In the far north of Sweden, there exists a small agricultural community of farmers. Currently, these farmers are on the outskirts of the global agricultural industry, but soon, they will probably be placed at the forefront of worldwide food and lumber production. This prediction emanates from the fact that climate change is currently about to transform the subarctic landscape, which may revolutionize the preconditions for the agriculture industry in northern Sweden. Already by the turn of the next century, research indicates that the subarctic regions of the world could have become new agricultural frontiers with a considerably renewed capacity for agricultural production.

If these environmental changes occur, it will undoubtedly entail several educational challenges for the farmers of northern Sweden, as they inevitably must begin to redevelop their local knowledge and understanding of their different farmlands. However, there is a significant lack of educational research that has explored how farmers learn and redevelop their local knowledge and understanding of their different farmlands in their everyday lives, especially in the geographical context of northern Sweden. Fundamentally, this doctoral thesis seeks to explore and address this research gap.

The objective of the research endeavour is to explore, describe, and understand how farmers in northern Sweden learn and redevelop their local land knowledge in their everyday lives. In doing so, the doctoral thesis seeks to facilitate and support the continuous redevelopment of a sustainable and climate change resilient agricultural industry within the subarctic region of Norrbotten in northern Sweden. The following research questions have informed and guided the practical implementation of the research endeavour: What learning practices and experiences do farmers emphasize and describe as educationally significant within their learning process by which they learn and redevelop their local land knowledge? What characterizes the learning process by which farmers learn and redevelop their local land knowledge? How may farmers’ lifelong environmental learning be facilitated and supported in times of climate change?

To fulfil this research objective, the doctoral thesis methodologically employs a qualitative narrative inquiry based on 30 interviews with 14 different farmers. Theoretically, the doctoral thesis also draws upon John Dewey’s theoretical framework of experiential learning.

The empirical results show that the farmers’ lifelong environmental learning process is grounded in the three interrelated learning practices of sensing, storying, and shaping the land. Conceptually, the learning practice of sensing the land is argued to mirror Dewey's concept of aesthetic experience. The learning practice of storying the land is reasoned to resemble Dewey's reflective experience of analytical thinking. And the learning practice of shaping the land is proposed to echo Dewey's reflective experience of trial and error. Together, these results then suggest that the farmers’ lifelong environmental learning process is characterized by an integration of body and mind, as well as a deep embeddedness within different geographical contexts and local agricultural communities. In the context of climate change, supporting farmers’ lifelong environmental learning is therefore argued to require strengthening their sensory engagement with their local natural environments, fostering their ability to exchange and reflect upon various kinds of environmental and agricultural experiences within their local agricultural communities, and enhancing their capacity for diverse forms of on-farm experimentation.

Declining launch costs and accelerating innovation cycles are strong drivers of the rapid expansion of the space industry. While this growth enables significant societal and economic benefits, it also exposes the limitations of current design practices in which spacecraft are primarily built for single use. Increasing environmental impact and the proliferation of orbital debris undermine the long-term sustainability of space operations. Although Circular Economy (CE) based practices for extending resource use offer a promising pathway for sustainable industrial design, their implementation in the space industry remains fragmented and lacks systemic coordination. Current efforts focus largely on reusable launch vehicles, while the development of reusable satellites remains limited.

To address this, the thesis develops Design-for-Spacecraft-Reuse (DfSR) as a design concept for enabling circularity in space and advances it from an initial concept toward practical application, with satellites as the primary context. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative, abductive approach grounded in systems thinking, socio-technical transition theory, and engineering design theory. The empirical foundation draws on expert interviews and case studies, complemented by literature-informed analysis that provides theoretical and contextual framing.

A central finding is that pathways for satellite reuse are conditioned by orbital context: different orbital regimes imply different reuse logics, each associated with distinct design and system-level requirements. The findings further show that a dominant focus on isolated technical solutions, such as reusable launch vehicles, contributes to fragmentation and limits the implementation of CE practices in the space industry. Across the findings, design emerges as the layer that integrates orbital context with system-level conditions, operationalized through DfSR.

The contributions of this thesis are threefold. First, it provides empirical insights into the factors driving fragmentation of CE practices in the space industry and their implications for coordinated implementation. Second, it offers a systems perspective on how conditions for circularity shape satellite reuse across different system levels. Third, it develops design support artifacts that operationalize DfSR for satellite reuse, including a conceptual framework that differentiates design requirements across orbital regimes, and a set of design considerations linking system-level conditions to early-stage satellite design decisions. Together, these contributions provide a foundation for embedding circularity and establishing reuse as a design principle in satellite development, thereby supporting the transition toward circularity in space, with transferable insights extending across the spacecraft category.

The increasing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable process technologies has led to the exploration of alternative methods for process intensification in all industrial sectors. Among these, cavitation has emerged as a promising approach, with applications ranging from biological treatments such as fruit juice pasteurization to chemical processes, including the degradation of persistent contaminants. Although cavitation-based processes have demonstrated significant potential as green and energy-efficient technologies, their large-scale industrial implementation remains limited due to challenges associated with process scale-up, including process design complexity and energy losses within the system.

