Bullerbyn 2.0 presented at the WISE Welcome Meeting

The WISE Welcome Meeting is just around the corner. This year, we are delighted to introduce Professor Björgvin Hjörvarsson, a Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Uppsala University. Until 2024, he served as Head of the Materials Physics Program. His research expertise spans low-dimensional aspects of phase transitions, particularly in the fields of magnetism and hydrogen in metals.

On Wednesday, 20 August, Prof. Hjörvarsson will give a talk at the WISE Welcome Meeting at Louis De Geer Konsert & Kongress in Norrköping. The event is primarily aimed at new PhD students and postdocs beginning their research journey within WISE. We sat down with him to talk about his work, his plans, and what to expect from his upcoming presentation.

Tell us about your current research

I’m planning to retire soon, which is why I’ve stepped down from many of my university roles, such as Head of the Materials Physics Program. That said, I’m not disappearing from science altogether.  I’ve put a lot of energy into building a solid-state physics infrastructure— and I will continue to be engaged in the Super ADAM efforts which I am heading. I plan to continue promoting young researchers and interesting research, which will keep me busy for at least a few more years.

What will you be talking about during your presentation at the WISE Welcome Meeting?

Well, I’ll like to address the question of “where are we heading?” during my presentation. We know we have serious challenges ahead regarding our environment. We know we don’t want to go back to smog-filled London of the 19th century or worst. But are we tackling these problems in the right way? Are we asking meaningful questions that could actually lead to solutions?

Sometimes, people fall in love with their tools. Think of someone with a hammer, who thinks the hammer is such a nice thing and starts seeing every problem as a nail. Eventually, they may realize that the hammer isn’t suitable for every nail, or every question. That’s why it’s so important to step back, formulate the proper question, set objectives, and choose the right tools and techniques accordingly. I’ll give you a teaser: the title of my talk is “Bullerbyn 2.0 / El Dorado.”

How does your own research contributes to sustainability?

I believe my most significant contribution has been forming and educating amazing researchers who now work in both academia and industry with the right mindset to address society’s challenges. I’m proud of the research environment we’ve built—where models, theory, and experiments work together, allowing us to ask Nature the questions we want to understand.