Sustainability Issue #2 May 2011

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Focus presentation

The importance of biodiversity Vigilant. With a little help, the endangered arctic fox may have a future in Sweden where we, on the whole, protect biodiversity. Photographer: Love Dalén/Swedish...

Focus articles

Strong on ecology but weak on interdisciplinary research Forest, lake and agricultural ecology. In these areas, Sweden has strong research teams with regard to biodiversity. However, an evaluation of Swedish research on bi... EU collaboration for biodiversity The dominant idea of the cooperation by research funding agencies in the network BiodivERsA2 is to strengthen the European research area in biodiversity. Collaborati... The return of the lynx changes the structure of the ecosystem Large carnivores can impact the abundance of other species, but the strength of this impact varies between species and ecosystems. In an ongoing research project, we... Is the wolf good for other species? When large predators become established in an area, this often has different effects on other species in the ecosystem. However, the establishment of wolves in Swede... Fear of large carnivores The large carnivores evoke strong emotions. Some people see them as a positive element in their everyday environment, others react with unease and fear. This is inst... Microbes for fish farming Microorganisms are playing an increasing role in food cycling, not only in compost and biogas. In current research the key for future sustainable fish farming is fee... Biodiversity in organic farming What happens about biodiversity when a farm becomes organic? Changes often occur slowly and subtly and not at the same time everywhere. In order to understand the lo... The right amount of undergrowth is acceptable Deciduous forests with the right amount of undergrowth are most popular among the public. This is shown by earlier studies. Social measures such as information and e... Why so little transdisciplinary research? Transdisciplinary research and links between the natural and social sciences are called for in a recently published evaluation of research on biodiversity. We have h...

The Interview

New player for a competent construction sector Coordination of the needs of the industry and society in preparation for the research bill, consultative meetings between the industry and staff in the Cabinet Offic...

More articles

Develop a national urban policy! Sweden must develop a national urban policy that ranges over sectoral boundaries, coordinates national and municipal inputs, and strengthens the social and cultural ... Lively dialogue about food More than 300 researchers and practitioners took part in Forum for Environmental Research 2011, with the theme FOOD. The two-day dialogue was held in Uppsala, and t... Rye diet against cancer of the prostate After six weeks' consumption of whole grain and bran products of rye, the PSA value in men with prostatic cancer decreased. This protein proliferates when a prostate... Wind power noise disturbs fish Fish are affected by wind power noise and can hear it at a distance of several kilometres. When wind power turbines are erected, this generates high sound levels whi... The greenhouse gases of lakes reduce the sink effect Lakes, dams and rivers produce more of the greenhouse gas methane than had been known. The sink for greenhouse gases that natural environments – such as forests – re... The mercury concentration varies Mercury reaches our environment chiefly through airborne pollutants. But how much the environment is affected depends on a large number of factors, ranging from vege... Is there room for horses? Is there room for horses and riders in today's society? Is consideration given in planning to the special conditions needed for horse-related activities situated nea... Nitrogenous fertilisers and leaching in delicate balance Winter oilseed rape as precrop can both increase the harvest of winter wheat and result in a lower optimal nitrogen input. Even a catch crop sown in the spring can r... Ducklings cope with lakes free of fish Many ducklings survive in fish-free water. When dabbling ducks want to breed, they should choose water that does not contain fishes which compete with the newly hatc... Cyanobacterial neurotoxin can damage the brain It has been suggested that the neurotoxin BMAA that is produced by algae of common occurrence is associated with diseases such as ALS, parkinsonism and other neurolo... The forest industry rejected green electricity The transition to green electricity was not welcomed by the forest industry. On the contrary, it was long opposed to the demands for biofuel and energy effectivisati...

In brief

Swedish Board of Fisheries r&d transferred to SLU The government has decided that the research and development activity of the Swedish Board of Fisheries is to be transferred to Swedish University of Agricultural Sc... Oxygen does not suppress plants Do increasing oxygen contents in the air suppress oxygen production by photosynthesis? Is this unique process geared to the low oxygen level which existed for almost... New findings about electricity and wave power In many cases, electricity that is produced by renewable energy sources must be converted before it can be connected to the supply network. In order that wave power ... Laser technology improves solar panels By using laser technology in producing a special type of solar panel on an industrial scale, the production process can be made more efficient in both material use a... Yeast cells create computers Genetically modified cells can be made to communicate with one another as though they were electronic circuits. Using a group of yeast cells, a team of researchers i...

Results from research

From shoot to tree in the spruce forest How did the research turn out? What were the findings? Researchers themselves report briefly on the research they have undertaken with funding support from the Forma... Invest in the welfare of animals How did the research turn out? What were the findings? Researchers themselves report briefly on the research they have undertaken with funding support from the Forma... Communal living for better lifestyle How did the research turn out? What were the findings? Researchers themselves report briefly on the research they have undertaken with funding support from the Forma...

People and News

The latest from the field of environmental researchNew appointments, prestigious awards, new research institutes – all the latest from the field of environmental research.

1.Office environment affects health, wellbeing and work 2.The role of microbes in nature 3.Sweden values happy pigs 4.Nanotech in our homes - great opportunities, unknown risks 5.New research initiative will rescue the ship Vasa

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• April 2012
  Economy based on plants
• February 2012
  The forest kingdom and the culinary nation
• November 2011
  Sustainable cities need social dimensions
• August 2011
  Society's driving forces and the environment
• May 2011
  The importance of biodiversity
• February 2011
  Sustainable retail - ripples on the water
• December 2010
  Global research mobilises

• • To the archive

• EUROCK 2012 May, 28-30
  Stockholm
• The second Nordic Conference on Consumer Research, May 30- June 1, 2012 in Gothenburg May 30-June 1
  Centre for Consumer Science, CFK
• Event for research and innovation in health and agrofood June, 26-27
  Basel, Switzerland
• Worlds within reach from science to policy June, 27-29
  Hofburg Congress Center, Vienna, Austria
• Dublin City of Science 2012 July, 11-15
  Dublin, Ireland
• • more

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