Social SciencesWed, 14 May 2025 09:21:02 +0000Social SciencesTen things research tells us about the global economic elite/article/ten-things-research-tells-us-about-global-economic-eliteWed, 14 May 2025 09:21:02 +0000/article/ten-things-research-tells-us-about-global-economic-eliteWho are the people that make up the world’s economic elite – and do they differ between countries? In a new, unique database, an international team of researchers has compiled individual data from 16 countries that together account for a third of the world’s population and more than half of the world’s GDP. Ravensbrück Archive in Lund receives Memory of the World status /article/ravensbruck-archive-lund-receives-memory-world-statusFri, 11 Apr 2025 08:10:14 +0000/article/ravensbruck-archive-lund-receives-memory-world-statusTen years’ work has paid off – UNESCO has added the archive of 500 in-depth interviews with Holocaust survivors to the Memory of the World Register.The Ravensbrück Archive has been nominated as a UNESCO Memory of the World/article/ravensbruck-archive-has-been-nominated-unesco-memory-worldMon, 24 Mar 2025 14:44:10 +0000/article/ravensbruck-archive-has-been-nominated-unesco-memory-worldThe unique archive holds 500 in-depth interviews with survivors of the Ravensbrück concentration camp.۶Ƶ to invest SEK 37 million in new total defence centre/article/lund-university-invest-sek-37-million-new-total-defence-centreTue, 18 Mar 2025 10:28:25 +0000/article/lund-university-invest-sek-37-million-new-total-defence-centre۶Ƶ is taking an active step to meet society’s growing needs for security and crisis management. A new centre is being established at Campus Helsingborg with the aim of strengthening education, research and external engagement in total defence and preparedness on a broad front.Five ۶Ƶ researchers to receive ERC Consolidator Grants/article/five-lund-university-researchers-receive-erc-consolidator-grantsTue, 03 Dec 2024 10:55:56 +0000/article/five-lund-university-researchers-receive-erc-consolidator-grantsPer Augustsson, Enrico Ronchi, Mikkel Brydegaard, Andreas Nord and Yafa Shanneik have each been awarded the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant. How Trump turned the elections into a wrestling match/article/how-trump-turned-elections-wrestling-matchThu, 12 Sep 2024 11:28:44 +0000/article/how-trump-turned-elections-wrestling-matchDonald Trump’s background in professional wrestling paved the way for his political career. By using the wrestling concept “kayfabe” – the art of making staged events seem real – Trump embodies the message that politics was always fake, while masquerading as authentic. This has tapped into an already existing disillusionment with the American political system. It can also explain why playing the villain isn’t necessarily a bad thing, according to Religious Studies scholar Aaron James Goldman. Socioeconomics shape children’s connection to nature more than where they live /article/socioeconomics-shape-childrens-connection-nature-more-where-they-liveFri, 23 Aug 2024 10:02:50 +0000/article/socioeconomics-shape-childrens-connection-nature-more-where-they-liveThe income and education levels of a child’s environment determine their relationship to nature, not whether they live in a city or the countryside. This is the finding of a new study conducted by researchers at ۶Ƶ, Sweden. The results run counter to the assumption that growing up in the countryside automatically increases our connection to nature, and yet the study also shows that nature close to home increases children’s well-being. Alarmingly low financial awareness among today's youth/article/alarmingly-low-financial-awareness-among-todays-youthMon, 15 Apr 2024 09:28:50 +0000/article/alarmingly-low-financial-awareness-among-todays-youthThe strong connection between financial problems and mental health issues is well known. A new study from ۶Ƶ in Sweden shows that only one in five young adults could correctly answer three basic questions about inflation, interest rates and risk diversification. At the same time, they are getting more into debt. This, the researchers argue, is a worrying development.World Happiness Report: Why we might be measuring happiness wrong/article/world-happiness-report-why-we-might-be-measuring-happiness-wrongWed, 20 Mar 2024 15:07:29 +0000/article/world-happiness-report-why-we-might-be-measuring-happiness-wrongMany of us know that Finland is steadily ranked as the happiest country in the world. The basis for this is the annual World Happiness Report, which is based on a simple question about happiness asked to people around the world. However, a new study led by ۶Ƶ in Sweden suggests that it makes people think