Introduction
Your name and affiliation: Professor Dr. Daniela Kleinschmit, Universität Freiburg
What Theme are you connected to? Let’s talk about Swedish Forests – From Polarisation to Sustainable Transition
What is your background and research interests?
For more than 25 years I have analysed, taught and advised on the area of natural resource policy and governance. My research interests include amongst others the areas international forest governance and bioeconomy with a focus on institutions, discourses, communication and legitimacy. And talking of communication: I’ve applied diverse analysis of media around the world, among others to understand who are the actors communicating about forests and thus shaping how forests and their problems are perceived but as well how they attribute roles to themselves and to other actors. things how actors within forestry communicate; what they are talking about, and how they talk about other actors.
International Fellow at Pufendorf IAS
What made you accept the invitation to come to Lund and work with this Theme – “what’s in it for you”?
It’s not my first time in Sweden. I worked at SLU (Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet) in Uppsala from 2008–2014. When I received the question to join the Theme – around a year ago – I immediately felt that the question of polarisation in the forest sector matches with my research interest and the timing was perfect. I was also intrigued by the Theme as an interdisciplinary group and the different competencies integrated. After now having spent time in the discussions during their “Tuesdays” I get a lot of ideas for future research. A huge bonus was the seminar on 3 March.
Yes – that seminar – tell me more about it? We were both happy and, honestly, a bit surprised to see the huge turnout. It’s usually hopeless to get students and staff to come to seminars and guest lectures…
It was great to see such an audience at the Seminar titled: How do we talk about forestry? Policy misconceptions and media conflicts. Students and professors from various disciplines attended and joined the presentation with Ben (Benjamin Cashore, professor in Public Management from the National University of Singapore, another of the Theme’s invited international guests) and me. The presentations were followed by good and energetic discussions.
What do think your main contribution to the Theme will be?
I hope that my background knowledge about forest governance internationally and in Sweden is beneficial as well as my work on media analysis and frames.
What is your “take” on our institute for advanced studies here in Lund?
Allowing this space is a unique offer of Institute of Advanced Studies like the Pufendorf IAS. I’m also involved in the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies’ – in the steering committee – so the concept of IAS was not new to me, but I haven’t experienced it myself as a researcher. Of course, there are as well many other offers from the IAS, e.g. the ambitious academy for early career researchers which exist in Freiburg but as well in here at Pufendorf, as I learned.
I’m not used to not having to produce some sort of “output” – no article, application, report… I realise how hard it is to “let go” of that mindset. Teachers and researchers today are on that treadmill, always “translating” every meeting, read or network into the next application or publication. Being here at Pufendorf IAS, I’m reminded of the real things behind research, the real questions. The most valuable.
Related reading
Link to Daniela Kleinschmit’s presentation on Universität Freiburg’s website
Link to Benjamin Cashore’s presentation on National University of Singapore’s website
Link to the Pufendorf Theme: Let’s talk about Swedish Forests – From Polarisation to Sustainable Transition
Link to the event page for the seminar How do we talk about forestry? Policy misconceptions and media conflicts, Ungapped website
Link to the webpage about our International Fellows programme, finansed by LMK foundation