NEWS Mikael Elofsson, professor of organic chemistry and Dean at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Umeå University, has been elected fellow in the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).
Mikael Elofsson, Dean at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Umeå University.
ImageMattias PetterssonI am very happy and honoured by the assignment
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA, has existed for over 100 years and is the world's oldest engineering academy. Its task is to promote technical and economic sciences and the development of business life, with the aim of being beneficial to society.
On Wednesday, IVA appointed 41 new fellows who will work in various ways to promote IVA's purposes. One of them is Mikael Elofsson, dean at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Umeå University since 2017.
“I am very happy and honoured by the assignment. Something I am particularly passionate about is basic research, which is of immense importance for the ability to meet the challenges of today and the future. In addition to the knowledge that is generated, basic research in a longer perspective leads to innovations and practical applications that in turn strengthen Sweden's competitiveness”, he says.
IVA consists of 12 divisions. Mikael Elofsson becomes a fellow in the Basic and interdisciplinary engineering sciences division.
“The green transition and the enormous challenges that climate change leads to due to human activity are issues that society must work intensively on to solve. Here, IVA is an important player that, with its broad competence, can contribute to a positive development.”
Mikael Elofsson has a degree of Master of science degree in engineering and a Doctor degree of technology, and is currently a member of the board of IVA Nord, which during the year, among other things, conducted the seminar series "The green social transformation in the North" in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University, University of Gävle and Mid Sweden University.
“It has been exciting and in November the series ended with a well-attended summarising seminar in Stockholm. Now we are thinking about activities to carry out next year”, he says.
IVA has approximately 1,300 Swedish fellows. Several of them have connections to Umeå University, including Kenneth Bodin, Virginia Dignum, and Emmanuelle Charpentier.
More about IVA and the whole list with new elected fellows