Sara Brogaard

Research

I m a senior lecturer in Sustainability Science since with a background in geography and geosciences. My research is, in a broad sense, is addressing how climate change directly and through mitigation policies is influencing rural land use dynamics and related livelihoods. According to a Sustainability Science approach, my research is based in perspective that natural and social systems as closely coupled, which in practice means that both research and teaching is carried out in interdisciplinary teams. This has made it possible to work in a problem-oriented way, applying different methods depending on the specific research question.

One line of work explores how different factors contribute to climate vulnerability in small scale farming systems. Starting this research in the drylands of Northern China (with rural reform as an important dimension), I later participated in a project on multiple factors that create seasonal vulnerability in East Africa. Recently I have been running a project collecting data on how the 2018 drought hit Swedish farmers, to be able to analyse how vulnerability to an extreme event is shaped in a “northern” context.

Another theme that I address in my research, and want to explore further, is the increasing impact of climate mitigation policies and expansion of renewable energy (for example bioenergy), and how this increases demand for land. This means opportunities but also challenges for land use and livelihoods and interplays with perceptions and attitudes, as well as dimensions of equity and justice.

Research areas: Land Use, Renewable energy, Climate Change, Livelihoods, Vulnerability, Sustainability Science

Research projects: You can find a list with all research projects in the Lund University Research portal

Transdisciplinarity and outreach

Working closely with stakeholders outside academia in a transdisciplinary manner is one aspect of sustainability science that I really appreciate. Within the H2020 project, InnoForEst, I am collaborating with the Universeum Science Centre in Gothenburg to study how school children interact with forest ecosystems, and how they can learn more about climate change through multi-actor collaborations. Following this direction, I have also been developing an initiative with a jazz composer trying out new methods for creating awareness about climate change research.

Read more about the InnoForest project

Read more about the project "Musik för klimatet" 

Interview about the project "Musik för klimatet"

Teaching

My teaching reflects my interests in interdisciplinary aspects of land change processes. I am mainly involved in the international master programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES) and  the International Development and Management master program (LUMID). I run an elective course in Energy and Sustainability, and participate in other courses and supervise master theses.