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Head of Department Letter February 2025

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The Year of the Snake - challenges, opportunities and the way forward

Just over a week ago, we entered the Year of the Snake - a time that, according to mythology, can bring uncertainty and chaos. Perhaps the Year of the Snake began earlier, given all that has been happening both here and in the world. We have seen both positive and negative events, and some developments are still unclear. At the same time, it is said to be a year of opportunities, where big dreams can be realised.

In times of change and many questions, it is important that we hold on to the core of our business - but also that we remember that development and change are a natural part of this core. New challenges, people and ideas emerge, while others disappear.

What changes await us in 2025? It is likely that decisions will be taken that will affect our future. Big issues, such as the Science Village process, and smaller but significant issues, such as the future of the Astronomy building, the Library and the student facilities, present both risks and opportunities. These decisions will affect the sense of belonging and identity of both students and staff.

If the library moves, it is crucial that we find a new unifying function for the space left behind. We need to continue to provide an environment where our students feel that it is still their house. At the same time, it is important to maintain the connection to the library, even if its role in our daily lives changes.

In the case of the Science Village, the uncertainty is even greater - especially around who and what sets the boundaries. Developing and possibly relocating the activities of a large institution requires many different competences, and we need help with much of this. But the knowledge of the physics subject is with us, and we are the ones who have to ensure that it will be good - whatever ‘it’ means and despite the many parallel processes.

I am still waiting for the final wording of my assignment, but I have been given the task by the faculties of investigating the operational development of physics within a certain framework. Among other things, we will investigate what it would mean if the undergraduate programme stays on Sölvegatan, while research is possibly spread over several locations. I will return when the assignment is more precisely defined.

Discussions about Science Village have been going on for many years, and I have often heard the wish that ‘someone should just decide how it should be’. But whether the change is big or small, the key to success is ownership and participation. That is why, once again, we will do this together. In particular, I hope to hear more from young people, who are most affected by our plans.

I look forward to another interesting year with you!

Else Lytken
Head of Department 
Department of Physics

6 Feb 2025