Research Subjects

Research in the field of biology encompasses many aspects of life and sustainability. The field of biology includes studies on species diversity, conservation biology, biological diversity, ecosystem services, sustainable fishing, sustainable agriculture, microbiology, population biology, taxonomy, and discipline-based education.

The research within the building technology. group encompasses two main directions. One direction covers the performance of structures, and the other focuses on building physics with an emphasis on the energy performance of buildings. The research on structural performance includes the behaviour and improvement of various types of structures such as beams, columns, walls, floors, tension rods, and joints made of different materials. The research in building physics with a focus on the energy performance of buildings is often conducted in collaboration with the energy systems and indoor environment groups, as well as with environmental science. This research includes modelling, simulation, and measurement of the energy performance of buildings, building components, and systems, as well as user behaviour.

The business administration research at the University of Gävle focuses on marketing, accounting, organisation, and leadership. In various teams, we tackle diverse research areas such as sales and negotiation, sustainable business relations, digitalisation, corporate finance, and organisational theoretical perspectives. We apply quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse and address challenges that arise in various forms of businesses and organisations.

Our research addresses several major challenges our society is facing. Various types of crime, such as organised crime, gang crime, shootings, violence, and substance abuse, are problems that pose direct threats to a sustainable society. These issues are highly prioritised on both the research and political agendas. Examples of ongoing research at our department include crime trends, ethnicity, gender and social class in Sweden over the past 40 years, preventing hate, threats, and violence in the workplace, gang crime, and organised crime.

The subject of Decision, Risk, and Policy Analysis (DRP) rests on three pillars: decision analysis, risk analysis, and policy analysis. Decision analysis involves facilitating decision-makers in making rational and well-founded decisions. Risk analysis addresses the assessment and management of uncertainty and risk in decision-making. Policy analysis examines the regulatory systems that govern decision-making. At the core of the DRP field lies the development and evaluation of methods for decision analysis, risk analysis, and policy analysis.

Research in educational sciences at the University is primarily concerned with education and its context from a variety of pedagogical and subject specific educational perspectives. The primary focus is on the formal education system as a whole, from preschool, school, and after-school care to higher education at universities and university colleges. Educational Sciences is strongly linked to the strategic research area Innovative Learning External link..

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The University of Gävle has long been conducting research and education in electronics, but as the study programmes have changed and we have obtained both a Bachelor's and a Master's programme in automation, our research has broadened. This is the reason why we now use the term electrical engineering. Our research in the field focuses on the following areas:

• Electrical measurement technology, particularly radio measurement technology, with the aim of achieving energy-efficient components.
• Radio communication in industrial environments, aiming to create a safer working environment.
• Sensor technology and sensor-based signal processing, where gas sensors are an example of an application.
• Control engineering, with applications in industrial maintenance.
• Robotics, aiming to enable elderly individuals to lead a richer life, and with a focus on safety issues.

Energy systems is a technical discipline characterised by systems thinking, a holistic perspective, and a long-term vision, as well as promoting resource conservation and reduced environmental impact. The fundamental idea behind the research subject is to take conscious and active measures in the planning and development of a new energy system as well as in the renovation of existing energy systems. Research in energy systems at the University of Gävle focuses on three main areas: building energy systems, industrial energy systems, and national and regional energy systems.

Scholarship in English traditionally rests on the study of language and literature, but the field is broad and versatile enough to provide a solid foundation for interdisciplinary research with virtually any other subject in the humanities and social sciences. At the University of Gävle, research in English Studies is strongly influenced by the faculty’s commitment and involvement in teacher education but still reflects the classic distinction between literature and linguistics. Research here is conducted in second language acquisition, language didactics, corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics, literature didactics, and literary studies.

Sustainability Science is a thematic field which with the use of concepts, theories, methods, and models, describes and addresses questions related to the interactions between environment, humans, and technology.

