Young Academy of Denmark

Young Academy of Denmark
Name	Young Academy of Denmark
Native name	Det Unge Akademi
Founded	2011
Headquarters	Copenhagen
Type	academy
Leader title	Chair
Parent organisation	Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters

Contents

Young Academy of Denmark is an independent assembly of early- to mid-career researchers and professionals based in Copenhagen. It was established to provide a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars from diverse institutions such as University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Technical University of Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, and Aalborg University. The Academy builds links with national and international bodies including the Danish Council for Independent Research, Carlsberg Foundation, Nordic Council of Ministers, European Research Council, and Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

History

The Academy was founded in 2011 following models from organizations like the Royal Society’s Young Academy of Sciences initiatives and the National Academy of Sciences-linked young academies in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Netherlands. Early milestones included collaborative events with the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, partnerships with the Carlsberg Foundation and a memorandum with the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Founding members came from institutions such as Copenhagen Business School, Roskilde University, Technical University of Denmark, and research institutes like Niels Bohr Institute and Statens Serum Institut. The Academy’s development mirrored the rise of similar bodies such as the Young Academy of Norway and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities’s youth initiatives.

The Academy’s stated mission aligns with objectives promoted by entities like the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: to foster interdisciplinary research, public engagement, and science policy input. Specific aims echo initiatives seen at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and include promoting dialogue with stakeholders such as the Danish Parliament, European Parliament, UNESCO, and civic organizations like Dansk Industri and Fonden for Strategisk Forskning. The Academy emphasizes outreach connecting to venues like the Royal Library, Denmark, the Copenhagen Opera House, and municipal partners including Copenhagen Municipality.

Membership is selective and rotational, comparable to election processes at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Candidates are typically nominated by peers from universities and research centers such as Aarhus University Hospital, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde University, and institutes affiliated with Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. Selection criteria reference international benchmarks like those used by the European Academy of Sciences and require demonstrated achievement akin to awardees of the Carlsberg Foundation Research Prize or grant recipients from the European Research Council. The roster traditionally includes scholars from departments tied to the Niels Bohr Institute, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, and professional affiliates of entities like Det Kongelige Teater.

The Academy runs interdisciplinary colloquia, public lectures, and workshops reminiscent of programs at the Max Planck Society and the Institut Pasteur. Activities have included policy briefings to the Danish Parliament and collaborative symposia with organizations such as the Danish Cancer Society, Danish Architecture Center, Statens Museum for Kunst, and universities like Copenhagen Business School and Aalborg University. The Academy has produced reports and outreach projects addressing topics linked to stakeholders including EU Horizon 2020 consortia, the Nordic Council, and cultural partners like the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. Training and mentoring schemes mirror efforts by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society’s mentoring networks.

Governance structures follow a board and rotating chair model similar to governance at the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and other national young academies such as the Young Academy of Scotland. Funding streams have come from the Carlsberg Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, project grants from the Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education, and cooperative funding with the Danish Council for Independent Research and European programs like Horizon Europe. Administrative links have been maintained with institutions such as the University of Copenhagen and cultural venues like the Royal Library, Denmark for event hosting and secretariat support.

The Academy has influenced science-policy dialogues engaging bodies such as the Danish Parliament, European Commission, Nordic Council of Ministers, and UNESCO-linked initiatives. Partnership highlights include collaborations with the Carlsberg Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Danish Cancer Society, Statens Museum for Kunst, Danish Architecture Center, and international networks like the Global Young Academy and the Interacademy Partnership. Members have contributed to media outlets and cultural institutions such as DR (broadcaster), Politiken, Berlingske, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, and policy fora tied to the European Research Council.

Category:Scientific societies based in Denmark Category:Organizations established in 2011