more about power and wealth.Recommendations for young children’s screen time do more harm than good/article/recommendations-young-childrens-screen-time-do-more-harm-goodMon, 26 Feb 2024 09:17:33 +0000/article/recommendations-young-childrens-screen-time-do-more-harm-goodRecommendations from the WHO on limiting screen time for children under the age of five are almost impossible to follow, and risk causing unnecessary anxiety and stigmatisation of parents of young children. This according to a study from ۶Ƶ in Sweden on the digital media habits of young children. Instead, the researchers recommend that parents support their children by exploring digital media alongside them.The brain is 'programmed' for learning from people we like/article/brain-programmed-learning-people-weThu, 15 Feb 2024 09:42:09 +0000/article/brain-programmed-learning-people-weOur brains are "programmed" to learn more from people we like – and less from those we dislike. This has been shown by researchers in cognitive neuroscience in a series of experiments.UN climate meetings organised in a way that benefits richer, larger countries/article/un-climate-meetings-organised-way-benefits-richer-larger-countriesWed, 22 Nov 2023 15:24:43 +0000/article/un-climate-meetings-organised-way-benefits-richer-larger-countriesThe COP climate meetings are organised in a way that benefits richer and larger countries at the expense of smaller and poorer countries, according to a new study from ۶Ƶ and the University of Leeds. The study also labels the participating countries as either Radicals, Opportunists, Hypocrites or Evaders.How video games are being used by foreign actors and extremists/article/how-video-games-are-being-used-foreign-actors-and-extremistsMon, 23 Oct 2023 11:27:33 +0000/article/how-video-games-are-being-used-foreign-actors-and-extremistsVideo games are easy to exploit, and are being used by actors ranging from IS and Hizbollah for recruitment, to Russia, who use it to spread propaganda during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This according to a new report from Psychological Defence Research Institute at ۶Ƶ in Sweden.Increase in forest fires may damage the crucial ozone layer/article/increase-forest-fires-may-damage-crucial-ozone-layerMon, 09 Oct 2023 13:43:43 +0000/article/increase-forest-fires-may-damage-crucial-ozone-layerAll particles that reach the atmosphere cause different chemical reactions. Particles come partly from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires, and partly from pollution and emissions. Aerosol researcher Johan Friberg studies particles at high altitudes. He fears that the global increase in forest fires could have a significant impact on the ozone layer.Innovation happens on the edges/article/innovation-happens-edges-0Fri, 15 Sep 2023 08:42:44 +0000/article/innovation-happens-edges-0The UNEXPECTED event that took place 1 June in Lund gathered unique and diverse minds and organisations, that exemplifies the dynamism of human creativity. With limitless possibilities that emerge when we break down barriers, we can embrace the unexpected.The past comes alive in 3D /article/past-comes-alive-3dMon, 28 Aug 2023 11:28:38 +0000/article/past-comes-alive-3dIn the past, it has been common practice to perform analyses of archaeological sites after excavations have been completed and covered again with soil. But with the revolutionary development of digital technologies, we can now identify archaeological information that was previously invisible to the naked eye.Children and biologists research biodiversity together/article/children-and-biologists-research-biodiversity-togetherWed, 23 Aug 2023 08:31:41 +0000/article/children-and-biologists-research-biodiversity-togetherChildren in preschool and primary school will now be able to learn more about insects, birds, flowers and plants, how valuable they are and how we humans can protect nature. The collaborative project ‘Natural Nations’ is introducing biodiversity in the curriculum.Researchers: Time for a new approach to ageing/article/researchers-time-new-approach-ageingTue, 25 Jul 2023 07:45:44 +0000/article/researchers-time-new-approach-ageingWe usually associate ageing with a shrinking life span, sickness and death. The difficulty of imagining ourselves as old means that we go to great lengths to avoid planning for later life. Yet researchers argue that we have everything to gain by looking at life as a journey where preparations for the future provide opportunities for living a full life – until it really is over.How to build a winning team/article/how-build-winning-teamThu, 15 Jun 2023 13:47:01 +0000/article/how-build-winning-teamWith a month to go until the Football World Cup, we ask: how do you build a winning team? Having a coach who has done their emotional homework and is good at establishing psychological security is important. Clearly defined roles and a communicative team can also increase the chances of winning gold, argues Simon Granér, researcher in sports psychology and team performance.