Trine Elisabeth Unander

Trine Elisabeth Unander is an Associate Professor in Textiles and Sustainability at NTNU's Department of Teacher Education within the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences. She has been active in research, teaching, and master's supervision since 2021. Her academic background includes a PhD in Technology and Society from NTNU (2019), with a thesis examining NGO knowledge acquisition and policy influence. She holds diverse credentials including degrees in Nordic literature, design pedagogy, textile arts, and interdisciplinary studies.

Educational Background:

• Bachelor's in Nordic Language and Literature (UiO)
• Teacher Training in Art and Design (OsloMet)
• Information Processing Studies (HiST/NTNU)
• Textile Art Studies (Fontys, Netherlands)
• Master's in Knowledge, Technology & Society (NTNU)
• PhD in Technology & Society (NTNU)

Research Focus: Interdisciplinary sustainability education, policy knowledge transfer, cultural heritage preservation, and practical arts integration into school curricula. Current projects include School Garden Learning Arenas, BærT Sustainability Network, and UniKuP Cultural School. She advocates for arts-based pedagogy as a bridge between theoretical and practical knowledge.

Recent Work Trends: Recent publications emphasize teacher training for interdisciplinary sustainability education (2023-2025), NGO policy advocacy (2019-2020), and institutional gender equity initiatives (2021). Her 2012 case study on hydroelectric conflicts demonstrates long-standing environmental policy interests.

Professional Contributions: Supervised 10 master's students (2 current advisees). Active in NABU sustainability research network and ICSE international STEM education initiatives. Served as subject coordinator and research committee member at NTNU.

Labs/Teams: Leads Sustainability Across Borders (BærT), co-founder of University School of Culture (UniKuP), and principal investigator for School Garden Education projects integrating STEM and arts disciplines.