The sun was shining, and Allinge was buzzing with life as we – a great group of SIF’ers – attended Folkemødet in mid-June.
For those of you who haven’t yet experienced Folkemødet, it can best be described as a seven-lane highway of debates, opinions, and agendas rushing by in all directions – all at once. It’s inspiring, thought-provoking, entertaining, and at times both slightly overwhelming and exhausting. This year, there were 3,500 debates spread over three days.
You walk a lot, stand in many queues, listen to countless words and opinions – and get far too little sleep. You never manage to see it all – but it’s both fun and rewarding.
SIF was strongly represented at Folkemødet, and for the first time in SIF’s history, we hosted our own debate, which took place in the Danish Cancer Society’s tent in the heart of Allinge.
The debate, “Overlooked Factors Undermining Public Health,” was kicked off by Morten, facilitated by Birgitte, and from the stage, Anna enlightened us on wellbeing economics, Lotus described how hidden marketing on social media affects the health of children and young people, while Nanna brought us close to everyday life with her insights into lived experiences.
Afterwards, Mette Lolk, Director of Prevention at the Danish Cancer Society, and Otto Ohrt, Head of Health in Aarhus Municipality, reflected on what the three perspectives mean in practice for their organizations and for public health in general. A fascinating debate!
In addition, SIF was well represented in a wide range of other debates, with several researchers participating in multiple discussions.
- Anette was invited by the Statens Serum Institut to shed light on whether climate change will make us sick and cause deaths in Denmark.
- Amalie took the stage twice at Folkemødet’s Science Scene – first with her homemade PFOA molecule, competing in “The People’s Meeting’s Best Science Meme,” and later in a debate on PFAS spread and health risks.
- Lotus participated in three debates: one on youth use of snus (organized by Danish Dental Hygienists), one on nicotine accessibility (organized by Lidl), and one on whether youth nicotine use can be stopped – alongside students from Himmerland Youth School.
- Anna debated how to create a national model for social prescribing, in a session organized by the company Not a Box.
- Morten joined debates on the use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare sector (organized by the Danish Medicines Agency) and on how to design housing and neighborhoods that foster community and wellbeing (in Realdania’s tent).
- Nanna shared research-based knowledge on chronic pain and alternative treatments in a debate organized by DAKOBE, Denmark’s Complementary Therapists.
- Janne highlighted adult Danes’ alcohol habits and prevention efforts in the Blue Cross tent – alongside comedian Emil Kondrup and lifestyle expert Julia Lahme.
Most of us stayed together in a summer house in Vang – with a nearly-sea view and a rather hilly 30-minute bike ride to Allinge. A cozy house, though there weren’t enough beds for everyone, so Morten took one for the team and slept in a tent in the garden – and thank you for that, because there were noisy neighbors returning in the middle of the night and an annoying bird in the garden that didn’t chirp but hissed instead. Several of us heard it, so it’s true – and maybe there are any ornithologists at SIF who can help identify what kind of bird it might have been?
Despite a few nighttime disturbances, it was a rewarding and successful Folkemødet, where SIF set a clear agenda in public health, built new connections and networks – and where it was simply a great pleasure to spend time together as colleagues.
– Birgitte
