The new hub will be called Water in a Changing Environment (WICE). The initiative will run for five years and then be evaluated, but the aim is for the hub to be permanent. For Lund University, the collaboration entails opportunities for both researchers and students. Through the hub, researchers from all the faculties with a connection to water, environment and health will be able to create networks and collaborate with leading researchers at the UN University (UNU).
“The UN stamp will make it easier to bring the research conducted in Lund to a global arena. There are only two other hubs like this in the world, one in Canada and one in Germany. So, it feels very exciting to get this opportunity,” says Lina Eklund, researcher at Lund University’s Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science.
Regarding the education element, Lund University will establish a UN track for students studying programmes connected with water, environment and health. They will receive extra training and the opportunity to apply for internship places at a number of international organisations.
“This will attract highly motivated students who want to work on water issues. When we were asked to enter into this collaboration, we said yes straight away,” says Rolf Larsson, associate professor of water resources engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (LTH).
It is no coincidence that Lund University was handpicked by the UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health. The Institute’s current director, Kaveh Madani, earned his Master’s degree 20 years ago at LTH. Since then, he has had a meteoric career involving TEDx Talks, prestigious assignments at Imperial College and Yale, and a professorship at the City College of New York.
“Water linked to the environment and health is one of the most important global issues for the future of humankind. For Lund University, this hub is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen collaboration with the UN on the major global issues,” says Erik Renström, Vice-Chancellor of Lund University.
