Donation to polar research at the University
Polar research at Stockholm University to be given extra support thanks to Britt-Louise Theglander who has donated her whole estate in her will.
Britt-Louise Theglander was born in Virserum and grew up in Västervik. In 1971 she took up studies at Stockholm University. At that time, four of the buildings in Stockholm’s new university were already standing, but all around it was mostly a muddy pit, she says. Still, she was happy to come to Stockholm and to the University. “The blue buildings meant freedom to me!” She studied archeology and her teacher was Greta Arwidsson. (See a slideshow about Greta Arwidsson—a pioneer in archeology).
After graduating, Britt-Louise Theglander ended up in the US where she took a course in chemistry for archeologists and where her interest in natural science started to grow. Back in Sweden, she took additional courses in natural science at Komvux (school for adult education). Since the labour market for archeologists was scarce, she took up substitute teaching in schools.
Switching to the teaching career
Britt-Louise Theglander enjoyed her role as a teacher and subsequently trained to be a primary school teacher at the Stockholm Institute of Education (Lärarhögskolan). After 20 years as a primary school teacher, teacher trainer and textbook writer, she started to study medicine at Karolinska Institutet – mainly in order to learn how the brain works and its role in learning. After obtaining her medical degree, her new knowledge came into use for the continuing education of school pedagogues and in her function as an educator in business and industry.
Through her trips around the world, Britt-Louise Theglander saw up close the distress which exists in so many countries. In 1987, she therefore founded the charity organisation “A world of friends” which runs schools and child sponsorship activities in Ghana and India. The organisation has created orphanages, schools, child sponsorship activities and microlending banks for businesses run by women. Throughout the years, many children have lived at the orphanage in Ghana. Britt-Louise Theglander remains in contact with many of them.
A note on the bulletin board about a trip to the Antarctica
Britt-Louise Theglander is also committed to climate and environment issues. The root of this involvement has a connection to Stockholm University. In the late 1990s, when she trecked in the Kebnekaise area, she visited the University’s Research Station in Tarfala. She later found a note on the bulletin board of the Kebnekaise mountain lodge offering paying passengers to join a research vessel to the Antarctica. Britt-Louise Theglander found this irresistible and in 1999 she sailed off towards the Antarctica. On board there were many discussions about climate change. Here started her involvement in climate and environment – an involvement which has now resulted in a donation.
Positive response from the University
Back in 2001, Britt-Louise Theglander wrote a draft will, but it was never finalised. Last year she decided to address the issue and visited the Stockholm University website. There she found contact information for Stina Branting who is a foundation officer responsible for donations, among other things. Stina Branting got in touch with the University Leadership and researchers focusing on polar research. She also arranged for Britt-Louise Theglander to meet professor Martin Jakobsson, who has extensive experience of polar expeditions and studies of ocean floors and glaciers in particular.
– Martin showed me around the Department of Geological Sciences and spoke enthusiastically about the research conducted there. That same afternoon I made up my mind as to where my donation would go. It was also positive that Vice President Henrik Cederquist took the time to see me and that he was instrumental in finalising the matter so quickly, says Britt-Louise Theglander.
Ceremony in Bloms hus
By the end of the spring term, all the paper work was done. Britt-Louise Theglander has now bequeathed her entire estate to polar research at Stockholm University through the Britt-Louise Theglanders polarstiftelse, (Britt-Louise Theglander Foundation for Polar Research).
At a ceremony in Bloms hus in June 2022, Britt-Louise Theglander handed over her will to Vice President Henrik Cederquist. She expressed her joy that the process to formalise her donation to Stockholm University had been so fast and smooth. It is her hope that the funds will provide some economic support to researchers to make them less dependent on time-consuming applications for research funding.
– The climate is the greatest challenge facing humanity. The whole world needs to get involved in this question and it is at the poles that climate change will have the greatest impact. I feel that my money will make a difference within polar research at Stockholm University.
Henrik Cederquist said that he was happy and grateful for the donation.
–It will greatly benefit our polar research and it fits in well with the University’s profile where climate research is a prominent area and polar research is an important part of it.
We need to stand up for research
Britt-Louise Theglander also spoke passionately about the importance of research and science, especially at a time when scientific truths are being questioned.
–Today science and knowledge are under threat in a way that was not previously thought possible. We need to stand up for the researchers now!
–I wonder what people who have money do with it. You can actually do without some of it. You don’t need to be a billionaire to donate money. I don’t have children, but even if I did, I would have made a contribution to research.
Read about Sverker Lerheden’s donation to the Department of Mathematics: SEK 100 million donation to mathematicians
Text: Per Larsson
Last updated: October 9, 2023
Source: Office for Research, Engagement and Innovation Services