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Newsletter for researchers
From Karlstad University Library
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Read this newsletter "cover to cover" or cherry-pick what interests you by clicking on the links:
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When I was reflecting on what to write for this editorial, the James Bond line “shaken, not stirred” came to mind. It seemed like an unexpectedly apt way to describe the current scientific landscape.
Science today feels shaken — by political pressure, misinformation, and uncertain funding. Like a shaken martini, these external forces create turbulence, leaving things colder, cloudier, and more diluted than they should be.
But in the midst of this, the core of science holds. Like a well-stirred martini, it remains composed, methodical, and grounded in evidence. Calm beneath the surface, despite the noise around it.
As a library, we are part of this landscape too. The same forces that disrupt research also challenge institutions like ours. That’s why we see our role not only as preserving and providing knowledge, but also as supporting the structures and people that make research possible.
Our work — yours and ours — has always been about more than information. It’s about stewardship: of method, of truth-seeking, and of the shared belief that knowledge still matters, even when the world around us feels unsteady.
And even in uncertain times, there are reasons to be hopeful. From open science initiatives to global collaboration and the passionate voices of early-career researchers, there is growing momentum pushing back against the noise. These are signs of resilience and reminders that the scientific community continues to adapt, evolve, and move forward.
That, too, is something worth pausing to appreciate.
As summer approaches, I hope you find time to rest and recharge. After all, even a shaken martini needs time to settle — and comes back better for it.
Wishing you a great summer.
Nadja Neumann (On behalf of your library team)
P.S. This will be my last editorial here, as I’m leaving Karlstad University in August. Along the way, I’ve crossed paths with many of you and whether we worked closely or just exchanged a few words, I’ve always appreciated the friendly atmosphere and the chance to be part of this community. Thanks to everyone of you!
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Photo by Albin Norén
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Meet Samieh Eskandari, research advisor and member of the Researcher and Publishing Support Team at Karlstad University Library! Samieh joined KaU Library in August 2022, focusing on publishing support for researchers and PhD candidates. Her work includes guidance on publishing strategies, open access, copyright, Creative Commons licenses, and Karlstad University Press. She also represents the library at the Research Data Support Group at KaU, contributing to open science, research evaluations, and data management. She is also involved in research projects as an outreach and visualisation specialists.
Samieh shares, "I joined the team in 2022, but my first connection with the library began in 2018 when I started at KaU as a researcher at the Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences. At that time, as an early-career researcher, I never imagined that within four years, I would become part of this group. Joining this team has been a fantastic opportunity, allowing me to help other researchers and gain valuable experiences, which I really enjoy."
Our team supports researchers throughout their research process. However, some researchers are unaware of the full range of our services. If you're unsure how we can assist you, I invite you to explore our visualization (click here) illustrating the phases and ways we can support you. Click on sections to simply send us an email or learn more on our webpages."
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Starting August 2025, our Ebsco-powered search systems — including OneSearch and its many databases — will get a fresh new interface. Don’t worry, your trusty old bookmarks will still work, and you’ll find direct links as usual in our database list.
Got a personal EBSCOhost account? Heads up: only your “My folder” moves over automatically and you are already now able to download your folders to the new interface.
Good to know: saved searches and alerts won’t transfer and will need to be recreated.
Databases affected include Academic Search Premier, Medline, ERIC, and more — so it’s a good idea to get familiar with the new setup early!
Want to try it out? Beta versions will be available soon.
Any questions? anna-britta.nilsson@kau.se
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Photo by Agence Olloweb on Unsplash
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The university library offers support for PhD students wanting to kick start their writing or who are in the early stages of writing for publication. Support is offered in both individual and group settings.
For further information, email languagesupport@kau.se
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Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash
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Do your students complain that the textbook is too expensive or hard to access? In many subjects, there are completely free, peer-reviewed alternatives — called Open Educational Resources (OER).
This October, the library will be testing an AI-powered tool called Sylla that helps teachers find high-quality open resources. Interested in trying it out with us?
Contact Sandra.nelsson@kau.se if you'd like to participate or just learn more.
Link to Sylla
More about OER
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Photo by Héctor J. Rivas on Unsplash
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We’d like to highlight two professional development courses designed for anyone involved in teaching, especially doctoral students who often start teaching early without prior experience:
These courses don’t automatically give university credits, but many supervisors approve counting them toward your doctoral training. Both courses are listed on the Doctoral Course Portal, where you can also find recommended credit conversion.
A perfect opportunity to develop your teaching skills and feel more confident as an instructor!
Get in touch with upe@kau.se if you have questions.
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The University Library offers a 3-credit course for PhD students who want to strengthen their skills in information searching, publishing strategies, open access, and copyright.
The course is aimed at doctoral students in the early stages of their studies and is held on campus. It is offered in Swedish during the autumn semester and in English during the spring.
The next round of the course runs in autumn 2025.
Last day to apply: 26 August 2025
More information about the PhD course
Questions? Contact: forskarstod@kau.se
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Photo by Kaleidico on Unsplash
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Are you part of a research group looking to share your work with a wider audience? The library invites researchers to host exhibitions showcasing their projects, findings, or creative research outputs. It’s a great opportunity to engage the community and highlight the exciting work happening across disciplines.
If you're interested in exhibiting, please get in touch with us to learn more!
Contact mas.karin.gustafsson@kau.se
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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
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Did you know you can record teaching, research, or other informational content in a professional studio setting — completely free of charge? Karlstad University offers staff access to studios for film, audio, and podcast production, with full support throughout the process for high-quality, sustainable results.
Whether you're planning a lecture video, a podcast episode, or a research presentation, we’re here to help — from idea and planning to recording and editing.
Book a studio or get in touch with our support team at: undervisningsfilm@kau.se
Plan ahead, prepare your material, and let’s create something great together!
Learn more about studio recordings at Karlstad University
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Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
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We currently don’t have a dedicated ORCID field in the KaU researcher profiles and the IT department is working on enabling this feature. In the meantime, you can manually add your ORCID in the “Website” field or alternatively include it in the “Related information” section using the hyperlink function to link directly to your ORCID profile.
Check out our instruction videos on how to register and to import your DiVA records to ORCID https://www.kau.se/en/library/researchers/increase-visibility-your-research/communicate/get-researcher-id
Not sure what Orcid is?
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a unique persistent digital identifier that helps you to distinguish yourself from other researchers with similar names and ensures proper attribution of your work. It integrates smoothly with publishers, funders, and institutions, making it easier to manage publications, grant applications, and academic records. You can get your own at www.orcid.org
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Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash
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In March, the Swedish National Data Service (SND) launched a new and improved portal Researchdata.se.
It is a major upgrade of the current research data catalogue, offering more datasets, better metadata, improved search and analysis tools, as well as training materials and other useful resources for working with research data.
And while we are at it, SND has also released a new report, “An overview of publishers’ guidelines for sharing research data”, compiled by Björn Sjögren, researcher at Linköping University and former research data advisor at SND. The report examines how the world’s five largest academic publishers approach and regulate the sharing of research data.
Go straight to the database
Read more about the report on SNDs webpage
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Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
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