In this edition of Alum to Alum, we share a guest contribution from Jörgen Held, a fellow Lund alumnus (LTH), who writes about developments in renewable energy gas technology. Jörgen, who studied at the Faculty of Engineering, LTH, co-founded the International Conference on Renewable Energy Gas Technology (REGATEC), a platform that brings together experts from across Europe and beyond. As the conference prepares for its 12th and final edition in Lund, he reflects on the journey, key insights and the role of biomethane in the evolving energy landscape. Whether you work in biogas, gasification, power-to-gas or are simply interested in energy innovation, this story offers an engaging perspective.
Guestwriter Jörgen Held
Jörgen Held, 60, lives in Lund and is an alumnus from the Faculty of Engineering, LTH, where he studied Mechanical Engineering from 1989 to 1993. He earned his PhD in Fluid Mechanics in 1999 at the Division of Heat and Power Technology. Together with his professor, he developed the Dynamic Divergence Model (DDM), a turbulence model that still bears their names.
He is currently the CEO of Renewtec AB and the Baltic Energy Innovation Centre. His previous roles include CEO of the Swedish Gas Technology Centre, head of research at CEDER in Spain and research manager at the Swedish Energy Agency.
From LTH to the World: My Journey with REGATEC
In 2014, I co-founded the International Conference on Renewable Energy Gas Technology (REGATEC) together with Professor Frank Scholwin from the Institute of Biogas, Waste Management & Energy. As an alumnus of LTH, where I earned both my MSc and PhD, it felt natural to create a platform that could bring together experts from anaerobic digestion, biomass gasification and power-to-gas sectors.
Why REGATEC?
Our goal was to foster collaboration and highlight synergies between these three conversion routes for renewable methane. For example, excess heat from biomass gasification can be used to heat an anaerobic digester, regenerate the liquid used in chemical CO₂ absorption during biogas upgrading, and dry the digestate. CO₂ separated during upgrading can also be used as feedstock in power-to-methane processes.
REGATEC Returns to Lund – Join and share valuable insights
Since its launch in Malmö in 2014, REGATEC has grown into a truly international conference, bringing together experts from across Europe and beyond. Over the years, the event has taken place in cities like Barcelona, Verona, Toulouse, Berlin and Weimar – always with the goal of fostering collaboration across the renewable methane sector.
Now, the 12th and final edition of REGATEC returns to its roots in Lund, taking place 19-20 May 2026 at Scandic Star. If you work in biogas, gasification or power-to-gas, this is a unique opportunity to share valuable insights.
Over the years, REGATEC has brought together leading international experts, and today we’re seeing commercial facilities that combine anaerobic digestion and power-to-gas technologies. That’s why we’ve decided to conclude the conference series with the 12th edition – the mission is accomplished.
A Quick Primer on Renewable Methane
In anaerobic digestion, microbes break down organic waste into methane and CO₂. After cleaning out impurities like hydrogen sulfide, the biogas is upgraded to biomethane. In Sweden, it must contain 97% methane to meet the standard for grid injection or vehicle fuel.
Biomass gasification, when oxygen-blown or indirect, produces synthesis gas free of nitrogen. After cleaning, the CO is converted to methane via the reaction: CO + 3H₂ → CH₄ + H₂O
In power-to-methane, surplus electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then combined with CO₂ to form methane: CO₂ + 4H₂ → CH₄ + 2H₂O
A Memorable Moment
One unforgettable moment was in 2014 when the China National Environmental Protection Corporation participated as a Gold Sponsor. They paid their fee in a brown envelope filled with small banknotes – it weighed at least half a kilo!
From the left: Jan Stambasky, president of the European Biogas Association and Jörgen Held, CEO Renewtec AB, in front of biomethane powered cars exhibited at REGATEC 2015 in Barcelona. Photo: Prof. Frank Scholwin.
Biomethane: A Super-Multi-Kinder Egg
Biomethane is the only commercially available fuel that can deliver negative emissions from a life-cycle perspective. It allows fast refueling, long driving ranges and is produced 24/7 regardless of weather. It’s storable, distributable via existing infrastructure and brings socio-economic benefits like:
*Improved air quality (especially when replacing diesel) *Better waste management *Reduced eutrophication (especially when digesting manure) *Nutrient recycling *Energy self-sufficiency and organic fertilizer production *Diversification and resilience in the energy system
The 12th and final edition of REGATEC is coming back to where it all began – Lund, 19-20 May 2026 at Scandic Star. Professionals working in biogas, gasification or power-to-gas are invited to register now and be part of a unique forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration.
When two unexpected silver scepters surface in the storage rooms of Kulturen – the region’s cultural history and heritage museum – they set archivist Henrik Ullstad off on a historical detective journey. His search for answers reaches deep into the University’s ceremonial traditions and uncovers findings that challenge the long-held understanding of these iconic objects.
Christmas is approaching, even for us archivists at the Records Management Division. Yuletide peace is settling over the Archives Centre South, and from some peoples’ speakers flows the well-known Swedish Christmas song by Lund University alumnus Viktor Rydberg, proclaiming that the star “does not lead away, but home.” This is a story about stars – and how they, at least in archival contexts, can lead us if not home, then at least on a journey “down the rabbit hole” with rather astonishing results.
On 18 December 2024 – just under a year ago – an intriguing Christmas gift landed in my inbox. The University’s Chief of Protocol had a question regarding the two silver scepters carried before the Vice-Chancellor in the University’s processions. It turned out that there were two identical scepters in Kulturen’s silver collection, and the question on everyone’s mind was what this could mean. Did the University have four scepters instead of two? Were they copies? And if so, which were the originals? And whose were the ones at Kulturen?
Let’s start from the beginning
But let’s start from the beginning. In the winter of 1667, a somewhat battered gentleman arrived in Lund – then not yet a university town – with an equally battered shipment. His name was Nils Beckman, recently appointed professor of Roman law at the planned university, and the shipment contained everything needed to inaugurate such an institution in Sweden’s Age of Greatness: robes of velvet and silk for the Vice-Chancellor and the professors, a collection of hats for the same persons, beadles’ coats, academic guards’ uniforms, University and faculty seals, and – of course – “2 pcs: Scepters of Silver, Ornamentally Gilded.” They were crafted by the royal goldsmith Michel Pohl, each crowned with a star bearing the inscriptions “Sapientia divina” (“Divine Wisdom”) and “Sapientia humana” (“Human Wisdom”) respectively and weighed 112 lod (just under 1.5 kilos). And why battered? It so happened that the professor and parts of the cargo had been “[thrown] off a bridge outside Norrköping” on the way down, damaging a few hats and injuring the professor’s arm.
The scepters, however, seem to have survived this mishap and could participate in the University’s inauguration on 28 January 1668. The inauguration was a grand five-day affair, attended not only by the future academy’s professors and staff but also by the Governor-General of Scania, representatives of the officer corps, clergy, burghers and government officials. During the inaugural procession, the “insignia academiæ” (perhaps including the scepters?) were carried on “blue cushions […] by six distinguished noblemen.” The ceremony was followed by banquets and fireworks, all befitting a university inauguration in Sweden’s Age of Greatness.
Portrait of Andreas Stobaeus as Vice-Chancellor. Note the scepters on the table in front of him. Image source: Lund University art collection.
After that, the scepters remained in Lund and were – one assumes – used at the University’s ceremonies. Their status as one of the foremost insignia of the Vice-Chancellor’s dignity is illustrated by the fact that when Andreas Stobaeus had his portrait painted in (approximately) 1706, wearing his robe of office and holding the University’s statutes, the scepters lie alongside the University keys on the table before him as a clear symbol of his academic rank and authority. Since then, and up to our current time, the two seventeenth-century scepters – so the story goes – have accompanied the Vice-Chancellor at promotions, professorial installations and all manner of academic ceremonies and events.
