Internal information and news

This autumn students from across Europe will attend an online sustainable entrepreneurship course. The course is an initiative under Circle U. European University Alliance, which Aarhus University is a member of.

NAT’s Diversity and Gender Equality Committee invites all NAT employees to a workshop and talk by Professor Caroline Dessent, the University of York. The event takes place on Monday 30 May 2022 at 13.00-16.00.

The finals of this years’ Young Scientists (Unge Forskere) competition took place on 26 April. The competition is for children and young people in primary and lower secondary school and upper secondary school who are passionate about natural sciences, health sciences and technology. This year, AU made two special awards: one within physical science and one within life science.

Aarhus University once again invites all AU employees to join their colleagues for a run or walk. You can still register for the race.

There is great interest in how to ensure that young students get off on the right foot when they begin their studies in natural sciences. This year’s Education Day was a success and will become a recurring event at Natural Sciences.

What are AU’s visions for using digital elements in teaching? And what will it take to realise them? These were some of the central questions debated at a workshop on 21 March where participants shared experiences and ideas in a lively exchange. The many ideas that arose from their dialogue will be drawn on going forward as the university works to formulate university wide principles for Educational IT at AU.

In 2025, a new partner house for SMEs and organisations and foundations that collaborate with Aarhus University will open its doors in the University City – bringing external partners even closer to the university’s research and knowledge.

This year, the Faculty of Natural Sciences received 1,199 quota 2 applications. Of these, 360 applications were first priority.

On medarbejdere.au.dk/ukraine you can get an overview of how Aarhus University is affected by the war in Ukraine.

Centre for SusTainable AgRifood sysTems will be inaugurated on March 21. The event takes place at Sandbjerg Gods in the southern Denmark, where the collaborating universities and researchers will meet for the first time in this setting.

The Dean and the two Vice-deans will be touring the departments in March and April. They want to meet people at the departments face-to-face, introduce themselves to the employees after two years of COVID-19, and let people know that their door is always open.

5,825 applicants had a degree programme at Aarhus University as their first choice. As expected, this is slightly fewer than last year, when quota 2 applicants were unusually high due to the Covid-19 situation.

The Junior Researcher Association aims to improve the working conditions for Postdocs and Assistant Professors, and works closely with the Aarhus University leadership and administration to achieve the best possible environment, making Aarhus University a more attractive place for postdoctoral training. They also organize relevant events and seminars for JRs.

Now it is happening: the postponed Nat Education Day will take place on Friday 18 March, and all teaching staff are invited. The deadline for registration is Wednesday 9 March.

AU’s students are generally quite satisfied with their learning environment, despite another year marked by Covid: the results of the national Danish Student Survey show. However, the survey also indicates that there’s room for improvement in student well-being – and according to Pro-rector Berit Eika, a big part of the solution is reviving on-campus student life.

Aarhus University will once again participate in the DHL Relay Race, and the registration is now open for all employees. It’s time to dust off your trainers and mark your calendar for a cosy evening with your colleagues.

Aarhus University's new quality assurance policy for teaching and learning at AU is simpler and less detailed than the previous one. And it focuses more on the students and their learning outcomes.

On Thursday 28 April, Aarhus University will open its doors for the Festival of Research, which will take place in and around Stakladen. This year’s theme is TIME, and, as a researcher, you can present your work by holding a speed lecture or a stand activity. The Festival of Research at AU typically attracts around 1,000 people and is an excellent opportunity to promote your research.

In the period 2 – 24 February, employees at Aarhus University can fill out a form to apply for a salary increase in the 2022 salary negotiations.

Our Fascinating Brain. This is the title of this year’s MatchPoints Conference, which will be held 5-7 May – and which will include both an academic conference in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres and a public event at Moesgaard Museum.

The Aarhus University Research Foundation (AUFF) has opened for applications for AUFF Recruiting Grants, International mobility and Publication support grants.

As a researcher, you are now able to sign up to give a lecture at ‘Book a Researcher’ – an initiative presented as part of the Festival of Research, which gives everyone in Denmark the opportunity to receive a free visit from a researcher during the week beginning 25 April.