۶Ƶ in cooperation on sustainable development in Africa/article/lund-university-cooperation-sustainable-development-africaThu, 01 Jun 2023 13:43:46 +0000/article/lund-university-cooperation-sustainable-development-africaThe African Union’s organisation for development cooperation (AUDA-NEPAD) sent a delegation to Lund in May to strengthen and further develop cooperation concerning education for African professionals. For the second year in succession, there is a contract education course on innovation policy and innovation leadership through the Department of Economic History. In May, the African participants had their teaching sessions in Lund and were visited by Sida and AUDA-NEPAD, the co-funders of the course. Working remotely during the pandemic created social filter bubbles /article/working-remotely-during-pandemic-created-social-filter-bubblesMon, 15 May 2023 09:29:02 +0000/article/working-remotely-during-pandemic-created-social-filter-bubblesDeeper relationships with colleagues we were already close with, while others drifted further away. During the pandemic, spontaneous meetings decreased, and we created social filter bubbles. This is shown by a study from ۶Ƶ in Sweden that investigated how we managed our work relationships during the Covid-19 pandemic.Obstetricians more emotionally stable than most/article/obstetricians-more-emotionally-stable-mostFri, 21 Apr 2023 11:24:44 +0000/article/obstetricians-more-emotionally-stable-mostSwedish obstetricians and gynecologists are noticeably more emotionally stable and conscientious compared to the majority of the Swedish population. Based on the doctors' personalities, their decision-making styles differ in emergency situations. The research study from ۶Ƶ is now published in Scientific Reports. Charges against Putin unlikely/article/charges-against-putin-unlikelyMon, 06 Mar 2023 09:07:59 +0000/article/charges-against-putin-unlikelyRussia's invasion of Ukraine was clearly illegal. Yet it is unlikely that Vladimir Putin will be held accountable. Most people agree that war is morally wrong. But what is the legal framework?Has diplomacy been exhausted?/article/has-diplomacy-been-exhaustedMon, 06 Mar 2023 09:07:28 +0000/article/has-diplomacy-been-exhaustedThe war in Ukraine has now been going on for a year. The devastation is enormous, as are the human rights abuses. At the moment, most of the talk is about arms supplies and very little about diplomacy. When will be the appropriate time for diplomatic talks? An interview with Karin Aggestam, professor of political science and expert on diplomacy and peace processes.“Sweden must stand up to Turkey in the conflict over values”/article/sweden-must-stand-turkey-conflict-over-valuesMon, 06 Mar 2023 09:03:36 +0000/article/sweden-must-stand-turkey-conflict-over-valuesDoes negotiating Sweden's NATO membership mean that the government is prepared to tinker with basic human rights and values? According to two political scientists, there is a risk of this happening.AI could improve mental health care/article/ai-could-improve-mental-health-careThu, 16 Feb 2023 12:32:12 +0000/article/ai-could-improve-mental-health-carePatients are often asked to rate their feelings using a rating scale, when talking to psychologists or doctors about their mental health. This is currently how depression and anxiety are diagnosed. However, a new study from ۶Ƶ in Sweden shows that allowing patients to describe their experience using their own words - is potentially viewed as more precise and preferred by the patients. The Lund researchers have developed an AI-tool that could help doctors analyze their patients’ answers. Young scientists eager to influence policy makers on biodiversity/article/young-scientists-eager-influence-policy-makers-biodiversityWed, 08 Feb 2023 08:41:09 +0000/article/young-scientists-eager-influence-policy-makers-biodiversityWe need to prioritise nature even if there are other conflicting interests – biodiversity is essential to all of us on the planet and ultimately to our health and wellbeing. The statement comes from Maria Blasi Romero, researcher in Biodiversity and Conservation at ۶Ƶ. “I went to COP15 to learn about the processes and how to share my research with those who can make use of the results and have an impact”. Expert on American patriotism and welfare researcher awarded honorary