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• 2024-10-28

  Dangerous technology in children’s literature

  New technology is something threatening and often dangerous. At least that is the picture presented if you read modern children’s literature.

  – This is contradictory. Technology is becoming an increasingly integral part of everyday life, including in literature. But at the same time, there is often a concern or a hidden threat in technology, says Jakob Olsson, researcher at Karlstad University.

  Jakob Olsson has studied 249 books, published between 2000 and 2019. And his findings show how technology is becoming an increasingly natural element in literature, but also that the adult world often wants to problematise and depict new technology as dangerous. 

  – It is clear that a negative image is portrayed. The problematising narratives clearly outweigh the positives and often tend to lean towards extremes, says Jakob.

• 2024-10-24

  The secret life of molecules unveiled

  Research on organic solar cells has been conducted for a long time. Recent advancements in understanding their molecular structures are now paving the way for the development of highly efficient solar cells.

  – By using atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy, AFM-IR, we’ve been able to create clearer images of the morphology or structure of the material, says Ishita Jalan, postdoc in physical chemistry and main author of a recently published scientific article. This structure and how it can be controlled determines the effect of the solar cell. In this way, these new findings can contribute to more efficient organic solar cells.

• 2024-10-24

  Decision-making Challenges Inspire Research in Disaster Risk Management

  Research on justice in connection with disasters and sustainable development is becoming increasingly important in a world where climate change and social inequalities create new challenges. Mathilde de Goër de Herve, a researcher at the Center for Societal Risk Research, CSR, has explored these critical areas through her work, contributing new knowledge on how crisis management can support a fairer and more sustainable development.

  Mathilde's academic journey began in 2012 with studies in economics at Université Lumière Lyon II in France. She came to karlstad university, Kau, during her bachelor (as an exchange student). Her interest in global issues and disaster risks led her to further her education in sustainable territorial development through an international master’s degree.

• 2024-10-22

  Study shows that data from meetings with patients and users does not always represent their needs

  Petter Falk, new doctor in Political Science at Karlstad University and the Service Research Centre (CTF), sheds light on conditions and grounds for datafication in his doctoral thesis “Assemble Care // Align Data”.
  – What surprised me the most was that datafication is intuitively accepted, despite a kind of intellectual resistance, says Petter Falk.

  The term “big data” is frequently used nowadays, but your research emphasises the importance of the small details. Why is that?

• 2024-10-21

  Frustration among staff when the professional role becomes too complex

  A multifaceted professional role with numerous tasks to tackle and often insufficient resources to manage them. This is the picture that transpired when researcher Maria Lennartsdotter analysed posts under the hashtag #pressatläge, where Swedish preschool staff were asked to share stories about their work situation.

  Maria divides the duties preschool teachers view as expected of them into four categories, or four professional identities: the teacher, the caregiver, the housekeeper and the administrator.

  "In the material that I studied, there is a fair amount of frustration among preschool staff due to the high expectations placed on them, coupled with the challenging conditions they face in meeting these expectations, says Maria Lennartsdotter."

• 2024-10-18

  Does the Nordic region now consist of 13 countries?

  The first Nordic conference for PhD supervisors has now been held at Karlstad University. With a large turnout from 13 countries and 42 universities, one might wonder how big the Nordic region is, or as expressed by one of the participants, “The Nordic countries have grown in numbers”.

  – It has been an intense but very rewarding few days, says Roger Renström, docent in computer science and organiser of the conference. With a total of 140 delegates from 13 countries and 42 universities as well as 70 conference papers, it was a big success. This was the first conference of its kind in Europe and we chose to hold the conference in English to enable participation of delegates from non-Nordic countries as well. It turned out there is a great need for this type of conference and that the issues are the same everywhere.