LTH – for the benefit of the world…
For some time, we at LTH have been thinking about how to better explain to the outside world what we do and what drives us. To do so, we have – quite naturally – proceeded on the basis of our vision, developed by the Corporate Communications division, which reads: Together we explore and create – to benefit the world.
– Publicerad den 9 October 2018
The result is that in a number of channels and contexts we will now demonstrate how LTH’s research benefits the world, with regard to the climate, digitisation, societal development, industry and life itself.
The purpose of the initiative is to generate curiosity, inspire and increase knowledge among our collaboration partners, research colleagues, students and the interested public.
We also want to meet the Swedish Parliament and Government’s expectations on us to demonstrate how research and external engagement help solve the major challenges of the future, identified by the EU and the UN, among others. It is our intention and our mission to ensure that research benefits society, and of course we want to make it easier for elected representatives and other decision-makers to take knowledge-based decisions.
The latest reputation survey for Lund University revealed that a way to improve our already solid reputation is to further highlight how the University’s research, education and external engagement benefit society. That is precisely what we are trying to do in our new method of communication. In other words, the timing of our initiative is perfect!
But is benefit in contradiction to free and curiosity-based research? I think not. Knowledge is beneficial, sometimes more tangible than at other times, but it depends on how it is used. As I’ve written previously, we have a more direct industrial benefit (Together for the benefit of industry) but there is so much more. A lot of research that today feels purely curiosity-based may have an incredible impact in the future. Therefore, we have to think broadly. At LTH, we have basic research in mathematics, physics and chemistry, for example, but we also conduct materials research related to ESS and MAX IV. Is this beneficial? Although it doesn’t always seem that way, our activities are extremely valuable. We are searching for knowledge!
The first step in our endeavour to demonstrate how we create and explore for the benefit of the world is LTH’s new presentation brochure, which has now been sent out to the departments. I hope that many of us – employees and students – will want to read and disseminate this brochure to our partners and anyone else who is curious. The brochure will be available in English in the autumn, and you can order it via info@lth.lu.se.
When we manage to generate curiosity, instil trust and provide inspiration for new collaborations, we also create the conditions for becoming an even stronger University.
Therefore, we at LTH tell it like it is: LTH is a creative environment, part of a rich knowledge context. We have more than a thousand researchers working hard to create good living conditions for people and a more mindful use of the Earth’s resources. Our research shows enormous diversity.
Now we begin – on paper but also through a series of other communication initiatives – to share information about LTH in a new way with regard to research, external engagement and innovation. My hope is that we will all feel proud and notice a further increase in interest from wider society.
Viktor Öwall
Dean of LTH