LiU Humanities鈥� mission is to coordinate, develop and visualise research in the humanities and social sciences. By working across departmental and subject boundaries, the forum creates the conditions for innovative and interdisciplinary research on culture and society.
As of this year, Erik Gustavsson is at the helm. He wants LiU Humanities to be a unifying force both within and outside the university 鈥� a forum that supports both research and education, while creating new encounters between disciplines.
鈥淥ur ambition is to be a unifying function and to build on what鈥檚 already there. A lot of good things are happening at the university that we sometimes aren鈥檛 really aware of,鈥� says Erik Gustavsson.聽
Marcus Nyenger
Building bridges between disciplines
A key part of the mission is to develop collaborations across faculty boundaries. With a background in applied ethics with a focus on medical ethics, Erik Gustavsson has extensive experience of interdisciplinary work, which he sees as an important resource in his role.
鈥淚ssues such as research ethics and theory of science are relevant to all disciplines. But I think the humanities can contribute even more here,鈥� he says.
LiU Humanities is already working broadly 鈥� from supporting research collaborations and initiating doctoral courses to arranging lectures, discussions and collaborations with external actors such as museums and libraries.
Several initiatives during the year
For the autumn of 2026, several activities are planned that reflect the ambition to develop operations. One example is a luncheon event to be organised in L枚vverket in Studenthuset on Campus Valla on 14 October, in close collaboration with the national think tank Humtank, where Johanna Vernqvist is LiU鈥檚 representative. Erik Isberg, the KTH representative in Humtank, will present parts of En forskningspolitik f枚r humaniora (A research policy for the humanities), Humtank鈥檚 2026 report on research funding and interdisciplinarity.
Also, Madina Tlostanova鈥檚 established doctoral course 鈥淩eimagining the Humanities鈥� continues, with international participation, and in August 鈥�(De)humanization 鈥� Philosophical, Historical, and Cultural Perspectives鈥� will be held, with visiting professor David Livingstone Smith.
The initiatives are to a large extent based on already established structures and collaborations 鈥� something that is a conscious strategy.
鈥淭here鈥檚 great potential in taking advantage of what鈥檚 already being done and making it more visible. Then we can also create new connections and contexts,鈥� says Erik Gustavsson.
Aiming to broaden the reach of the humanities
Another important ambition is to strengthen the role of the humanities both internally and externally. LiU Humanities works to raise the status of humanities research and contribute to current social debates, including through open lectures and collaborations.
For Erik Gustavsson, the mission is also about widening our gaze and showing the relevance of the humanities in a larger context.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to both safeguard the core of humanities research and at the same time see how it can contribute in a broader context. I believe that LiU Humanities has an important role to play here,鈥� he says.
Erik Gustavsson is beaming with energy while speaking about the mission ahead, and his experience of working across faculty boundaries is an important tool for success.
鈥淚鈥檓 really thrilled and honoured to have been asked. The idea is that my experience of working across disciplines and together with other faculties will help us develop our operations further.鈥�
Both he and Johanna Vernqvist are fresh in their roles. But Erik Gustavsson highlights his colleagues in LiU Humanities, Madina Tlostanova and Mansi Kashatria, as very important.
鈥淏oth of them have been with us for a long time and Madina has been giving the doctoral course for several years. They have a lot of experience of challenges, as this initiative was launched just before the pandemic.鈥�
