Facebook icon Twitter icon Forward icon

JUNE NEWSLETTER

FEATURE OF THE MONTH

 

Lund University is one of northern Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities consistently ranking among the world's top 100 universities. Further, it ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe and in international rankings. Wikipedia

Lund University turns 350!

On 19 December 1666, the regency of Charles XI of Sweden took the decision to found Lund University, and the University was officially inaugurated on 28 January 1668. Now that Lund University’s 350th anniversary is approaching, we have chosen to celebrate both of these dates and the whole period in between: from 19 December 2016 to 28 January 2018.  Read more:

Vice-Chancellor Torbjörn von Schantz:

Torbjörn von Schantz is Vice-Chancellor for the period 1 January 2015–28 February 2019. Torbjörn von Schantz is a professor of zoology/animal ecology and has previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Lund University. Torbjörn von Schantz has overall responsibility for all the University’s activities (in cooperation with Deputy Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg). Read more:

Lund University reinforces its top 100 position in QS Subject Ranking:

Lund University is ranked 20th in the world for geography and 50th for both Evironmental Siences and Development Sudies. In addition, Lund University was ranked in the top 100 for eleven other subject areas and in the top 150 for nine subject areas, 60th place in the QS Ranking 2014/2015. Lund University is the highest ranked university in Sweden QS Ranking 2014/2015. The full subject ranking list is available here: Read more:

LUND Research excellence areas:

Lund University has one of Sweden’s strongest and broadest research environments and is recognised as one of the world's top research-led comprehensive universities.

Over recent years Lund University has achieved major success in obtaining large research grants. Annually, almost SEK 5 billion goes to research across eight faculties. Lund University has also distinguished itself in recent years in the allocations of Linnaeus environments and the Swedish Government’s investment in strategic research areas. These successes are largely a result of the interdisciplinary research carried out and the diversity that our comprehensive university has to offer. Read more

LU - Innovations and Discoveries:

Ultrasound:  Hellmuth Hertz and Inge Edler's 1953 ultrasound method to examine the human heart, which is now employed in other areas, including imaging of the foetus in the womb.         Read more:

Artificial kidney:

Nils Alwall’s research and 1946 discoveries on the artificial kidney laid the foundation for the multinational company Gambro, which today makes life easier for 350 000 dialysis patients around the world. 

Bluetooth technology:

Bluetooth technology, which has its roots at Lund University, has made wireless communication possible and has become an indispensable part of the developments in the IT sector. The first Bluetooth product came onto the market in 2001 and since then some two billion units have been sold, making it the world’s fastest growing technology.                                                                          

Nicorette:
The world's first nicotine medication in 1967 to help people stop smoking. Said to have saved the lives of millions of smokers worldwide. Read more:

LUND Strategic research areas:

Lund University is Sweden's strongest comprehensive research university and in recent years has been awarded more research funding than any other Swedish full-scale university.

2009, Lund University received strategic research funding of SEK 715 million from the Swedish Government in order to lead and develop world-leading research in nine different areas over a period of five years. Lund University is also involved as a partner with other Swedish universities in three other strategic projects. Read more:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

19th ANNUAL IEASA CONFERENCE 2015

Online Registration for the 19th Annual IEASA Conference opens on the 1 July 2015.                                                                                Early Bird Conference Registration for the 19th Annual IEASA Conference closes on the 17th July 2015. Read more:

67 MINUTES FOR MANDELA DAY:

The celebration of Mandela Day aims to serve as a "GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION" for people to "recognise their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better", says the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Nelson Mandela's birthday is on 18 July, and the call is out for people everywhere to celebrate his birthday by acting on the idea that each person has the power to change the world.. Read more:

NMMU INCUBATOR GRADUATE WINS VOUGE SCOUTING FOR AFRICA! South African luxury knitwear label MaXhosa by Laduma Ngxokolo has been announced as the winner of the Vogue Talents "Scouting for Africa" competition launched by Vogue Talents.  Read more:

MaXhosa by Laduma continues to make the NMMU proud in the most fashionable manner!