The underlying mechanisms of cavitation are governed by the formation, growth, and implosive collapse of microbubbles in a liquid subjected to alternating pressure cycles in acoustic cavitation, whereas in hydrodynamic cavitation similar effects arise from pressure drops in constricted flow regions. These processes generate localized extreme conditions characterized by high temperatures, pressures, and the formation of reactive radical species.

This thesis addresses these challenges through a systematic design approach for efficient generation and control of acoustic cavitation that integrates multiphysical simulation with experimental validation. The work investigates key parameters that influence cavitation performance, including geometrical design, coupled resonances, impedance matching, operating frequency, and excitation signal characteristics. A flow-through sonicator concept was developed, incorporating six to eighteen transducers arranged in hexagonal or triangular configurations for different frequencies, further intensified through the integration of hydrodynamic cavitation using Venturi-shaped flow constrictions. The sonicator performance was analyzed with particular emphasis on energy dissipation and hydrodynamic conditions that influence cavitation behavior, evaluated through calorimetric measurements and optimization of resonant acoustic and structural mode coupling supported by simulations.

The first part of the work focuses on structural acoustic design and excitation strategies. Optimized sonicator geometries and tailored excitation signals were shown to significantly enhance acoustic pressure localization and improve energy transfer within the system. The combined analysis of single- and multi-frequency excitation revealed the critical role of signal characteristics in controlling cavitation activity and improving overall performance.

In environmental applications, the transition from batch to flow-through multi-frequency sonication enabled improved degradation of PFAS. Optimized high-frequency integration improved acoustic pressure focusing, resulting in removal efficiencies of up to 77% for PFOS and 81% for PFOA under triple-frequency operation. At the same time, energy-conscious dual-frequency flow-through configurations achieved up to 73% PFOS degradation at substantially lower energy input. The formation of short-chain PFAS confirmed sustained chain scission during sonication.

In fruit processing, the developed flow-through sonicator enabled reduced-temperature pasteurization of apple juice. Dual-frequency excitation at 50-55 °C achieved microbial reductions of up to 3.6 log for yeast, 2.7 for mold and 2.8 for aerobic microorganisms within 450 s efficient time. These effects were supported by microstructural modifications, including cellular disruption and improved dispersion, as evidenced by SEM analysis, leading to enhanced physical stability confirmed by sedimentation measurements.

In hydrometallurgical applications, a recirculating sonication system was developed for thiosulfate leaching of gold. The process improved kinetics extensively and gave 40 % gold recovery in 4 h, compared to 34 % in the conventional method. The results indicate that, unlike degradation processes, precise control of cavitation intensity is more critical than maximizing cavitation strength, as temperature and reagent consumption govern process efficiency. This highlights the importance of application-specific cavitation control strategies.

By integrating sonicator design, excitation methods, and process requirements, the thesis shows how acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation systems can be integrated and reduce energy losses and improve process intensification. The consistent improvements achieved in PFAS degradation, Apple juice pasteurization, and thiosulfate gold leaching support the transition of cavitation technologies from laboratory research to industrial-scale implementation.

Industrial decarbonization is essential to achieving climate and net-zero emissions goals,with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) one the key strategies to handle on-site emissions. From 2045, Sweden aims negative goal emissions, which makes even more relevant the fast development of strategies on permanent carbon storage processes.The Swedish forestry industry, in particular the the pulp and paper sector, tops among the largest players in the world. Neverthless, it yearly produces over hundreds of thousands tonns of by-product, such as lime mud, green liquor sludge and lime grits which landfilled, bringing both economic and environmental costs.

The aim of this work was to explore the potential of enzymatic routes combined with residues from the paper-making industry for carbon dioxide capture, and to assess carbon storage using CO₂-rich media and relevant minerals within Sweden. Carbonic anhydrase (CA), a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes CO₂ hydration, was used to evaluate its enhancement effect on CO₂ capture. Four distinct residues tested with DvCA8.0 lysate showed a CA-boosting effect on CO₂-equivalent capture of up to 4-fold under open-air conditions and 2.2-fold in CO₂-rich experiments, reaching concentrations of up to 0.5 g/L and 0.74 g/L, respectively. Element leaching, particularly Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, positively correlated with CA addition, likely due to enzyme-enhanced H⁺ production promoting the dissolution of residue components such as CaCO₃ and MgO, further demonstrating the compatibility of CA with the tested materials.

Despite their high specificity, enzymes are sensitive and costly to produce, posing challenges for large-scale applications. To address this issue, DvCA8.0 was immobilized on nanomagnetic particles to improve stability, enhance productivity, and enable biocatalyst recycling. CO₂ capture experiments with lime mud (0.4%) showed that the immobilized enzyme remained active for up to ten consecutive cycles, exhibiting productivity 2.4 times higher than the free enzyme, highlighting the potential of the CA immobilization strategy.

System optimization was followed using lime mud. Variables such as gas flowrate, residue concentration, CA lysate load and type, and time were assessed to identify the most suitable condition for both increasing carbon capture and CA-effect. Tests were firstly conducted in a continous flow and ambient pressure mode, and showed a CA enhacement of up to 70% higher when compared to non-catalyzed conditions. At optimized conditions, a total of 5.1 g/L of bicarbonate was measured in the supernatant, with CA-boosting effect of 1.4-fold.

