Yesterday was the Science Student Union’s twenty second birthday. We celebrated twenty two years of educational monitoring in the reception of the Astronomy building with cakes, coffee and a selection of interesting historical artifacts from the Union’s archive.

For example, did you know that LUNA used to have a printed newspaper for all our members (wether they wanted it or not) or that we have the ashes of an old agreement between the then central union, Lunds Studentkår, and LUNA from when Lunds Studentkår split into the faculty unions we know and love today in an old honey jar?

We are happy to announce that the first JoL-Afton of the semester will take place on Wednesday, the first of November.

You might ask yourself, “What on earth is a JoL-Afton?”.

The JoL-Aftons are discussion evenings arranged by LUNA’s Gender and Equality Committee (JoL) where we dive into a topic related to gender, equality and science. The Union provides a topic, and fika for the attendees and the participants provide the interesting discussions. You can find the facebook event for the evening here.

The format of the evenings is usually based on an initial presentation of some form and subsequent discussions but it is up to the participants if they wish to try something else.

The theme for the evening will be the question: Can gender analysis improve science? As basis for our discussion will be a talk by Londa Schiebinger on gendered innovations.

Londa Schiebinger is a professor of history of science at Stanford University and last semester she became an honorary doctorate of the Faculty of Science in Lund. She has been the director of the joint effort of the european commission, the US and Stanford: Gendered innovations.

The JoL-Afton will take place in the Lundmark lecture hall in the Astronomy Building. The event is open for all.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Tomorrow is the eight Union Parliament of the year 2017. As part of the matters of the day, the Union will open for by-elections for positions that are currently vacant. If you are interested in a position, you can attend and candidate on site or send a candidature to the nomination committee.

You can find all of our currently vacant positions posted and regularly updated here and descriptions of the positions here.

The Parliament will take place in Universum in the Astronomy Building at 17.15 (fika is served from 17.00). If you are unsure how to find Universum, the presidium will be around the Union office by 17.00 and can show you the way there.

We hope to see you there!

Important information,  the application period for springtime courses 2018 has opened. Deadline for applications is October 15th so be sure to start planning your spring term early. For more information, visit the official admission webpage (English, Swedish).

Be sure to visit the study advisor at your department if you are unsure what you want to study next. If you do not know who your study advisor is or if you have any further questions, feel free to contact your student council or the union at ordf@luna.lu.se. 

You can watch and listen to the student speech from the graduation ceremony which was held by Caspar Håkansson June 4th.

The winners of the awards handed out annually by LUNA have been decided upon. Today June 4th, at the faculty graduation ceremony, the prizes are handed out. Congratulations Melvyn B. Davies and Christina Ledje! Below you find the motivation texts that was sent along the nominations by students from the faculty, for the two.

Nomination text for Melvyn B. Davies as sent in by students

“A very respectable lecturer who teaches the subject with great enthusiasm. He use fun and useful analogies to make the subject easier to grasp. He use discussion in small group as a tool to give the student a deeper understanding of the subject and for the student to think about what the answer to a question before getting it handed to you. A worthy nominee for the pedagogical prize 2017.”

Nomination text for Christina Ledje as sent in by students

“As a biologist one is lucky to know that carrier and study advice is easily attainable and holds a great quality. A quick walk through the Ecology building and you find yourself at Tina’s office. No matter how stressed and nervous one arrives, you always leave her room with a smile and a feeling of confidence.

Tina’s drive and dedication shines through everything she does, and everything she does is in the best interest of the students. Taking on a coordinating role for master studies she is a well-known name across the faculty. Despite her many commitments, neither her work quality nor her empathy lets one down.

One cannot do anything but wonder how she manages everything so well and still finds time to make personal connections to the students she cares so well for. Such dedication and extensive knowledge within one’s area of work should not go unnoticed, and I cannot think of anyone more well-deserving of LUNA’s honorary prize.”

Our dear giraffes made it back home! After an adventurous trip to Gothenburg and back again LUNA and its teammates of Samhällsvetarkåren are safely back in Lund. Find pictures from the trip on Facebook. Tandemstafetten 2017 is over and the next one takes place in 2019. Next year the Lundakarnevalen will take its place.

Student influence on a national level?

This weekend the union president and two student representatives are attending the annual conference FUM by Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer (SFS). SFSFUM is held in the ‘student city of the year’ (sv: årets studentstad), 2017 Linköping is the place to be.

Student unions from universities all over Sweden gather to discuss and decide upon what matters should be brought up by the students of Sweden to the national government and parliament. What a great impact student influence is able to have!

If you are interested in reading more about the work of SFS you can do so on their webpage or contact the union and ask about how LUNA is involved in the organisation.