In Week 9, it will again be time to conduct a workplace assessment at AU – the so-called WPA (APV in Danish). Here you can read more about the process.

Users of Skype for Business will have to use Teams for online meetings in the future. Transfer contacts before 25 January.

About 350 employees and 500 students at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) are exchanging their three current locations for one shared address in the University City. The relocation will take place between the 5th and 28th January and it is a part of AU’s overall campus development. MBG will be the first department to make the move into the University City.

Due to the current coronavirus situation, many of this semester’s exams will be held online. Teaching staff and examiners can register for workshops, find guidelines on online oral exams and get good advice from the Centre for Educational Development (CED).

Soon it’s Christmas and we probably all need a well-deserved break from the everyday hardships. In this year's Christmas video, Kristian Pedersen takes a look at the year that has passed, tells what he is going to do during his Christmas holiday and not least what he is looking forward to in the new year. Watch the video here!

A new international evaluation has given good grades to the five graduate schools at Aarhus University. The schools produce exceptional PhD students and PhD graduates, and the schools are well-organised and of high quality. But they can be even better, according to the Graduate School of Natural Sciences, GSNS.

In 2022, Aarhus University Research Foundation will again be funding research projects, staff and students. Find out more about your options for applying for funding here.

AU Fitness Centre will be moving to Paludan-Müllers Vej in the new year. The association will continue to run the fitness centre and team activities for AU staff.

Nat invites all teaching staff to the Education Day on the 18th January. The day is organised in collaboration with the Education Forum and Centre for Educational Development (CED).

AU's draft institutional plan for relocating and reducing the number of degree programmes will now be submitted for internal comments at the university. The draft for Nat will especially affect the degree programmes that have been resized.

IT maintenance work will affect AU’s IT systems and services and cause interruptions at different times during the weekend of 13-14 November 2021.

Participate in this true trans-facultarian AU GIS event with presenters from Archaeology, Bioscience, Health, Environmental Science, Agroecology, AU Estate, Geoscience aso.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is visiting Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, and invites you to an Information Meeting on NNF’s funding opportunities 2022 within natural and technical science research.

Brightspace has replaced Blackboard as AU’s learning platform, and on 31 October 2021, Blackboard will be shut down for good. Before that, lecturers need to download any course content and evaluation reports from Blackboard they want to save.

In the week from 20 to 24 September, there will be more reason than usual to take your bike to work, as Aarhus University is making a special effort to encourage cycling to work. It’s all about making a difference for the climate.

Aarhus University took part in the DHL Relay Race in Aarhus, Copenhagen and Odense again this year, after a break in 2020.

A new digital solution is on the way to AU researchers – a system that will make it easier to manage research data throughout the research process.

Denmark’s Biggest Friday Bar means changes in parking availability around the University Park in the period 6 - 12 September. Find out here which parking lots will be closed and where you can find alternative parking.

Employees and students can visit the Steno Museum planetarium free-of-charge for the rest of 2021.

A total of 30 rooms are now operational at the faculty; ready for teaching staff and students to try their hand at Hybrid Zoom teaching.

Not vaccinated yet? Now’s your chance to get vaccinated against Covid-19 on campus in Aarhus. The pop-up vaccination site will be open through 10 September, and no appointment is necessary.

Among other things, the working group will provide specific recommendations for career clarification and career development programmes.

In the autumn, all employees and managers will meet for the annual staff development dialogues (SDDs) at AU. The SDD is your opportunity to discuss your tasks, results, well-being and competency development with your manager.

A new technical solution is being rolled out at AU to protect your inbox against fraudulent emails. Until the solution has been fully implemented, you should keep an extra eye on your spam filter.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, many of the canteens at Aarhus University have been closed for most of the spring and summer. But now they’re chopping, frying and braising again – so students and staff no longer have to go hungry on campus.

From Wednesday 18 August, students and staff can get tested in the small exam hall in building 1916-125 on Trøjborgvej in Aarhus. No appointment is necessary.

