SDU’s climate initiative is a great success

Three years ago, when Professor Sebastian Mernild chose to head SDU’s flagship centre for research in climate change and the sustainable transition, he had great ambitions and expectations that the SDU Climate Cluster (SCC) could create significant impact in academia and society. 

- In terms of sustainability, the world is increasingly demanding climate-related understanding, integration and solutions, both behavioural and technological, and I look forward to heading the development of SDU’s Climate Cluster, which is poised to become a major contributor to these very initiatives, he said back then. But some degree of nervousness is natural when setting such a strategic endeavour in motion.   

Today, SCC is standing on a solid foundation of numerous EU and national research projects, close interdisciplinary collaborations with the University’s academic environments and several prestigious grants. 

Most recently, the EU has awarded a grant to the national climate action project LIFE ACT, which SCC and Aarhus Municipality will lead. The project size is DKK 212 million. This is currently the largest project led by the centre, which has now received a total of around DKK 500 million for climate-related research for the entire SCC.  

This is why we have invited Sebastian Mernild to give an update on SDU Climate Cluster’s first year and to elaborate on the ambitions and the future of climate research at SDU as the academic foundation for the green transition throughout the country.  

The greatest achievement so far 

According to Sebastian Mernild, the many millions donated to the latest research project led by SCC in collaboration with Aarhus Municipality will make a big scientific and societal difference through a practice-oriented ‘living lab’. 

- Research will be conducted on the development of new habits, initiatives, interdisciplinarity and technology solutions, for example, and we will provide the research basis, which will be implemented more easily, thanks to the practice-oriented setup. All municipalities have climate action plans, and we will help put them into practice. This can help SDU gear up for the future and create new experiences, networks and knowledge and establish us as a leading knowledge institution, explains the Head of Centre. 

The substantial EU grant is the latest large – and the largest yet – amount awarded to research projects under the auspices of SCC, and Sebastian Mernild is delighted that the SDU Climate Cluster has made such a good start and is now generating more and more research via a snowball effect. 

Has exceeded all expectations 

Sebastian Mernild was, in his own words, a ‘cautious optimist’ when he took the lead in this major research endeavour a few years ago. Although he had some experience from his previous position in Bergen, he did not expect the endeavour to be this successful.  

- If you had asked me two years ago, I would never have believed that we would be standing here today with so many exciting external projects, large grants and a real opportunity to bring research into play for the green transition of society, he says and continues: 

- We are in a favourable position in which we can afford to postpone proposals if they don’t fit our strategic purpose and focus. Of course, we don’t want to grow too big, but as long as we have an opportunity to create change, we just have to keep on going, says Sebastian Mernild. 

Wants to give back to SDU 

In 2021, the University of Southern Denmark decided to establish a climate centre to deliver research of the highest quality. The establishment of the centre involved a substantial investment that helped SCC get off to a good start.  

- I believe we’ve already achieved great results for the University and for several academic environments – but we still want to give something back, and we greatly appreciate the University’s support. Therefore, we are always open to new collaborations. So please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have a research idea and/or project that could use a sustainable climate angle, says the Professor.  

Sebastian Mernild also emphasises that everyone is welcome at the SDU Climate Cluster – and that there are many opportunities for junior researchers.  

- We have a great environment for PhDs and postdocs, so it’s not just for top tier academic researchers. It is important for me to emphasise that the SDU Climate Cluster benefits all of SDU and society, he concludes. 

Read more about the SDU Climate Cluster on the website (https://sdu.dk/en/scc)