Sustainability Issue #1 January 2009

 The Göteborg Prize for Sustainable Development 2008 has been shared equally by Theo Colborn, Margot Wallström, Jan Ahlbom and Ulf Duus. Margot Wallström, during her time as EU Environment Commissioner, was one of  those mainly responsible for the formation and design of REACH, the most advanced system in the world for chemical control, and so far one of the most far-reaching environmental laws in the EU. Professor Theo Colborn is an American environmental researcher and debater. Environmental engineer Jan Ahlbom and toxicologist Ulf Duus have developed methods for reducing the harmful effects of chemicals in the everyday environment in Sweden.

 Edna Granéli, Professor of Aquatic Ecology at Kalmar University College, has received the Nature and Culture Scholarship of 2008 from the Foundation Norra Ölands Kulturcentrum. She received the prize for making research accessible to the public and increasing focus on the Baltic Sea via the popular telephone service "Fröken Alg"

 Erik Swietlicki, Professor at Aerosol Laboratory, KTH, has been appointed this year's Nordic Aerosologist by Nordic Society for Aerosol Research NOSA. Nuclear physicist Swietlicki has been rewarded for his outstanding work in the research on atmospheric aerosols and their effects on human health and world climate.

 Karl-Henrik Robért and Annika Helker Lundström have received honorary Doctorates of Technology from Mälardalens University College. Karl-Henrik Robért for his work on enhancing expertise in sustainable development among decision makers, Annika Helker Lundström for her work on increased material recycling. Her work has resulted in several recycling firms being transformed from waste handling firms into raw material suppliers.

 Erland Mårald, environmental historian at Umeå University, has received this year's Clios Prize for his research on Swedish environmental history. The Clios Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding younger historian. In his thesis "The global cycle: farming, the town and chemical science, 1840-1910" (2000) he highlights the transformation of farming from a natural cycle into a market oriented industry. In "Swedish environmental crimes and environmental scandals, 1960-2000" (2007), Mårald gives, in an accessible and precise style, a historical perspective on the treatment of environmental problems in recent decades.

 Christel Cederberg, Agronomist , climate researcher and expert in life cycle analyses for different foods, has received the Coops Änglamark Prize 2008 and a scholarship of SEK 100,000.

 The new chair of the Environmental Objectives Council is Eva Eriksson, Governor of Värmland County, and previous member of the Council. She takes over from Bengt KÅ Johansson who has resigned the post.

 Maria Ågren leaves her post as Director General of Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute SMHI to take up the same post at Swedish Environmental Proptection Agency.

 Professor Mats Sjöquist has been appointed Director of Swedish Centre for Animal Welfare at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ultuna. The aim of the Centre is to bring together Swedish  scientific expertise in animal welfare, with the principal focus on experimental animals and farm animals. Sjöquist hopes that the model provided by this Centre will be so good that it can also be used in other European countries.

 Per Ericson has been appointed the new director of the research department at the Swedish Museum of Natural History.

 Meteorologist Pär Holmgren has received the Swedish Association of Engineering Graduates' Environment Prize 2008 for his work on disseminating knowledge of climate changes.

 News about Formas: Lisa Almesjö, PhD in Marine Ecology, is a new Senior Research Officer at Formas. Her spheres of responsibility are aquatic ecology and biodiversity, and fisheries. She will also deal with the ERA-Nets Bonus and Mari Fish, and NAF (Nordic Working Group for Fisheries Issues).