Bingo!
But what about those two extra scepters in Kulturen’s silver vault? Despite the dramatic opening, it soon became clear to all involved that these could hardly be anything but copies. They were both much lighter and less sharp in detail than the University’s scepters – and they certainly didn’t weigh 1.5 kilos. The Chief of Protocol’s and Kulturen’s suspicions immediately fell on the now-closed University history exhibition that once existed on the museum’s premises. For that exhibition, copies of the scepters had been made; apparently, one and a half kilos of seventeenth-century silver were a bit too tempting for such a display. And despite a colleague’s confident assertion that the copies “were a pair of thin replicas in silvered plastic. I think they were thrown away when the exhibition closed. So they definitely weren’t the scepters you’ve just looked at”, I was able to prove him wrong by searching the archives of the Lund University Historical Society. Soon I found what I was looking for: an invoice from the Swedish National Heritage Board’s Antiquarian-Technical Department, dated 17 December 1998 – always these December dates! – for the tidy sum of 93,000 kronor for copying “two processional scepters from Lund University.” Bingo!
Which is which? The scepters and their copies being compared at Kulturen. Photo: Carin Brenner.
“But wait a minute!” I hear someone object, “93,000 kronor for ‘a pair of thin replicas in silvered plastic’ sounds like a lot.” And I am, albeit a public servant, inclined to agree. A closer study of the invoice, however, showed that my colleague was wrong; the copies were not plastic but made using so-called galvanic copying. In this process, often used to replicate coins for exhibition purposes, a mold is made for each side of the object, the mold is electroplated, and the two metal halves are joined. Something finer – and much more expensive – than a plastic copy, in other words!
The mystery of the two scepters at Kulturen was thus solved; they were galvanic copies made in 1998 for the Lund University Historical Society to be displayed in the University history exhibition. But the rabbit hole went deeper than that. Attached to the invoice were photocopies of two identical notes – one for each scepter – found inside the scepters when they were disassembled at the National Heritage Board. These were written by the Lund goldsmith Johan Petter Hasselgren in May 1868, and they added yet another twist to the entire scepter story.
Lavish celebrations
The sharp-eyed reader will note that 1868 is exactly 200 years after the University’s inauguration. This is no mere coincidence; Hasselgren’s notes were intimately connected to the University’s bicentennial celebration, held on 27–29 May that year. In the nineteenth century the spirit of the times demanded that a university anniversary be lavish. And Lund University did not intend to disappoint. Invitations went out to everyone of note in Sweden – and in many cases beyond. Professor Martin Weibull was commissioned to write the University’s history in two volumes. Jubilee medals were ordered. New uniforms for the academic guard and staff were tailored. Balls and banquets were planned. Jubilee cantatas, songs and poems were written and set to music. Military bands were contracted. The University keys were regilded. And over three days, in the presence of King Charles XV, Prince Oscar (the future King Oscar II), and representatives of Sweden’s elite, along with a large number of guests from the Nordic countries and Germany, both the jubilee ceremony and doctoral conferment ceremonies in all four faculties were conducted.
And amid all these preparations and celebrations, the University’s scepters were, of course, present. The symbols of divine and human wisdom were, if nothing else, destined to take part in the processions to and from the Cathedral. But if the fall from the bridge in 1668 hadn’t damaged them much, it seems the two centuries that followed left them somewhat worse for wear. It was therefore hardly surprising that the scepters were handed over to Hasselgren for some much-needed restoration, and in the letters found inside the scepters – beginning with “Honored Brother in Office” – Hasselgren explained that he (or rather his employee Carl Leonard Moberg) had “repaired” the stars atop the scepters. The existence of these letters was no secret – when they were discovered during the galvanic copying process, an article was even published in the University newspaper LUM about the find – but Hasselgren’s statement about the stars, combined with the note that they bore a silver hallmark from 1868, made me wonder what was actually documented about the 1868 repairs, and just how extensive they had been.
The doctoral conferment ceremony of the Faculty of philosophy at the 1868 bicentennial celebration. Note the scepters, although the artist has failed to fully capture their look. Image source: Ny illustrerad tidning, reprinted in Lunds universitets historia (1968), volume IV.
A Price Tag Worth a Small Fortune
The minutes of the Consistory (the equivalent of the University board) offered no clues. They spoke at length about the upcoming jubilee and various expenses related to it, but nothing was said about the scepters. At the same time, Hasselgren could hardly have done the work for free. Just as with the copies, it was ultimately invoices that provided the answer. In the University’s accounts were two invoices from Hasselgren. The first, from February 1868, charged the University 12 riksdaler for having “Repaired 1 Cursor-scepter” and “Gilded 2 keys” (the latter presumably referring to the aforementioned University keys). So far, so good – but a few months later, in May, came a scepter invoice that bodes ill for posterity. According to this, he had not only “Repaired and gilded the shafts” but also made “2 new stars” at a total cost of 126 riksdaler and 56 öre. It was not without a chill running down my spine that I read the words “new stars” and further noted that he deducted 51:41 for “97 ort [about 412 grams] of old silver.”
Hasselgren’s “repair” thus seems to have been a bit more heavy-handed than his letter suggested. Even if we cannot know with certainty what actions lie behind the terms “new stars” and “old silver,” it seems likely that Hasselgren and Moberg simply made entirely new stars and melted down the old ones – we might draw a parallel to the fact that only a decade later, a “renovation” of Lund Cathedral meant that both medieval towers were unceremoniously torn down and rebuilt with new material. So, it appears that the University’s scepters were not from the seventeenth century as we all had believed (at least not entirely) but, with the exception of the shafts, date back to the nineteenth century!
The scepter of divine wisdom, as it looked at the doctoral conferment ceremony in 2008. Photo: Gunnar Menander.
Such is life in the archival world. A 150-year-old invoice copy overturns everything we thought we knew about one of our University’s most visible symbols. A truly disappointing Christmas gift, albeit made of nineteenth-century silver. But at the same time, there is something beautiful in the fact that the truth, though somewhat uncomfortable, could come to light. Had it not been for the “divine and human wisdom” that ensured two invoices from 1868 were carefully copied and preserved for posterity, we would have continued living in a comfortable but false notion of how things really stood with the University’s silver scepters.
And does it really matter that our scepters are not one hundred percent seventeenth century? For the jubilee, C. V. A. Strandberg wrote a special jubilee cantata, which ends with these prophetic words (my translation):
Even through the centuries turning Keep the lamplight lively burning Shining through the blackened night. Now – a grateful glance behind Then – in promise anew us bind To study, both in life and mind, To progress, blazing roads to find – To foundations lay, of truth and light!
Perhaps the union of the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries in the scepters is, in fact, a strength? A visible sign that Lund University has a long and varied past that leads us into a bright future? If nothing else, that is what I will try to think when I see the scepters’ stars “shine so bright” with their divine and human wisdom before the Vice-Chancellor at the University’s ceremonies. May they continue to inspire the University and its staff in the years to come.
And with that, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. If you like, feel free to put a star atop your tree.
Henrik Ullstad Archivist at the University Archives
The author wishes to express his sincere gratitude towards Lukas Sjöström, Per Stobæus och Fredrik Tersmeden for valuable input, and to the Office of Special Events and Protocol, without whose initial question this article would never have been written.
P.S. These days, invoices at Lund University are destroyed after 17 years. O tempora, o mores!
As a Lund University alumna, Cicilia Jeppsson, now International Coordinator at the Division of Global Engagement and Project Manager at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, offers an insider’s view of what drives the university’s global success. From her position at the heart of Lund’s international work, she reflects on the forces shaping our global impact and the essential role of our alumni.
