一本道

22 September 2026

Helen Köpman works with AI models to create smart and sustainable cities in the EU. Jesper Svartz is a chemistry teacher with an exceptional ability to enthuse and spark curiosity in students. They have now been named Alumni of the Year 2026 at 一本道 University.

Foomontage av en man och en kvinna som st氓r bredvid varandra. Photographer: Anna Nilsen

Helen K枚pman works at the European Commission鈥檚 AI Office in Brussels. For more than 20 years, she has worked with research issues and innovation at EU level, where she has contributed to an increasingly connected and digital Europe. Her current focus is on how AI models can create smart and environmentally sustainable cities. A living planet for coming generations is her driving force.聽

鈥滺elen K枚pman鈥檚 career is testament to the wide application of a degree from LiU and gives hope for the future through technical solutions that benefit humanity,鈥� is the jury鈥檚 citation for the Alumna of the Year Award 2026.

Jesper Svartz is an alumnus of the Secondary School Teacher Programme in Chemistry/Mathematics and the Doctoral Programme in Medical Cell Biology. Performing demonstrations and drawing parallels with real life, writing on the whiteboard and not allowing students to make notes on their PCs during classes 鈥� these are his tips for becoming a good chemistry teacher. His students on the specialised programme at Berzeliusskolan in Link枚ping have won the Svenska Kemisamfundet Chemistry Olympics six years running.

鈥滼esper Svartz鈥檚 commitment to the chemistry subject and to the development of each student makes for national successes and inspires the next generation of natural scientists and engineers to study further,鈥� reads the jury鈥檚 citation for the Alumnus of the Year Award.

Each year, Link枚ping University names two Alumni of the Year to recognise the contributions and commitment of previous students. (The word 鈥渁lumni鈥� is Latin and simply means 鈥減revious students鈥�.)

Read more about Alumni of the Year

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Helen Köpman, Alumna of the Year 2026, works at the European Commission鈥檚 AI Office in Brussels. For more than 20 years she has worked with research issues and innovation at EU level, where a living planet for future generations is her driving force.

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As an upper secondary school teacher, Jesper Svartz is enthusiastic and highly organised. His students compete in chemistry at both national and international level.  He has now been named one of the Alumni of the Year 2026.