doctorates/article/expert-american-patriotism-and-welfare-researcher-awarded-honorary-doctoratesThu, 22 Dec 2022 11:18:01 +0000/article/expert-american-patriotism-and-welfare-researcher-awarded-honorary-doctoratesProfessor of Social Work Mimi Abramovitz and Professor of Political Psychology Leonie Huddy have been awarded honorary doctorates by the Faculty of Social Sciences at ۶Ƶ. They will receive their honorary doctorates at the doctoral degree conferment ceremony on 26 May at Lund Cathedral.The young in Tunisia value democracy but choose otherwise /article/young-tunisia-value-democracy-choose-otherwiseMon, 21 Nov 2022 13:53:32 +0000/article/young-tunisia-value-democracy-choose-otherwiseWhat happened to the generation that experienced the Jasmin revolution in Tunisia as young? How are their views different from those who were only small children and do not remember the expectations of more freedom and bread? Studies in focus groups representing both Generation Z and Millennials in the region give unexpected answers but still hold some optimism for further democratisation. New research project can provide guidance on how European forestry should be conducted/article/new-research-project-can-provide-guidance-how-european-forestry-should-be-conductedWed, 16 Nov 2022 16:50:30 +0000/article/new-research-project-can-provide-guidance-how-european-forestry-should-be-conductedHow are we going to reach climate targets? That is an ever-present question for many of us. A major new EU project, CLIMB-FOREST, will create an overview of European forests and forestry over a period of four-and-a-half years. The aim is to be able to guide the forestry industry and decision-makers through these complex issues using tools and models. There is a lot of expertise in each individual country, but there is no coordinated overview of Europe’s forests and forest health. COP27: Climate compensation for poorer countries must top agenda/article/cop27-climate-compensation-poorer-countries-must-top-agendaMon, 07 Nov 2022 08:56:03 +0000/article/cop27-climate-compensation-poorer-countries-must-top-agendaThe UNFCCC climate meeting COP27 is currently taking place in Egypt. With evidence growing that green house gas emissions are making extreme events occur more frequently, and with greater intensity, loss and damage has emerged as one of the most important topics at the meeting. Developing countries and civil society are mobilizing for compensation, and are demanding that polluters pay.Aggressively patriarchal worldview attracted Swedish women to IS/article/aggressively-patriarchal-worldview-attracted-swedish-womenWed, 02 Nov 2022 09:12:03 +0000/article/aggressively-patriarchal-worldview-attracted-swedish-womenContrary to popular belief, Swedish women who have joined IS were not simply passively manipulated by men. A new study from ۶Ƶ suggests that it was a strict religious culture, which opposes gender equality, and modern gender roles and norms, that attracted Swedish women to join the Islamic State.World on fire – how do we adapt to a hotter planet?/article/world-fire-how-do-we-adapt-hotter-planetThu, 27 Oct 2022 09:33:25 +0000/article/world-fire-how-do-we-adapt-hotter-planetResearchers around the globe agree: the Earth is getting warmer and warmer, extreme weather such as heatwaves and long droughts increase the risk of wildfires. The group Wildfires in the Anthropocene at the Pufendorf Institute connects researchers from across ۶Ƶ who study fires from different perspectives: climate change, health, environmental security, fire safety and biodiversity.Art and culture bring us existential awareness/article/art-and-culture-bring-us-existential-awarenessWed, 22 Jun 2022 11:21:30 +0000/article/art-and-culture-bring-us-existential-awarenessArt and culture have the capacity to make us aware of our relationship to ourselves and others, our world and our time. Using existential sustainability as an umbrella term, we can investigate new angles and open the way for new collaborations, according to Anna Lyrevik, senior adviser to the Vice-Chancellor, who has broad experience of delivering cultural projects in various forms. Other sides to the story – how the immigrant´s children experience life/article/other-sides-story-how-immigrants-children-experience-lifeWed, 15 Jun 2022 07:40:04 +0000/article/other-sides-story-how-immigrants-children-experience-lifeHow does migration and globalisation shape the lives of individuals in various countries and how does it affect the children of immigrants in terms of integration, identity, and cultural expressions? Do they themselves use the word integration? These questions occupy sociologist Dalia Abdelhady who is about to conclude a study of three populations in the US, in France and in Germany, based on their own experiences. Fast fashion has a huge impact on the environment/article/fast-fashion-has-huge-impact-environmentTue, 14 Jun 2022 10:36:53 +0000/article/fast-fashion-has-huge-impact-environmentOn-trend clothes that you only wear a few times – in the beginning of the 2000s the fashion industry started speeding up production. Today, it accounts for around 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions and criticism is being directed at the industry for not taking responsibility for its social and environmental impact. The big question is; can fashion become sustainable?Soundwalk imagines the climate future/article/soundwalk-imagines-climate-futureThu, 09 Jun 2022 07:58:55 +0000/article/soundwalk-imagines-climate-futureThe year is 2072, and the worst storm in two hundred years is about to hit Scania, in the south of Sweden. In Skanör-Falsterbo, a family is celebrating Christmas when the storm alarm sounds. The waves draw closer to the house, and the family dash towards the nearby church. What happens next is the result of many decades of decisions: did we work together, or did the lines of conflict become even deeper? That’s up to you to decide. Hope and meaning for a sustainable life/article/hope-and-meaning-sustainable-lifeThu, 31 Mar 2022 12:01:28 +0000/article/hope-and-meaning-sustainable-lifeLife can feel a little overwhelming in the times we live where society is less homogenous, and individualism prevails although many of our challenges require cooperation between different interests, ideologies, and countries. Human beings need to feel meaning, hope and motivation to overcome difficulties and to find new solutions. Therefore, we need to understand more about existential sustainability. Media propaganda contributes to Russians’ world view/article/media-propaganda-contributes-russians-world-viewThu, 10 Mar 2022 23:04:34 +0000/article/media-propaganda-contributes-russians-world-viewThe media in Russia and Ukraine live different lives. The media in Ukraine is quite free, whereas Russia lies at the bottom of international comparisons of media freedom, says Anamaria Dutceac Segesten, senior lecturer in European Studies at the Centre for Languages and Literature and associate professor of Strategic Communication. Nationalistic conspiracy theory drives Putin/article/nationalistic-conspiracy-theory-drives-putinThu, 10 Mar 2022 22:58:39 +0000/article/nationalistic-conspiracy-theory-drives-putinVladimir Putin is driven by the old nationalistic theory about the western world’s conspiracy against Russia states Tova Höjdestrand, senior lecturer in Social Anthropology and a researcher whose areas of interest include Russia and nationalism.Researchers and performers teaching children to question fake news/article/researchers-and-performers-teaching-children-question-fake-newsThu, 03 Mar 2022 14:06:16 +0000/article/researchers-and-performers-teaching-children-question-fake-newsWhat are opinions, what are facts and what are outright lies? The latest PISA assessment clearly shows that children and young adults have difficulties navigating the fast flow of information in society today. When anyone at all can make their voice heard it also becomes more difficult to recognise misleading information and fake news. Together, actors, performing arts teachers and researchers are taking a new approach to make knowledge resistance and conspiracy theories more recognisable. UN Climate Report: How vulnerable are we and how can we adapt?/article/un-climate-report-how-vulnerable-are-we-and-how-can-we-adaptFri, 25 Feb 2022 12:09:27 +0000/article/un-climate-report-how-vulnerable-are-we-and-how-can-we-adaptHow vulnerable is humanity in the face of climate change? And how have people around the world already been impacted? These are some of the questions to be answered on 28 February by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Two researchers from ۶Ƶ participated in the final report – Martina Angela Caretta and Emily Boyd.CROCUS – a flourishing network for culture and creativity/article/crocus-flourishing-network-culture-and-creativityTue, 15 Feb 2022 13:18:01 +0000/article/crocus-flourishing-network-culture-and-creativityCultural and creative industries are steadily growing and driving regional development in Sweden. The CROCUS network at Campus Helsingborg wants to strengthen knowledge exchange for students and researchers as well as for those involved and interested in this sector. "The network's ability to quickly mobilise researchers means that when an opportunity arises, we can act immediately", says project leader Cecilia Fredriksson from the Department