Letter from the Dean

Last changed: 28 April 2025
portrait of Pelle Ingvarsson

As relatively new in the role as deputy dean at the NJ Faculty, this spring has been quite an intense period with a lot of new things to learn. It is both exciting and challenging to take on a new role that offers new perspectives on the activities at the faculty.

One of the absolute highlights of the spring has been the departmental visits that Noél and I, together with parts of the faculty office, have carried out during March and April. At the time of writing, eleven out of twelve departmental visits have been completed, and it has been very rewarding to gain insight into all the activities taking place at the faculty. The breadth of research, environmental monitoring and assessment, and teaching conducted at our departments is truly impressive. The dialogues have also given us valuable insight into the quality assurance work being done at our departments and how various challenges are tackled to ensure the highest possible quality in their work. Our departmental visits have provided us with many new impressions and a wealth of useful input to work with going forward during the upcoming term. We are currently compiling much of the information we gathered during the department dialogues to prepare for the faculty's own dialogue with the vice-chancellor in May. So, I would really like to extend a big thank you to all the departments for the work you put into preparing for our visits and for showcasing your activities.

Another very enjoyable experience this spring was the docent lectures, which took place over two days in March. These open docent lectures give our younger researchers the opportunity to present their research to a broader audience. I thought the audience turnout was good at all the lectures I attended, and the fact that the lectures were also broadcast live over Zoom further increased accessibility. One cannot help but be impressed by the enthusiasm, breadth, and commitment that came through during the various lectures. That I then had the pleasure of ending the whole event by enjoying a lovely dinner with several of the lecturers certainly didn’t hurt!

In conclusion, I hope the rest of your spring is both pleasant and productive.

Pelle Ingvarsson. Deputy Dean

Previous letters

2025

The first letter of the new dean
Dean Noél Holmgren, March 2025

2024

Torleif's and 2024's last letter of Dean
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2024

New Challenges for Food Production Require New Cultivation Methods
Vice Dean Göran Bergkvist, October 2024

A (as usual) jam-packed autumn with environmental monitoring to look forward to
Vice Dean Jens Olsson, September 2024

Some news about Undergraduate Education
Vice Dean Jon-Petter Gustafsson, June 2024

Insights from this year's discussions with the departments
Deputy Dean Sara Hallin, April 2024

The opportunity to influence doctoral education
Vice Dean Petra Fransson, February 2024

2023

Why is the number of applicants to our programs falling?
Vice Dean Jon-Petter Gustafsson, November 2023

Autumn's Challenges and Opportunities in SLU's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Vice Dean Jens Olsson, September 2023

We wish the best of colleagues a wonderful summer.
Dean Torleif Härd, June 2023

What is required to become an associate professor?
Vice Dean Brendan McKie, April 2023

Opportunities in multi- and transdisciplinarity
Vice Dean Helena Hansson, February 2023

2022

Despite the troubled world that we live in, our faculty has certainly had its share of good news this year 
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2022

Festive October and quality in the research education
Vice Dean Petra Fransson, October 2022

SLU's expertise - more needed than ever?
Vice Dean Jens Olsson, September 2022

Summer, reflection and interdisciplinarity
Vice Dean Helena Hansson, June 2022

New at work, new perspectives
Deputy Dean Sara Hallin, February 2022

2021

Reflecting on today and the future
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2021

NJ Faculty and SLU in the debate
Deputy Dean Pär Forslund, October 2021

Looking forward to an autumn of environmental monitoring and assessment
Vice Dean Richard Johnson, September 2021

Dean's Summer Letter: Dear Colleagues at the NJ Faculty!
Dean Torleif Härd, June 2021

Pandemic – have we learned a lesson
Vice Dean Johan Meijer, 2021

Inclusive working environments
Vice Dean Marina Queiroz, March 2021

Of course there is a light in the tunnel
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2021

2020

Corona, online collaboration and multi- and interdisciplinary
Vice Dean Helena Hansson, November 2020

The EU, food strategy and moore research
Vice Dean Göran Bergkvist, October 2020

Well-deserved holidays
Deputy Dean Pär Forslund, June 2020

Times They are a-Changin'
Vice Dean Richard Johnson, April 2020

All the best for 2020: The International Year of Plant Health
Vice Dean Johan Meijer, February 2020

2019

Christmas and the New Year are approaching
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2019

Multi- and interdisciplinary research for complex issues
Vice Dean Helena Hansson, October 2019

Understanding differences makes a difference
Vice Dean Marina Queiroz, September 2019

Biodiversity is NJ's strength
Dean Torleif Härd, June 2019

Realize ideas in the doubling project
Vice Dean Göran Bergkvist, May 2019

More teachers, students and honorably doctors
Deputy Dean Pär Forslund, January 2019

2018

The faculty's areas are more important than ever
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2018

New EMA programmes at SLU despite strained budget
Vice Dean Richard Johnson, November 2018

Student numbers will grow – but not on their own
Vice-Dean Göran Bergkvist, September 2018

Summer longing and initiatives
Vice-Dean John Meijer, June 2018

The pussy bow blouse
Vice-Dean Hanna Bergeå, May 2018

Spring and students
Deputy Dean Pär Forslund, March 2018

2017

Wishing you happy, multidisciplinary holidays
Dean Torleif Härd, December 2017

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