tensions along the value chains of the low-emission energy transition. They would also identify direct and indirect links in how Chile and Sweden are interrelated, historically and currently, through this transition.
Each would read these concept notes before the meeting in Stockholm.
In the workshop, each would contribute as outlined above, through bringing their own understanding and insights on the topic.
On the last day we would expect at least one more from each country to form a balanced steering committee for the partnership together with us.
We would also decide on concrete steps forward having primarily identified research calls to target, but also identified funds for scholarly exchange and PhD student exchanges later in 2024 or 2025. We plan video meetings every 4 months besides keeping in contact over email.
Possible site visits:
Possibly excursion to Utö island in the archipelago South of Stockholm where the first lithium was discovered in 1800 by the Brazilian scientist, José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, who was there on a study visit because of his geological interest. He discovered the mineral petalite, which was shown to contain the element lithium. That piece of petalite was kept by Jöns Jakob Berzelius and it was another chemist, Johan August Alfredsson who used that piece of rock to crystalize lithium in 1817. This history and its contemporary implications was curated in an art installation in 2022 called “Lithium-time” at Haninge Konsthall by artist Hanna Ljungh and David Larsson.
We are also interested in contacting the art space Färgfabriken in Stockholm who has curated a set of critical exhibitions on the green transition, in 2023 “Seeing Lithium” by Victoria McCarthy from Stockholm University. We are collaborating with Professor Martín Àvila at the Stockholm design school Konstfack, which lies close to Färgfabriken, to possibly organise a part of the workshop there.
Meet the Principal Investigators:
Henrik Ernstson, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Henrik Ernstson is Associate Professor and Docent in Political Ecology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Honorary Associate Professor at the African Centre for Cities at University of Cape Town. His research focuses on the political implications of environmental, urban, and infrastructural change with a view to understand ways of knowing, injustices, and emancipatory possibilities. He combines ethnography, landscape ecology, and has developed a film-based research practice. He has co-edited the books “Grounding Urban Natures” (MIT Press, 2019, with S Sörlin) and “Urban Political Ecology in the Anthropo-Obscene” (Routledge, 2019, with E Swyngedouw).
Felipe Irarrázaval, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Felipe Irarrázaval is Adjunct Professor and Postdoc at Instituto de Estudios Urbanos y Territoriales at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Drawing on his background in human geography, he studies natural resource governance and uneven geographic development in Latin America, particularly in the context of the global energy transition.