Emma Elmi Lannergård

I am a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), with a background in environmental assessment, high-frequency monitoring and hydrological and biogeochemical modelling. My research ranges from detailed studies of processes in streams, ponds and wetlands to broader questions about how climate change and land use affect aquatic environments.

I coordinate the international research project FESTiVAL and collaborate with researchers and stakeholders in water management, both in Sweden and internationally.

My interdisciplinary background allows me to bridge scientific knowledge and practical applications. An important motivation in my work is to ensure that research contributes to both scientific understanding and sustainable water management. I am therefore also interested in how stakeholder engagement and collaboration can support shared learning, knowledge development and better-informed decisions.

My research focuses on three main themes:

Hydrological and biogeochemical processes in aquatic environments
I study how water flows and environmental conditions influence the transport, transformation and retention of nutrients and carbon. A particular focus is phosphorus dynamics, including the role of bank and bed sediments and legacy phosphorus. I also investigate how hydrological variability affects processes in streams, ponds and wetlands.

Environmental monitoring, data analysis and modelling
I use high-frequency sensor measurements, long-term environmental monitoring data, and hydrological and biogeochemical models to understand and explain changes in aquatic environments. I am particularly interested in capturing dynamic processes that conventional monitoring may miss, developing more effective monitoring approaches, and using observations to improve models and environmental assessments.

I also use hydrological and biogeochemical models to investigate how future climate change, including changing precipitation patterns and extreme rainfall events, may affect water flows and nutrient transport.

Environmental measures and sustainable water management
I investigate how measures such as ponds and wetlands affect water flows, water quality and other ecosystem functions. An important question is how their effectiveness varies with hydrological and biogeochemical conditions, and how we can understand and manage trade-offs between different environmental benefits. My research also addresses water-related ecosystem services in forested landscapes.

Research leadership and stakeholder engagement
I have experience in developing and leading research projects and currently coordinate FESTiVAL, an international project bringing together researchers from several European countries to study water-related ecosystem services in forested landscapes. I have also been a project leader for TIMFIE-nutrients, a research project on time-integrated water sampling conducted in close collaboration with colleagues.

I am Chair of the Swedish Hydrological Council (SHR) and work to create opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration among researchers and others working with water-related issues.

I am interested in how collaboration with stakeholders can contribute to both scientific knowledge and practical change. I aim currently developing my skills in process facilitation, with a particular focus on supporting shared learning and strengthening the connections between research and water management.