About us

The Department of Human Geography works with research and education in geography, human geography and urban and regional planning.

The Department of Human Geography forms part of the Faculty of Social Sciences within the academic area for Human Science. The Department is located in the Geo-Science Building (Geovetenskapens hus) on the Stockholm University main campus, Frescati, in the City of Stockholm, Sweden.

The department in numbers:

  • About 500 students including 100 in master's programmes and 20 exchange students
  • Approximately 50 employees including 30 teachers and researchers and 10 PhD students
  • About 60% of the activity is research and 40% is education

Norrtullsgatan 1952. The department moved from Norrtullsgatan 2 to Geovetenskapens hus in 1997. Photo: John Kjellström, Stockholms universitet.

Since 1912 geography has been an academic discipline at Stockholm and in 1929 the first chair of geography was established. In 1955 the chair at the Geographical Institute at the private Stockholm University College (“Stockholms högskola”) was divided into two and in 1956 the first professor of human geography was appointed. The Geographical Institute was splitt and two separate geographical departments was formed in 1965: the Department of Human Geography and the Department of Physical Geography. In 1960 Stockholm University College became a state university, Stockholm University (“Stockholms universitet” ).

Geography as social science at Stockholm University pdf, 3.3 MB. (3377 Kb)
The Department history up to 1997 pdf, 31.2 kB. (31 Kb)

Cultural heritage and history of the University

  • Hans W:son Ahlmann, professor of geography 1929−1950.
  • Gunnar Hoppe, professor of geography 1954−1955 (professor of geography, particularly physical geography 1955−1980, vice-chancellor at Stockholm University 1974−1978).
  • David Hannerberg, professor of geography, particularly human geography with economic geography 1956−1968.
  • Staffan Helmfrid, professor of geography, particularly human geography with economic geography 1969−1992 (vice-chancellor at Stockholm University 1978−1988).
  • Ulf Sporrong, professor of geography, particularly human geography 1987−2001.
  • Bo Lenntorp, professor of geography, particularly human geography 1994−2003.
  • Gunnel Forsberg, professor of human geography with focus on urban and regional planning 1998−2017.
  • Mats Widgren, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2002−2015.
  • Bo Malmberg, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2005−present.
  • Brita Hermelin, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2011–2013.
  • Eva Andersson, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2016−present.
  • Dominic Power, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2016−present.
  • Anders Wästfelt, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2020−present.
  • Thomas Borén, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2023−present.
  • Marianne Abramsson, professor of human geography with focus on urban and regional planning 2023−present.
  • Peter Schmitt, professor of human geography with focus on urban and regional planning 2023−present.
  • Karen Haandrikman, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2023−present.
  • Lowe Börjeson, professor of geography, particularly human geography 2024−present.

All employees of the department

Last updated: 2025-10-27

Source: Department of Human Geography

Cookie settings

By allowing third-party services, you accept their cookies and the use of tracking technologies necessary for them to function properly.