Experienced water researcher new coordinator at SLU Water Forum

“I am well-versed in water issues at SLU and know other researchers who study water, completely or partly. Before I joined the Department of Aquatic Resources, I worked at the Department of Aquatic Resources and Assessment for 18 years. Water is such a versatile subject at SLU, and researchers study so many various issues related to it. That is why the SLU Water Forum is so important. It is critical that we cooperate more in regard to water issues, that we as water researchers take more interest in what other researchers in the same field are doing. A lot can be gained by doing this.”

Leonard wants to highlight water issues to make SLU expertise more visible.

“Water is a much larger part of SLU operations than many might think. They often aren’t aware that research findings come from SLU; the subject could be have a clearer profile here. As a matter of fact, about 300 SLU researchers study water in some form. Using the SLU Water Forum as a base, SLU can become more visible and work in contexts in which water issues are discussed. It also provides good opportunity to promote water activities at the university as a whole.”

Leonard’s predecessor, Sara Gräslund, begun developing forum operations in several important ways, and he emphasises that he just has to continue what Sara started.

“The foundation has been laid in the best possible way. And I have been promised help with the website. Sara started a Twitter account (@SLUwater) which has many important followers, and it must be maintained. I am convinced that social media can be beneficial for promoting SLU Water Forum activities and establishing contacts outside SLU.”

Leonard works at the Institute of Freshwater Research on Drottningholm but expects to be at Ultuna once a week.