Department of Urban and Rural Development

Sustainable transformations require not only new ideas but also knowledge meeting practice. We combine education, research and collaboration to contribute to the societal change needed to meet challenges such as the biodiversity and climate crises.

  • Our issues range from today’s and tomorrow’s discussions about forests, agriculture, urban and rural areas to climate adaptation from a historical perspective
  • We offer courses that are not available at any other universities in Sweden, and we are responsible for around 90 courses within seven different education programmes
  • We work closely with government agencies, organizations, and other societal actors to develop both knowledge and practice
A herder with cattle.

Resilience among smallholder farmers in rural Africa

How do farmers and pastoralists in Africa deal with change, uncertainty and crisis situations in their daily lives? Linda Engström, researcher in rural development, will investigate this together with colleagues from Tanzania and Canada in a project funded by Formas.

Moving of Kiruna Church.

When gardening became a science – new book depicts cultivation throughout history

Now, Swedish Garden History 1500 to 1800 has been published, the final part in a three-volume work that covers Swedish garden culture from prehistoric times to the present. The new part focuses on the early modern period, a period when the idea of ​​what a garden can be, and how it can be used, was being formed.

Some people are sitting and half-lying in seating furniture at Sergels torg.

Ambiguous messages appear to have paved the way for rapid climate policy change

What role did political rhetoric play in the rapid shift in climate policy after the 2022 election? SLU researchers who have analyzed debates in parliament and the media believe that politicians used ambiguous messages to appeal to multiple ideological groups simultaneously.

News & Events

News

  • 2025-10-21

    When water redraws the map – challenges and opportunities for future outdoor urban spaces

    Water shapes our landscapes in profound ways, especially as climate change intensifies risks and drives innovative solutions. In the latest webinar of the Mötesplats: Urban landskap series, researchers and practitioners discussed how water management is transforming urban environments.
  • 2025-10-15

    Designing resilient cities: Daniel Valentini on why urban waterscapes matter more than ever

    Cities around the world are under increasing pressure from water-related climate risks. Daniel Valentini, researcher at SLU, and hub coordinator at SLU Urban Futures, shares his insights on how the concept of urban waterscapes can help shape resilient cities of the future.
  • 2025-10-14

    From individual wetlands to multifunctional wetland landscapes

    Researchers from SLU are exploring how wetlands can serve multiple functions – from supporting biodiversity and storing carbon to purifying water and creating attractive environments. With knowledge from various projects, municipalities are better equipped to design the wetlands of the future.
  • 2025-09-23

    From child-friendly places to child-friendly cities

    Research shows that children's physical, psychological, and mental health is affected by the availability and quality of outdoor environments. In Malmö, several projects are underway to create child-friendly street environments and neighborhoods – in collaboration with the children themselves.
  • 2025-08-27

    The children’s city – where play meets urban development and nature

    How do children see the city? At the Malmö Festival, SLU Urban Futures and Botildenborg invited visitors on a playful journey into the world of urban development. By planting, creating, and interacting with a map, the children left their mark on Malmö—both literally and symbolically.

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Research

Research projects

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