Upper secondary school teachers who want to increase their research skills will soon be able to graduate in sciences and geography. After four years of part time studies, they can obtain a licentiate degree in the subjects of climate and environment. This graduate school programme is open for twelve students, six of which will have their education based at Lund University. The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council, while secondary schools will be responsible for the teacher's salaries during their participation. 

The purpose of the research school is for teachers to develop their skills and to quality them for lecturer positions in the future. At the same time, upper secondary school students will have the opportunity to become involved in research studies with their own projects.

Lena Ström at our department is the director of studies for the part of the research school to be held at Lund University, Faculty of Science.

"This is going to be fun, it's a great initiative. We hope for a substantial interest, and that the graduate school will stimulate curiosity for science, geography and research among both teachers and students. The idea is for it not only to benefit individual teachers or classes, but whole schools" says Lena Ström.

The annoncement is now out and is open to teachers throughout the country. Deadline for applications is March 31st. Courses will start in September. Behind this initiative are LUCCI, a Linnaeus environment at Lund University, focusing on the cycle cycle and climate, and the Bolin Center for Climate Research at Stockholm University, in collaboration with the research network ICOS Sweden.

Text: Susanna Olsson och Lena Björk Blixt, translation from Swedish to English by Ricardo Guillén.