Contributing to the climate transition in the construction sector – awarded Chalmers’ Prize for Societal Impact

“Receiving this prize feels both fantastic and deeply honouring. It’s proof that the work I do—together with my colleagues—really makes a difference in society. I’ve always had a strong drive to contribute to climate action, and early on at Chalmers I realised there’s so much valuable research that doesn’t reach out; it’s a goldmine that more people should have access to,” says Ida Karlsson, postdoctoral researcher in Energy Technology at the Department of Space, Earth and Environment.

Encouraging Researchers to Create Societal Value

The purpose of Chalmers’ Prize for Societal Impact is both to encourage researchers to actively ensure that their research benefits society and to highlight their contributions. Ida Karlsson’s work focuses on the climate transition in the construction sector, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions throughout the entire value chain—from raw material extraction and manufacturing to completed buildings and infrastructure. Her research applies a systems-thinking approach, analysing barriers and opportunities in close collaboration with companies, municipalities, and government agencies.

What distinguishes her work is its focus on supporting the implementation of measures, regulations, and policies—a form of impact different from technical innovations that can be commercialised. This means that her role is more advisory and systemic.

“Implementing new solutions doesn’t always require major financial investments from companies—it can be an investment in culture, systems, and processes. Decisions may challenge the status quo and habits of ‘doing things as they’ve always been done,’ which can hinder climate transition. I want to promote the mindset that transformation is both possible and achievable. Of course, I point out obstacles, but I mainly focus on opportunities and solutions,” explains Ida Karlsson, who conducts her research within the Mistra Carbon Exit programme, led by Filip Johnsson at Chalmers and Lars Zetterberg at IVL.

New pathways for impact at Chalmers

Ida Karlsson is optimistic about the new opportunities and pathways emerging at Chalmers for researchers eager to reach out with their work. One reason she wanted to nominate her research for this award was to inspire other researchers to dare to prioritise societal impact. She believes that many researchers want to, but lack confidence or institutional support to share and communicate their findings.

“For me, working with societal impact used to feel like a dead end, since career advancement in academia often depends on the number of articles and citations. But I don’t feel that way anymore. I’ve received strong support from my division, and the fact that my work on impact is now recognised and encouraged at Chalmers is truly rewarding,” she says.

Ida emphasises that researchers aiming to reach out must learn to tailor their message to their audience. She believes many need support in developing this skill—it grows through practice. Another crucial aspect is getting to the essence of the message, something that can run counter to academic norms. It’s a different way of thinking, she explains. Moreover, engaging in outreach creates two-way communication: reaching out and taking in. The result is co-created research that integrates new perspectives and challenges from industry, leading to higher quality and greater relevance.

“When I speak about my research in different industry forums, I try to adapt and evolve my work so that it stays aligned with real-world developments,” she says.

Chalmers Next Labs

Ida Karlsson also sees great potential in Chalmers Next Labs, which can serve as a bridge between research, industry, and policymakers. The mission of Next Labs is to create real societal value from Chalmers’ world-leading research by accelerating how research-based knowledge is implemented in society and industry.
“For research results to truly make a difference, we must work strategically and collaboratively to ensure they’re actually implemented. Otherwise, we risk ending up in the so-called ‘valley of death’, where promising solutions remain as paper products,” she says.

The hard work of reaching out

A key reason Ida Karlsson was awarded Chalmers’ Prize for Societal Impact is her broad engagement across multiple target groups, spanning both the public and private sectors. Through active participation in numerous forums, she meets stakeholders along the entire value chain. She contributes to roadmaps for sustainability within various industry organisations, engages in platforms for climate-optimised construction, acts as an expert in industrial research projects, and frequently appears at events and conferences.

She has been a visible figure in Swedish media in recent years and was included in a high-profile list of the most influential people in sustainability in Sweden. She is also a sought-after and appreciated lecturer.

“The Mistra Carbon Exit research programme has been a fantastic and natural platform to start from in reaching out with my research, and I want to express great appreciation to everyone involved. Beyond that, I’ve actively sought suitable forums and networks. At first, it took hard work to get my message across, but the more I did it, the further the results spread—it’s like ripples on water. Now I have so many opportunities that I almost wish I could clone myself to reach even more people,” Ida says with a laugh.

The Prize for Societal impact is handed out on Chalmers' Annual Ceremony on 6 November.

More Information

Read more about Chalmers Next Labs

Read more about Mistra Carbon Exit

Learn more about the road to zero emissions within Mistra Carbon Exit