NMMU Vice-Chancellor to climb for his students:

NMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz will be moving out of the familiar comfort of academia to "walk the talk" - literally. As part of Prof Swartz's personal commitment to the University's 10-year celebrations, he will be climbing Mount Fuji in Japan on 7 August to raise funds for academically-deserving but financially-needy students at NMMU. He's swopping his briefcase for a backpack and meetings for the mountain. Read more

UKZN - As part of the European Union’s Inspiring Thinkers Series, Italian  Musicologist Dr Marcello Lorrai was at UKZN’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) to discuss the influence of the South African jazz diaspora in Europe since 1960. Read more:

Dr Marcello Lorrai with Dr Salim Washington (UKZN).

UKZN Music lecturer Mr Neil Gonsalves said: ‘It was a pleasure to host Dr Lorrai as part of the EU Inspirational Thinkers series, especially on a topic as vital as his in understanding the importance and impact of South African jazz in Europe.

UKZN - Struggle Hero Dismayed by Xenophobia Violence

Struggle hero Albie Sachs has expressed his dismay about the recent violent xenophobic attacks, reminding local people that many Africans lost their lives because they opened their hearts and homes to South Africans during the liberation struggle. Albie Sachs urges South Africans to use the values of the constitution to build a just society. Read more:

UKZN - Veteran Academic Awarded Distinguished Teacher’s Award:

Professor Michael Savage of the discipline of Agrometeorology has been awarded a Distinguished Teacher’s Award (DTA) for 2014 in recognition of his excellence in Teaching and Learning. Read more:

UKZN - Distinguished Teacher Award for UKZN’s Dr Aneshkumar Maharaj BY: .

Dr Aneshkumar Maharaj of UKZN’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science (SMSCS) has been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Teachers’ Award for 2014 in recognition of his contributions to Teaching and Learning at UKZN.  Read more:

WHAT HAPPENS AT LINKöPING UNIVERSITY: Read more: 

LiU business students best in the world:

They won top honours at the international final in Dubai,13-16 April, where 28 teams from around the world fought it out in the KPMG International Case Competition was made up of Linnea Andersson Hansen, Hanna Nyman, Jens Ternerot and Patrik Edlund. Read more:

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (NUST)

5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS IN AFRICA

First Call for Papers:  We have pleasure in inviting you to submit a paper for the Fifth Annual Conference of the Faculty of Communication and Information Science, National University of Science and Technology to be held on 24-28 August 2015 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The conference will run in two parts: 

 a. Information Ethics Education (24-25 August 2015)                     b. Main Conference (26-28 August 2015 ) Read more:

UNAM Language & Literature Studies Celebrates Francophonie Day 2015:

Speakers of French, being it individuals or countries:  The UNAM French Section celebrated the Francophonie Day at the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre recently. Francophonie is a term used to refer to speakers of French,being it individuals or countries. Celebrating the creation of the International Organisation of Francophonie, March is recognised internationally as the Francophonie month during which countries all over the world celebrate their common interest in the French language and culture through various activities. Read more:

University of Jyväskylä Professor Heikki Lyytinen appointed as UNESCO Chair:

The University of Jyväskylä has appointed Professor Heikki Lyytinen as UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Literacy Learning for All UNESCO (2015-2018). The purpose of the Chair is to promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation on inclusive literacy learning for all. The Agora Center at the University of Jyväskylä will be coordinating the activities. The Center together with the University of Jyväskylä hon-ored Proferssor Lyytinen´s career and appointment for UNESCO chair during the Agora day on 21 May, 2015. Read more:

The mission of the new UNESCO Professor Heikki Lyytinen is to help children globally, especially in Africa to learn to read. A new approach for promoting literacy and providing learning materials for children and training materials for teachers is to use mobile technology such as mobile phones and tablets. Read more:

Jón Atli Benediktsson was elected Rector of the University of Iceland in a general election by staff and students last Monday, 20 April. Benediktsson is Professor in the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Pro-Rector for Science and Academic Affairs since 2009. He will be the 29th in the line of rectors.

Jón Atli Benediktsson was born in Reykjavík 19 May, 1960 and has 5 siblings. He graduated in Electrical Engineering in 1984 from the University of Iceland and then went on to study at Purdue University, West-Lafayette in Indiana where he graduated with a PhD in 1990. Read more:

Welcome to the University of Iceland

The University of Iceland is a progressive educational and scientific institution, renowned in the global scientific community for its research. It is a state university, situated in the heart of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. It is rated one of the 300 best universities in the World according to imes Higher Education World University Rankings. The University of Iceland also holds a leading role in sustainable energy and environmental research. Read more:

What stands out at the University of Iceland?

