Biology - Aarhus University

🌿Professor Jens-Christian Svenning Receives Prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Medal 🏅 🌍 We are proud to announce that Professor Jens-Christian Svenning has been awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Medal for Excellence in Vegetation Science by the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS). 🏅Awarded approximately every two years, the medal is the highest distinction given by IAVS to a vegetation scientist who has made outstanding contributions to the field. 🌱Jens-Christian receives the medal in recognition of his remarkable work on macroecology, large-scale vegetation patterns, and applied community ecology. “Understanding the diversity and ecology of plants across the globe is a major passion of mine, as is contributing to knowledge that supports biodiversity and people in our rapidly changing world,” Jens-Christian says. 👏 Congratulations, Jens-Christian, on this well-deserved honor! 👏   📸 Photo: Else Magård

Biology students making a real-world impact 🌱💼 In our biology programme, students have the opportunity to collaborate with companies and organisations through an industry project. These projects allow students to apply their academic knowledge in a practical setting, while also offering fresh perspectives, methods, and solutions to the external partner. In the video from Skandinavisk Dyrepark, our MSc student Julie Nilsson Høstgaard shares how she developed a project on enrichment for captive foxes to improve their welfare. Not only has it enhanced the foxes’ quality of life, it has also created a more engaging experience for the park’s visitors. As Julie reflects in the video: “It’s amazing as a student to see your project actually being used in the real world.” The industry project is a win-win: hands-on experience for the student and new biological insights for the company.

🌿 Department of Biology at Naturmødet 2025 🌿   When Naturmødet 2025 kicks off in Hirtshals, the Department of Biology will take center stage! Together with colleagues from other departments, we are bringing research-based knowledge on biodiversity, climate, and sustainability into the public debate.   🔬 With over 15 presentations from Biology and Ecoscience – from debates and lectures to workshops and interactive activities – we contribute to shaping the discussion on nature and environmental challenges. We seek to inspire policymakers, professionals, and nature enthusiasts with the latest scientific insights.   🌍 A joint AU stand: A hub for science and dialogue For the first time, Aarhus University will have a shared stand, where researchers from Biology, Ecoscience, Agroecology, Environmental Science, Animal and Veterinary Science, and DCE will showcase their work. The stand will be a dynamic meeting point for discussions, collaborations, and inspiration.   We look forward to three days filled with knowledge-sharing, learning, and new connections – see you in Hirtshals! 👋 📸 Photos: Signe Brokjær Nielsen & Peter Bondo Christensen. #Naturmødet2025 #AarhusUniversity #Biology #Research #Biodiversity #Sustainability

🌱 Spring is in the Air! 🌸 Though the mornings are still chilly, nature is starting to reveal its first signs of spring! ☀️🌿 Rasmus Østergaard Pedersen, PhD and Data Scientist at our Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, was recently interviewed by TV2 Østjylland. As a member of the Danish Botanical Society and an expert on Danish flora, Rasmus shares insights on the early bloomers of the season. In the video, Rasmus highlights some of the first flowers to appear: 🌿 Sweet violet (Martsviol) 🌿 Snowdrop (Vintergæk) 🌿 Cowslip (Kodriver) He shares: "It's really nice to be heading towards brighter days. You can spend more time outside without freezing and enjoy the wonderful signs of spring. It warms the heart and brings joy every year." 🎥Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/dA36Y5-M

🎉 Professor Andreas Schramm elected as fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology! 🎉 We are proud to announce that Professor Andreas Schramm from our section of Microbiology has been elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology — a prestigious recognition of his outstanding contributions to microbial sciences.   Each year, the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, selects a limited number of fellows through a rigorous peer-review process. In 2025, 65 scientists from around the world were elected from a highly competitive field of 146 nominees.   Andreas Schramm’s election is a reflection of his excellence in microbiology, recognizing his scientific achievements, originality, and leadership especially in microbial ecology and ecophysiology. As one of the few honorees from Denmark, his work continues to shape our understanding of microbial ecosystems and their impact on the world.   👏 Congratulations, Andreas, on this well-deserved honor! 👏 Photo credit: P. Pinamang #Microbiology #ScienceExcellence #AarhusUniversity #Biology #MicrobialSciences #Fellowship