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The research group within Geospatial Information Science conducts interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers from the related fields of surveying technology, geography, and computer science to address challenges in society and industry through, for example, digitalisation and the use of spatial and geographical methods.

Our research is conducted within material-driven design and innovation processes that take their starting point in various bio-based materials. These bio-based materials can be new, proven older materials, or by-products. Within our research, process models and methodologies are developed for the design of innovative products based on bio-based materials. Research is also carried out on the sensory and affective experiences of new bio-based materials, innovation ecosystems for bio-based materials, and design pedagogy from teachers’ and students’ perspectives.

Industrial engineering and management is a multidisciplinary field rooted in engineering science but extending into social sciences. The interaction between people, technology, and organisation is central here. Our focus is on practice-relevant knowledge formation focused on the management of production and innovation in industrial companies and organisations.

The overarching research in law focuses on real estate and taxes. Learn more about researchers in law and current projects in their individual presentations.

Research in mathematics is actively conducted within the subject's three subfields: mathematics, statistics, and mathematics education. In mathematics, research targets mathematical physics, particularly focused on mathematical methods for electromagnetic field theory. Additionally, research is conducted in discrete mathematics, topology, algebraic geometry, and tropical geometry. In statistics, research is primarily focused on statistical methods for evaluating treatment processes. In mathematics education, research is conducted on the development and dissemination of teachers' professional knowledge, on linguistic perspectives in school mathematics, and on visualisation and the use of various forms of representation.

Our research is focused on experimental studies within mechanical engineering, particularly on chip-cutting machining. Ongoing research projects involve the adhesive mechanism during the turning of steel and its consequences in terms of tool edge degradation.

Media and communication studies examine the significance of media and mediated communication for society, culture, and individuals. This field is characterised by a broad theoretical understanding of media structures, media content, media production conditions, and media usage, encompassing both traditional and digital media, and the various cycles between them. Media and communication studies include historical and contemporary perspectives, focusing on the development, significance, and changes of media in Sweden and internationally. Research conducted in media and communication studies at the University of Gävle intersects with political communication, digitalisation, media history, media aesthetics, and gender perspectives on media content. Distinctive of media research at the University of Gävle are the cultural theoretical perspectives.

Our research focuses on the work environment, learning, and leadership of health professionals, the learning and well-being of nursing students, living with long-term conditions, care and welfare of the elderly, and ageing well.

In research on work-related strain injuries, we strive to understand the physiological processes in the body that result in strain leading to fatigue and pain. In our studies of working life, we focus on what individuals, companies, and society can do to promote occupational health, productivity, and well-being. Our research also explores methods to measure and train motor functions, as well as methods to customise and evaluate the outcomes of rehabilitation.

Our research focuses on different psychological perspectives and theories. Our three overarching research themes are relatively broad, and include psychological perspectives on the work environment, inclusion, and social and ecological sustainability.

The research focuses, for example, on how mental and physical health are affected by the state of the labour market and by workplace conditions.

Research in religious studies at the University of Gävle is conducted within the subjects of philosophy of life, anthropology of religion, history of religion, psychology of religion and sociology of religion. A growing part of the research has an discipline-based education focus, and issues regarding the role of religion in society is common to most research projects. Additionally, there is a focus on specific societal challenges, especially those associated with multicultural society. There is close collaboration with the strategic research areas of Innovative Learning and Urban Sustainability.

Our research in social work encompasses the core areas within the discipline, including substance abuse/addiction, treatment processes and their outcomes, mental health, gerontological research, as well as coping and spirituality in social work.

Current areas of research within sports science include health-promoting working life and lifestyles focusing on sports participation, adapted physical activity (APA), and doping. Our focus is on target groups that, for various reasons, have shown to be physically inactive, with the aim of enabling a healthy physically active lifestyle for everyone through knowledge and adaptations. The use of doping substances in relation to sports, performance, societal norms, and body perception is also a prioritised area. Our research has an interdisciplinary perspective with a special focus on societal aspects.