Stockholm Trio seminar: Interdisciplinary research and education for sustainable development

Stockholm Trio Sustainability Forum 2023. Stefan Swartling Peterson, Kevin Noone, and Nina Wormbs discuss interdisciplinarity. Photo: Jens Olof Lasthein

Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration is key to addressing the complexity of sustainability challenges. Join this seminar to explore how the University Alliance Stockholm Trio supports researchers and educators at Karolinska Institutet, KTH, and Stockholm University to collaborate across disciplines and with external stakeholders to contribute to Agenda 2030. 

Since 2023, the Stockholm Trio for Sustainable Actions initiative has supported research and education for sustainable development, with a special focus on climate and health.
Learn more about the 2025-2026 call for proposals.

The seminar is in English, is open to all, and features project presentations, a panel discussion, and a Q&A session. It is organised in conjunction with the Stockholm Trio-University of Tokyo partnership workshop, held on the morning of October 23. 

Program

12:00-13:00: Networking (with lunch for those who have registered). 

13:00-13:05: Welcome, Karin Dahlman-Wright, Chair of Stockholm Trio for Sustainable Actions. 

13:05-13:55: Project presentations

• TranSLeaP: Advancing transformative sustainability learning in professionally oriented higher education through multivocal action research: How can education for sustainable development be integrated into professional programs such as engineering, medical, and teacher training in Sweden and Japan? Presented by Anders Rosén, Associate Professor in Engineering Education, KTH, and Lena Ström, Senior Lecturer, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet.
• Ground for Change: University teachers' perceptions of sustainability integration in professional education: Researchers from Stockholm university and Karolinska Institutet are exploring conditions for successful implementation of sustainability education. Presented by Sara Widén, Psychologist and lecturer, Karolinska Institutet
• Exploring the nexus of health and climate through a workshop, symposium and Climathon: The KTH Climate Action Centre, the Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University, the Centre for Health Crises and the Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Health at Karolinska Institutet have initiated collaboration projects to increase knowledge about the links between climate change and health. Presented by Petter Ljungman, Cardiologist, Environmental Epidemiologist, and Expert Coordinator at the Centre for Health Crises, Karolinska Institutet.
• Assessing the impact of flood exposure on emergency health services in Sweden: Researchers from Karolinska Institutet, KTH and Stockholm university investigates the resilience of health service provision to flooding events in Sweden. Presented by Daniel Adshead, postdoctoral researcher at Unit of energy systems, KTH. 
• Pioneering sustainable fashion: A case study on reducing hazardous chemicals and textile allergies. Presented by Hanna Karlsson, associate professor in toxicology and research group leader at IMM, Karolinska Institutet.

13:55-14:20: Panel discussion – overcoming obstacles and seizing opportunities in interdisciplinary research and education for sustainable development.  
Moderator: Victor Galaz, Associate professor & Director of PhD programme, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
Panelists: Mikael Håkansson, SU, Hanna Karlsson, KI, Petter Ljungman, KI, Anders Rosén, KTH and Lena Ström, KI.

14:20-14:30: Q&A session

About the University Alliance Stockholm Trio

Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University have formed the University Alliance Stockholm Trio to promote collaboration across disciplines and enhance the quality of the international research and education environment that the three universities represent in the capital of Sweden. 

stockholmtrio.org