Cicilia Jeppsson, International Coordinator at the Division of Global Engagement and Project Manager at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. Alumna of Lund University (B.A. in Strategic Communication, 2012–2015).
The people who once walked our campus
What makes Lund University succeed globally? And why is it important? Rankings, groundbreaking research and strategic partnerships inevitably play a vital role. But our true strength lies in you. The people who once walked our campus. Our alumni.
Reputation – the currency of global academia
In today’s competitive academic world, reputation, visibility and impact are the three pillars of success.
• Reputation reflects how others perceive our university. Its quality, credibility and attractiveness. • Visibility ensures that reputation can be noticed, improved and reinforced. The more we appear in relevant contexts through research, media, collaborations and digital channels – the more opportunities we create to strengthen our reputation and increase our global impact. • Impact is the ultimate goal – the tangible difference we make globally through knowledge, innovation and societal progress.
A strong reputation in higher education shapes everything: Attracting talented students and faculty, securing funding and building strong partnerships. It signals to the world: “This is where knowledge thrives and futures are shaped.”
In my role as an International Coordinator and Project Manager at Lund University, part of my work is to increase understanding across the university of why global reputation, visibility and storytelling focused on impact matter. Every research breakthrough, every student success story and every alumni achievement shapes how the world sees us. When we share these stories effectively, we build trust, attract talent and open doors to new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Alumni – our global ambassadors
Now imagine extending Lund University’s presence to every corner of the globe to increase our visibility and reinforce our reputation. Too ambitious? Not really – we’re already doing it. Our alumni across the globe carry the Lund name wherever they go. But to make that name resonate, we must engage, share stories and nurture pride.
Every alumnus is a living proof of Lund University’s impact. When you share your story, mentor a student or represent Lund University in your professional life, you amplify our reputation. One LinkedIn post can inspire a future student. That student thrives, graduates and becomes an ambassador themselves. This is how reputation grows – organically and globally.
Cicilia with alumni Awan and Cynthia – and baby Lund – at the European Higher Education Fair in Jakarta, Indonesia (2022).
How alumni influence global rankings – do you want to help?
Global rankings, such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE) often measure reputation through global surveys. These surveys ask academics and employers worldwide which universities they consider excellent in teaching, research, and graduate employability.
Lund University alumni at an alumni mixer in Amsterdam 2025. Photo: Maria Johansson
Alumni play a key role in shaping Lund University’s reputation – not only by excelling in their careers but also by participating directly in these global reputation surveys. For example, through QS, universities can nominate employer contacts to take part in the survey. Many alumni are in positions where they hire or influence hiring decisions, which makes their perspective incredibly valuable. When alumni share their positive experiences and recognise the quality of Lund University graduates in these surveys, it strengthens our standing in international rankings and helps showcase the impact of a Lund University education worldwide.
Are you an alumnus in a position to hire or influence hiring decisions? Would you like to share your perspective in an upcoming QS Employer Survey? Register here.
A shared mission
As we continue to grow as a global leader in education and sustainability, we invite you to be part of this journey. Share your story. Engage with our community. Help us show the world what Lund University stands for. Together, we can ensure Lund University continues to shine as a global leader in education and sustainability.
Featuring photo of Erik zwickeling a beer at the brewery ca. 2023. Photo: Private collection
Guest writer, alumnus Erik Mell, shares his story from student years in Lund to a corporate governance job in Washington, D.C. to his current role as a brewmaster in Berlin. He also invites alumni to his upcoming Lucia event at the brewery!
I am Erik Mell, 44 years old, alumnus and former class president of the 2005-2006 Master of European Affairs program (MEA) at Lund University. I’m originally from Minnesota, now living in Berlin and this is the winding tale about how I became a brewmaster in Berlin.
Reflecting on my time in Lund
My time in Lund was, without exaggeration, the best single period of my life. I was motivated to study abroad after doing a semester in Freiburg, Germany. Coming from Minnesota (or as I joke, “Nya Sverige”), Sweden had always held a certain amount of allure to me as a country that is somehow very familiar, but also exceptional. Long story short, I finally made my choice for Lund instead of heading to Hamburg or Uppsala, because of the interdisciplinary nature of the MEA program, and a little bit because Lundakarnevalen was taking place that year. This decision-making process held some foreshadowing in hindsight.
I went to Lund to get serious with my academics, take the foreign service exam, and walked away with a Master’s degree and a new perspective on the allocation of free time. It was a great year, I ended up making life-long friends, fell in love with a girl, got involved in Värmlands Nation, started fixing bicycles, made filmjölk and cheese, brewed my own beer and became enamored with Sweden. I ended up writing my thesis on (Renewable) Energy Politics in the EU. Maybe not surprisingly at this point in the story, my original topic (that I ended up scrapping because I wanted to find a job after graduation) was protectionism and politics in the EU beer market, fun fact.
I learned Swedish during that year. It wasn’t perfect but having learned a bit from a neighbor when I was young and being able to speak German and English, I found it relatively easy to learn. Unexpectedly, knowing Swedish landed me my first job in Washington, D.C. as a corporate governance analyst responsible for publicly-traded Scandinavian companies. Lund also followed me to Washington as a few of my classmates from the program moved to D.C. and we were active around the embassies and Nordic social events in D.C., and coincidentally at one point there were five Lund alums staying in our row house.
Taking the leap to transition my career
I eventually worked in environmental and social governance. I moved with my job and the love of my life, the girl who I met in Lund, to Heidelberg. Following a restructuring, I took my severance package and turned my beer brewing hobby into a career and started my career at Heidelberger Brauerei. In 2015, I graduated from the Diplom-Braumeister program at the TU Berlin and started full-time as Braumeister at the newly founded Vagabund Brauerei, a 1-million-liter annual production facility and taproom in the Wedding neighborhood, where I have been ever since.
Erik and Vagabund’s colorful radler in their beer garden, October 2025. Photo: Private collection
What does a Master of European Affairs have to do with being a Brewmaster some might ask. It is a common misconception that Brewmasters party for a living. It is actually a highly analytical job that requires a broad depth of knowledge in the fields of chemistry, microbiology, mechanics and strategic planning – and lots of networking. In short, science plus politics. I use a lot of what I learned in Sweden, even if it is a bit hidden behind the day in and day out of running a middle-sized brewery. I have often considered someday combining my professional experiences where I can use my MEA degree a bit more directly, perhaps through the lens of the brewing and beverage industry or working on environmental issues.
Sankta Lucia Event on 11 December
My time in Sweden continues to be a big part of my life, especially at this time of year when we watch Fixarjulen and Julkalendern as a family tradition. We also make syltkakor, lussebullar, glögg, and all kinds of other goodies. I have wanted to do an Alumni Meet-Up at the brewery for some time as it’s a fitting choice for networking: tasty food, relaxed atmosphere, and great beer.
These annual traditions and my connection to Lund inspired me to host an open Sankta Lucia event for all alumni and lovers of Swedish culture. It will take place on 11 Decemberat the brewery,Vagabund Brauerei, in Berlin. We will be starting with happy hour at 17:00-19:00, followed by lussebullar from our new restaurant at 18:00, and going until late. If you find yourself in Berlin, all are welcome! The event is pay as you go and will also include the debut tasting of our saffron hop water as well as our winter food menu and glögg. See you there!
Text: Erik Mell, Lund University alumnus
Event info: Sankta Lucia in Berlin
Date: Thursday 11 December Time: 18:00 (until late) Place: Vagabund Brauerei, Oudenarder Str. 16-20, 13347 Berlin
No registration is required. Food and beverage is at your own expense. Please note there will not be a Lucia procession.
