Northern peatlands hold large stocks of carbon and nitrogen and thus play a key role in global climate dynamics. However, their vulnerability to climate warming is uncertain, due in part to a lack of spatially explicit, observation-based peatland maps. This is shown in a study published in PNAS of among others researchers at Umeå University.
Three new exhibitions are installed when Bildmuseet opens its doors: The first retrospective in the Nordics of the acclaimed artist and civil rights activist Faith Ringgold; Larissa Sansours evocative and thought-provoking Heirloom, Denmark's contribution to the Venice Biennale in 2019; and Swedish Picture Book of the Year / Marathon by Karin Cyrén.
A key uncertainty in climate projections is the amount of carbon emitted by thawing permafrost in the Arctic. Plant roots in soil stimulate microbial decomposition, a mechanism called the priming effect. An international research team shows that the priming effect alone can cause emission of 40 billion tonnes carbon from permafrost by 2100. The study was published today in Nature Geoscience.
Peek into the future as design students from all over the world showcase their grad projects in the form of tomorrow's products and services. This year's grad show at Umeå Institute of Design offers a series of innovations ranging from a biotech wearable for people suffering loss and an app for young activists, to solutions for future firefighters in the wake of climate change.
Women constitute only 27 percent of academics with the rank of professor in Sweden, in spite of several decades of equal opportunities promotion efforts. "A common explanation is that women’s achievements are valued less than men’s," says Guy Madison, one of the authors of a new study from Umeå University.
The journey itself will be part of the goal when four students from the engineering programme in industrial economics at Umeå University leave for a spring term of studies abroad. In order to promote sustainable travel, they have each been equipped with an interrail card instead of flying to their respective universities in Europe.
Autonomous systems can increase performance, reduce injury risk, save energy and money, and reduce the need for labor in agriculture and forestry. Ahmad Ostovar has developed methods and algorithms for systems with the capacity for automatic detection and recognition of objects in outdoor environments. He defends his thesis on December 5 at Umeå University, Sweden.
Distrust in politicians and the political system is preventing people from supporting increased taxes on fossil fuels, a potentially important climate policy. By comparison, most people believe in climate change. So says a new study based on surveys in 23 European countries.
Bildmuseet is presenting parts of Ann Edholm’s series of paintings Tongue on the Tip, together with sketches and collages. With their defined geometric shapes, her large-scale paintings may seem completely abstract but the works include interpretations of art history and ancient legends, of Jewish deportations during the Nazi reign, and her mother’s memories of World War II Berlin.
Design Matters presents internationally established designers and design groups who challenge our expectations of consumer products, furniture and functions. Does our relationship to things change if the shoes we wear have been cultivated by us, or if the plate we eat from is a living organism? Can a cause of the climate catastrophe be transformed into something beautiful and worth preserving?
For the fourth year in a row, Umeå Institute of Design at Umeå University occupies top position on the Red Dot Design Ranking, rating design educations in the Americas and Europe.
On 3-4 October, the EU Arctic Forum will be held with European Union foreign ministers in Umeå. One of the speakers is Professor Peter Sköld, who says that natural resources, climate and communications are high on the agenda. He hopes that the meeting will result in greater aspirations in Arctic-related issues.