Later, tests under distinct CO₂ partial pressures and temperatures were performed to evaluate kinetics of CO₂ capture for both enzyme and non-enzyme assisted systems, which led to an increase on the rate of CO₂ uptake in 2-fold (40^oC and 14 bar).Other four enzymes were tested, and ApCA, a carbonic anhydrase from Aeribacillus pallidus, showed the best performance, with a enhancement of 4-fold when compared to non-CA added systems. Finally, a multicycle experiment was performed and revealed a CO₂ uptake of 10.3 g/L in the CA presence.

In addition, the carbon storage potential of different minerals was evaluated. Batch tests with olivine and bicarbonate-rich solutions showed a modest 6.9% increase in mineral carbonation with DvCA8.0, likely limited by the low bicarbonate concentration and mildly acidic pH. Finally, 10-bar CO₂ batch experiments with Swedish rock samples confirmed carbon storage in stable carbonate forms, such as Ca- and Fe-carbonate forms, demonstrating the feasibility of coupling enzymatic CO₂ capture with long-term mineral storage in integrated CCS processes for Sweden.

The era of extensive digitalization marked by the fourth industrial revolution has ushered in significant advancements in technologies like automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). These innovations are revolutionizing smart industries like manufacturing, smart energy systems (SESs), and the automotive industry. Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the subsequent Industry 5.0 (I5.0) emerged as comprehensive representations of the physical world in the information world, with goals to establish smart factories and promote human-machine coexistence. However, the implementation of I4.0 and I5.0 applications faces challenges related to engineering efficiency, interoperability, and efficient service discovery and binding.

This thesis seeks to address these challenges by exploring potential strategies to develop an efficient System of Systems (SoS) that comprises individual, autonomous systems collaborating to achieve a shared goal. This research examines methods to enhance the efficacy of SoS by refining its engineering procedures, promoting interoperability between standardized protocols and heterogeneous systems, and employing dynamic adaptation mechanisms. It aims to achieve automatic service discovery and interoperability between diverse industrial standards and systems across the different domains within the smart industry by integrating the Eclipse Arrowhead Framework. This IoT framework facilitates secure and seamless communication and collaboration among devices, machines, and systems.

Moreover, this work delves into saving energy consumption in distributed SoS environments. This is achieved through the Demand Response (DR) mechanism in SESs combined with the Eclipse Arrowhead framework. In addition, the thesis examines challenges in automotive testing, specifically in Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL) testing environments, which are distributed SoS systems requiring efficient communication, diverse hardware and system interoperability, realistic simulation, and scalable system integration with minimal cost and resource demand. The research also explores flexible methods for integrating heterogeneous environment models into VIL frameworks and proposes a standardized service-oriented vehicle data communication framework to improve interoperability, operational efficiency, and scalability.

The overarching objective is to pave the way for flexible production processes characterized by minimal resource waste, optimized energy consumption, and sustainable solutions. Through this endeavor, the thesis contributes to shaping a more efficient, interoperable, and sustainable smart industrial landscape in the context of Industry 4.0 and beyond.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants whose transport, retention, and removal are governed by complex interactions with natural and engineered surfaces. Despite extensive research, key uncertainties remain regarding how PFAS molecular structure, sorbent chemistry, and environmental conditions jointly control adsorption behavior. This thesis addresses these challenges by systematically investigating PFAS interactions across a range of systems, from soil components to engineered sorbents and dynamic treatment processes. A stepwise experimental approach was applied, beginning with fundamental interactions with soil organic matter and iron (hydr)oxide, followed by competitive adsorption on granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin, and culminating in evaluation of PFAS removal under flow conditions.

The results demonstrate that PFAS sorption in soils is governed primarily by the chemical composition of soil organic matter rather than its total content. In addition, PFAS were shown to influence soil processes by mobilizing dissolved organic matter (DOM), particularly under conditions of weaker sorption. Adsorption onto ferrihydrite was strongly pH-dependent and exhibited non-linear behavior, indicating the formation of multilayer structures at higher concentrations. In engineered systems, adsorption behavior was controlled by both PFAS molecular structure and solution chemistry. Ion exchange resins showed high removal efficiency, particularly for short-chain PFAS, but were sensitive to competition from co-existing ions like phosphate, while granular activated carbon exhibited more variable performance depending on PFAS structure and DOM composition. Dynamic PFAS removal experiments further revealed that system design plays a critical role, with differences in kinetics and breakthrough behavior observed between rotating bed reactors and column systems.

Together, these findings provide a coherent framework linking molecular-scale interactions to system-scale performance. The work highlights that PFAS behavior cannot be understood or predicted based on single factors alone, but rather emerges from the interplay between sorbent properties, PFAS chemistry, and environmental conditions. This has important implications for both environmental risk assessment and the design of remediation strategies, emphasizing the need for mechanistic understanding and matrix-specific evaluation when addressing PFAS contamination.