Views on donations
Donations mean a lot both to those who generously donate and to those who gratefully receive them. Meet some of those who give and receive donations at Uppsala University.
Financier Anders Wall
For many years, financier Anders Wall has shown a great commitment to Uppsala University. Through his foundations, he has funded pioneering genetic research, the Anders Wall Professorship in Entrepreneurship, scholarships for Master’s students and much more besides.
Entrepreneur Niklas Zennström
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Niklas Zennström aspires to help solve global climate problems and is convinced that more research and education are essential to succeed. His initiative to establish a ten-year visiting professorship in climate leadership at Uppsala University combines these two ambitions.
Businessman Anders Wiklöf
Thanks to a donation from businessman Anders Wiklöf from the Åland Islands, Uppsala University has been able to establish a new centre for heart research – the Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research – based on data from large-scale population registers and biobanks.
Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith
Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith For many years, Swedish-American Myrna G. Smith has supported runic research at Uppsala University. Over and above repeated generous donations, she has pledged a legacy of USD 1.5 million to support the establishment of a professorship in runology. Her ultimate aim is to secure and advance the future research environment in runology and linguistic history.
Physicist John Colonias
Thanks to a donation totalling USD 100,000, a new scholarship fund has been established for doctoral students at the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Colonias-Jansson Foundation will award one scholarship per year to a doctoral student, preferably of Greek origin.
Professor Karin Forsberg Nilsson
As cancer researcher Karin Forsberg Nilsson sees it, donations create a personal relationship between the donor and the researcher. People give to the causes they care most about and so the relationship is dependent on the donor feeling confidence in the researchers and their research.
Professor Tobias Sjöblom
Donations have given Professor Tobias Sjöblom and his research team the opportunity to develop better tools for more personalised cancer treatment.
Professor Anna Rosling
“These donations enable us to take major, long-term research initiatives. They make it possible for us to take on Linnaeus’s project of describing all living things,” says Anna Rosling, Head of the Department of Ecology and Genetics
Master’s scholar Yan Shao
Yan Shao was one of the first Chinese students to receive an Anders Wall scholarship to study for a Master’s degree at Uppsala University. At the time, he knew next to nothing about Sweden. Six years later, he has completed his doctorate and regards Uppsala as a home from home.