News: Sep 29, 2020
Magdalena Eriksson strongly believes that knowledge and education is key to achieving global development.
The objective of Global Sustainable Futures is to develop and facilitate collaboration between University of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology and universities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and at the same time contribute to the realization of Agenda 2030. Both universities already have extensive collaboration in Africa, Asia and South America. Global Sustainable Futures aims to contribute to increased synergies and new co-operation in research and education. The work is carried out within Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV).
”Through Global Sustainable Futures we want to increase the visibility and enthusiasm around collaboration in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. All partners have a lot to learn from each other between different parts of the world”, says Magdalena Eriksson, Platform Leader for Global Sustainable Futures.
Magdalena Eriksson has a PhD in physical chemistry from Chalmers University of Technology, where she focused on biophysical studies of nucleic acids. Her PhD studies were followed by post-doc research in USA, and research positions in Denmark and Sweden. She became docent at Chalmers in 1997 and later professor of medical biochemistry. Magdalena has a broad knowledge and experience as well as a huge engagement for development challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
Among other things Magdalena Eriksson has been Head of the Department of Medical Biochemistry at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana between 2008 and 2012. She was the President of African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Ghana in 2012-2013 and the Global Director of Academic Development of AIMS from 2013 to 2018. Magdalena has worked in four more African countries and contributed to the start-up and development of programmes in mathematical science on a Master level in Cameroon, Tanzania, Rwanda and Senegal. Her appointments in Africa all involved the set-up and strenghtening of academic institutions.
“It is very exciting that the rectors of both our universities have taken the very clear step of establishing Global Sustainable Futures. I am happy to be involved and have a chance to shape our platform at this early stage”.
Magdalena Eriksson believes in the strength to mediate and apply knowledge, and she strongly believes that the possibilities of knowledge and education increase the possibilities to cooperate (collaborate) over borders and between countries.
Magdalena also served for a short time as an international research coordinator at Halmstad University. At an early age she was interested in science and she had a dream to cure cancer.
Magdalena also has a Master of Science in journalism from Columbia University in New York, where she also worked as a post-doc.
Proud of: Magdalena Eriksson is proud of having invented a competition where children (and young people up until 18 years of age) ask the best science question:” Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize”. She contributed the launch of Molecular Frontiers in 2006, with the ambition to spread knowledge about molecules and inspire youth to be curios and find out new things about this scientific area.
Facts: Languages that Magdalena masters: Swedish, English, French and Spanish (partly). And a little of Fante (one of Ghana’s many languages).
Magdalena belongs to a village in Ghana. She is queen mother of the village where wants to empower young women by enhancing their’ access to education. She used to dance ballet and in Ghana she learned traditional Ghanaian dances.
Facts about GSF: On the 1 January 2020 the organisation of Global Sustainable Futures (GSF) started.
A GSF board of directors will soon be established and strategies and pilot themes are being developed. Today we focus on two themes: "Water" and "Sustainable Economic Growth and Decent Work" (SDG 8). (the fourth on the 13 October) Read more about our Next webinar and register on the 13 October Three webinars During 2020 three webinars and one kick-off-meeting have been arranged by GSF until now.
Global Sustainable Futures is hosted by both University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology through Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV).
Please visit our website for more information: gmv.chalmsers.gu/globalsustainablefutures
