Catrine Kostenius

About me

Presentation of myself

My background is in child health care and education with a special interest in health promotion. I am a professor of Health Science and work as a researcher and teacher at Luleå University of Technology where I teach health promotion, supervise and examine student’s theses. During the academic year 2025-2026 I will teach at the newly started program Introduction to Health Sciences (Hälsovetenskapligt basår). More information here. External link.

My research interest is health promotion throughout the life span. In an ongoing network project funded by the Swedish Research Council - EduWell - I collaborate with researchers who explore, explain, compare and develop health education in schools in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland.

I am currently contributing to the work of the Ministry of Education in the government commission The assignment to Improve Student Health, where I am one of the commision's research contacts. Read more here. External link, opens in new window.

For three years, I led the Swedish research group in an EU-funded project that connected health promotion in practice and AI technology – ChatPal – the project’s focus was to investigate how young people’s mental health can be promoted using an AI-based app. In collaboration with four countries and the Norrbotten Region here in northern Sweden, an app was developed - the Chatpal app. More information here. External link, opens in new window.

At SBU (Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services) I took on an assignment on behalf of the Swedish government to promote mental health of children and young people. I contributed to a report on the effects of universal programs – Promoting the mental well-being of children and young people. More information here External link, opens in new window..

In the Nordic Health Promotion Research Network (NHPRN), I collaborate with Nordic researchers on health promotion work with a focus on empowerment and the health of children and young people. More information here. External link, opens in new window. I am also a proud representative for Sweden in the research network Schools for Health in Europe (SHE). More information here. External link, opens in new window.