ForskarFredag 2022

The Bolin Centre has a long tradition of engaging with schools and the general public through climate communication activities. The last full-scale Climate Festival was held in 2021. From 2022 onward, these outreach efforts have been integrated into ForskarFredag – Sweden’s national Researchers’ Night coordinated by Vetenskap & Allmänhet – ensuring that the Centre’s strong commitment to public engagement continues in a sustainable and impactful format.

In 2022, the Bolin Centre participated in ForskarFredag for the first time in place of the annual Climate Festival. The event aims to inspire young people to explore higher education and research careers, while offering an opportunity to meet researchers and gain insight into their work. The theme, A Better and Healthier World, aligned closely with the Bolin Centre’s mission to advance climate science and support society’s transition toward sustainability.

The Bolin Centre was represented by a strong team including the Directorate, four researchers, and twelve PhD students from the Marie Skłodowska–Curie programme. Together, they engaged hundreds of high school students throughout the day, using demonstrations and discussions to illustrate how climate research contributes to understanding and addressing today’s environmental challenges.

One of the well-visited elements of the event was the “Climate Square,” organised by ForskarFredag and featuring contributions from several climate-focused groups. The Bolin Centre was one of the participating teams, offering interactive activities that illustrated how CO₂ emissions are generated, how everyday behaviours influence climate impact, and what practical steps individuals can take to reduce their environmental footprint. These hands-on interactions helped students connect scientific insights to real-life decisions and reflect on their own role in climate mitigation.

ForskarFredag 2022 successfully maintained the spirit of the Bolin Centre’s earlier Climate Festivals by creating space for dialogue, curiosity, and inspiration. It provided a valuable platform for meeting young people, communicating research, and stimulating interest in climate science and future research careers.