News from the senior management team no. 13/2017

Three new basic research centres for Aarhus University

The Danish National Research Foundation has granted up to DKK 179 million for three new ‘Centers of Excellence’ at Aarhus University.

 

  • Centre for Cellular Signal Patterns (CellPAT) – Professor Jørgen Kjems, iNANO
  • Centre for Electromicrobiology (CEM) – Professor Lars Peter Nielsen, Department of Bioscience
  • Centre for Proteins in Memory (PROMEMO) – Professor Anders Nykjær, Department of Biomedicine

“With the Danish National Research Foundation’s grants, the three researchers will now be able to create ground-breaking results within their respective fields of research, and they all have the potential to tackle major societal challenges. This is yet another sign that Aarhus University conducts research of the highest quality – both in Denmark and internationally,” says Rector Brian Bech Nielsen.

In Denmark, funding has been given to a total of ten new basic research centres. Read more about the three centres at AU:

 

 


Research is passport to the future

“Are we ready for the future?” This was the theme discussed at the meeting with Søren Pind, Minister for Higher Education and Science, at Koldingfjord on 20-21 April. Here, representatives from the education and research world gathered to focus on how current technological developments will impact requirements for tomorrow’s knowledge and competences. 

Rector Brian Bech Nielsen participated at the meeting, where he was also one of the speakers.

 

 


March for Science in Aarhus on 22 April

On Saturday morning, researchers, students and the public marched through the streets of Aarhus to demonstrate their support for science and non-earmarked research. 

Associate Professor Emøke Bendixen, Professor Poul Nissen, joint union representative Olav W. Bertelsen and AU board member Sune Koch Rønnow were some of the organisers behind the march in Aarhus. The march started from Rådhuspladsen at 14:00, and finished at Klostertorv.

At a time when research and facts are under threat, the March for Science helps to remind everyone that research-based knowledge is the most important way of protecting ourselves against myths and alternative facts, and crucial for tomorrow’s democratic decision-making. 

Today, the March for Science is an international movement with almost 400 marches taking place around the world. 

Hear why the chairman of the AU Board and the rector both support the event. 

 

 


From STUDENT to GRADUATE to GOOD JOB PROSPECTS!

Project-oriented courses in collaboration with businesses, career centres, better integration of business relevance in degree programmes and more reflection on our own competences – these were some of the recurring topics considered when work on the university’s educational development initiative ‘Career Ready’ was kicked off at the director of studies’ forum on Thursday 20 April in the Ambulatory.

 

 


Welcome to Lars Bo Nielsen

“I intend to work in a constructive and loyal fashion with everyone,” said the new dean at Health, Lars Bo Nielsen, at his welcome reception last Wednesday in the Ambulatory.

 

 


Crystallography professor receives HM Queen Margrethe II’s Science Award

Last week, Professor Bo Brummerstedt Iversen from the Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, was awarded HM Queen Margrethe II’s Science Award 2017.

The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is behind the award, which goes to an outstanding researcher. The award was established on the occasion of HM The Queen’s 75th birthday, and was presented this year for the second time. Last year the award also went to an AU researcher, Professor Jens-Christian Svenning.

 

 


Lars Arge awarded honorary doctorate at Eindhoven University of Technology

Lars Arge, professor of computer science at Aarhus University and centre director at the Danish National Research Foundation’s Center for Massive Data Algorithmics (MADALGO) has been awarded an honorary doctorate at Eindhoven University of Technology. The university confers one honorary doctorate a year. This is only the second time that it has gone to a Dane – the first time was to Professor Jens K. Nørskov from Stanford University in 2006.  

 

 


Head of School of Culture and Society to continue

Bjarke Paarup has been re-appointed as head of the School of Culture and Society after the position was advertised. Bjarke Paarup has headed the school since it was established in 2011 in connection with the restructurings at Aarhus University

 

 


Aarhus University invites everyone to attend Festival of Research in Stakladen

Under the theme ‘Fascinating Research’, Aarhus University is opening its doors to this year’s Festival of Research on Thursday 27 April at 14:00-18:00 in Stakladen. 

Like last year, there is considerable support for the event. More than 30 researchers from all four faculties are ready to present their research which, true to tradition, is being served up in the form of speed talks, exhibitions and live experiments. Activities are also taking place at AU Foulum. 

The Festival of Research is a nationwide knowledge festival that takes place every year in week 17. The Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science is behind the initiative, which aims to bring research and citizens closer.


Calendar

 

  • 27 April: Festival of Research
  • 28 April: Regatta
  • 20-21 May: MatchPoints Seminar on the Reformation and Danish Society
  • 24 May: Rigmor and Carl Holst-Knudsen Award for Scientific Research 2017
  • 24 May: Première of the performance Røde Orm at Moesgaard Museum

 

 

The senior management team publishes a newsletter once a week. Here we provide information about decisions and initiatives from the senior management team as well as current activities and discussions. You can register for the newsletter at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreveand you will then receive an email every time the newsletter is published.

At http://www.au.dk/en/about/uni/seniormanagement/newsletter/2016/ it is possible to read previous newsletters from the senior management team.

If you would like to register for the English version of the newsletter from the senior management team, you can do so at http://info.au.dk/medarbbreve/index.asp?sprog&sprog=en