Sigrid Rausing
Encyclopedia
Sigrid Rausing is a Swedish
philanthropist, anthropologist and publisher. She is the founder of the Sigrid Rausing Trust
, one of the United Kingdom
's largest philanthropic foundations, and owner of Granta
magazine and its publishing arm, Granta Books.
Rausing grew up in Lund
, Sweden
, and studied history at the University of York
between 1983 and 1986. In 1987, she was awarded an MSc in social anthropology and in 1997, a PhD in social anthropology. In 2004, she wrote History, Memory, and Identity in Post-Soviet Estonia: The End of a Collective Farm, a study of Estonian social and cultural anthropology.
Rausing, a granddaughter of Ruben Rausing
, the founder of the Tetra Pak
company, set up the Sea Foundation in 1988. She transferred the funds to the Ruben and Elisabeth Rausing Trust, named after her grandparents, in 1996; the trust was renamed the Sigrid Rausing Trust in 2003 and by 2005, had distributed £60 million to causes. Rausing won a Beacon Prize, awarded by the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust, in March 2005 for her work. With her husband, Eric Abraham, she started the publishing house, Portobello Books, in spring 2005. In autumn 2005, Rausing acquired Granta
, a renowned literary journal, and its publishing arm, Granta Books. She is a regular contributor to the New Statesman
magazine.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
philanthropist, anthropologist and publisher. She is the founder of the Sigrid Rausing Trust
Sigrid Rausing Trust
Sigrid Rausing Trust is a grant-giving charitable foundation in the United Kingdom set up in 1995 by Sigrid Rausing to promote international human rights.The Trust was originally named the Ruben and Elisabeth Rausing Trust, after Sigrid Rausing's grandparents...
, one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest philanthropic foundations, and owner of Granta
Granta
Granta is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centers on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make real." In 2007, The Observer stated, "In its blend of...
magazine and its publishing arm, Granta Books.
Rausing grew up in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and studied history at the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
between 1983 and 1986. In 1987, she was awarded an MSc in social anthropology and in 1997, a PhD in social anthropology. In 2004, she wrote History, Memory, and Identity in Post-Soviet Estonia: The End of a Collective Farm, a study of Estonian social and cultural anthropology.
Rausing, a granddaughter of Ruben Rausing
Ruben Rausing
Ruben Rausing was the founder of the liquid food packaging company Tetra Pak. He was born in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1895. On his death Ruben Rausing was Sweden's richest person.-Early life:...
, the founder of the Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak is a multinational food processing and packaging company of Swedish origin. It was founded in 1951 in Lund, Sweden, by Ruben Rausing. It was Erik Wallenberg who invented the tetrahedral package, today known as Tetra Classic...
company, set up the Sea Foundation in 1988. She transferred the funds to the Ruben and Elisabeth Rausing Trust, named after her grandparents, in 1996; the trust was renamed the Sigrid Rausing Trust in 2003 and by 2005, had distributed £60 million to causes. Rausing won a Beacon Prize, awarded by the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust, in March 2005 for her work. With her husband, Eric Abraham, she started the publishing house, Portobello Books, in spring 2005. In autumn 2005, Rausing acquired Granta
Granta
Granta is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centers on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make real." In 2007, The Observer stated, "In its blend of...
, a renowned literary journal, and its publishing arm, Granta Books. She is a regular contributor to the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
magazine.