一本道

Photo of Karin Edberg

Karin Edberg

Associate Professor

My research concerns different social aspects of energy transition, mobility and infrastructural siting. In focus is how and why everyday practices emerge, change and stabilize, just as the relationship between practice and policy.

Energy systems and everyday practices in transition

Climate change and the quest for a sustainable society are high on the political agenda today. In my research, I am interested in such issues in relation to our everyday practices and the power structures that the transition involves, but also in relation to the memories that remain when an industrial activity ceases.

My research interests include different social aspects of sustainability, energy transition, energy consumption and mobility, as well as siting and decommissioning of energy infrastructure. Processes of change and experiences of these are central. In focus is also the relationship between practices and policies, with a particular focus on class and power dimensions and the understanding of practices as static/dynamic.

At the moment, my research is more concretely about, on the one hand, mobility beyond the car with a focus on how everyday mobility is changing (or not changing) and what role municipal planning adopt in the transition. On the other hand, my research is about cultural heritage processes in relation to nuclear power.

I have a PhD in sociology (Södertörn University 2018). In my thesis, entitled " A Changing Energy Landscape: Framing Controversial Siting on Northern Gotland", I analyse how the global energy dilemma - to satisfy an increasing energy demand without jeopardizing the future of the earth - becomes concrete and place-bound through the physical location of energy infrastructure. The analysis includes how actors combine landscape framings and place-related practices with place-independent framings of specific types of energy.
My previous workplaces include Uppsala University (dept. of Earth Sciences, section for Wind Energy) and Örebro University (School of Humanities, 一本道 and Social Sciences, Environmental Sociology). I work as Research Fellow at Tema T, 一本道, since 2020.

Publications

2026

Kristina Trygg, Ida Grundel, Karin Edberg (2026) Cities, Vol. 172, Article 106850 (Article in journal)

2025

Karin Edberg, Anna Storm (2025) Heritage & Society, Vol. 18, p. 82-108 (Article in journal)

2024

Karin Edberg, Yvonne Magnusson, Anna Storm (2024) Beyond academic publics: Conversations about scholarly collaborations with cultural institutions, p. 17-28 (Chapter in book)
Karin Edberg (2024) Mobilities, Vol. 19, p. 428-443 (Article in journal)

2023

Kajsa-Stina Benulic, Karin Edberg, Karin M Gustafsson (2023) Sociologisk forskning, Vol. 60, p. 219-228 (Article in journal)

Research

Past projects

Energy-related practices in transition: e-bikes, policies and everyday life

The research project studied how social practices interrelate with policies aiming to reduce climate change and energy demand. Of particular importance was also the investigation of how energy-related practices are framed, and how new standards are born.

More specifically, the project provided insights into how electric bikes have made, or not made, their way into the streets and into the practices of citizens, what 鈥渆-biking鈥� supersedes and how it is framed by different actors 鈥� in terms of environment, climate, comfortability, health, economy or something else.

The outcomes of the project contributed to a deeper understanding of challenges and opportunities included in the energy transition towards a more energy efficient, less fossil fuel dependent, society by discussing how policies and every-day practices co-work.

Two separate but related lines of data collection were applied in the project:

  • the individual/everyday use and framing of e-biking.
  • context and surrounding actors (policy makers, governmental authorities, interest organisations among others).

Both the everyday experiences and the societal and physical context were thus captured, and the individual perspective was coupled with the societal and long-term. Diaries and interviews composed an important part in the first line of data collection while the second line relied mainly on interviews, relevant policy documents and statistics.

Governance, planning and implementation of urban micromobility in Swedish municipalities: towards a transport-efficient society

To meet current climate challenges, a shift towards a more transport-efficient society is needed.

Micromobility solutions (light, low-speed electric or muscle-powered vehicles and walking) are more space-efficient than cars and produce less emissions and noise. However, as urban micromobility expands and diversifies at a rapid pace, including more vehicles of different types, diverse rhythms and increased electrification, many municipalities experience inadequate infrastructure. Regulations and policies have not kept pace with the rapid growth and differ between municipalities, and conflicts arise in the urban realm.

The project engaged with what is required of urban planning to meet future needs for the planning, governance and implementation of urban micromobility. The aim was to design new approaches and strategies, through collaboration with urban planners in different municipalities, to steer the development of cities towards more energy-efficient transport solutions.

NuSPACES

Cultural heritage processes are currently gaining traction in relation to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. Who are the key actors in these processes and what stories are taking shape? (2021-2024, JPI/VR)

Teaching

Course responsible

I teach at the Bachelor鈥檚 programme in urban and regional planning just as at the Master鈥檚 programme in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning. Within those programmes, I am course responsible for Projectwork (709G15), Intership (709A12, 709A13) and Special readings in Strategic urban and regional planning鈥� (709A11). I am also involved in career portfolios for master students.


Organisation