The motto of Lund University, ad utrumque, prepared for both, with an image of a lion holding a sword and reading a book, reflects the situation in 1666 when the university was established. The southern part of Sweden had then recently been secured from Denmark, and students were expected to be prepared both to study and to defend the country.
Today, the situation is different of course, and the motto has taken on a new meaning as we need to be prepared to both teach/study online and on campus during the fall.
Staff at the Centre are working hard to ensure that we are well prepared for both, and that we can provide our students with a safe and stimulating study environment in the fall. We also hope that, situation permitting, we might have some smaller public events. Students and visitors will get updated information about the situation here.
This year we held a smaller graduation ceremony for our master students practicing social distancing outdoors (see video here). The uncertainties we are facing during the pandemic as individuals, scholars, students, and communities, was the topic of my graduation speech (see PDF here and the talk itself at around 19th minute into the video).
In the fall we are welcoming our first three PhD students, something which we are very much looking forward to. We will also welcome five researchers on short research stays. The Centre is further expanding and announcing two postdoctoral positions (deadline 10th August, see here).
We all hope that the pandemic will be brought under control soon and that life can return to normal. For the moment we need to be patient, persist with and follow safety and health advice and regulations, and be prepared to deal with an uncertain situation while keeping our spirits up and plan for the future.
I wish you all a safe and restful summer!
Marina |
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