In the almost fully seated IKDC lecture hall, LTH students and staff had gathered to listen to the Nomination Committee’s candidates for Dean and Deputy Dean – Margaret McNamee, Professor at the Department of Building and Environmental Technology and current Deputy Dean of LTH, and Ulf Ellervik, Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Head of Division at the Centre for Analysis and Synthesis (CAS).
The two candidates began by sharing a few more personal pieces of the puzzle:
- In 1986, Margaret McNamee moved from Australia to Sweden to begin her doctoral studies at Chalmers University of Technology. She came to Lund after several years at RISE, and when the working day ends for LTH’s Deputy Dean, she devotes her time and energy to her family.
- Ulf Ellervik moved from Linköping to Lund in 1989, when he began his studies in Chemical Engineering at LTH. After a few years as a postdoc at Caltech in California, he returned to Lund to continue his research. He has raised two humanities scholars, spends his free time on popular science, and loves cooking over an open fire.
First, a question of “chemistry”
Their decision to stand as a pair – and, if elected, later appoint a team of Vice-Deans and lead LTH – stems from the Nomination Committee’s initial question of whether they thought such a constellation could work.
“We both wrote down our thoughts about the future, and when we compared them, we saw that much was similar. So, it felt completely natural, and uncontroversial, for us to work together on a broad vision,” said Margaret McNamee.
The idea is that, as Dean, she will focus on staff and operational responsibility, research matters, and the establishment in Science Village – while the Deputy Dean will focus primarily on campus development, internationalisation, external engagement, and recruitment. But the exact portfolios will also depend on which Assistant Deans are appointed.
A vision with five main tracks
Their overarching, shared vision for LTH is summarised as follows:
“LTH shall be an internationally leading technical university that integrates research, education and innovation of the highest quality to address complex societal challenges.”
To reach this goal, they have identified five main tracks. Among the measures highlighted during the hearing were:
A strong interweaving of education and research, clear career paths for early-career researchers as well as technical staff, strengthened research communication, and contributions to societal resilience.
Not just gut feeling
When asked by the audience how the sometimes slow-moving University – and LTH – can be shifted, Ulf Ellervik replied:
“It can be a good thing that the university reflects on what is being done and that we don’t chase every idea immediately. I prefer to approach different issues as a researcher and look for the best solution. We cannot rely solely on gut feeling; we must gather the facts. In that way, I believe change is possible.”
A concrete promise from the proposed Dean and Deputy Dean was also that work on a new strategic plan for LTH will begin on 2 January 2027.
“It’s time,” said Ulf Ellervik.
Earlier news about the hearing – where you can also read the Nomination Committee’s motivations
Hearing with candidates for Dean and Deputy Dean of LTH – 7 May | LTHin