“Happiness in life does not depend on wealth — we all know that — but financial independence often brings a freedom of thought and opinion that is of great value. It also entails a responsibility to lead a sober life and to help others.”
These words have rested on Ebba Fischer’s desk for the past 17 years, a quiet reminder of wisdom. The note once belonged to the late business mogul Holger Crafoord (Åkerlund & Rausing, Tetra Pak, Gambro), who dedicated his fortune to supporting others through the Crafoord Foundation. As his granddaughter, Ebba has carried forward his mission as chair of the foundation since 2008, navigating the responsibilities attached to her family legacy. Now, she stands at the threshold of a new chapter as she is stepping down before the end of the year.
In time for Philanthropy Day, we highlight alumna Ebba Fischer, who for 17 years has led the Crafoord Foundation, carrying forward her maternal grandfather Holger Crafoord’s vision to use resources for the greater good. Photo: Kennet Ruona.
Growing up in the Crafoord family
It’s easy to imagine that growing up in the Crafoord family meant a life of luxury and privilege. Yet Ebba Fischer paints a different picture of a humble upbringing in Småland, where the belief in education as a path to opportunity ran deep. Her great-grandmother, a single mother who ran a small milk shop, placed a donation box on the counter to save for Holger Crafoord’s schooling. That story left a lasting impression on Ebba, reinforcing her belief in hard work and perseverance.
“I was actually born Rosenblad, not Crafoord“
During her university years, few paid much attention to her family name. “I was actually born Rosenblad, not Crafoord,” she explains. “But many still knew I was connected to the Crafoord family. Especially when the Holger Crafoord Centre was being built right in the middle of my business studies. I got the occasional joke about how I should be the one buying drinks, since I could afford it. But it never went much further than that.”
Growing up in a neighborhood with neighbors and friends who all came from environments where nothing was taken for granted, also helped shape her values.
Ebba in 1976 with her maternal grandfather Holger Crafoord who passed away in1982 when Ebba was 15 yrs old. She remembers him as a kind, humble person. Photo: Private collection
A Party Master and an Honorary Doctorate Degree
In 2014, Ebba Fischer was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Humanities in recognition for her leadership and interest for advancing the humanities. It is, of course, a very prestigious title – but so is being “The Official Party Master (!)” of the 1990 Lund Carnival.
Together, the two distinctions, and everything in between, capture the essence of who Ebba Fischer is to Lund, and what Lund has meant to her in return.
Ebba as the head of social events during the 1990 student carnival. Photo: Per LindströmEbba Fisher receiving a Honory doctorate by the Faculty of Humanities for her leadership in advancing the humanities, including support for the Human Rights professorship, the LUX complex, and the Centre for Languages and Literature (SOL). Photo: Lund university.
Licensed physical therapist – time to shape up
After a few years of scattered university courses and life skills earned through a more social curriculum, Ebba settled on studying for a degree in Physical therapy. She vividly remembers how she thought it was time to shape up. “I was 26 years old, I was a single mother and I thought it was time to get my act together, and the physiotherapy profession appealed to me. I wanted to study medicine, but with a young daughter, I realised my limitations. And I am very happy I attended that amazing and interesting program in the end.”
After gaining experience in clinical care across multiple hospital departments, Ebba’s path took a new turn when her mother stepped down as chair, and the board selected Ebba to succeed her in 2008.
What makes people want to give?
What makes people want to give? Is it empathy, a sense of responsibility, gratitude – or something else? For Ebba Fischer, the answer isn’t clear-cut, but she believes all these motivations play a part. The Crafoord Foundation distributes more than 145 million SEK each year, with a large share going to Lund University’s strong research environments.
Fischer is clear about her role: she doesn’t judge which scientific projects are most deserving of funding herself.
“When it comes to scientific projects, I personally don’t have enough knowledge to judge which should be prioritised, she explains, so I rely on the process. All applications are reviewed by expert committees, and decisions are made by the board.”
But the Crafoord Foundation doesn’t only support science and education projects. Local initiatives in culture, social welfare and public benefit are also very important.
The projects that left a lasting impression
One of the first projects Ebba contributed to, at just 18 years old, helped award a grant that enabled the founding of Kulturmejeriet, one of Lund’s most important concert venues and a true cornerstone of the cultural DNA in Lund. That experience shaped her early career and left a lasting impression.
“It made a strong impression on me that the foundation my maternal grandfather had created, could do something like that,” she explains.
One project Fischer highlights with particular pride is We Have A Dream – an exhibition of photographs and stories centered on dreams and human rights. Visit the free exhibition at Domkyrkoplatsen in Lund, from 5 June to 20 September 2026. Photo: Albert Wiking for wehaveadream.se
Yet the moments that move her the very most are often small: “I’m especially happy when we receive heartfelt thank-you notes from sports clubs and schools for children with special needs. When we can make a difference for children and young people, it brings me real joy.”
Enjoying life’s simple pleasures
After decades of giving her time and energy to charitable projects, Ebba Fischer leaves a legacy defined by generosity and lasting impact. Now she is handing over the baton to her sister Anna Manhusen.
“I feel that after so many years of involvement, it’s time to step down. The Crafoord Foundation is a very well-functioning organisation and will likely benefit from having people with fresh perspectives,” she says.
What will she do now?
At 58, Ebba does not have a clear road map ahead. But perhaps it means that she can look forward to a slower pace. A sunny autumn day, a good stew on the stove and quiet evenings with a crime novel. And of course, life with her husband, her four children and even a grandchild – the things in life that, apart from helping others, truly nourish the soul and offer the richest rewards.
Reading this but yet not a member of the Alumni Network?
The Alumni Network is a free professional and social network for all those who have studied or worked at Lund University. Currently, over 50 000 members around the world are a part of our Alumni Network. We encourage you to join, too! Read more here or SIGN UP HERE
With your help we make a difference! Lund University works tirelessly to make the world a better place. As a university, our mission is to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition through research and education. As a donor, you help Lund University maintain its position as a world-class university and leading agent of societal development. Regardless of the subject or scope of the project, we can help you find something that you are passionate about – a way for you as a donor to contribute to a better world.
Committed, curious and eager to take action. The students who apply to Master’s programmes in sustainability at Lund University stand out for their genuine will to change the world.
Pioneers and forerunners: this is how the Master’s programmes EMP (Master’s Programme in Environmental Management and Policy) and LUMES (Master’s Programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science) can be described. They are some of the oldest interdisciplinary programmes in both Sweden and Europe. Since they started in 1995 and 1997, respectively, they have been extremely popular, with around 1,700 students applying yearly to the Master’s programmes at The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) and Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS).
The students who choose to study in Lund today are increasingly seeking knowledge that can enable them to take positive action, says Maja Essebo, Director of Studies at LUMES.
“Within LUMES, we are putting a greater emphasis on discussing what students can practically do about, for example, climate change or injustice; in contrast to just identifying what is wrong with our world”, says Maja Essebo, researcher at LUCSUS.
Håkan Rodhe, former Director of Studies for EMP, and today responsible for the alumni network at IIIEE, has identified the same trend, but emphasises that the very foundation of EMP has been its practical anchoring in business and policy. The focus has always been that students should be able to immediately apply what they have learned. Practical implementation is also part of MESPOM (Master’s Programme in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management), the Institute’s successful European joint Master’s programme that has run for more than 20 years in collaboration with three partner universities in Europe.
Alumni are making an active difference
Håkan Rodhe and Maja Essebo believe that there are many reasons as to why so many alumni from EMP, MESPOM and LUMES go on to make an active difference in sustainability and climate work. On the one hand, education and cutting-edge research are integrated, with opportunities to write assignments connected to ongoing research projects, and on the other hand, the programmes integrate practical elements where students get to solve real-world sustainability challenges. Another important factor is the strong sense of unity created within the student cohorts – as they come from different backgrounds, they learn from each other, and often form bonds for life. EMP, MESPOM and LUMES stand out in how they have created a supportive, learning atmosphere, that both current students and alumni describe as life-changing. The atmosphere is actively built through kick-offs, group work and dedicated physical spaces.
“Our alumni return year after year and actively teach on the programmmes. It is a good feeling: that we have created a context that is important, and that gives so much back. Just the other week we had a visit from an alumnus who wanted to show his family: this is where we sat, these were my teachers”, says Håkan Rodhe.
Photo: Håkan Rodhe
Involving alumni and the importance of pluralism
In the future, he wants to involve the alumni even more in the education, because he sees a growing need to practically show what change processes look like in reality. Maja Essebo, in turn, emphasises the importance of pluralism in education.
“We have an important role to play in not becoming too narrow in how we educate in sustainability. In times of polarisation; to teach students to be able to see different perspectives, even those that differ greatly from their own views on life. Pluralism is an important cornerstone in sustainability.”
Maja Essebo and Håkan Rodhe are proud of the students, the alumni and all the passionate teachers. Being able to follow the students over the years has been a privilege – not least for Håkan, who has been active in EMP for 30 years: starting out as a young doctoral student to later becoming an established researcher.
“Research publications are of course very important, but there are few things that have a greater impact than the students who go out into the world and actually work on these issues”, says Håkan Rodhe.
New international Master’s programme with a focus on climate change
The United Nations’ annual climate change conference (COP) is an example of a forum where alumni from Lund University have contributed, including as leaders of Sweden’s conference delegation. Last autumn, Lund University launched a new Master’s programme in climate change and society (LUCAS). It is the first programme of its kind in the world.
“We want to show students how they can work with, and mitigate, climate change in collaboration with others. If they understand the causes and effects of climate change, and how they are rooted in social, economic, political and cultural complexity, they will also be equipped to do something about it”, says Maja Essebo, who is also responsible for LUCAS.
Maja Essebo, responsible for LUCAS | Håkan Rodhe, former Director of Studies for EMP, and today responsible for the alumni network at IIIEE | Terese Thoni, Education Coordinator at Sustainability Forum | Photo: Lund University
Sustainability is integrated in all education
Lund University is working actively to integrate knowledge about sustainable development in all its education. Sustainability Forum supports and promotes the integration of sustainability aspects in teaching. Education Coordinator Terese Thoni works with skills training for the University’s teachers, focusing on providing support so that they can build up students’ sustainability competencies.
“Since these are broad competences, most teachers can see how they can incorporate them into their education. Sometimes it’s just a matter of making the sustainability connection clearer, by including good examples or practices that students can learn from, for example”, says Terese Thoni, Education Coordinator at Sustainability Forum.
This year, the LTH students were finally able to organise their traditional regatta on Lake Sjön on the LTH campus. Photo: Neo Wikman, Lundagård.
Fish deaths, algae growth, bans on swimming and fecal bacteria – now they are just a distant memory. This year, the engineers were able to hold their annual lake battle, the Regatta, on home turf again. This was thanks to LTH’s landlord Akademiska Hus, and their collaboration with VA SYD. But it is also the story of two LTH alumni who, in their professional roles, joined forces to deal with flooding after rain, where vegetation has been replaced by asphalt, and in the process transformed and improved their old campus.
When the area that was to become LTH was being planned, the surroundings were considerably greener than they are today. As more houses were built and the areas around them were paved over, flooding became a noticeable problem – the water simply could not drain away quickly enough.
With even more housing to be built, 500 cubic meters of water needed to be able to be handled during heavy rainfall. This was to prevent the roads around LTH, mainly the intersection of John Ericssons väg and Ole Römers väg, from being flooded.
Åsa Hallbergson from Akademiska Hus. Photo: Evelina Lindén
Åsa Hallbergson is a project manager at Akademiska Hus, the company that owns the land and buildings on the LTH campus.
“The stormwater pipes from the 1960s were too weak because they were laid when the area was mostly fields and greenery. Now we handle storm water from 20 hectares, or 40 football pitches, half of which are hard surfaces,” she explains.
The lake, which together with the pond, are former clay pits from the Pålsjö brickworks, had also been plagued by excessive algae growth, which attracted birds, which in turn defecated and made the water unusable. For a while, it looked more like a golf green than a lake.
As an alumna of LTH’s civil engineering programme, Åsa Hallbergson herself had participated in the Regatta, which is an important part of the students’ initiation. In September, each section builds a vehicle for a naval battle that is then fought during the final weekend of the initiation.
The lake Sjön with algae, August 2024. Photo: Evelina Lindén
“The lake was never intended for swimming, but the Regatta has symbolic value and is an important tradition,” she says.
In her previous position at Lunds Kommuns Fastighets AB (LKF), Åsa Hallbergson had worked with weather forecasts: before cold spells, the buildings were heated three days in advance.
“And if you can control a house, you should be able to control a level regulation well.”
The plans began to take shape. Åsa Hallbergson picked up the phone and called VA SYD, who jumped at the idea. Research engineer Hanna Nordlander, an alumna of the LTH programme in ecosystems and water resource management, became her partner in crime.
Monk wells and facelifts
In her childhood home of Västergötland, Åsa Hallbergson had an uncle who regulated the level of his pond with something he called a “monk well.” This inspired her to find a solution other than building an above-ground stormwater delay system at LTH. Instead, there is now an ingenious underground construction between the pond Pölen and the lake Sjön, which can divert water to Sjön in advance when heavy rain is expected. Pölen has also undergone a major facelift, with vegetation removed and trash cleared away.
The new connection between the pond and the lake allows water to circulate and increases the oxygen level, which reduces algae growth. Illustration: VA SYD
“We have also caught lots of crucian carp,” says Åsa Hallbergson, referring to the fish species that eats zooplankton, thereby promoting the growth of algae and duckweed.
The growth of algae is also inhibited by the increased turnover of water. The environment is improving, and the oxygen content in the water is increasing. Nowadays, pike and perch also swim in the lake Sjön, and they like to eat crucian carp.
“We hope to create an ecosystem here. The Department of Ecology has given us advice and helped us in many ways during the project”, says Åsa Hallbergson.
Twenty-one months after the first phone call, the final inspection was approved. There have been many changes: the channel between Pölen and Sjön has been dug out again and lined with recycled paving stones from the construction of Forum Medicum. Instead of replanting bushes, Akademiska Hus has sown meadow flowers. Gravel paths wind along intuitive walkways. Sometimes the plans were redone during the course of the project. The map had to be adapted to reality instead of the other way around.
“It has turned out very well, thanks to the fact that we have been able to work with responsive, solution-oriented, cooperative contractors who know their stuff.”
Riot-proof design
Åsa Hallbergson notes that it helps to retain a childlike spirit when planning the design of a campus area. The LTH Fountain can now be illuminated with the overall colors of the sections and also TLTH: dark blue, orange, white, red, blue, purple, yellow, pink, blue, turquoise, wine red and green. And the shattered glass left over from the fountain’s former days has now been sifted out of the soil.
“Everything has to be riot-proof, as you do know if you’ve ever been a student yourself.”
When the rain forecasts indicate heavy rainfall, VA SYD can now allow up to 1,000 cubic meters of water to flow from the pond Pölen into the lake Sjön. This means that the capacity is twice as large as originally planned. But that may come in handy, as it is difficult to know exactly where the rain will fall.
Stress test with 20 millimeters of rain in 15 minutes
“The real stress test came on August 2 this year, when 36 millimeters of rain fell in a single day, 20 of which fell in 15 minutes. We passed with flying colors,” says Åsa Hallbergson.
And on 14 September, the students were finally able to celebrate the Regatta on home turf again.
“It wasn’t until the end of the project that we realized that both Hanna at VA SYD and I had been involved in the Regatta, as had another participant, Elin Strand, who holds a Master of Science in Engineering, Surveying and Land Management, and is now responsible for LTH as a property manager at Akademiska Hus.
Text: Evelina Lindén (participant of the Regatta 1991)
AF, The Academic Society (Akademiska Föreningen), is launching a new initiative to engage alumni, led by well-known Lund figure Olof Jarlman. By offering a broader range of events, the aim is to reach more people who may not have previously known about the opportunity to become a special member (särskild medlem).
Most people in Lund are likely aware that the city’s DNA is deeply rooted in Akademiska Föreningen’s unique traditions of culture and events, from student performances and carnivals to formal dinners, student evenings and academic celebrations, all centered around education, humor and community. With support from major foundations such as Crafoord, LMK and Sparbanksstiftelsen Finn, AF continues to be a central force in Lund’s academic and cultural life. But there’s another important group, AF’s special members!
Time to broaden the offer for special members
Many are unaware that Akademiska Föreningen offers a special membership for those who have completed their studies or otherwise have close ties to the University. The membership requires no active involvement but comes with several great benefits – for an annual fee of 265 SEK:
Benefits: • Discount on stage events at AF-borgen and other social academic activities, often with the option to pre-book. Some events include an “Eftersits” (a light meal after the activity) available at a ticket price. • Invitations to AF’s traditional festivities. • Opportunity to book the Student House in Skanör for parties or summer stays. • Possibility to get involved in AF’s activities.
Funny hats and folding chairs
The most popular events for special members have long been the spring dinner and autumn mingle before Siste April and Siste November, often followed by a Lundaspex. Now, Olof Jarlman, who leads the initiative, wants to expand the offerings and attract new members!
Humorous folding chair walk with the Uarda Academy in autumn 2025. Photo: Henrik Schyllert
“We want to offer something for everyone,” says Jarlman. In collaboration with AF’s committees and recognised associations, a wide range of events are being arranged. One example from last autumn was the humorous “folding chair walk” with the Uarda Academy, where participants equipped with folding chairs and suitable headwear (!) were guided through Lund’s monuments and memorials. The walk included stories, student performances and sing-alongs, and ended with lunch at Tegnérs in AF-borgen. Another activity was the show Master Will, a spex (Lund-style performance) about the battle between comedy and drama, featuring participants from the Uarda Academy, Lundaspexarna and Boelspexarna.
There may also be annual art salons in collaboration with the Art Committee and Pictura, or carnival memories showcasing highlights from 20th-century Lund carnivals.
Still to come this autumn
The next activity is a lecture (in Swedish) on 12 November about Wiwen Nilsson – the Lund silversmith and designer known for his clean modernism and close ties to the city’s academic student life. (See details below if you wish to attend.) And on 29 November, special members will gather to celebrate the last day of November (Siste November), a cherished highlight in Lund’s student life. This year’s celebration invites guests to a festive mingle followed by a classic Lundaspex – an evening filled with laughter, culture and community.
Countdown to the 200th anniversary
In four years, Akademiska Föreningen will celebrate its 200th anniversary. Plans are still being developed, and no details are finalised, but expectations are high that the celebration will be something truly special – and of course, alumni will be included.
“Curiosity and engagement enrich both the individual and the academic community,” says Olof Jarlman. As a special member (särskild medlem), you can take part in this in your own way – attend events, discover new connections between students, academia and businesses in Lund or simply join activities that interest you. Everything is voluntary, but all opportunities are open.
Jarlman emphasizes that the goal is to create a vibrant community where alumni can continue to feel at home in Lund’s student life.
12 November – Wiwen Nilsson and the student world
Lecture (in Swedish) and discussion with Wiwen expert Fredrik Zimmerdahl and former AF Chair Olof Jarlman. Meal afterwards: Ground beef patties with sides (drinks not included). Time & Place: 19:00–21:30, Weibull Hall, AF-borgen Price: 195 SEK for AF members Registration: By 1 November to olof@jarlman.se – include name, phone/email and number of seats.
29 November – Last of November celebration
Special members are invited to a festive mingle followed by a classic Lundaspex. Invitation, registration details and cost will be sent shortly via email to AF’s special members.
The quote “a gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but chooses not to” is often attributed to the “Lundensian” prominent cultural figure, Sten Broman, but how certain can we really be that he was the one who coined the phrase? Fredrik Tersmeden, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy and Archivist at Lund University, digs deep into the matter.
There exists today an internet-based company whose business idea might be described as ingenious—at least if one wishes to make a decent amount of money for the least possible amount of personal creativity. The concept involves taking short, out-of-context quotes from various well-known individuals, setting them in a slightly humorous font (albeit one that can be found on virtually any computer), and then selling prints of these quotes in various sizes—from 13 x 18 cm to 70 x 100 cm—for between 119 and 499 SEK apiece (note: frame not included!).
One of the “motifs” one can choose to decorate one’s home with is the quote: “A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but chooses not to.” The remark is attributed to one of Lund University’s more familiar alumni of the 20th century: the composer, music critic and media personality Sten Broman.
Since Broman passed away in 1983 and has thus been dead for less than 70 years, one might ask to what extent his estate is receiving royalties from the company’s poster sales. On the other hand, one might also ask whether they should be receiving anything at all. For there is considerable doubt as to whether it was really Sten Broman who coined these words. This was noted by someone I occasionally interact with on social media, after discovering that the American musician Tom Waits has allegedly said exactly the same thing (albeit in English). And although, chronologically, it would have been possible for either Broman to quote Waits or Waits to quote Broman, neither scenario seems particularly likely. And did either of these gentlemen actually coin the phrase in the first place – or even utter it at all? I decided to get to the bottom of the matter.
Sten Broman being celebrated at the Grand Hotel on the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1982 – seemingly with choral singing rather than accordion music. Photo: Hagblom-Foto. Image source: Lund University Library.
Embarrassing Wheezing Noises
Let me, at this point, state that it is not Broman’s aversion to the accordion itself that I intend to question in this text, as that is well documented – including in his own memoirs Upplevelser av 1900-talet (Experiences of the 20th Century). As early as page 9, Broman recounts how, at the age of twelve, he visited his grandfather Jöns – a tailor who also came from a long line of folk musicians – for the first and only time:
As an old expert, he approved of my suit, and to test whether the musical tradition remained, he placed an accordion in my hands. This turned out to be an embarrassing experience for me. The wheezing noises of the accordion immediately made a horribly unpleasant impression on me, and I have unfortunately never been able to come to terms with it.
But did Broman thereby, by definition, believe that his grandfather – and the long line of his forebears – were not gentlemen? Let’s consult the sources!
Fortunately, there is already some prior research to build upon – specifically the work done in the United States by one Gregory F. Sullivan, a former computer technician at Johns Hopkins University, who for some reason often goes by the name Garson O’Toole. He writes under this name on his website Quoteinvestigator.com – a platform dedicated to investigating the true origins of the various bon mots and so-called “winged words” that circulate in our modern, especially digital, world. Concerning the claim that a gentleman is someone who refrains from playing a certain instrument, Sullivan has discovered that the quote has been attributed not only to figures such as Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain, but has also been applied to far more instruments than just the accordion – including the ukulele, saxophone, bagpipes and banjo.
In the very oldest version Sullivan has been able to trace – in an issue of the Kansas-based newspaper The Atchison Weekly Globe from January 1917 – the phrase is credited to a local wit named Frank Fiest, who is said to have remarked: “My idea of a gentleman is he who can play a cornet and won’t.” The phrase was evidently catchy, for other American newspapers quickly began quoting it – initially with explicit reference to Frank Fiest, but soon also without attribution – and with the cornet replaced by other instruments.
Saxophones, Bagpipes and Twelve-Tone Music
What, then, of the Swedish version of the quote? Here, I have conducted a similar investigation using the Royal Library’s database of digitised Swedish newspapers. With the caveat that the phrase may be worded in various ways – such as that the gentleman “refrains”, “abstains” or “doesn’t do it” in reference to playing – the earliest example I could find in the Swedish press appears in Aftonbladet on 9 July 1936. The instrument whose non-use is praised in that instance is the saxophone. The phrase quickly gained traction in Sweden too: just a few days later, it appears in Falu Länstidning. As in the U.S., the instruments vary: everything from the bagpipes to the more conventional piano is mentioned. There are also clear trends over time. In the mid-1950s, for example, several newspapers comment on refraining from playing the lute (accompanied by singing), which makes one wonder whether parts of the Swedish press had by then suffered an overdose of Evert Taube. During the pop music wave of the 1960s, it is instead the guitar that bears the brunt. There are also versions of the phrase that elevate the idea beyond individual instruments. In March 1960, for instance, the newspaper Arbetartidningen asserts that: “A gentleman is a composer who can write twelve-tone music but chooses not to.”
But what about the accordion? Based on what I’ve found, it doesn’t appear in this context until Dagens Nyheter on 24 September 1997 – fourteen years after Broman’s death. And even then, the quote is attributed to jazz musician Zoot Sims! The earliest link I’ve found between this musical gentleman-definition and Sten Broman appears in Skånska Dagbladet just over eleven years ago: on 27 June 2014 – a time when the quote generally begins to explode in popularity in the Swedish press, and is now more and more frequently attributed to Broman.
What had happened in the meantime? Well, in 2009, comedian Robert Gustafsson had imitated Broman on the TV programme Allsång på Skansen, and during the sketch had put a Swedish version of Frank Fiest’s old remark into the mouth of his thoroughly deceased impersonation subject!
AI-generated image. Created with the help of Microsoft Copilot.
From all this, three conclusions may be drawn:
1) It is highly unlikely that Sten Broman coined the phrase about what a gentleman refrains from playing – unless, as a 15-year-old, he successfully led a double life in Atchison, Kansas under the name Frank Fiest.
2) It is almost certainly much cheaper – and probably more accurate – to print and frame one’s own Broman quotes than to buy them online.
3) If one wishes to assemble an orchestra consisting only of gentlemen, the available instrumentation will be rather limited.
Fredrik Tersmeden Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Archivist at Lund University
Recent Lund University graduate Axel Eriksson is one of just 14 young climate leaders worldwide appointed by the UN Secretary-General to the global Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change!
The UN Youth Advisory Group amplifies young voices and helps shape global climate action, ensuring their ideas and experiences inform key UN decisions. Photo: CRC.
Stubbornly optimistic
Axel Eriksson describes himself as a stubbornly optimistic advocate for environmental justice. He grew up with a love for life on Earth. From the start, he regarded animals and plants as deserving respect, recognising their fundamental right to exist.
Playing the trombone and visiting the Swedish parliament with his cousin. Photo: Private collection.
Animal rights were the first issue that evoked emotion and gradually evolved to an even deeper understanding of the impact of climate change and the fact that it is humans that are causing global warming.
Becoming a change-maker
In high school, Axel discovered his voice through “Sollentuna Youth Day,” a platform for young people who want to shape their community. He became inspired and ended up joining the local youth council. This was the stepping stone to get involved and take action instead of being a passive bystander – not for a future career, but simply because he cared.
Swedish upper-secondary graduation day. Photo: Private collection.
Choosing physics and unintentionally learning Japanese
Coming to Lund University was an easy choice. The Engineering Physics program at Lund University is a challenging program, known for producing highly skilled problem-solvers across research, industry and innovation. Axel, driven by a deep passion for physics and a curiosity about how complex systems interconnect, was drawn to the challenge. With a sharp and inquisitive mind (who else picks up Japanese just by watching anime?) he was clearly ready to embrace the demands this program offers.
Entrance to the Physics Library (where Axel worked as a student) at Lund University Faculty of Engineering. Photo: Kennet Ruona
“I chose Engineering Physics largely out of curiosity and a passion for physics and wanting to apply this knowledge in real-world situations” he shares.
During his time at the University, Axel explored a wide range of interests, but he was not participating much in traditional Lund unions or associations. Instead, he delved deeper into his subject area. “I often reached out to researchers to ask if there was any project where I could support. And quite a few found ways to engage me, which I’m very grateful for!”
The road to UN’s Youth Climate Advisory Group
Alongside his studies, Axel continued his community work for people and the planet, and it was through one of the organisations that he is affiliated with, that he asked about the possibility of a nomination for the UN role back in February (2025).
“I wanted to contribute from my experiences across UN environmental conventions as an advocate for young people’s rights and voices” he shares. But when he didn’t hear anything back for many months, he thought he was not selected. But in July came a surprising e-mail with good news and the rest is history.
Axel at COP28. Soon he is heading to the UN climate summit COP30 in Brazil where he will meet his colleagues in real life.
The job description
Reflecting on his new role, Axel says he feels both proud and purposeful. “I’m very honoured to be part of this group, which I have followed in previous years, and I know a few of its previous members,” he says.
Based in Stockholm, but often travelling, Axel’s work largely happens through virtual meetings with fellow members, UN representatives and even the Secretary-General himself. His day-to-day tasks involve listening to the priorities and lived realities of young people around the world and turning these insights into concrete advice for global leaders.
Three guiding principles
The three guiding principles that reflect the work that Axel stands for are ambition, holism and inclusivity. He envisions an environmental leadership that is both grounded and expansive.
* Ambition, he explains, means honouring global commitments like the Paris Agreement and letting evidence lead the way, whether that evidence comes from scientific research, Indigenous traditional knowledge, or other ways of knowing.
* Holism reflects his understanding that environmental issues are deeply interconnected. “We need to tackle them at the root,” he says, pointing to biodiversity loss and climate change as symptoms of shared drivers like extractivism and the persistent view of nature as a resource for human consumption.
* Inclusivity, finally, is about ensuring that a diversity of voices are not only heard but actively listened to in decision-making processes. “For me,” Axel emphasises, “especially those who are the most affected, such as Indigenous folks, children and youth, women and girls, and persons with disabilities, need to be given space to speak on their own behalf in international environmental fora in the UN and beyond.”
An impossible job?
When asked if he ever doubts whether he has the energy to keep fighting for climate justice, he reflects for a moment. “Yes and no,” he says.
“I rarely doubt that I have energy – it’s more about how to make that energy last in the long run. Being able to put time, energy and passion into issues that I care about, which I know are crucial for the lives of so many people from around the world. It is frankly an honour to work on this, even in times when there is a lot of resistance, the issue feels heavy, or the change just does not seem to move at the pace needed. To be able to last in the long run, I carry with me passion and compassion. “
It is all about justice in the end
Axel believes that environmental and social issues are inseparable. The same systems that drive climate change and biodiversity loss also sustain economic inequality. For him, environmental justice means ensuring that actions to protect the planet do not deepen existing injustices, but instead place the fight for a good life for all at the centre.
It is, he says, unacceptable that those who have contributed least to the crisis suffer the most from its consequences.
COP30 takes place 10-21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.
Reading this but yet not a member of the Alumni Network?