IT maintenance work will affect AU’s IT systems and services and cause interruptions at different times during the weekend of 11 - 12 September 2021.

When autumn semester classes will begin in just a few weeks, Blackboard will be history. From now on, all course content will be available on Brightspace, AU’s new learning platform. Help is available from CED if you need help in getting your courses ready in Brightspace

Last year, AU’s hallowed annual celebration was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. But this year, the university is pulling out all the stops. There will be great live music – with acts including Eivør, Velvet Volume and Pernille Rosendahl – at Concert Hall Aarhus, speeches by Rector Brian Bech Nielsen and AU Board Chair Connie Hedegaard and the announcement of this year’s distinguished alum in the Main Hall.

Do you have a daring, innovative research project in the works? Or a potentially groundbreaking publication? You can apply for funding to help make your project a reality from the Aarhus University Research Foundation.

Fewer women than men advance to the top of the research hierarchy, and this means that we lose research talent. What does it take to correct this imbalance? Four experts share their thoughts and ideas in the new season of the #DiversityAU podcast.

The dean sends his video summer greetings to the staff.

Brian Bech Nielsen is disappointed by the government’s failure to involve the university sector before the agreement.

AU’s ten supervised self-testing sites for staff and students are closing soon. The last day will be 30 June.

The climate footprint must be reduced – also at AU. If you want to help make AU greener, you can find inspiration in AU’s new Green Guide.

Now you can access autumn courses in Brightspace, the platform that will replace Blackboard after the summer holiday. This means that teaching staff can start building their courses in preparation for the autumn semester. Help and support in building your courses is available now, and the help desk will be open all summer.

When working remotely, for example from your home office, you are often a more easy target for IT criminals. 6 tips are now available to help avoid that AU data falls into the wrong hands.

Associate Professor Jacob Overgaard has received a big grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation of approx. 14 million DKK (approx. $2,3 million) for his research in metal complexes and their magnetic properties.

The faculty’s new strategic course and core narrative are now in place following a process with focus groups, workshops, consultations and many good discussions across the entire faculty.

Natural Sciences' new core narrative encompasses the history of the faculty and a consistent theme from then until today. The core narrative is based on the faculty's unique position and strengths, and it points the way to the NAT of the future.

Natural Sciences to focus on commencement of studies and retention of students after more than a year under the shadow of corona. The faculty will also clarify students' options when choosing their career path.

Following a long corona lockdown, in 2021 Natural Sciences will focus on restoring university life on campus, career development (particularly for early career researchers) and diversity at the faculty.

One of the Nordic region's most prestigious research prizes, the Anders Jahre Prize, goes to Professor Poul Nissen from Aarhus University. Poul Nissen is awarded the prize for his research in the transport of proteins in and out of cells. This knowledge is of great importance for understanding diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders.

Aarhus University will once again participate in the DHL Relay Race, and the registration is still open for all employees - The registration deadline has been extended to 9 June.

AU is currently under attack by a wave of spam emails with unpleasant and inappropriate content. You are encouraged to report the spam emails in Outlook.

AU's new learning platform, Brightspace, is now open and accessible to all teaching staff and course administrators. Centre for Educational Development (CED) are ready to help you getting set up in the new system for the upcoming start of term. There will be workshops specifically tailored for teaching staff at Nat as well as online support. Read more about how to get help and support with regards to Brightspace.

Ditlev Egeskov Brodersen has been appointed Professor of Structural Microbiology to study microbial survival mechanisms at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University as of 1 June 2021.

In the coming months, the dean and vice-deans of Nat will be intensifying their activity on LinkedIn and Twitter. This will make the faculty's activities more visible externally.

Aarhus University is switching from Blackboard to Brightspace. A number of teachers at Faculty of Natural Sciences have tested the system in a pilot project. In the following, two members of the teaching staff present their experiences, and provide tips on how to get started on Brightspace.

Aarhus University will once again participate in the DHL Relay Race, and the registration is now open for all employees. It’s time to dust off your trainers and mark your calendar for a cosy evening with your colleagues.

