A wide range of committed research

Göteborg University is one of the largest in Europe. Of even greater significance is the fact that the University is open to the world at large and involved in society.

The University’s wide-ranging research actually has one overall goal – to create better conditions for human beings and other living creatures on earth. This does not simply encompass the new knowledge we are constantly seeking within the health- and natural sciences. Endeavours within the fields of arts and humanities are also of great significance for human well-being. It is also the ultimate goal for the research we pursue within social science, educational methods, economics and law.

When it comes to resolving today’s major global problems, the wide-ranging, collected knowledge that Göteborg University represents is invaluable. It is when knowledge from several different areas of research meet that the really major discoveries are made.

• Health and life
• The Nobelprize awarded to Göteborg University
• Society and education
• Culture and art
• For a sustainable society

HEALTH AND LIFE

Within the Sahlgrenska Academy a unique breadth of research fields are linked together, everything from basic studies of molecules’ structure to public health sciences and epidemiology. The research within odontology, medicine and care science maintains a high international standard. The medical research takes place in close cooperation with Sahlgrenska University Hospital, currently involving over 300 ongoing research projects. The majority of the research that is carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy is patient-centred. This has a major implication now, and will continue to be the case in the future, for the quality of health care and pioneering discoveries for the best interests of human beings.

THE NOBEL PRIZE AWARDED TO GÖTEBORG UNIVERSITY

Professor Arvid Carlsson is the University’s first Noble prize winner. His discovery that the neurotransmitter dopamine controls our movements has been of great significance for the development of medicines for patients throughout the world with Parkinson’s Disease. It has been possible to develop antidepressants such as Prozac and Zimeldin thanks to Arvid Carlsson’s research at Göteborg University.

SOCIETY AND EDUCATION

The social sciences field at Göteborg University has a long
tradition of interdisciplinary education and research. The global
perspective has been a guiding principle in setting up the Department of Global Studies. The University’s ambition to be in living contact with its surroundings as well as to contribute to the benefit of society has a clear foothold here.

Education and research in the School of Business, Economics and Law is conducted within the main fields of economics and law. The activities maintain a high international standard with a large number of international student exchanges and research collaborations. The research is distinguished by its breadth, with a high degree of interdisciplinarity.

Education science is a relatively young research field that deals with human beings in their overall everyday context. Education, work, leisure and family are here linked together in various subject fields. Issues such as human learning in different contexts are studied and then used practically within areas including teacher training. Most activities take place at the Pedagogen building, right in the centre of Göteborg.

CULTURE AND ART

Education and research is conducted within the humanities that deals with human beings and culture. Students can choose among a large number of subjects including around twenty languages, religion, history, archaeology, philosophy, the history of ideas, art, film and music.

A particularly high-profile field within the research is language technology, with the national research school situated in Göteborg University. Research is also underway within a lot of other areas.
The University’s breadth within the area of artistic endeavour is unique in Europe.

Interdisciplinary research is being developed - with close relations to other subject areas within the University. The various arts colleges are also an active part of the region’s cultural life and continually attract a lot of spectators.

The School of Photography has Sweden’s only higher education courses in photography at undergraduate and graduate level. HDK – the School of Design and Crafts – trains designers, potters, artists in textiles and jewellery. The Academy of Music and Drama trains actors for operas and musicals, along with music teachers, composers and musicians. The Valand school of Fine Arts occupies an important role in Sweden’s arts world by virtue of its undergraduate and graduate programmes within free art and furthermore, a sought-after research programme. The School of Film Directing trains professional filmmakers and over three years of full-time studies encourages them to develop a personal idiom based in artistic development and research.

FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

A large proportion of the country’s research in the field of the environment and sustainable development takes place in Göteborg. This applies not least to important aspects such as atmospheric science and climate research. The projects are often interdisciplinary collaborations between several sections of the University and Chalmers.

One example is Göteborg’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability, GMV, where some 400 researchers and doctoral students are cooperating in a network for sustainable development.

Research and education in the field of natural science is being carried out within mathematics and natural sciences. A large proportion of Sweden’s marine research takes place at Göteborg University.

In recent years cooperation has been strengthened between medics and technicians, as well as trade and industry and society in general. One example is the Göteborg Science Centre for Molecular Skin Research where researchers are hoping to be able to find new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating skin cancer and contact allergies.