Colina Cole, Diploma student in Icelandic as a second language .I enjoy being a student at the University of Iceland but I am from Chicago in the United States. I emerged myself in Icelandic culture upon my arrival in autumn 2013 and I am pleased with my progress in Icelandic. The language teaching is excellent and the lecturers enthusiastic. Read more:

New Dean of the Faculty of Science:

Martin Zachariasen was apppointed as the new Dean of the Faculty of Science as of 1 May 2015. The 47-year-old Professor of Computer Science has led the Department of Computer Science at the University of Copenhagen for seven years, and his appointment as a Dean at SDU was partly based on his efforts to innovate and improve that department. Read more:

RESEARCH:

University of Jyväskylä, Finland -  DOCTOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (PSYCHOLOGY): Kenya goes digital in learning:             The case of GraphoGameTM in Kenya by Dr Suzanne Puhakka.

GraphoGame Kiswahili and Kikuyu adaptations in Ke-nya have proved successful in assisting children to de-velop early reading skills. A total of 167 pupils received GraphoGame intervention during this research. This research has been a pioneer in showing that in addition to assisting in acquisition of reading skills in the first language (mother tongue).  For more information, please contact Dr Suzanne Puhakka, suzan-ne.puhakka(at)jyu.fi.    

NMMU - Late Stage Research and Commercialisation Projects:

Read more:

"Genes determine if dog seeks help" Dogs are masters at communicating with humans. Faced with a difficult problem, a dog will often seek help from its owner. Researchers at Linköping University have hown that this behaviour is not learned but is partially congenital.

The results were recently published in Genes, Brain and Behavior. Read more:

Linköping University - Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM:

The AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology group at Linköping University studies the genetic basis of behaviour and physiology. We are attempting to dissect complex behavioural and physiological traits using modern genetic methods. Read more:

LiU - The battle against drug cravings:

Mental illness and addiction are growing problems the world over. Is there a way to halt this development? Linköping University is doing its part with a major new initiative. Read more:

LiU - Labour migration on the agenda:

LiU Professor Peo Hansen recently attended an OECD meeting on the EU’s policy for labour migration to Europe. "Alongside the huge debate on the refugee issue in Europe, there is also the discussion on labour migration. Read more:

Niilo Mäki Institute, Finland:

Niilo Mäki Institute is a multidisciplinary learning disabilities research and development unit of Niilo Mäki Foundation (NMF). The aim of institute´s research is to find possible causes of learning disabilities and to explore the means of prevention and remediation. If you are interested in sharing your reseach findings or otherwise keen to contribute to the Newsletter, do not hesitate to email us at Pia.krimark(at)nmi.fi. Read more:

University of Zambia DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY (EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY):                  The Acquisition of Early Reading Skills: Influence of the Home Environment by: Dr Tamara Chansa-Kabali,  a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Psychology, University of Zambia. She was recently elected the Vice-President for the Psychology Association of Zambia.

Reading is essential for children’s educational success and communication in a technologically advancing society. With technological advancements today, manipulation of written text to gain insight and understanding from text has become crucial for communication.  Read more:

University of Zambia - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY): Influence of Grade One Zambian Teachers and GraphoGame on initial Literacy Acquisition - Lusaka district by Dr. Jacqueline Jere-Folotiya:

Various research studies that have been conducted on literacy in Zambia have revealed that literacy levels of Zambian learners are one of the lowest in the Southern region. The Zambian Government has made huge financial investments in introducing the Primary Reading Pro-gramme (PRP). Dr Jacqueline Jere-Folotiya, University of Zambia.  Read more:

New Academy Projects, Research Fellows and Postdoctoral Researchers to University of Turku:

The expert panels of the Academy of Finland have selected the new Academy projects, research fellows and postdoctoral researchers during spring. Read more:

​The Academy of Finland granted funding to altogether 14 Academy projects, 6 research fellows and 10 postdoctoral researchers at the University of Turku according to the application round of autumn 2014.