From now on, you will need to use the Kviktest app in connection with supervised self-testing at AU.

AU’s new IT webshop will be used the next time you need to buy new IT equipment. The new solution offers a better user experience and replaces the current local IT webshops.

The planned relocation of a variety of academic activities as well as the joint Nat-Tech administrative centre to Kasernen i Aarhus will not take place. The plan is not financially viable.

Do your own chemistry experiment. Delve into the history of epidemics in the Steno Museum’s basement. Follow a horror researcher into the darkness in the zombie land “Haunted House”. The Festival of Research at Aarhus University will take place virtually. Take part Wednesday 28 April from 14-20 and learn about the world around you – at home.

Professor Birgit Schiøtt has been reappointed as the head of the Department of Chemistry on a three-year contract starting when her current five-year contract expires at the end of this year.

Aarhus University wants to increase biodiversity in several of the university's green areas. The areas will increase species variation, and can be used in connection with teaching and as a meeting point for social activities.

On Wednesday 21 April, the first two supervised self-testing sites will open at AU. The sites are for the university’s students and staff only, and are intended as a supplement to the existing public test sites. Eight additional test sites will open at AU’s locations in the coming days.

AU’s new learning platform Brightspace is now accessible for teaching staff and course administrators, and registration for Brightspace workshops is open. During the coming months, teaching staff will be able to set up the courses they are teaching in autumn.

Phishing emails are currently in circulation and the sender pretends to be Aarhus University. The email is primarily sent to people outside AU and the purpose is to entice the recipient into opening an attached file that may infect the recipient’s computer with a virus. If you are contacted by partners or others who have received the email, please ask them to delete it.

The yellow warning banner at the top of mails to AU employees from external senders will have a short life. AU IT has decided to remove it on the background of negative reactions from many employees. It’s still important that we’re all alert to the dangers of phishing mails.

From 1 June 2021, Associate Professor and Head of Department Erik Østergaard Jensen has been reappointed for another three years as head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) - a position he has had since 2004.

New points criticism have emerged regarding research practice in the so-called Nature case. At the recommendation of the local advisor for responsible conduct of research and freedom of research, these points have now been submitted to the Research Practice Committee for assessment.

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Peter C. Agre pays us a virtual visit and talks about his academic career under the heading "A Life in Science: Challenges & Rewards".

Again this year, Aarhus University is seeing an increase in the numbers applying via quota 2, and at Natural Sciences, applications are stable in relation to first-priority applications.

As a result of the coronavirus restrictions, many of the spring semester exams will be online in Zoom. You can register for the workshop for teaching staff and examiners at Aarhus University, which will go through the elements of an online oral exam.

Do you know any students whose Master’s thesis focuses on the Danish Realm? Then be sure to let them know about the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Master’s thesis competition, which is intended for students on all degree programmes. The winner will receive DKK 40,000 and have their thesis communicated to the general public.

To commemorate the anniversary of the first corona lockdown on 11 March, students at NAT and TECH have been complemented for their patience and flexibility. As a reward for their endurance, students can enter a competition to win DKK 2,000 by summing up their life as a student under corona through poems, songs, photos, videos or other creative works.

In the Three Minute Thesis Competition, PhD students present their research project in three minutes for an audience of non-specialists. Last year, the competition was cancelled due to corona, but this year, PhD students can once again participate and win a travel grant of DKK 35,000 and the chance to participate in the international competition. Everyone can follow the competition via Zoom.

The breakout session for Nat and Tech included presentations and engaged questions focusing on equality and diversity at the two faculties.

A green year has begun. At least at AU, where 68 new climate initiatives will contribute to the university’s green transition.

How can businesses and organisations generate more climate-friendly procurement? Aarhus University will help to answer this question when a working group headed by the university roll up their sleeves as part of a new climate alliance in Aarhus.

Dean Kristian Pedersen sends a video greeting to the staff. He encourages all faculty staff to contribute with feedback on the new faculty strategy in order to make it ambitious and relevant.