News from the senior management team no. 2/2015

Blackboard roll-out in 2015

The new joint Learning Management System (LMS), Blackboard, is now being implemented by staff and students at Arts, ST and Health.

This marks the start of phase II of the implementation of Blackboard throughout AU, while phase I only covered implementation at BSS.

Blackboard is thus replacing the existing systems at the individual faculties, for example CampusNet, AULA and FirstClass. However, there will still be access to the existing systems, while we work out a plan for phasing them out and archiving the documents.


Extension of hiring freeze in the administration

The members of the Administration's Liaison Committee (ASU) have endorsed the decision to extend the modified hiring freeze in the administration until 30 June 2015.

The decision will help to ensure that the budgetary targets which were decided for the administration in 2014 for 2015 will be achieved.

The hiring freeze comprises the senior management team staff and administrative divisions as well as the administrative centres.


Jane Kraglund steps in to run IT and Digital Media

University Director Jane Kraglund will assume responsibility for running IT and Digital Media when the current deputy director, Christina Breddam, steps down at the end of January.

The process of filling the position of deputy director has been initiated.


New centre director at iNANO

Professor Jørgen Kjems has been formally appointed new director of the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), after serving as acting centre director in 2014.

Jørgen Kjems has been affiliated with AU since 1989, and was a founding member of iNANO.

The centre director appointment runs until 2018. 


Storm damage at Navitas

The roof above the entrance to NAVITAS collapsed during the storm ‘Egon’ which swept across Denmark on 10 January. Fortunately no one was injured.

The area has been cleared, and an investigation is being conducted to establish the cause of the collapse.

The damage has not affected daily activities at or access to the building


AUFF invites applications for publication support grants

Applications are now invited for publication support grants from the Aarhus University Research Foundation. The deadline is 20 February at 12:00 noon.

Publication support funding helps ensure that important scientific work and other activities at the university obtain the necessary support for high-quality publication, as well as helping to strengthen the university’s communication of research results, among other activities.

In 2015, a total of DKK 4.5 million in funding is available. Applications may be submitted in both February and September.


AU food research harvests millions

Innovation Fund Denmark has awarded ten grants totalling DKK 177 million under its Health, Food and Welfare programme. Six of the ten grants were awarded to AU researchers.

The six projects are: 

  • Stig Uggerhøj Andersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics: ‘Enough nitrogen for organic farming’
  • Henrik Brinch-Pedersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics: ‘Developing natural food colouring’
  • Anders Olsen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics: ‘Worms and health-promoting bacteria’
  • Hanne Christine Bertram, Department of Food Science: ‘Milk proteins to prevent vitamin D deficiency’
  • Knud Erik Bach Knudsen, Department of Animal Science: ‘Protein snacks and fibre to improve public health’
  • Mogens Støvring Hovmøller, Department of Agroecology: ‘New cereals require fewer pesticides’

The total value of the grants to the six projects is DKK 86.6 million.


AU researchers head new diabetes research project

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has just awarded DKK 60 million over the next six years to support research into the causes and prevention of neuritis among diabetics.

Researchers at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital (AUH) are heading the project, which will build on interdisciplinary and international cooperation with researchers from Odense University Hospital, Oxford University and Michigan University.


The Villum Foundation awards major grant to young ST talents

Five young researchers from ST will together receive DKK 16.5 million from the Villum Foundation's Young Investigator Programme.

The programme was established in 2011 in order strengthen and develop the research careers of talented researchers under the age of 40.

The grants will be officially presented on Friday 23 January 2015. 


Calendar

The Senior Management Team publishes a newsletter every week. This newsletter includes a brief description of current activities and discussions. You can sign up for the Danish version of the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve, after which you will receive an e-mail whenever the newsletter is issued.

If you would like to subscribe to the English version of News from the Senior Management Team, please go to http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog=en. The English version of News from the Senior Management Team is available at http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/seniormanagement/newsletter/. You can read previous editions of News from the Senior Management Team at
http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/seniormanagement/newsletter/2014.