The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship
In 2004, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) established the John and Margaretha Aspegren Memorial Foundation to promote a better understanding between engineering sciences and the humanities.
The John and Margaretha Aspegren Memorial Foundation
In 2004, in accordance with the will of John and Margaretha Aspegren, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) established the John and Margaretha Aspegren Memorial Foundation to promote a better understanding between engineering sciences and the humanities.
The first scholarship was awarded to an engineer or scientist, and the subsequent scholarship was awarded to a humanist. The scholarships are now alternately awarded in these fields.
The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship of 100,000 SEK is generally awarded every other year.
Recipients of the Scholarship
2006 Arne Kaijser, Professor of History of Technology, KTH
2008 Emin Tengström, Associate Professor of Latin and Professor of Human Ecology with a Humanities Focus
Motivation: The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship 2008 is awarded to Emin Tengström for his significant commitment to interdisciplinary issues related to societal development.
2012 Ulrika Björkstén, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of Vetenskapsradion
Motivation: The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship 2012 is awarded to Ulrika Björkstén for her knowledgeable, empathetic, and critical examination, which has contributed to creating a better understanding through various media that both engineering and natural sciences, as well as the humanities, individually and in collaboration, contribute to a deeper understanding and the development of a better society.
2014 Susanne Lundin, Professor of Ethnology at Lund University
Motivation: The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship 2014 is awarded to Susanne Lundin for her contributions to medical research in ethically relevant areas such as gene therapy and stem cell research. By expertly and purposefully posing humanistically based questions, she has gained significant attention both in Sweden and internationally.
2017 Johan Wendt, founder of Mattecentrum
Motivation: The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship 2017 is awarded to Johan Wendt for his successful social entrepreneurship and work in inspiring children and young people to take an interest in and learn mathematics, natural sciences, technology, and programming.
2019 Lea Porsager, visual artist
Motivation: The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship 2019 is awarded to Lea Porsager for her artistry, particularly “Gravitational Ripples,” which is inspired by scientific observations and cosmic phenomena. This deeply moving memorial to the tsunami disaster connects engineering sciences and the humanities.
2021 Josefin Wangel
Motivation: The John and Margaretha Aspegren Scholarship 2021 is awarded to Josefin Wangel for her future studies in urban sustainability, where she boldly combines natural sciences, technology, design, and the humanities.
About John and Margaretha Aspegren
John Aspegren was a chemical engineer and head of Alfa-Laval’s central research and development unit, the so-called T-staff. Margaretha Aspegren was a language teacher with a great interest in literary history and art history. John Aspegren passed away in 1999, and his wife Margaretha in 2000.
It was the Aspegrens’ wish to create a foundation to “promote a better understanding between engineering sciences and the humanities” with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) as the trustee.