Societal outreach and impact
Research that has an impact on society
Research plays an important role in the sustainable development of society. Through collaboration with the private, public and non-profit sector and citizens, conditions are created for the research to be relevant and useful to society. The research conducted at the Department of Human Geography is very broad and has, by virtue of its orientation and societal focus, the potential to contribute to solutions to several of the major societal challenges of our time in areas such as global development, climate adaptation and energy transition and sustainable rural and urban development.
Below, the department presents impact cases/stories that specifically highlight research that has had an impact on society and contributed to positive development for people, authorities, companies and other organisations.
What does it mean to be both a scholar and an activist—and why does it matter?
In this interview, Vasna Ramasar, an associate professor in Human ecology, shares her reflections on navigating academia while engaging in grassroots initiatives for justice. Speaking with Muriel Côte, she explains how the personal and political intersect in her research, why she embraces the term “scholar-activist,” and how collective initiatives like the Global Tapestry of Alternatives (GTA) inspire new ways of being and knowing in a world facing intertwined crises.
Read the interview between Vasna Ramasar and Muriel Côte (Pdf, new tab)
Watch filmed examples of societal impact that research at the
department contributes to:
Geographical Information System (GIS) and research about people's living conditions allow the police to work more evidence-based in crime prevention!
Read more about the research behind it!
Research brings forth local residents´ experiences of living close to gas extraction and distribution infrastructures in Appalachia and supports environmental organizations to push for stricter regulations.