💪Efteruddannelseskurset ”Fysiologi: Læren om hvordan kroppen fungerer” er åbent for tilmeldinger! 💪 Fysiologi er en central del af biologiundervisningen – men det er også et komplekst emne! Hvordan ændres for eksempel balancen mellem kroppens reguleringsmekanismer under fysisk arbejde, sygdom og søvn? Og hvordan tilpasser dyr sig ekstreme forhold? 🦇🐻❄️ På kurset dykker vi ned i den integrative fysiologi gennem forelæsninger, teoretiske øvelser og praktiske målinger, der let kan integreres i undervisningen. Der vil være fokus på fysiologiske ændringer ved fysisk inaktivitet og overvægt, samt forskellige metaboliske sygdomme og kredsløbsforstyrrelser. 🔬 Hvad får du ud af kurset? ✅ Viden og praktisk erfaring i små fysiologiske målinger ✅ Inspiration til konkrete undervisningsforløb om fysiologi ✅ Sparring med andre undervisere og eksperter 📍 Målgruppe: Undervisere på ungdomsuddannelser (STX, HF og HTX). 🗣️Underviser: Tobias Wang 🍂 Hvornår: Efterår 2025 📅  Tilmeldingsfrist: 15. juni 2025 Læs mere og tilmeld dig her: https://lnkd.in/dXsPj_Xq Foto: Colorbox

🌟 Associate Professor Klaus Koren recognized as a rising star by ACS Measurement Science Au! 🌟   Klaus Koren from our Microbiology section has been named one of the Rising Stars in Measurement Science by ACS Measurement Science Au. This honor recognizes early-career scientists worldwide making groundbreaking contributions in measurement science.   🔬 How does chemistry shape life, and how does life shape chemistry? These are the big questions that drive Klaus’s research. To find answers, he has developed chemical sensors that reveal hidden processes in nature. These sensors track oxygen, pH, ammonia, and more in real-time—down to the second and the millimeter!   By pushing the limits of optical and electrochemical sensing, Klaus has helped uncover how tiny chemical changes affect life, from microbes in the ocean to ecosystems on land. His work hasn't been just about measurement—it’s about revealing the unseen world that shapes life itself.   👏 Congratulations, Klaus, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏 Photo credit: Prof. Eric Bakker #MeasurementScience #RisingStar #Chemistry #Microbiology #AarhusUniversity ACS Publications  

🎉 PhD student Ciska Bakkeren receives the EliteForsk Travel Grant! 🌟   Each year, the EliteForsk Travel Grant supports exceptional PhD students by giving them the chance to collaborate with world-leading research institutions. This year, Ciska Bakkeren from our Section of Zoophysiology is among the 17 PhD students awarded this prestigious grant! 👨🎓👩🎓   Ciska researches molecular physiology, focusing on biological adaptations and gene functions. With this grant, she will visit the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Oslo (UiO) to learn advanced techniques that will elevate her study of myoglobin.   🐠 "This project has the potential to challenge some long-held theories about the function of myoglobin and with this EliteForsk Travel Grant I will be using state-of-the-art technology to examine multiomics to look even deeper at what is happening within our myoglobin-deficient zebrafish," says Ciska.   She adds, "I am very excited to have received this grant! I look forward to exploring new technologies and techniques, as well as analyzing the valuable data this funding will result in."   As you can see in the pictures, the grants were handed over to Ciska and the other talented students by her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark and the Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund. 📸 #EliteForsk #PhDResearch #MolecularPhysiology #ResearchGrant #Biology Uddannelses- og Forskningsministeriet Photo credit: Søren Kjeldgaard, Albert Hohn and Susanne Hohn.

🌱 Do you remember when you had to choose your educational path? 🌱 These days, the Department of Biology is participating in "U-days", where potential students can meet our current students and teachers to learn more about what it's like to study Biology. The program includes educational presentations about biology by Christian Damsgaard, Florin Musat and Birgit Olesen, a student counselor presentation, and a tour around the premises to give you a feel for the environment for Biology students. Additionally, our current students are ready to welcome visitors at our stand, where you can chat about student life, courses, and much more – and maybe even take a peek through the microscope. When you look back on your own journey, what was the highlight of studying for you?

🗣️ How to engage in the public debate – Insights from Signe Normand 🎤 Professor Signe Normand, head of Center for Sustainable Landscapes under Global Change (SustainScapes) and chair of Biodiversitetsrådet, studies how biodiversity is affected by environmental and climate changes over time. She is also one of Aarhus University’s most frequently requested experts in the media. For Signe, science communication is an essential task - one that requires both preparation and precision. Being an expert in the media isn’t just about answering questions; it’s about ensuring that knowledge is conveyed clearly so the message isn’t lost. 🗣️ "I always try to simplify what I’m explaining because if I put myself on autopilot, it often ends up being too complicated," she explains. Biodiversity and climate must be part of the public conversation, and we are proud to have researchers in Biology who actively share their expertise. #ScienceCommunication #PublicDebate #Biodiversity #ClimateChange #AarhusUniversity #Biology Photo: Lars Kruse, AU Photo