News about the Faculty of Science 2016

New head of the Faculty Administration

Niels Kring is the new Head of Administration at the Faculty of Science, starting on 1 November 2016.

Beacon project: Open Data Exploration

Before the summer, SDU established the beacon project Open Data Exploration (ODEx). Together with two other beacon projects, Drones and Welfare Innovation, ODEx represents a strategic effort from SDU in engaging with society.

Study Experience at Science

High school students have a strong focus on their careers when they are choosing a study programme. This is according to feedback from the country's study choice centres. Therefore, during this year's Study Experience in week 43, a whole morning has been allocated to focus on careers.

Quantum Rascals will open up our wonderful quantum universe

Curiosity, knowledge, imagination and wonder are the common denominators for a major new communication project, Quantum Rascals, at the basic research Centre for Cosmology and Particle Physics Phenomenology (CP3-Origins).

A word from the Dean

Dear Staff and Students

More students complete study programmes at Science

The latest figures for study time show that students at Science complete their study programmes more quickly. The positive development can be seen at both Bachelor and Master's level, where there has been a reduction of exceedance from 8.0 months in 2015 to 6.1 months in 2016 at the Bachelor level and from 10.6 months in 2015 to 8.3 monthjs in 2016 at the Master's level.

Enthusiastic study start - and an approved student intake

When SDU opened its doors for study year 2016, this year's new students received a few words from the Dean, and once again, the Faculty could start the study year with an increased enrolment.

Online tool from NAT for PhD supervisors

Both PhD supervisors and students can make use of the tool that will strengthen opportunities to create a career in the academic world, particularly for women, but which, according to Head of the PhD School Jacob Kongsted, is relevant for everyone regardless of gender.

Industrious researcher with a flair for writing applications

Research costs money. And for researchers, the hunt for the next research funding is a regular part of their working lives. Applications have to be written to obtain funding for the next set of scientific results and the next step on the career path – this is something which Amelia-Elena Rotaru from the Department of Biology is good at.

A word from the Dean

Dear Staff and Students

New unit to be established in the new year

Before the summer break, the Executive Board announced that from now on SDU's research and industry supporting activities are to be organised in a joint unit: the Research and Innovation Office (RIO). In this context, a RI council was established with Dean Henrik Bindslev as chairman.

New budget model at Science

On 1 January 2016, SDU got a new budget model, which changes the way in which education and research funding is distributed to the faculties.

A word from the Dean

Ready for new master's programme

So far, 7 female and 13 male students are ready for the faculty's new master's programme in Computational biomedicine.

Everybody should take a course in CMS

Career Management Skills (CMS) is a course that builds a bridge to the job market. The successful course is for students at the Department of Biology and was launched in the autumn of 2015. During the course, the student is linked with a mentor from the job market and prepared for working life after their studies.

Sapere Aude: DFF-Starting Grant 2016 with help from SOS

Two researchers from the Faculty of Science have received Sapere Aude: DFF- Starting Grants worth a combined total of DKK 14 million. They both agree that assistance from Support Office, Science (SOS) was an important part of the application procedure.

Education seminar: Cutbacks of DKK 2.7 million to education and teaching

The Faculty's Study Board, the departments' teaching committees, the Academic Council and the Management Group gathered once again on 7 June, this time in the new field and research station in Svanninge Bjerge.

Applicants to be guaranteed acceptance to Science

As you know, from 2017 new admission requirements and test-based admission are being introduced to the study programmes at NAT. In this respect, the Faculty of Science had wanted to introduce guaranteed quotients on all Bachelor study programmes, applicable from 2017. This has now been approved by SDU's Council for Education.

SDU Supercomputer Challenge 2015 was a big success

Four groups of young people from different upper secondary schools were rewarded DKK 25,000 each for winning the SDU Supercomputer Challenge on 1 April. Naturally, the young people where happy to receive the money, however, they were even more proud of their projects, which will be run on SDU's supercomputer, Abacus 2.0, later on.

A word from the Dean

Fewer study group supervisors due to spending cuts

At the Faculty's education seminar in Fredericia on 25-26 January, a proposal was made to save on study start at the Faculty of Science. In the subsequent process surrounding the budget strategy for 2016-19, it has been decided that savings of DKK 400,000 are to be made in connection with study start towards 2019, and that some of the cutbacks will be implemented as early as September 2016.

Budget cuts

University of Copenhagen wants first-year study groups based on NAT model

In an article in the journal MONA (Maths and Science Education) from December 2015, PhD student Nadia Dyrberg, Professor WSR Claus Michelsen and Executive Officer Camilla Kromann describe the study group concept for students in NAT's first study year. In the latest edition of MONA from January 2016 there are many comments about their article.

New admission procedures from 2017

"In 2017, 25% of the students will be admitted based on interviews and exams". We have heard this many times in recent years, but what will it actually mean for science applicants? And how should it be implemented?

Study Progress Reform at the Faculty of Science – a status

Resulting from the politically agreed adjustments to the Study Progress Reform for universities which was decided in parliament in November 2015, the final model for the reform at SDU is almost ready. Decisions by the Executive Board have been submitted for consultation to SDU's academic study boards, and the new university law that will come into effect from September 2016 is about to take its final form.

A word from the Dean

They can do everything - except saying no...

When researchers at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy go to work in the laboratory, it takes a lot more than theoretical knowledge. And when young students at the department take a scientific education, not only textbooks, but also a whole lot of practical skills in the laboratory are involved.

A word from the Dean