Dr. Olsson´s primary research interest is in linked social-ecological system dynamics and resilience. He has worked extensively in the field of ecosystems management and also has eight years of field work in Sweden, Belize and Australia.

His thesis Building adaptive capacity for resilience in social-ecological systems is a transdisciplinary study of management and governance regimes for maintaining ecosystem capacity to generate services for human well-being.

His current research is in adaptive governance of social-ecological systems. This includes identifying social factors, knowledge, and organizations for ecosystem management and focuses on dynamic interaction among key individuals, social networks, organizations and institutions.

It also deals with adaptive capacity and transformability for dealing with uncertainty and change in social-ecological systems. Dr. Olsson has a fellowship with James Cook University in Townsville, Australia where he works with Professor Terry Hughes´ research group on adaptive governance of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Dr. Olsson maintains an extensive international scientific network with whom he collaborates, including the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Manitoba, Canada.

Dr. Olsson has presented his work at several international conferences and is an active member of the Resilience Alliance. He is a Subject editor for the journal Ecology and Society.

He has co-authored a number of book chapters including a chapter for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and articles in scientific journals including Science, Environmental Management, Ecosystems, Ecology and Society, Annual Review of the Environment and Resources.

Per Olsson is also employed as the coordinator for the UNESCO program Man and the Biosphere, facilitating and coordinating initiatives for sustainable regional development in Sweden.