Stockholm university
Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry

Department of Chemistry – A unified force for chemistry at Stockholm University

From 1st January 2025, the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry and the Department of Organic Chemistry will merge their strengths to form a new department – Department of Chemistry.

Picture of Niklas Hedin, head of Department of Chemistry. Photo: Angela Westin/SU
The head of the Department of Chemistry, Niklas Hedin, previously head of the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry. Photo: Angela Westin/SU
 

A milestone in our development

Niklas Hedin will become the head of the department, and Belen Martín-Matute will serve as vice head. The merger will strengthen the department's position as one of Sweden's largest and most competitive chemistry departments, and will bring together around 170 staff members and have a turnover of approximately 300 million SEK.

"By uniting two already prominent departments, we aim to create a more efficient and stronger organisation, building on a long tradition of bringing together expertise and resources to drive research and teaching in the exciting world of chemistry, says Niklas Hedin.

Niklas Hedin highlights the importance of combining the two disciplines:

"The new department of Chemistry, represents not just a merger of two departments, but a vision to lead the development of sustainable chemistry and educate the next generation of chemists. By gathering expertise and resources, we strengthen our position on the global arena, while also offering a safe, inspiring, and collaborative environment for research and education.

 

A stronger environment for teaching and research

One of the main advantages of the merger is the creation of a more dynamic and diverse research environment, with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, opening up new opportunities for both research and education. The department of Chemistry aims to become an international leader in the rapidly growing field of sustainable chemistry. Niklas Hedin emphasises the international significance of this initiative:

"By bringing together expertise from various chemical disciplines and combining it with advanced infrastructure, we aim to provide an environment where researchers can establish their work from the ground up and become world leaders in their fields. This is not only an investment in the future of research, but also enables us to further promote collaborations, especially in sustainable chemistry, which plays a central role in the future of research and industry.

 

Focus on safety and sustainability

The larger organisation will not only create more research opportunities but also enhance the capacity to ensure a safe and secure working environment. In a research-intensive department like department of Chemistry, safety is a top priority.

"With a larger organisation, we will also have greater capacity to allocate resources and staff to enhance lab safety and protect both researchers and students. In this way, we can ensure that our research is conducted in a safe and secure environment," says Niklas Hedin.

 

Improved education and preparation for the labour market

The merger also brings significant benefits for education and students' preparation for the job market. The department of Chemistry already offers a wide range of chemistry programmes on undergraduate and advanced levels, and through collaborations with other departments, courses are also available in areas such as molecular biology, biology, and environmental science. The new department will also strengthen cross-border collaborations, making the education even more attractive to students who want to work in an international and inspiring environment.

"With the Department of Chemistry, we aim not only to create a leading environment for teaching and research, but also a place where the chemists of tomorrow are shaped, with sustainable chemistry as a central focus. We see this merger as an important step in strengthening our tradition of outstanding education, and we look forward to the new opportunities it will create," concludes Niklas Hedin.

Text and photo: Angela Westin/SU

Theme
Chemistry - Theme page Sustainable Chemistry - Theme page

Last updated: December 13, 2024

Source: MMK

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