Alumni Talks
The DPCR Alumni Association's Alumni Talks are held annually, each year with a different theme. Most events have been filmed and can be viewed via links in each year's section.
Alumni Talks 2023
DPCR Alumni Talks 2023: Water, Climate, and Peace
The DPCR Alumni Association held its seventh Alumni Talks on 10 May 2023 in cooperation with Uppsala Peace and Development Students’ Association (UPaD). The Alumni Talks are held annually, each year with a different theme. This year, we welcomed four distinguished guests, Ashok Swain, Anders Jägerskog, Kyungmee Kim, and Jakob Schabus who talked about the intricate connections between water resources, climate change, and peace. The panel was moderated by Vivian Hoac, the Head of Education at UPaD.
Our esteemed speakers:
Ashok Swain is a Professor and Head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, where he also serves as the UNESCO Chair on International Water Cooperation and Director of the Research School of International Water Cooperation. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the 'Environment and Security' journal, jointly published by Sage Publishing and the Environmental Peacebuilding Association.
Anders Jägerskog is Program Manager of the Cooperation on International Waters in Africa Trust Fund. He is also the focal point at the World Bank for Transboundary Waters. His work focuses primarily on the African continent and on the Middle East and North Africa region. Previously he was Counsellor for regional water resources in the MENA region at the Swedish Embassy in Amman and Jordan. He was the Director of Knowledge Services at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) where he headed the Transboundary Water Management Unit and was work area leader for applied research.
Kyungmee Kim is a Researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in the Climate Change and Risk Programme, specializing in climate change and conflict, as well as environmental peacebuilding. She earned her PhD in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University in 2021, with her dissertation titled "Civil Resistance in the Shadow of War: Explaining Popular Mobilization against Dams in Myanmar." Dr. Kim is also a member of the Research School for International Water Cooperation at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, which is part of the UNESCO Center for Water Cooperation. Before her doctoral research, she worked on international water cooperation and civil society empowerment at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
Jakob Schabus is a Communications Manager at Stockholm International Water Institute with a deep passion for engaging audiences in political subjects and making complex ideas accessible. He has extensive experience in writing, editing, and public speaking. Prior to joining the Communications Department, Jakob served as a Programme Officer in SIWI's International Policy team and as a Research Assistant at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University. He holds a Master of Social Science from Uppsala University, with expertise in climate change, water governance, and the protection of civilians during crises.
Alumni Talks 2022
DPCR Alumni Talks 2022: Perspectives on the interplay between humanitarian action and peace research
The DPCR Alumni Association held its sixth Alumni Talks on 23 May 2022. The Alumni Talks are held annually, each year with a different theme. This year, we welcomed two of our distinguished alumni, Julia Wittig and Henrique Garbino, who talked about the connection between humanitarian action and peace research. The panel was moderated by Corinne Bara.
Julia Wittig has long been working in the field of humanitarian action and armed violence reduction in North and Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Wittig is currently working at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) as the Humanitarian Affairs Officer & Anticipatory Action Lead at the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). She is leading the design of an innovative humanitarian financing approach for CERF to mitigate climate-induced humanitarian crises.
Henrique Garbino served in the Brazilian Army for more than a decade as a combat engineer officer, and he worked as a deputy operations officer of the Brazilian Engineering Company in the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti. He was recently in Ukraine for a six-week rapid deployment mission as a Weapon Contamination Delegate and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Garbino is currently an associate specialist at the Brazilian Research Network on Peace Operations and a doctoral candidate at the Swedish Defence University.
Alumni Talks 2019
The DPCR Alumni Association held its fifth Alumni Talks on 7 May. This year we welcomed Alberto Fernandez Gibaja and Martina Klimes, both alumnus from DPCR. The event was moderated by Professor Isak Svensson.
The Alumni Talks serves as a source of inspiration and advice to current students and recent graduates with regards to potential career paths following an education in peace and conflict studies. The alumni share information about their current jobs and the paths that lead them there and can provide insights gained along the way. It is an opportunity for students interested in pursuing similar careers to ask questions and build connections with those that have more working experience.
Speaker bio
Alberto Fernandez Gibaja (DPCR Master class of 2009) is a Programme Officer in the Political Participation and Representation Programme at International IDEA. Alberto's work focuses on the politics of economic development and its implications. He also explores the relationship between political participation and new technologies, i.e. the linkages between democratically elected institutions and organisations and citizens, and how technology can strengthen citizen's ownership of democracy. Previously, he worked as a Governance Officer for the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste, among other positions.
Martina Klimes (DPCR Master class of 2006) is an Advisor for Water and Peace in the Transboundary Water Managment Dept. at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). In this role she is advising on SIWl's activities in transboundary basins affected by water scarcity, political tensions, and armed violence. Martina Klimes has over 10 years of experience working with dialogue facilitation, conflict resolution, political and security analysis, including practical work in the field and informal diplomacy processes. Her main research focus is on peace processes, incentives, and third party involvement in peace negotiations.
