Newsmakers at KTH – February 2025
Road safety through touch and sustainable generators are a couple of the areas where researchers at KTH have recently attracted attention.
Sensitive contact with car drivers
Madeline Balaam , professor of Interaction Design, has been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept for a research project on Pneu-Haptics, a new method of communication between vehicles and drivers. Using compressed air technology, the project uses haptic signals, i.e. linked to touch, which are embedded in the seat. By changing the support in the driver's back and influencing the driver's posture, conditions for action or emotions are created. One of the aims of the project is to improve safety.
Grants for sustainable generators
Jose Serrano , a postdoctoral researcher in applied physics, has been awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship from the EU to develop more sustainable thermoelectric hybrid generators and improve their efficiency.
Researchers investigate gig economy
Mattias Wiggberg , researcher at the Division of Management and Technology, has been appointed as an expert in a government inquiry into EU rules on improved working conditions. Wiggberg will contribute with AI knowledge in order for a law on the gig economy to be developed.
Professors appointed as Fellow
Carlo Fischione , professor in the Department of Network and Systems Engineering, Gabor Fodor and Mikael Johansson , both Professors at the Division of Control Engineering, have all been awarded the title of Fellow of the IEEE, recognised as the world's leading professional body in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering and computer science. Fellow is
the highest level of membership in IEEE.
KTH researchers to the Swedish Research Council
Three researchers from KTH have been elected to the Swedish Research Council's Board and Scientific Council. Pontus Johnson , professor specialising in cybersecurity, has been elected as a board member for the period 2025-2027. Danica Kragic , professor of computer science, and Fredrik Viklund, professor of mathematics, have been elected to the Scientific Council for Natural and Engineering Sciences.
Professor to receive honorary doctorate in Finland
Arnold Pears , professor and Head of the Department of Education, will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Eastern Finland. The ceremony to honour Pears will take place in June.
Text: Christer Gummeson