PhD defence in Kalmar
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April 13, 2026
in Impact projects, Science meetings

PhD defence in Kalmar

A mission to Kalmar and back by Erik Sturkell

On the 10th of April I was on the committee for a doctoral defence that took place in Kalmar. To travel to and from Gothenburg by train is an ordeal. There are only 3 – 4 direct trains per day and the trains are slow. It takes a little more than four hours if the train is on schedule. Furthermore, there is no service onboard these trains. No coffee, no sandwiches, and no beer! On the way back I was prepared. Thursday the 9th of April, I took the train and arrived in Kalmar 4½ hour later without coffee! But I gave me good time to read through the thesis once more. The thesis is about microbial methane formed in crystalline rocks. I got an invitation because gas had been collected in the Siljan impact structure. Methane gas had been collected in drill holes at 380 meters depth together with different species of microbial life. The thesis also discussed gas from the deep drilling in Jämtland, the COSC-2 hole. I had a few hours on Thursday between the arrival and the get-together in the evening. Thus, after finding the hotel I went downtown. I found the bar “FF” (Fig.) and had a Fuller’s ESB at the place (PS! The bar counter is made of wood). All involved in the dissertation met at the place “Lilla puben” at 6PM. The pub has two bar counters made of wood, one massive and one with plastic laminate. From the pub we crossed over the square to the restaurant “Kött & Bar”. The bar counter here was made of “Verde Alpi marble”. After a nice diner I retired to my hotel.

The next day was the dissertation! The opponent was Dr. Ernest Chi Fru from Cardiff University (UK). It turned out the opponent was a former colleague of Gabrielle from her time at Stockholm University. The dissertation took around three hours, and all went well! After a short deliberation of the committee, we proclaimed the respondent Femke Van Dam had passed. After champagne we had a good lunch, and following the lunch Henrik Drake (the supervisor) showed me the department and their laboratories.  Finally, I got to the Kalmar central station (Fig) and took the train back to Gothenburg.

Photo: Erik Sturkell. The Kalmar castle dates to the end of the 12th century, of this nothing is seen from the outside. The current view is from the middle of the 16th century.
Photo: Erik Sturkell. The bar FF.
Photo: Erik Sturkell. The Kalmar university all at one campus.
Photo: Erik Sturkell. The Kalmar central station.