When LUCK was launched in March 2020, it did not emerge in a vacuum. It developed from a series of collaborations (reading groups, seminars, workshops, grant applications) at the Department of History during the second half of the 2010s, aimed at exploring the history of knowledge and introducing it as a new field in the Nordic countries. Two people who were absolutely central to this and who were involved from the very beginning were Anna Nilsson Hammar and David Larsson Heidenblad. It therefore felt entirely natural that they became LUCK’s deputy directors and would remain so until February 2026.

Anna sums up her impressions of LUCK as follows: “Being part of the collaboration and the efforts that led to LUCK, and working to establish it as an environment, has been an incredible experience. It has greatly developed my understanding of academia, even on a global scale, given the multitude of connections and collaborations that have been made possible through LUCK.”

David, for his part, says: “It has been a great and very rare scholarly privilege to have been involved in the creation of LUCK. I have learnt so much about the past, but even more about what makes an academic field tick and how much a small group of dedicated individuals can achieve together. I look forward to seeing the future of LUCK unfold and will make sure to stick around!”

Now that they have handed over to Isak Hammar and Kajsa Weber, there is every reason to thank them for their dedicated, creative work over many years – thank you so much!

Thankfully, Anna and David will continue to serve on LUCK’s steering committee and remain involved in many of our activities. The conversation continues.