Why did Malmö University give recycled guns to PhD graduates?

Indeed, Sweden is often cited as being a bastion of recycling — having to import waste from Norway just to keep the recycling plants ticking over. And Malmö University, with its ethos of working towards a sustainable future, loves to recycle. You name it, they recycle it: paper (no brainer), food waste, cardboard, lightbulbs, metal, batteries, guns…

…GUNS? There’s not normally a ‘gun recycling’ bin, surely? 

Well, of course not, but that doesn’t mean to say that guns cannot be recycled, and Malmö University has the evidence to prove it. 

It is a long journey for a gun to make — 6,000 miles if Google is to be believed — from a part of the world where illegal firearms have caused unimaginable horror, to an academic award ceremony at Malmö University.

However, it’s a journey that has been made all the same. Malmö University is keen not just to talk the talk, but to walk the walk, and if that means using recycled illegal firearms from Central America to honour its recently graduated doctors, then so be it.

Find out more about studying at Malmö University

You see, Malmö University was founded on an ethos of inclusivity and sustainability. Just consider the faculty names; they might look unconventional, ‘Technology and Society’ and ‘Health and Society’, for example, but the ‘society’ part is considered equally as important as the subject field itself.

Photo: A Humanium graduation ring

Using the ‘peace metal’, known as Humanium, is a natural progression of the journey the institution has taken since its inception just over 20 years ago.

The ceremonial rings, recently presented to graduating PhD candidates, were made from a metal produced by the non-profit organisation IM Swedish Development Partner. Just like Malmö University, they are big on making the world a better place with their aim of getting illegal guns off the streets. 

As it stands, there are hundreds of millions of illegal firearms in the world and as a result, someone is shot every minute. We can all agree that isn’t good, no matter where you stand on the global warming debate.  

So how do you get your hands on one of these rings? Well, applying for a master’s programme at Malmö University is the best way to get started, and there is no better time than, well, now. Maybe you share our vision of creating an all-round better society, or perhaps you are just interested in impressing Greta at a future Extinction Rebellion protest. Either way, now is the time to take a look at Malmö University's sparkling new master’s programmes.  

True to form, many of the of new programmes, including Culture and Change, Leadership and Organisation, and Computer Science: Innovation for Change in a Digital Society have an emphasis on understanding the challenges we face as a society today. The purpose being to install an advanced understanding and knowledge of the critical perspectives required to tackle these challenges.

You can find a list of Malmö University's master’s programmes here

Many of these master’s programmes will prepare you to advance to a PhD level, and who knows, maybe one day you will be the proud owner of your very own peace metal ring… and the knowledge to make the world a better place.