GREENING THE ECONOMY: LESSONS FROM SCANDINAVIA

How can we work with nature to design and build our cities? This course explores urban nature and nature-based solutions in cities in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of cities, nature, sustainability and innovation. We discuss how to assess what nature-based solutions can achieve in cities. We examine how innovation is taking place in cities in relation to nature. And we analyse the potential of nature-based solutions to help respond to climate change and sustainability challenges. This course was launched in January 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. The course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Naturvation – a collaborative project on finding synergies between cities, nature, sustainability and innovation. The course features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.   

How can we shape our urban development towards sustainable and prosperous futures? This course explores sustainable cities as engines for greening the economy in Europe and around the world. We place cities in the context of sustainable urban transformation and climate change. We connect the key trends of urbanization, decarbonisation and sustainability. We examine how visions, experiments and innovations can transform urban areas. And we look at practices (what is happening in cities at present) and opportunities (what are the possibilities for cities going forwards into the future). This course was launched in January 2016, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. The course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with WWF and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability who work with creating sustainable cities. The course features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

How can we govern consumption and the sharing economy in our cities? This course explores cities, consumption and the sharing economy in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of the sharing economy, cities, governance, consumption and urban sustainability. We explore how the sharing economy can contribute to increasing social, environmental and economic sustainability. And we argue that it is imperative that the sharing economy is shaped and designed to advance urban sustainability. This course was launched in May 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. This course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Sharing Cities Sweden – a national program for the sharing economy in cities with a focus on governance and sustainability. It features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

Hydrogen will play a major role in the transition to a low-carbon society. Still, it also introduces demanding conditions for materials and components across the entire value chain, from production and compression to storage, transport, and end-use. Many of the most critical technical risks in hydrogen systems are materials-related, including loss of ductility and premature fracture, accelerated fatigue, unexpected leakage, seal degradation, corrosion, and performance degradation over time. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for making safe, reliable, and cost-effective engineering decisions. This course offers a practical, engineering-focused introduction to materials in the hydrogen economy, including catalysts in hydrogen production and materials used in hydrogen storage and transportation, as well as their impact on component lifetime and system safety. You will learn how hydrogen enters materials, how it moves (diffusion and permeation), where it accumulates (trapping sites), and how these processes can trigger degradation. A special focus is placed on hydrogen embrittlement in metals, particularly in steels and welded joints, because these materials are widely used in pipelines, pressure vessels, fittings, and structural components. The course also covers non-metallic materials that are crucial for hydrogen infrastructure, including polymers, elastomers, and coatings used in liners, seals, hoses, gaskets, and protective layers. In addition to the fundamental mechanisms, the course connects theory to real engineering choices. You will discuss which materials are suitable under different hydrogen conditions (pressure, temperature, purity, moisture, cycling), what typical failure modes look like, and what mitigation strategies can be used in practice, such as material selection, heat treatment, surface engineering/coatings, design measures, operating-window choices, and inspection/testing approaches. The course also introduces materials challenges in key hydrogen technologies such as electrolysers and storage solutions, highlighting how degradation and compatibility issues influence performance and maintenance needs. You will also discuss hydrogen carriers and their storage and utilization solutions. The teaching format combines short, focused lectures with seminar discussions and an applied assignment. Participants are encouraged to bring examples from their own work or studies (for example, a pipeline material choice, a valve and seal problem, a storage tank concept, or an electrolyser component, chemical and physical storage systems) and use these as case studies during seminars and in the final assignment. By the end of the course, you will have both the conceptual framework and the practical tools needed to evaluate materials risks in hydrogen applications and make better-informed decisions for real systems. What you will be able to do after the course After completing the course, you will be able to: Explain key mechanisms of hydrogen–materials interactions and their consequencesIdentify materials-related risks in hydrogen production, storage, and transportationEvaluate and justify materials choices for hydrogen components and systemsPropose mitigation strategies (design choices, coatings, operating conditions, testing/inspection approaches)  Course structure (March 2–31) 6 lectures: Overview of hydrogen economy and materials, Materials in hydrogen production, Hydrogen materials interaction-core concepts, mechanisms, and engineering implications, Hydrogen Carriers, and materials selection and design2 seminars: discussion of case studies and participant problems/components1 assignment: applied analysis/report linked to a realistic hydrogen application (can be connected to your work/project)   March 2 Lecture-Introduction 10:00-10:45 Farid Akhtar Introduction March 5 Lecture I 09:30-11:00 Valentina Zaccaria hydrogen production and utilization – An overview March 6 Lecture II 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Materials in Hydrogen Infrastrucutre- An Overview March 12 Lecture III 10:00-12:30 Alberto Vomiero/Marshet Sendeku Materials in Hydrogen production and conversion March 17 Lecture IV 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Hydrogen Embrittlement Mechanism and Theory March 19 Seminar I 10:00-12:00 Farid Akhtar Topic I March 23 Lecture V 10:00-11:30 Farid Akhtar Mitigating Hydrogen embrittlement: Materials selection and development March 26 Seminar II 10:00-12:00 Farid Akhtar Topic II March 30 Discussion/White Board 09:30-11:00 Farid Akhtar Sorting Challenges   For whom Engineers and professionals working with hydrogen technologies (or planning hydrogen projects)Master’s students in relevant fields Entry requirements Recommended background in engineering/natural sciences (materials/mechanics/chemistry/physics or equivalent). Relevant professional experience can also qualify.   Examination Based on: Assignment (report and/or presentation)Participation in lectures, seminars and discussions Course responsible/examiner: Farid Akhtar

