About the department

2012 is the first year for the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences which is a merge between the former departments of Marine Ecology, Plant and Environmental Sciences and Zoology. The idea of a merger has been around for a while, and it was after a recommendation from the international panel that performed an evaluation of research at Gothenburg university, RED 10, that the decision was taken.

The purpose of the merger is to strengthen research and teaching within fundamental and applied biology including environmental science research. Through this merger of present research activities across organisms and habitats we can better make use of our collective knowledge to develop both present and future research areas.

The department is placed at four different localities, in the Botanical garden, at Medicinarberget, and at the two marine research stations Kristineberg and Tjärnö that are run by Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences.

We will organise the new department during 2012, building a new structure according to the new organisation plan for University of Gothenburg, and formulate our visions and strategies for developing research, teaching and outreach activities. The new organisation will gradually replace the old one(s), and the details on the department’s structure (to the left) will be upgraded as this process moves along.