ALUMNI TALKS 2018
Integrating Refugees in Society: The Sergio Vieira de Mello Academic Chair in Brazil
The DPCR Alumni Association held its fourth Alumni Talks on 30 May. For this year’s talk we welcomed Professor Gilberto Rodrigues, currently Professor in International Relations at the Federal University of ABC in São Paulo, Brazil. Professor Rodrigues is an alumnus of the DPCR, having taken the Conflict Resolution Course in 1996.
In his talk, Professor Rodrigues shared his insights on the protection and integration of refugees in Brazil, and how government and civil society are dealing with this great humanitarian challenge. He spoke about the Sergio Vieira de Mello Chair on refugee services that he currently co-coordinates in collaboration with the UNHCR Office in Brazil. He also shared the personal story of how his academic career has developed, from early university studies to a professional academic.
The event was moderated by Professor Peter Wallensteen, Senior Professor at the DPCR and former Dag Hammarskjöld Professor 1985-2012. The event was particularly symbolic for Professor Rodrigues, as the date marked the same day that he had received his Diploma (from Professor Wallensteen) in Uppsala 22 years ago.
Watch the Alumni Talks 2018 at Uppsala University's Medfarm Play website
ALUMNI TALKS 2017
A closer look at the United Nations
The DPCR Alumni Association held its third Alumni Talks on 25 April, this year with the theme “A closer look at the United Nations”. In this year’s Alumni Talks we welcomed two alumni with great experience and insight into the United Nations - from different perspectives; Louise Ohlsson and Henrik Hammargren.
Louise Olsson (PhD at the Department in 2007) is a researcher at the DPCR and the Senior Advisor on Women, Peace and Security at the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA). This means that she constantly moves between research and practice. Among her many tasks, she has reviewed how the field operations of NATO, the UN and the EU handle women’s and men’s security and participation. Olsson has also developed a Research Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, to strengthen systematic knowledge development, and a Gender Coach Program, both for the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for government agencies such as the FBA and the Swedish Armed Forces, which is a training program for senior management.
Henrik Hammargren (Master at the Department in 2004) Executive Director for the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, has spent twenty years in managerial and policy analyst roles, advising bi- and multilateral development co-operation, serving the Swedish government and with the OECD. Areas of focus have included humanitarian aid, conflict management and peacebuilding, and support to democracy and human rights. Hammargren also has several years of in-country experience from conflict and post-conflict regions.
The talk was moderated by Professor Peter Wallensteen who is a Senior Professor of Peace and Conflict Research since 2012, Holder of the Dag Hammarskjöld Chair 1985-2012, Head of Department 1972-1999, leader of the Uppsala Conflict Data Program until 2015 and the author of books, book chapters and articles in topics also relating to the UN, the UN Security Council, peacebuilding and negotiations, notably Quality Peace (2015) and Fredens Diplomater (with Isak Svensson 2016).
Watch the Alumni Talks 2017 at Uppsala University's Medfarm Play website
ALUMNI TALKS 2016
DPCR Alumni Talks 2016: Democracy from Below or Above? Prospects and Challenges for Peace
The DPCR Alumni Association held its second Alumni Talks on 28 April, this year with the theme “Democracy from Below or Above? Prospects and Challenges for Peace”. The two main speakers were Professor Kristine Höglund and Professor Isak Svensson, who both took up the positions as Professors at the Department last year. Isak Svensson's research focuses on international mediation in civil wars, religious aspects of conflict resolution processes, and dynamics of strategic nonviolent conflicts. Kristine Höglund's areas of expertise are peace processes and peacebuilding, electoral violence, and transitional justice. The talk was moderated by Professor Peter Wallensteen.
Watch the The Alumni Talks 2016 at Uppsala University's Medfarm Play website
ALUMNI TALKS 2014
DPCR Alumni Talks 2014: Peace in the World: Trends in Modern History and Prospects for the Future
The Department of Peace and Conflict Research and the DPCR Alumni Association on 26 February 2014 brought together the most recent Dag Hammarskjöld Professors to talk about their views on the emerging trends in peace throughout the world. In the well-attended alumni event, Professor Peter Wallensteen and Professor Håvard Hegre presented historic trends and predictions on conflict and peace in the world. Departure for the discussion were two articles by the professors, recently published in the Journal of Peace Research. The event was moderated by Professor Erik Melander. After interesting presentations and discussions the speakers mingled with the alumni at the following reception.
Watch part 1 of the Alumni Talks 2014 at Uppsala University's Medfarm Play website
Watch part 2 of the Alumni Talks 2014 at Uppsala University's Medfarm Play website