Anna Sjöström Douagi

PhD, Vice President Science & Programs at the Nobel Prize Museum

Membership period 2020–

Anna Sjöström Douagi was founder and CEO during the first five years when the Young Academy of Sweden was established as a platform for younger researchers to meet and act in society. Anna's commitment to promote science and research transferred to the young academy and is still an important part of the Academy’s activities. Under Sjöström Douagi's leadership, the constructive and dynamic spirit was established that permeates the Young Academy of Sweden to this day.

Anna Sjöström Douagi began her career aiming to become a musician, as transverse flutist. However, her passion for science grew and led her to study biochemistry at Stockholm University and the University of Copenhagen for her undergraduate studies. She then did her doctorate in immunology at Karolinska Institutet followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the USA. Planning to continue her career in science after her first parental leave, in between she applied for a position as Research secretary at the Swedish Research Council (VR) with responsibility for international affairs and contact with the European Research Council, ERC, and EuroHORCs (European Heads of Research Councils). Here Anna discovered another drive of hers, to connect science and society, and she remained at the Swedish Research Council. There she met Gunnar Öquist, then Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (RSAS), and they discussed how young researchers could be given better opportunities to contribute, meet among themselves across disciplinary boundaries, have transparent career paths and be have a voice to be able to share their perspective.

In 2010 Anna was commissioned to build a young academy. In May 2011, the first 22 members were elected and the Young Academy of Sweden was born. Anna linked Nobel Laureate Torsten Wiesel (Physiology or Medicine 1981) to the Young Academy of Sweden, whom she met working at VR. Wiesel, who had long been engaged in promoting young researchers in several contexts, was now appointed, together with Gunnar Öquist, Scientific patron and mentor for the young academy members.

1. Gunnar Öquist and Anna Sjöström Douagi at the founding of the Young Academy of Sweden in 2011. Photo: Markus Marcetic / YAS 2. Stefan Claesson (Vice President, RSAS), Staffan Normark (Permanent Secretary, RSAS), Helene Andersson Svahn (YAS’s first chair) and Anna Sjöström Douagi at the inauguration ceremony for the Young Academy of Sweden. Photo: Markus Marcetic / YAS 3. Anna gives the welcome address when the Foundation for the Young Academy of Sweden is formed on October 24, 2013. Photo: Magnus Bergström. Click to enlarge.

In 2013, another mile stone was achieved when the Young Academy of Sweden was able to part from the mother academy RSAS and become an independent organization, also this process guided by Anna who was now appointed CEO of the young academy. In 2016, the Young Academy of Sweden launched two new awards, the L'Oréal Unesco For Women in Science Prize in Sweden and the Torsten Wiesel Midnight Sun Award – For Distinguished Achievement in Promoting Science, initiatives that made significant contributions to the academy's aim to open the door bring science and research to society and vice versa, to attract new audiences into the research world. The same year, Anna was recruited for the job of developing content around the Nobel Prize and today she holds the position as Vice President Science & Programs of the Nobel Prize Museum.

The first award ceremony of the L'Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Prize with support of the Young Academy of Sweden 2016, from left: Amaury Alibaux (Head of L'Oréal Sweden), Inger Davidsson (Chair of the Swedish UNESCO Council), Anna Sjöström Douagi, Annica Black-Schaffer (awardee), Kristiina Tammimies (awardee), Helen Hellmark Knutsson (Minister of Higher Education and Research) and Kristian Pietras (chair of YAS). Photo: Emma Burendahl 2. Torsten Wiesel, Anna Sjöström Douagi and Torsten Wiesel Award Laureate David Saltzberg. Photo: Erik Thor / YAS 3. Anna introduces Torsten Wiesel Midnight Sun Award seminar and ceremony in 2016. Photo: YAS Click to enlarge.

In 2017, Anna and Christian Broberger (chair 2012–2012) were awarded the Ordre des Palmes académiques award, a national order bestowed by the French Republic on distinguished academics and teachers and for valuable service to universities, education and science. Anna has also been a member of the jury for the Natur & Kultur Popular Science Prize since 2017, as well as member of the Falling Walls Foundation's international jury. She is also chairman of the board of Teach for Sweden.

Anna Sjöström Douagi Foto: Erik Thor/SUA

Click for high resolution press portrait. Photo: Erik Thor/YAS

IN BRIEF

Born: 1972
Interests: Reading scientific reports, music, travel, spending time with family.

“Most people I know worry unnecessarily. Not me. I rejoice unnecessarily. I think that's more fun.” (Kristina Lugn)

Young Academy of Sweden
c/o The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Box 50005
SE-104 05 Stockholm
Sweden

+ 46 (0)8 673 9500
info@sverigesungaakademi.se

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