Silversmithing and insect larvae lead to doctor's hats
Four prominent professionals will be new honorary doctors at Mid Sweden University. The quartet consists of a silversmith, a professor of trauma research, a former deputy vice-chancellor at Mid Sweden University and a research director who, among other things, has taken an interest in insect larvae.
Pia Sandvik, is now CEO of Teknikföretagen but was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Mid Sweden University and she will now be the new honorary doctor at Mid Sweden University, together with silversmith Kerstin Öhlin-Leijonklou, Dutch trauma researcher Miranda Olff and Anders Kihl, Head of Strategy and Research at Ragn-Sells.
"Both Pia Sandvik and Anders Kihl have contributed in various ways to the development of Mid Sweden University over the years, and we are therefore very pleased that they have accepted their appointments. Their genuine interest and knowledge of research issues in various fields constitutes an important contribution to both Mid Sweden University and other societal actors," says Dan Bylund, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Media.
"It is very gratifying that Miranda Olff and Kerstin Öhlin-Leijonklou have accepted their appointments. These are particularly prominent professionals in their respective fields. Their collaborations with Mid Sweden University make an impression in completely different ways, but are linked together by a desire and desire to contribute to the good of the university," says Pär Olausson, Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences.
The new honorary doctors will be conferred at the Academic Ceremony in Östersund on 10 October. The appointment should be seen as an appreciation for outstanding efforts in one of Mid Sweden University's areas or for the region in which Mid Sweden University operates. The honorary doctorate means that the appointed persons can call themselves doctors.
New honorary doctors at the Faculty of Science, Technology and Media
Anders Kihl is Head of Strategy and Research at Ragn-Sells and has for many years worked with research and development issues in private companies, linked to the management of various types of waste and pollutants - an important research area at Mid Sweden University. Over the past decade, he has enabled and participated in a close collaboration with researchers at Mid Sweden University on how to breed insect larvae for the production of animal feed with biosludge from the paper and pulp industry, and thereby create value from toxic waste with a low energy content. Anders is genuinely interested in research and science and has actively encouraged research that aims to solve real societal challenges and that in one way or another can be valuable to society in the future.
Pia Sandvik was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the then Mid Sweden University, from 2002 to 2005, and worked for Mid Sweden University to become a university, which happened in 2005. Pia wanted to see a brave university that goes its own way into the future. She has extensive experience of leadership in business, public administration and academia, as well as experience and knowledge of innovation, digitalization and energy transition that are important in the green transition. Since 2023, Pia is CEO of Teknikföretagen and is committed to Swedish industry being internationally successful and delivering sustainable solutions. She is passionate about applied research and improving the conditions for industry and believes that through our education system, our industry and research, Sweden can continue to be competitive.
New honorary doctors at the Faculty of Human Sciences
Kerstin Öhlin Lejonklou has been a silversmith for more than six decades, and as an artist she has developed a jewellery art characterised by refined simplicity, technical precision and a unique design language where the cube often serves as the main design idea. Through pioneering efforts in silversmithing and design as well as a role as a female pioneer in the development of crafts, Kerstin stands for a long-term and influential contribution to the art scene in Sweden and internationally. She has received several prestigious awards and her design of Mid Sweden University's doctoral rings and the Vice-Chancellor's chain testifies to her artistic skills and deep roots in both the region and the university.
Miranda Olff is a world-leading expert in psychological trauma research with an extensive international network, as well as editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology. Professor Olff currently leads the Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress, a large international consortium of researchers studying global causes and consequences of trauma. She works closely with Mid Sweden University and as Head of Research at one of Europe's most influential trauma centers – ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre in the Netherlands – she possesses experience and leadership skills that can play a crucial role in establishing a future trauma center at Mid Sweden University or in the Nordic region.
Contact persons for the honorary doctors:
Dan Bylund, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Media, dan.bylund@miun.se
Pär Olausson, Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences and Master of Ceremonies, par.olausson@miun.se
Contact person for the Academic Ceremony:
Pär Olausson, Master of Ceremonies, par.olausson@miun.se
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