The Alumni Network is a free professional and social network for all those who have studied or worked at Lund University. Currently, over 50 000 members around the world are a part of our Alumni Network. We encourage you to join, too! Read more here or SIGN UP HERE
Alzheimer’s is often called the “silent thief,” stealing memories long before symptoms appear. Lund alumnus and world-renowned researcher Oskar Hansson is determined to stop it in its tracks.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month and Professor Oskar Hansson is one of the world’s foremost Alzheimer’s researchers, driving breakthrough discoveries that are redefining early diagnosis and global progress against the disease. Photo: Tove Smeds
He rarely takes a long lunch. Natural yoghurt with blueberries and walnuts, nature’s own brain boosters, fuels his focus as he ticks off a lunch meeting on his calendar. Oskar Hansson is on a mission. His team has developed a simple blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s with high accuracy, even before symptoms appear. Already in use in clinics across the globe, it’s a quiet revolution in diagnostics.
Going to Boston
In about a year, he and his wife will begin packing up their lives in Lund to move to Boston, where he’ll join the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly (or just Lilly). They are both excited about it! His new role: Vice President for Neurodegenerative Disease Early Phase Clinical and Imaging Development.
The title is a mouthful, but what it means is that he’ll be leading the early development of new treatments for degenerative brain diseases, guiding how they’re tested, tracked and refined in their earliest stages.
The reason behind the move is simple. To develop effective treatments, he needs the kind of specialised expertise and resources found within pharmaceutical companies. And he feels confident leaving his work in Lund in capable hands.
“Several promising leaders have emerged within our research group, well-equipped to take over and continue its development,” he says. “And I had reached my primary goal: to help create simple diagnostic tools that are set to revolutionise healthcare. My new ambition is to develop effective treatments for brain diseases, and that goal is far better supported within the pharmaceutical industry.”
Social life, humour and mitochondria
Oskar Hansson on Swedish upper secondary school graduation day 1994. Photo: Private collection
With a special interest in physics, math, quantum theory and the mysteries of relativity—alongside a growing curiosity for philosophy and biology—it was no surprise that after Swedish upper secondary graduation, Oskar eventually chose medical school in Lund. His passion for research was evident as he would seek opportunities to delve into even during summer breaks.
Left: Oskar Hansson, photographed in his apartment at “Ulrikedal” in Lund, with the dissertation he wrote for his PhD in 2001. Photo: Private collection. Right: Student days at Wallenberg Neuroscience Center in Lund 2000. Photo: Private collection.
“Already during the first semester of medical school (autumn 1994), I began conducting research in the evenings, on weekends, and during summer holidays. I started with a project in neuroimmunology with the goal of finding treatments for brain cancer,” he shares.
Despite his intense focus, Oskar wasn’t all “lab coat”. He embraced student life, joining Lund’s “Toddy spex”, a theatrical Lund Medical School tradition blending satire, music, and academic parody. It’s the kind of thing that requires a good sense of humour and a willingness to not take yourself too seriously.
“It’s important to be able to laugh at yourself and move on when you’ve made a mistake. If you’re doing groundbreaking research, most things will fail, but you should learn from your failures and move forward stronger. It’s often important not to focus on yourself, but on the goals you’re passionate about in life.”
After five semesters of medical school, Oskar took a step back to explore other ideas: first philosophy, then the world of biomedical research at Lund. That curiosity soon led him to Scotland, where he became fascinated by mitochondria and their role in brain diseases. It was the beginning of a deeper dive into neurobiology, and after three years of research into Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, he earned his PhD in 2001.
The breakthrough
Then, about twenty years ago, Oskar Hansson’s research group made a groundbreaking discovery: Alzheimer’s could be predicted 5-10 years in advance using spinal fluid biomarkers (Hansson et al., Lancet Neurology). It was like spotting storm clouds long before the rain. This finding led to the biomarkers being used in clinical practice around the world to improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and in drug trials aimed at preventing the onset of dementia.
Blood instead of spinal fluid – and why it matters
A simple bloodtest now makes early diagnosis possible in everyday clinics. Photo: Canva
In recent years, Oskar’s team developed a simple blood test to replace the spinal fluid method. It’s already in use in countries like the United States and Japan, and is just now being introduced in Sweden. It was a real game-changer for patients, because it is quick, gentle and easy to use in everyday clinics. With accuracy close to spinal fluid tests, it makes early diagnosis possible for many more people, even in places without advanced medical equipment. Oskar has also worked with organisations like the WHO to help ensure the test becomes available in low- and middle-income countries, making early Alzheimer’s diagnosis more equitable across the globe.
Deliberately recruited for success
Oskar Hansson in the lab. Photo: Åsa Wallin for the Knut and Alice Wallenbergs Foundation.
Oskar has always worked with a clear focus, often setting ambitions that stretch over five to ten years. To reach them, he has deliberately recruited for success and built teams of driven and talented colleagues, ensuring that every objective is not only bold, but also meaningful for healthcare, and he adds:
“As a team, we have only chosen ambitious goals, that might revolutionise the healthcare, and where we believed we had the potential to be among the very best in the world.”
The mindset of a researcher mirrors that of an athlete
In many ways, the mindset of a researcher mirrors that of an athlete. Both require perseverance, precision and a relentless drive to improve.
That competitive spirit has been with him since childhood, when he played ice hockey with serious intent before realising that combining elite sport with other ambitions would be too difficult.
The discipline and focus he learned on the ice, however, never left him. Even today, he enjoys running in nature, always choosing the tougher path, because, as he puts it, “the more difficult the terrain, the more fun.”
Now, as his work takes him across the Atlantic, he jokes that one of his next challenges will be to quickly learn about major American sports teams, especially those tied to the cities where many of his colleagues are based, from Boston and Philadelphia to New York and Indianapolis. Without that knowledge, he admits, it may be hard to keep up with the conversations at coffee breaks and after-work gatherings.
Fenway Park: Home of the Red Sox – Boston. Photo: Canva
For Oskar, research doesn’t seem so different from sport. The challenge is what fuels him, and the ultimate goal is not simply to participate, but to win – on behalf of patients, healthcare and science itself.
Reading this but yet not a member of the Alumni Network?
The Alumni Network is a free professional and social network for all those who have studied or worked at Lund University. Currently, over 50 000 members around the world are a part of our Alumni Network. We encourage you to join, too!
It is that time again! Applications for studies commencing in the spring semester of 2026 will open on 15 September and close on 15 October 2025. Lund University offers a wide range of opportunities for professional development, with many courses available part-time and fully online, ideal for professionals in the midst of their careers.
Standalone courses, full degree programmes, remote learning options and short courses – all designed to offer the flexibility you need to balance your studies with work and everyday life. We hope you’ll find something that suits your needs. Please note that tuition fees may apply for people from countries outside the EEA and if you have any questions about a course, please contact the contact person on each course page.
You can also choose to study our MOOCs or our tailor-made professional education courses.
Lund University also offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which are open to anyone interested in the subject. These courses are free and have no admission requirements. For a full list of all MOOCs by Lund University, please visit: MOOCs | Lund University
Professional or comissioned education Professional or comissioned education provides training opportunities for professionals sponsored by their company or organisation. For more information please visit: Lund University Commissioned Education | Lund University
Having trouble making a decision? Contact our general study guidance counselors
The study guidance services offer guidance and information when you are in the process of making educational or professional choices. We help you to clarify what your interests and abilities are prior to and during your studies. You are welcome to contact the study guidance team for example:
– If you are unsure about your choice of studies – If you have questions about the application and admission rules – If you want to know more about the professional areas that different programs can lead to – If you wonder how you can combine stand-alone courses to achieve a valid general degree
Comments