Univeristy of Turku and Fudan to Collaborate in Nursing Science and Information Technology:

The University of Turku and Fudan University will begin planning their joint education in nursing science and information technology. Their aim is to collaborate in both education and research, as well as in the resulting innovation activities. Read more:

Researchers of the University of Turku Proved the Health Benefits of Xylitol 40 Years Ago:

Xylitol is by far the most famous product created at the University of Turku. The xylitol research, which started in 1969, culminated in an observation that surprised everyone. – We started to research whether xylitol is harmful to teeth, but we discovered that it  can even ameliorate caries, says Professor Emeritus Kauko K. Mäkinen. Read more:

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION:

The unit spearheaded the formation of research clusters so as to encourage the development of multidisciplinary research projects and identify potential collaborators and mentors, particularly for young researchers. Read more:

Moths get wind of partner from a kilometre away:

A small part of a moth’s brain is providing new research data that tells us more about our human sense of smell. The findings shed new light on the mysterious goings-on that occur in our brains when we use our sense of smell.

Although the brain of a moth is smaller than a pinhead, we know a lot about the moth’s nerve activity there. One of the most widely studied areas is the moth brain’s primary smell centre: the antennal lobe. Read more:

Science Nordic - The gene that harms and protects us:

Recent studies show that we all have a gene than can cause lethal blood clots, but also protect us against cell death during a stroke. This raises a dilemma for scientists. Read more:

UNAM School of Pharmacy Reaches Out to Rural Schools:

In a continued effort to promote Pharmacy in Namibia, the School of Pharmacy recently reached out to rural schools to provide career guidance in Pharmacy. Contemporary research suggests that there are many benefits from teaching students in a diverse environment. To that end, the school through its outreach programme, undertook a visit to several schools, cutting across Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions. “Our aim is to have a good mix of young Namibians, drawn from all geographical locations, to come and study Pharmacy at the University of Namibia. Read more:

UNAM Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology:

Faculty Overview:                                                                     Engineering is a discipline and profession that serves the needs of society and economy. It is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences gained by study, experience, and practice is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, natural and man-made materials and the forces of nature for the benefit of humankind. The intellectual activities of engineering are heavily based on synthesis, design, and innovation through the integration of knowledge. Read more:

UKZN RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS:

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has identified a number of research focus areas which it believes are critical to supporting its vision. Read more:

UIB Researchers to trawl sea for new biotechnology resources : Biodiversity hot spots in the ocean are an untapped resource for safer, cheaper and greener products. The research project InMare has received EU funding to explore this resource.

Animals found around underworld volcanoes have evolved to live in extreme conditions. These properties may be put to industrial use, researchers say. Read more:

UIB - A general in the war against Ebola:

FIGHTING HIV AND EBOLA: Dr. Samuel Okware (born 1948) is a doctor and public health specialist with 30 years’ experience of leading infection control work for the ministry of health in Uganda. He was involved in early ground-breaking work on HIV prevention in Uganda. He also coordinated the national response to Ebola.        

“I remember the feeling I had when I first heard about Ebola. We didn't know what it was, but the fear crept up on us. Then my colleagues began to die,” says Samuel Okware, a recent PhD graduate at the University of Bergen. Read more:

UIB - Welfare, working life and migration

The modern day welfare state is set to face a number of challenges in the future. Important subjects in this field include welfare models, government reforms, health care services, working life, migration and family politics. Read more:

UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG - Centre of Globalization and Development:

The Centre was created in 2009 to develop research on globalization, which the University of Gothenburg has identified as a priority research area. The Centre is an interdisciplinary organization with participation from several faculties at the university.  Read more:

GU - Research Agenda

EXTERNAL INTERVENTIONS AND DOMESTIC GOVERNANCE : The motivation of GCGD’s research efforts is our concern about global inequalities and the poverty and insecurity that exist in developing countries, and in particular how development in the South is affected by globalization. Read more:

NEW BOOK AVAILABLE:

"The Future Use of Nordic Forests"          Editors: Westholm, Erik, Beland Lindahl, Karin, Kraxner, Florian (Eds.)

Madelene Ostwald, member of the GCGD Steering Committee and working at GU-GMV and Chalmers is one of the contributors to the new book The Future Use of Nordic Forests: A Global Perspective published by Springer. Her chapter is titled "Climate-Related Forest Policies and Trends".  Read more: