Stockholm university

A word from the Dean, December 2024

Lena Mäler writes about her first year as Dean and Deputy Vice President and about upcoming organisational changes at the Science Academic Area and the Faculty of Science.

Lena Mäler is a woman with short hair. She is wearing a patterned blouse.

Lena Mäler. Photo: Sören Andersson

My first year as Dean and Deputy Vice President has been an eventful year, marked with many geopolitical events as well as significal political decisions within our sector. A new Minister of Education was appointed and, without going into detail, we can note that numerous policital decisions impacting us as a university were made. 

Last week, the Swedish government presented the research bill, and it contains many investments that that will greatly benefit our research field. Several strategic areas are specifically highlighted, such as life science, polar research, climate research, quantum technology and advanced materials – all of which are important research fields at Stockholm University. Increased funding for SciLifeLab and Nordita is also suggested. The Swedish Research Council receives a substantial increase in funding for supporting centres of excellence and for groundbreaking research. These are only a few examples.  

Turning to changes closer to us, one that will affect us is the fact that Stockholm University will have a new President from 1 February 2025. This affects the governance of the Science Faculty, since the new President also happens to be my husband. I have resigned from the University Board, and members have therefore been appointed by the Consultant Assembly. Vice Dean Martin Jakobsson has been appointed as member and Section Dean Joakim Edsjö will serve as his substitute. In addition, the President has  appointed Martin Jakobsson as new Deputy Vice President for the Science Academic Area (congratulations Martin!). I will remain as Dean of the Faculty of Science and by this change, the leadershop will be divided by the Deputy Vice President and the Dean, unlike the current arrangement, where both roles are held by the same person. 

I truly believe that this change is for the better, and it will allow me to focus more on leading the Faculty. I will remain as chairman of the Board of Science and the Faculty Board, and will continue as supervisor for the Heads of Departments. The role as Deputy Vice President will more clearly be connected with the leadership of the university. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Erik Lindahl, the current Section Dean of the Chemistry Section, who was recently appointed as the new director of the supercomputer infrastructure NAISS. This is very good news for NAISS and, by extension, for Stockholm University and for Sweden as a whole.  However, this means that Erik will have to step down as Section Dean, and we will need to hold an election this spring to appoint his successor. In the meantime, Nicole Pamme, current Vice Dean of the Chemistry Section, will take on the role. 

Despite all the changes that I have listed, I do not believe that the way we work at the Faculty will change significantly. We have a truly fantastic organisation and a tremendous staff at the Office of Science, which ensures long-term stability. 

With these words, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Lena

 

 

On this page

mainArticlePageLayout

{
  "dimensions": [
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.subject",
      "name": "Global categories",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Keywords",
      "name": "Keywords",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Person",
      "name": "Person",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "department.categorydimension.tag.Tag",
      "name": "Tag",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "localcategorytree.su.se.english",
      "name": "Local categories for www.su.se/english",
      "enumerable": true,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "webb2021.categorydimension.Keyword",
      "name": "Keywords (Webb 2021)",
      "enumerable": false,
      "entities": [],
      "localizations": {}
    }
  ]
}