iDay takes you on a cultural journey

International Day, iDay, was back again on 16 May with yet another multicultural explosion. Walking from one end of Colosseum (on Campus Valla) to the other, you passed through 14 countries while exploring national delicacies, learning a couple of phrases in a foreign language or simply enjoying images of international students’ native homeland, all under the same roof.

International Day is an annual event organised by the International Students Association, ISA. It is the biggest international student festival in the region where international students get the chance to represent their culture.  This year, there were stands from Latin America (Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico), Japan, Sweden, Latvia, Taiwan, Singapore, Iran, Catalonia, Italy, Hungary and China.

The biggest stand belonged to Taiwan (pictured to the left), where there was a continual crowd of people coming to sample the various forms of food and drink, including Milk bubble tea that has recently rose to popularity in Europe. This Taiwanese sweet tea is unique because of the chewy “bubbles” that rest at the bottom of the cup, which provides a very interesting experience for someone who tries it for the first time.

But Taiwan was not alone in offering delicious food. The Latin American table had meals representing Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico. Catalonia had a whole platter of specialties including ham, salami, cheese and bread. The wonderful smell of garlic and spices infused the air as one walked by the Singaporean stand that had prepared a special chicken and rice dish with ginger, and for those with a sweet tooth, there were plenty of options from almost all participating countries.

It was clear that both the student organisation and the international students who created the stands had put in hard work, and it paid off. The event attracted many students, local and international, eager to explore other cultures as well as showcase their own. Each stand was unique, some smaller and some bigger, but all students were equally excited to represent their nationality.

Text and photo: Anna Farhadi

 

Related links

More pictures from iDay 2013 can be found on LiU's Facebook

 

 

2013-05-21

---

He will speak at the Farewell Ceremony

Emmanuel Letsu-Dake won the Alumni Stories competition and will be LiU’s first International Master’s Alumni Speaker at the Farewell Ceremony in June. He is a senior research scientist at Honeywell Aerospace in the US, where he works to make air transport safer.

All the important issues – all at once

Like a giant cocktail party with several hundred of the leading decision makers and thinkers in Sweden, where the absolutely most important issues in society are discussed – that is Development Days. And they are happening right now in Linköping.

KVIT celebrates 20 years with interdisciplinary conference

KVIT, the annual student conference of cognitive science and information technology celebrates its 20th anniversary with an interdisciplinary conference for 200 participants, also from European universities, at Östergötland Museum on 16-17 May.

Water governs cell movement

Water gives life. Researchers at Linköping University now show how the cells in our bodies are driven mainly by water power - a discovery that in the long run opens the way for a new strategy in cancer therapy.

Safer brain tumour surgeries on children

With the aid of new medical technology, brain tumours in children will be able to be operated on - more safely and effectively. Researchers at Linköping University are to receive over SEK 5 million (ca EURO 600,000) from the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The apocalypse awaits after 40 years

On Wednesday, 8 May, the 40-year-old Student Orchestra Festival, SOF, kicks off. There is a warm-up party in Norrköping, a festival on Valla, and a parade through Linköping. And the festive theme of the 40 year anniversary? The apocalypse.

One step closer to a quantum computer

Professor Weimin Chen and his colleagues have succeeded in both initializing and reading nuclear spins, relevant to qubits for quantum computers, at room temperature. The results have been published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.

Large number of applications for autumn courses

The number of first-choice applicants to courses beginning this autumn at Linköping University has increased. Compared to last year, the increase is just over 4 %. The biggest increase was in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Alan J. Heeger shooting for success

How are scientific advances created? They might start with a shot from a toy canon. These are the words of Nobel Prize winner and LiU honorary doctor Alan J. Heeger during his lecture in the Kåkenhus-building.

Join in the singing of spring

Also this year, the student singers in Linköping celebrate the arrival of spring by putting on their student caps and singing songs of spring at Linköping Castle courtyard on Walpurgis night (Valborgsmässoafton).

Brown fat a hope for obesity treatment

Researchers at Linköping University and the Sahlgrenska Academy have successfully proven that people also have the same type of heat-producing brown fat cells as smaller mammals. The observation opens up the way for future drugs that make use of the ability of brown fat cells to consume calories.

Keep an eye on Africa!

Swedish IT companies have a great opportunity to find a completely new market in the Sub-Saharan African countries. So say Erik Winther and Wilhelm Henriksson, who went to Africa to do their degree projects.

New observation can explain type 2 diabetes

Researchers at Linköping University have made a big step towards understanding how type 2 diabetes develops. Through a system biological approach, they can single out an individual protein that plays a crucial role when fatty tissue becomes impervious to insulin.

Norrköping named University City of the Year

Norrköping has been named University City of the Year for 2013-2014 by SFS, the Swedish National Union of Students. “A well-deserved prize,” according to students Therese Björn Johansson and Sofia Sandberg.

Anniversary celebration with Nobel Prize winner

Organic electronics is a strong field at Linköping University (LiU). Next week the American Nobel Prize winner Alan J. Heeger, one of the prominent persons in this field, comes to LiU for the ten year anniversary of the Center of Organic Electronics.

More people with lower education die of malignant melanoma

Melanoma patients with a lower level of education are more likely to die of malignant melanoma, according to a study from institutions including Linköping University and Karolinska Institutet.

EU project focuses on uncertainty

Professor of Mathematics Jan Nordström will receive close to SEK 2.3 million for contributing to reducing uncertainty in simulation and calculations of aircraft construction, as part of the EU UMRIDA project.

The Humanist Day focuses on play as a force

Bigger, more intensive, interactive and entertaining than ever. Tomfoolery, circus, stand up, music, art and science. The Humanist Day on 19 and 20 April will be taken over by the playful person.

Export Entrepreneurship

Östergötland export initiatives were the focus of this year’s CAM day (Centre for Applied Management), which targeted the region’s small and medium-sized companies in particular.

LiU comes out well in ranking

One place higher and eighth place overall. Linköping University (LiU) comes out well in Urank’s 2013 ranking of Swedish universities. The psychology programme is ranked as the best in Sweden and is in the top two in the medicine ranking.

Lars Hultman new CEO of SSF

Lars Hultman, professor of Thin Film Physics at Linköping University, has been named CEO of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, one of the major Swedish research financiers in the fields of science, technology, and medicine. He takes office on 1 June.

The role of science in foreign politics

Should science play a role in politics? This is discussed at the Swedish Association of International Affairs annual conference. This year it is held on 12-13 April on Campus Valla at Linköping University.

Images reveal flow in the aorta

In his thesis, Jonas Lantz has developed a technique where turbulence in the blood vessels can be calculated and the results of an operation can be simulated before it is carried out.

Great pride in LiU

Eight out of ten members of staff think Linköping University (LiU) is a good workplace, according to this year’s employee survey. And three out of four say that they are proud of LiU, an increase from the previous survey.

Over 20,000 alumni in the network

The LiU alumni network now has more than 20,000 members. This means that more than one in five former students has actively joined.

LiU Malmsten goes Milan

The hottest design and furniture fair in the world opens on 9 April in Milan. LiU Malmsten will be in Superstudio Più with their own showcase represented by 16 alumni and 8 students.