Ida Karlsson is the programme’s new PhD

Ida Karlsson was defending her doctoral thesis on 3 June.

Ida Karlsson successfully defended her PhD thesis and was awarded her doctorate at Chalmers University of Technology in June. Her thesis delves deep into the potential for reducing CO2 emissions in the supply chains of building and transport infrastructure construction.

The thesis Achieving net-zero carbon emissions in construction supply chains is an analysis of pathways towards decarbonisation of buildings and transport infrastructure.

The Swedish construction sector accounts for about 10-15 per cent of total Swedish CO2 emissions, so it plays a significant role in the commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Climate optimisation creates opportunities for savings

Ida Karlsson’s current research focuses on integration of carbon aspects in existing tools and processes and the link between costs and climate optimisation in building projects.

“We are doing case studies on building projects, and the aim is to also extend studies to civil engineering projects in cooperation with the Swedish Transport Administration”, she says.

The industry often perceives that climate optimisation makes building and construction too expensive. But Ida Karlsson doesn’t share that opinion.

“In the early stages, optimisation may make a project more expensive, but once you have experience in the field and established procedures, there is much to suggest that there are opportunities for savings instead”, she says.

Reflecting on the fast development

Ida Karlsson participates in several projects, often collaborating with industrial partners. Still, she is taking a two-month vacation to get some rest after the doctoral defence. Gardening, painting windows and travelling to Almedalen and Småland are on the agenda. And maybe she will take up an old hobby: kite surfing.

“But the day of the doctoral defence was great fun. More than a hundred people were in the audience, on-site or digitally. It was also a day when I could reflect and talk about developments in my research area. There is so much going on, and some things are developing faster than I dared to believe when I started my research. I also really enjoyed the discussions with the opponent and grading committee”.

“Being a doctoral student within Mistra Carbon Exit has been fantastic. There are so many knowledgeable, inspiring and wonderful people in the programme”, says Ida Karlsson.

Watch the recorded event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVLrzzqdq8o