of Service Management and Service Studies. Cultural and creative business concepts need specific and strategic support/article/cultural-and-creative-business-concepts-need-specific-and-strategic-supportWed, 09 Feb 2022 13:28:32 +0000/article/cultural-and-creative-business-concepts-need-specific-and-strategic-supportDo you work in graphic design, are you passionate about games development, or do you design jewellery in your own business? The market for entrepreneurs with cultural and creative business concepts is growing in Sweden. However, many of these initiatives require tailored support to be able to develop and find clients and partnerships.The Vombsjö basin – on the way to becoming a unique new biosphere reserve/article/vombsjo-basin-way-becoming-unique-new-biosphere-reserveFri, 04 Feb 2022 10:41:31 +0000/article/vombsjo-basin-way-becoming-unique-new-biosphere-reserveThe Vombsjö basin in Skåne could become the world's first biosphere reserve integrating the cultural dimension. If the application to UNESCO is successful, the area could become an international forerunner as the first to work with culture in various forms of collaboration with citizens, academia, industry and the public sector.Meaningful memories inspire urban planning /article/meaningful-memories-inspire-urban-planningTue, 25 Jan 2022 10:04:32 +0000/article/meaningful-memories-inspire-urban-planningAllow stories to speak and weave in memories. A multidimensional vision could make urban development less stereotypical, according to ethnologist Elisabeth Högdahl, who is the manager of the research project "Developing and Building Locations Through Human Memories". "I hope that the site developers of tomorrow will think more broadly and allow space for people's stories."Getting the butterflies to fly in formation – on the art of managing performance anxiety/article/getting-butterflies-fly-formation-art-managing-performance-anxietyThu, 20 Jan 2022 15:28:59 +0000/article/getting-butterflies-fly-formation-art-managing-performance-anxietyFrancisca Skoogh, an international concert pianist, psychologist and researcher at the Malmö Academy of Music, wants to support tomorrow's trained musicians to get to know themselves better, thereby enabling them to manage stage fright. "We must dare to talk about stress in order to get past it", is her advice to music students taking the course 'The Performing Person', which examines psychological reactions to being in the spotlight.Knowledge about climate stress could counteract conflicts /article/knowledge-about-climate-stress-could-counteract-conflictsThu, 13 Jan 2022 10:04:30 +0000/article/knowledge-about-climate-stress-could-counteract-conflictsTo find out why so many people have left their farms in north-eastern Syria, physical geographer Lina Eklund uses both satellite data and interviews. ‟It is important to understand what can be linked to climate change and what are societal factors, so that we can better equip ourselves for the future.” How politicians project their status in virtual meetings /article/how-politicians-project-their-status-virtual-meetingsMon, 20 Dec 2021 09:22:17 +0000/article/how-politicians-project-their-status-virtual-meetingsDuring the pandemic, physical summits were replaced by Zoom meetings, and global political leaders had to quickly adjust. How did they visually convey their status in this new world of digital diplomacy? A new study from ۶Ƶ in Sweden analysed over 50 photos from the first virtual G20 meeting in 2020.What happens in your brain when you take a decision? New research shows the way./article/what-happens-your-brain-when-you-take-decision-new-research-shows-wayTue, 19 Oct 2021 14:45:07 +0000/article/what-happens-your-brain-when-you-take-decision-new-research-shows-wayYou rush into the supermarket; your mother-in-law is coming for dinner. But which products end up in your shopping basket and why? Researchers have previously tracked eye movements to understand which products attract you in a shop. In order to get closer to the truth, they now want to use new computational models in which the brain’s cognitive processes also play a major role.The Glasgow climate summit - what is it about and why does it matter?/article/glasgow-climate-summit-what-it-about-and-why-does-it-matterTue, 19 Oct 2021 09:15:51 +0000/article/glasgow-climate-summit-what-it-about-and-why-does-it-matterOn October 31st, representatives from across the globe will gather in Glasgow for two weeks to attend the UN climate change conference COP26. Expectations are high following last year's cancelled conference, and the IPCC report released in August. What can we expect from the meeting? Five Lund researchers give answers.