The new department is a merger of the Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD) and the Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS). By 2021, it will also include the Stress Research Institute.

As a result of the change, public health science as a subject will receive a more permanent place at Stockholm University. Besides the organisational changes, additional resources will be allocated to develop the education, and the plan is to start introducing courses at the bachelor’s level.

“We are happy that the University has decided to commit to this venture, and we look forward to 2018 with confidence,” says Jenny Cisneros Örnberg, Director of SoRAD.

The feelings at CHESS are also positive.

“In the last few years, we have launched a Master’s programme as well as doctoral studies in public health science. The creation of a new department will provide opportunities for us to continue to develop the subject at Stockholm University,” says Mikael Rostila, Director of CHESS. 

The Department of Public Health Science will be the first new department at the Faculty of Social Sciences since 2008, when the Stockholm Institute of Education was integrated into Stockholm University. SoRAD and CHESS will remain in their facilities at Sveaplan until 2020/2021, after which they will be co-located in Albano. The head of the new department will be appointed in the autumn.