New Academy for young researchers in Sweden

A new academy of sciences is founded today: the Young Academy of Sweden.
– Finally, young researchers will have their own forum. We will work interdisciplinary with both scientific and structural issues. We promise to take an active part in public debate, says Professor Helene Andersson Svahn, the first chairman of the Young Academy of Sweden.

The establishment of the Young Academy is an initiative of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, RSAS. By gathering young researchers of the highest academic excellence, the intention is to create a dynamic climate for research. Several similar academies exist internationally, for instance Germany’s “die Junge Akademie”, which has taken an active role in research-political matters. For instance, it has successfully contributed to ameliorating employment conditions for young professors.

The Young Academy of Sweden has already begun its work, and has already contributed its opinion on the European Union’s forthcoming strategic framework for research. (The statement can be found in the “Sweden” section on the European Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/research/csfri/index_en.cfm?pg=responses)

Nobel Laureate as patron

The Young Academy will initially consist of twenty-two members (see below) and will gradually extend its membership to a maximum of forty members. The patron of the Academy is Nobel Laureate Torsten Wiesel (1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine).

A historical moment

The Young Academy of Sweden is founded today on 27 May 2011 during a solemn ceremony, with prominent members of the RSAS planting Swedish wild flowers in the Young Academy meadow to illustrate the growth potential of Swedish research. The meadow is located next to the Royal Swedish Academy garden in Stockholm.

The Young Academy of Sweden is financially supported by The Ragnar Söderberg Foundation.

Further information and press images

• The Young Academy of Sweden website will go online during the summer 2011. Until then, further information can be found at http://kva.se/youngacademyofsweden

• Movie clips and press images from the founding ceremony will also be uploaded at http://kva.se/youngacademyofsweden

The first 22 members of the Young Academy of Sweden

Helene Andersson Svahn, KTH – Royal Institute of Technology

Gustaf Arrhenius, Stockholm University/SCAS

Christian Broberger, Karolinska Institutet

Fredrik Bäckhed, University of Gothenburg

Örjan Carlborg, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences/Uppsala University

Jan Conrad, Stockholm University

Marie Dacke, Lund University

Per Eklund, Linköping University

Christian Forssén, Chalmers University of Technology

Tünde Fülöp, Chalmers University of Technology

Annette Granéli, University of Gothenburg

Martin Högbom, Stockholm University

Erik Ingelsson, Karolinska Institutet

Danica Kragic Jensfelt, KTH – Royal Institute of Technology

Jonas Larsson, Lund University

Erik Lindahl, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology/Stockholm University

Maria Lindskog, Karolinska Institutet

Christer Nordlund, Umeå University

Annika Pohl, Uppsala University

Emma Sparr, Lund University

Henrik Zetterberg, University of Gothenburg

Johan Åkerman, University of Gothenburg/KTH – Royal Institute of Technology

Young Academy of Sweden The Young Academy of Sweden is an independent organization for young researchers from all scientific fields. The purpose of the Academy is to promote Sweden as a knowledge-based nation.