Nuclear power technology has been a major asset since the mid-70s for decarbonizing electricity generation and for decreasing our reliance on fossil fuel. With more than 400 nuclear reactors currently in operation worldwide (more than 90 being in Western Europe) and more than 50 under construction, nuclear reactors will play a significant role for many years to come. By following this course, you will be able to understand the development of this technology from its early days, how it works, its advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and how it may contribute to climate-change mitigation. This course provides a holistic perspective and increased knowledge in nuclear reactor technology.   Topics Part 1: Nuclear power: an old story...: 3 chapters detailing the underlying principles of nuclear reactors for the purpose of understanding the history of the development of nuclear power: Elementary concepts in nuclear physics. Working principles of nuclear reactors. History of world nuclear power development. Part 2: Nuclear reactor technology: 11 chapters focusing on how a nuclear reactor works, with emphasis on Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology. Both the phenomenological and engineering aspects of nuclear reactors are covered. Electricity production. Reactor generations. Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology. Thermodynamic analysis of LWRs. Neutron cycle. Fuel depletion. Reactor control. Reactor dynamics. Reactor operation. Fundamental principles of reactor safety. Nuclear fuel. Part 3: Nuclear power, saving the world? 5 chapters explaining the aspects of nuclear power to be considered in a climate mitigation perspective, and the advantages/disadvantages/limitations of this technology. Nuclear fuel, waste and resources. Proliferation risks. Risks. Cost of electricity. Conclusions.   Course structure and set-up This is a self-paced course made of video lectures and interactive quizzes, which means that you can start and finish the course whenever you want. The course is free of charge and is given in English. The resources need to be studied sequentially. You cannot bypass given resources unless all previous learning activities were taken: For the video lectures, this means watching the video recording. For the quizzes, this means correctly answering the quiz questions, for which an unlimited number of attempts is allowed. For a few quizzes slightly more involved, you will be able to access the following resources even if you fail to find the correct answer. After completing the course, you will be issued a course certificate. Completing the course means reaching the end of the course, for which you need to have watched all video lectures and attempted all quizzes (the vast majority of the quizzes also require to have found the correct answer to the quiz questions).   Expected amount of work Completing the entire course takes about 40 hours of work. Level of the course Basic. A BSc in Engineering or similar knowledge is required. As all principles presented in the course are derived from scratch, any participant with an engineering background will be able to comprehend the course.

The EU’s circular economy strategy increases the need for expertise in the use of sustainable and recycled materials. This course provides tools and knowledge for the use of sustainable materials, development towards sustainability of existing materials, recycled and upcycled materials and how they contribute to the green transition through reduced energy consumption, longer lifespan, reduced costs, reduced waste volumes, better user-friendliness and opportunities for social entrepreneurship. The course will give you the opportunity to work on your own project in your own context and include different creative and practical tools. Course content Part 1: Introduction to the Circular Economy Part 2: Design for Recycling Part 3: Use of Recycled Materials Part 4: Substitution with Sustainable Alternatives Part 5: Conditions for Circular Systems and Economies Course design Open online course with pre-recorded lectures, interview and workshops, with reading, reflection and creative assignments. Self-paced, start and finish when you want to. This course takes about 80 hours to complete. You will learn How circular economy, material flows and sustainable materials can be understood in a broader sustainability context. Using various tools and models to analyze and improve material flows and product design. Practically apply and implement the knowledge in the course to their own business or a chosen project. Who is the course for? The course is aimed at professionals in industry, waste management, construction, material production, product development, recycling solutions, local and regional government, design and different creative professions. It is also open to students on all levels and participants without an academic background who want to deepen their knowledge in circular economy and sustainable material choices.