Data storage and management on joint infrastructure agenda
Research infrastructure – core facilities and lab environments – is one of KI’s greatest strenghts and we are currently investing heavily in state of the art research environments at both our campuses. Research infrastructure is vital for most higher education institutions and there is a reference group, University Reference Group for Infrastructure, URGI, that includes representatives from the university managements of the large research universities and the group is focused on discussing and preparing issues related to Swedish research infrastructure. Research infrastructures, how they should be prioritized, organized, managed and not least financed is of critical importance to our sector in the years to come. Last week URGI held one of its meetings and this time we focused on data storage and management, which is tightly coupled to research information. This is only one, yet very important, part of research infrastructures, with a rapidly growing need. Several infrastructures where the government has invested heavily in the last few years, such as SciLifeLab, are also in high demand of data storage and management. The URFI group is one of few groups where representatives from the university managements meet regularly and it is very important that KI is properly represented in this group. Therefore, we have now decided to appoint a KI Vice Dean for Research Infrastructure after an open call within KI. This part-time position corresponds to the one I held before and also includes some responsibilities that were to be included in my planned position as KI ProVice-Chancellor.
New Rector at KTH
On Wednesday afternoon, I struggled through the snowstorm to KTH where Peter Gudmundsson was thanked for his nine years as Rector of KTH. KTH and KI, both single faculty universities, have much to gain from cooperation. I am personally very grateful for how Peter, and the other vice-chancellors, have welcomed me after my somewhat abrupt entering into their group in February this year. From this week Sigbritt Karlsson is new Rector at KTH and I am looking very much forward to interacting with her.
Conferment ceremony
On Friday evening I had my second Conferment ceremony (Promoveringshögtid) in my role as Acting Vice-Chancellor. The promovendi, women and men from different parts of the world, represent an incredible wealth of knowledge. We also celebrated our jubilee doctors on the 50th anniversary of their doctoral degrees. They have all contributed enormously health and knowledge and prepared the way for future generations.
0 comments