Animal muscle activity, biochar, health-promoting outdoor environments, geographic information science and agroecology are just some of the research areas represented by the six researchers who have been appointed docents at the LTV Faculty over the past year. Here, they share some insights into their research.
During autumn 2025, Neil Sang from the Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management and Raj Chongtham Iman from the Department of Biosystems and Technology were appointed docents. In spring 2026, they were joined by Mari Kågström from the Department of Urban and Rural Development, Anna Bengtsson from the Department of People and Society, and Rebeka Zsoldos and Helene Larsson Jönsson from the Department of Biosystems and Technology.
Through geographic information science, new tools are being developed to identify risk areas, analyse inequalities and support future urban planning. Neil Sang’s research focuses on using geographic information science to explore social and environmental issues and to develop computer models that improve our understanding of processes operating across geographical scales.
“In practice, this often means working with statistics, mapping data and satellite imagery to identify areas that are vulnerable to different processes, such as sea-level rise or urban heat islands. I also examine which groups are most affected – for example, whether there are inequalities in exposure and vulnerability – and assess how effective different climate adaptation measures and proposed interventions might be,” says Neil Sang.
Read the full profile: Maps, climate and AI are shaping our urban futures
How can agriculture feed a growing global population without exceeding planetary boundaries? Raj Chongtham researches agroecology and how diversified cropping systems can strengthen soil health, resilience and sustainable food production.
“We have created an agricultural system that is heavily dependent on external inputs such as synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. At the same time, these systems contribute to biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change. The question is how much further we can intensify agriculture before these systems become too vulnerable,” says Raj Chongtham.
Read the full profile: Greater crop diversity can make agriculture more resilient
Climate change, biodiversity, urban densification and social inequality place demands on the way we plan and use our landscapes. What should be prioritised when all values can't be met at the same time? This is the focus of Mari Kågström, Associate Professor of Landscape Governance and Planning.
“Landscape and land use planning lies at the core of several of the most complex societal challenges of our time, which makes it an incredibly exciting and important field of research. Planning processes are expected to balance objectives such as ecosystem protection, housing availability, public health and water management. We often talk about multifunctional landscapes, synergies and sustainability integration, but in practice, planning also involves difficult trade-offs between objectives that cannot always be realised at the same time.”
Read the full profile: When sustainability goals clash – research highlights the actors behind trade-offs
Evidence-based, health-promoting design and the role of outdoor environments in health and wellbeing are at the heart of Anna Bengtsson’s research. Her inaugural lecture as associate professor was titled Evidence-based Models for Health-promoting Outdoor Environments. In 2015, she completed her PhD with the thesis From Experiences of the Outdoors to the Design of Healthcare Environments.
“I always knew I wanted to pursue a PhD when I began my doctoral studies. Becoming an associate professor has felt quite different, and the journey here has not been straightforward. Teaching is extremely important to me and takes up a great deal of time. One particularly strong reason for becoming an associate professor is the opportunity to act as principal supervisor for doctoral students. In that respect, I’m very pleased to have finally achieved this milestone,” says Anna Bengtsson.
Read the full profile (in Swedish): Anna Bengtsson utsedd till docent
Rebeka Zsoldos’s research explores how measurements of animal movement can be used to support health, productivity and performance. Using sensors and muscle activity measurements, she investigates what movement patterns can reveal – from functional changes in sport horses to how grazing cattle use pastureland.
“Our aim is to create the best possible conditions for animals to perform while also ensuring good health and welfare. Within the field, we are currently investigating which indicators are useful for measuring positive animal welfare, which goes beyond simply the absence of disease. The research examines how behaviour-, physiology- and movement-based indicators can help us assess how animals are coping with and responding to their environment,” says Rebeka Zsoldos.
Read the full profile: From pasture to performance: Tracking animal movement for better welfare
Biochar is used to improve soil quality, and Helene Larsson Jönsson’s research focuses on how it can be applied in agriculture.
“The use of biochar is more complex than people realise. There is a great deal of discussion about biochar in society, and sometimes it is oversimplified. Its properties vary considerably depending on the type of biochar – for example, whether it is produced from wood, sludge or compost. Crops also respond very differently. So there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” says Helene Larsson Jönsson.
Read the full profile: Biochar in agriculture more complex than many think: "Crops respond very differently"
Together, this year’s new docents represent the research at the LTV Faculty – from sustainable agriculture and animal welfare to urban development and health-promoting environments.
Vad är en docent?
To be appointed docent, researchers must demonstrate substantial academic development and broadened expertise beyond their PhD. The title is regarded as an important mark of academic quality.
Learn more: Application and appointment as docent at the LTV faculty
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