Sustaining the Voice of Science: Increase the Impact of STEM Communication Activities at DTU Skylab

Grantee: Christian Daniel Koldbech, DTU Skylab

Amount: DKK 998,333

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2024

Geography: Denmark

DTU Skylab will produce two video series, in total ten videos, to promote interest in STEM innovation and entrepreneurship. One of the series will consist of documentaries presenting the most significant innovations that have been realized within the DTU Skylab framework. The other series will consist of interviews with in-house experts and Skylab-based student entrepreneurs sharing their experiences and advice for students.

The videos will provide behind-the-scenes insights into the nature of scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

Visit DTU Skylab’s webpage

The dermatologist’s table (Hudlægens bord)

Grantee: Vibeke Hjortlund, Videnskab.dk

Amount: DKK 1,262,415

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2024

Geography: Denmark

Videnskab.dk will produce a podcast series of 12 episodes that disseminate science-based knowledge to the public, about skin health and skin/venereal diseases. The series will be hosted by an MD in dermatology and will address several topics selected by a medical panel to reflect frequently asked questions from patients. Each episode will introduce novel research within the field with potential for enabling new or improved treatment, facilitated by Danish researchers. The podcasts are supplemented with popular science articles and short videos.

Visit Videnskab.dk’s webpage

On track (På sporet – elever i 2. klasse lærer tal og algebra med læringsspor)

Grantee: Charlotte Skott, Professionshøjskolen Absalon

Amount: DKK 2,500,872

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

This project aims to apply a new research-based approach to enhance the teaching of mathematics in Denmark (called learning trajectories or Læringsspor in Danish), involving second-grade students and their mathematics teachers in all the public schools of Kalundborg as a first case. Learning trajectory constitutes an approach to numbers and algebra which has achieved promising results in international research. During the project, the Kalundborg mathematics teachers will learn about the approach and learning trajectories and be involved in developing educational material suited for a Danish context.

Science in reality (Videnskab i virkeligheden)

Grantee: Marie Erbs Ørbæk, CPH:DOX

Amount: DKK 980,000

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

CPH:DOX’s UNG:DOX program currently covers the greater Copenhagen area with a natural science educational focus during the two-week annual documentary film festival in March. Plans are underway to expand UNG:DOX to cover youth educations all over Denmark, providing year-round access. UNG:DOX offers upper secondary level students science documentaries from its international program, through streaming or live events, accompanied by expert lectures, scientist interviews, and additional resources for teachers.

Visit UNG:DOX’s webpage

Natural Science Marathon (Naturfagsmarathon)

Grantee: Maiken Lykke, Naturvidenskabernes Hus

Amount: DKK 2,000,000

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

This project continues the established ‘Naturfagsmaraton’ which provides a practice-oriented, engineering-inspired approach to STEM education with competitions revolving around real-world challenges, developed in collaboration with Danish companies. The project expands the current program aimed at 5th-6th grade pupils with an annual mini-marathon tailored for younger pupils.

Visit Natural Science Marathon’s webpage

The Science Olympiads (Science Olympiaderne)

Grantee: Niels Hartling, Science Olympiaderne

Amount: DKK 1,800,000

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

The Science Olympiads aim to stimulate the interest of Danish high school students in the fields of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, geography, and computer science. The Olympiad builds on six tracks – one in each of the six fields – which each follow the same structure, kicked off with annual nationwide competitions. Around 20,000 students participate in the national competitions, often as an integrated part of their high school education. The most talented students can qualify to participate in the international Science Olympiads. The Science Olympiads challenge gifted students to expand their talent, promote future careers in science, and provide them with a valuable network of peers

Visit the Science Olympiads’ webpage

Re:solve Global Health

Grantee: Mette Halborg Thorngaard

Amount: DKK 697,700

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

Re:solve is a not-for-profit global journalistic communication platform managed from Denmark sharing insights and solutions to how we can build more equitable health systems and healthier societies. The purpose of the project granted by Leo Foundation is to create awareness about the burden of skin disease and the burden and complexities of disease stigma through production and publication of two in-depth reports on these topics consisting of a number of articles and other communication pieces. The report on skin disease burden will be supplemented by a high-level roundtable discussion during World Health Assemby 2024, and the disease stigma report by a digital roundtable session and workshop.

Biotech Academy

Grantee: Kaare Skovmand Elnegaard

Amount: DKK 193,136

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

The project supports the 2023 Biotech Academy Camp which is a week-long science camp for 30 high school students in October. The camp combines theory and lab work, and this year’s program is focused on societal challenges. It is free of charge and also covers participants’ transportation to the camp, has been executed annually since 2008, and is run by master’s and bachelor students from the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Copenhagen.

Eksemskolen Kalaallit Nunaat

Grantee: Lone Storgaard Hove

Amount: DKK 970,540

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

The overall purpose of the pilot project is to increase awareness about atopic dermatitis in children in Greenland and facilitate treatment in remote areas by creating an Eczema School targeting health care staff with no expert knowledge on skin diseases, afflicted children, and their close relatives. There is a high prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Inuit children and the geographical conditions make diagnosis and efficient care difficult. The idea is to establish a school concept in four different areas, which is ready to be implemented, run, and financed locally in the future, in part by the initiative alleviating some of the current strain on the Greenlandic healthcare system.

Teach First Danmark

Grantee: Jesper Christensen

Amount: DKK 1,443,750

Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants

Year: 2023

Geography: Denmark

Teach First is a nonprofit recruitment program that enrolls academics in an employment-based training program to become certified schoolteachers, mainly within STEM fields and in schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. The purpose of the project is to double the reach of the program by preparing an expansion to western Denmark and to increase the financial sustainability of the program via economy of scale and increase of schools’ share of costs.