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
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.
The Children’s Book Publisher (Børnebogsforlaget)
Grantee: Jakob Lund Pedersen, Børnebogsforlaget
Amount: DKK 380,000
Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants
Year: 2023
Geography: Denmark
“Danske Stjerner” (translated to Danish stars) is a series of children’s books about important Danish scientists. The series is for kids of aged 4-8 years. The books’ stories are illustrated, and their tales begin when the scientists are the same age as their young readers. They then follow the scientists into adulthood, exploring their lives and discoveries. The aim of the series is to increase children’s interest for science, and to inspire them through role models. So far, the series consists of eight published books, illustrating the lives of, amongst others, physicist Niels Bohr, seismologist Inge Lehmann, and astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
The grant is for DKK 380,000 and supports the publishing of four additional books to the series, including one about Morten Peter Meldal, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2022 for the development of “click chemistry”, and one about Elise Sørensen, creator of the colostomy bag, which today is used globally.
Visit The Children’s Book Publisher’s webpage
The Biology Olympiad (Biologiolympiaden)
Grantee: Kirsten Wøldike, Biologiolympiaden
Amount: DKK 100,000
Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants
Year: 2023
Geography: Denmark
The Biology Olympiad (Biologiolympiaden) is an initiative which encourages education within biology and biotechnology. The Biology Olympiad is a Danish, nation-wide, online competition for high school students, where the 30 best students progress to the semi-final as well as a talent program – established in partnership with the University of Copenhagen (KU), Aarhus University (AU), University of Southern Denmark (SDU), and Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The talent program, which combines both theory and laboratory exercises, follows the young participants through a series of exercises within cell biology, biochemistry, physiology, ecology, genetics, and evolution. 15 students then progress to the final, and four national winners invited to participate in the international final with participants from 78 countries.
The grant for DKK 100,000 supports introductory exercises and training sessions, as well as travel andfor the four Danish winners invited to compete internationally in 2023. The international final will take place in the United Arab Emirates.
Visit the Biology Olympiad’s webpage
High5Girls
Grantee: Marianne Andersen, High5Girls
Amount: DKK 259,884
Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants
Year: 2023
Geography: Denmark
High5Girls is a non-profit organization which works to inspire young women (ages 13-19) to take an education within the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Through camps, workshops, and hackathons, the aim is to strengthen women’s opportunities to create, think innovatively, and turn ideas into reality.
All events are free, and the focus is on solving real challenges. Mentors and role models are also women working within STEM, both from the academic world but also from within the industry.
The grant of DKK 259,884 is to help fund three STEM camps as well as three events for young women and their mothers. The project will create a safe space, where young women can learn about STEM, experiment, and learn through both successes and failures. The goal is also to strengthen the young participants’ self-esteems as well as belief in their own capabilities. Focus is placed on finding solutions for societal challenges through technology and science. Close collaboration with role models throughout hopes to provide inspiration for the young participants to choose an educational or career path within the STEM area.
YouTube influencer “Videnskabsmaria”
Grantee: Maria Jarjis
Amount: DKK 243,000
Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants
Year: 2023
Geography: Denmark
Maria Jarjis is an influencer who goes by the name “Videnskabsmaria”, and has for the last six years run the YouTube channel “WTF is that?” (“WTF er det?”). Using engaging cases, Maria Jarjis fosters an awareness through her channel for the world of sciences, and she specifically targets a youthful demographic of viewers between the ages of 14-24 years – who can be challenging to reach through more the traditional media. The YouTube channel “WTF is that?” has 63,500 followers, and altogether, Maria Jarjis’ videos have been viewed over 22 million times.
The LEO Foundation’s grant of DKK 243,000 supports the production of five videos with a focus on skin and skin diseases. In the videos, Maria Jarjis will interview researchers and other experts. The videos will be released on the YouTube channel “WTF is that?” throughout 2023 and be publicly accessible to young viewers, as well as to anyone else with an interest within the area.
Bloom Festival 2023-2025
Grantee: Svante Lindeburg, ABDC
Amount: DKK 1,650,000
Grant category: Education and Awareness Grants
Year: 2022
Geography: Denmark
The Bloom Festival is celebrated annually and places a focus on acknowledging the wonders of nature and science – the festival is held each year in Søndermarken on Frederiksberg. The festival has existed since 2017, with the LEO Foundation offering funding support since 2019.
The festival is organized by ADBC, which has success in running other alike initiatives, such as the annual Golden Days festival. The annual Bloom Festival is a contribution to strengthening the landscape of STEM-initiatives in Denmark, and functions as an innovative event which aims to enlighten us on the universe, the world, and ourselves.
By uniting the best from the worlds of festivals and science, Bloom aims to tackle Life’s greatest questions through debates, talks, laboratories, conversations, and nature walks.