'The Danish Nobel Prize'
One of our researchers and colleagues receives a very special honour.
Dear staff
Every year on 23 January, the Villum Foundation celebrates Villum Kann Rasmussen's birthday in The Black Diamond in Copenhagen.
This year it was a very special celebration for us, as in addition to a nice Villum Young Investigator grant for Sofie Marie Koksbang from the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, we also celebrated that Don Canfield received Villum Kann Rasmussen's Annual Award.
The award is often referred to as the Danish Nobel Prize, and therefore it is a very great recognition of Don's life's work and contribution to natural science research, which was honoured on this day.
In addition to Don, the foundation had invited Don's research group and many of his collaborators over the years, and it was a thoroughly festive afternoon with laudatory speeches, an exciting lecture by Don, lots of flowers and beautiful music.
The private foundations play a large and increasing role in natural science research in Denmark. Throughout the years, the Villum Foundation has focused on curiosity-driven research, which is of great importance to the Faculty of Science in particular, and we have received many funds from the Villum Foundation, which have contributed with new research results.
At a meeting on the same day with department heads and deans, the Villum Foundation confirmed that they will continue to support basic research and, to a greater extent, also the technical sciences. At the same time, the foundation expressed a concern for the quality of Danish research, as they have made various analyses which show that Danish researchers lag behind when it comes to publishing in recognised and high impact journals.
We also discussed how Denmark can attract and retain talent who can contribute with high impact research. Based on the first conclusions from an ongoing study carried out by the foundation, it is to a large extent the research environment that is decisive.
But what is an attractive research environment? Well, it must be stimulating and engaging and focus on developing the individual researcher, as well as ensuring that they are well integrated into the collegial environment and into the Danish research culture.
I have followed Don for many years as a colleague, head of department and dean, and I see that Don has all the qualities that a private foundation such as the Villum Foundation emphasises. Therefore, I did not have the slightest doubt that this year the foundation has made the right decision by awarding the annual award to him.
Congratulations to Don.
Marianne Holmer, dean