Center for Sexology and Sexuality Studies: "We want to be more visible globally"
Charlotta Holmström is Director of the Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies.
Sexual violence, migration and sexual health, masculinity and sexuality are some of the areas the Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies will focus on in the near future.
The Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies conducts interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research on sexology and sexuality in Sweden and internationally.
"Our centre is unique in Sweden as we combine the clinical and the social sciences in one place," says Charlotta Holmström, Director of the centre and Associate Professor of social work.
International impact on the agenda
The centre is one of nine at Malmö University to have received central funding for the next six years. Charlotta Holmström and her colleagues are ambitious for the future.
"We want to be more visible as a leading research centre in Sweden, but also globally."
One aspect will be to expand the centre's network nationally and internationally. The centre will also organise a conference in clinical sexology this autumn together with the Swedish Society for Sexology and the Nordic Association for Clinical Sexology.
Another focus is to be strategic about research communication. The centre wants to strengthen its role in communicating knowledge to the wider public about sexology and sexuality. This may involve adding nuance to the public debate or contributing research-based knowledge to public authorities and other stakeholders.
Showing the complexity
One example from last year is when a researcher from the centre was called in as an expert witness in a murder trial regarding possible honour-based motives for the crime. The National Board of Health and Welfare has invited the centre's members for dialogue and input several examples.
"There is so much opinion in this field. We want to make research visible that shows the complexity of the field," says Charlotta Holmström.
Members of the research centre work on different themes and this spring the focus will be on the following areas: young people and sexuality, health and vulnerability in relation to sexuality, sexual violence, masculinity and sexuality, and migration and sexual health.
"It's going to be an exciting year! It's a new start, even though we have been around for a while," says Charlotta Holmström.
Text by Anna Holmwood
