"I want to contribute to the development of society"
Staffan Lundström, professor of fluid mechanics, is part of SUN's steering group.
Tell me a bit more about yourself!
I grew up in Burträsk, Västerbotten and have since lived and worked in various places in Sweden to end up in Luleå in 2000. I spend my free time with my family, with some sports activities such as running, kayaking and skiing and gardening.
What are you researching right now?
My subject is flow mechanics and interdisciplinary issues often concern flow in porous materials. I also find it very interesting to see how we in my subject can, together with other subject experts, contribute to solving various problems. It can be collaborations with relatively related substances that we have had in a project on filtration of liquid droplets in mouth guards, but also quite different substances such as when we do research together with biologists regarding fish migration.
How come you started researching your subject ?
It was basically due to my choice of degree project and then I was asked to do my doctorate at an institute, SICOMP (now RISE SICOMP) on manufacturing processes for composites. But it has not been a straight line until now. For example, I applied for and got a job outside the academy after my licentiate degree. However, I regained my interest in research after a slightly longer trip around the United States.
How does your research play a role in SUN?
It is twofold. On the one hand, it comes in via hydropower, where I know a lot of the research and have an established network, especially in Sweden and in the rest of Europe. On the one hand, there are often various fluid engineering issues in both industrial and natural processes linked to all areas within SUN.
What is the most fun discovery / result you have made / produced as a researcher?
It is also two-part. On the one hand, it is fun when I see that industry / society uses our research results. On the one hand, it is fun when unexpected fluid engineering phenomena often occur during experiments that we can then explain with theory and models.
What do you want to achieve during your research career?
I want to contribute to the development of society.
What is the most fun / challenging part of being part of SUN?
It is fun that we gather from quite different disciplines to help solve big problems.
Why do you think SUN is important?
Utilizing natural resources in a way that is acceptable to most people is very challenging. I believe that we as a university can contribute to this challenge especially since we are starting to be a mature university with many strong researchers and which is geographically located in an area with great natural resources, which provides a basic understanding of the complexity of the challenges we face.
