Anja C. Andersen

Anja C. Andersen

Professor in Astrofysik and Professor for the Public Understanding of Science

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8169-7273

  • Øster Voldgade 5-7

    1350 København K

  • Source: Scopus
1994 …2024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Current research

In 2023 I am on sabbatical as Visiting Professor at Princeton University,  to collaborate with Prof. Bruce Draine. This is made possible by generous support from the Carlsberg Foundation. In the last week of September I will present an invited talk in Gøteborg, Sweden, on Dust growth in nearby galaxies at the conference Origin and Fate of dust in our Universe. In the week of October/November I will participate in the conference Illuminating the Dusty Universe: A Tribute to the work of Brunce Draine in Florence, Italy. 

During 2022 I was in charge (CEO) of Videnskabsår22 the Danish National Science Year established as part of the UN International Year of Basic Science for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD 2022) in celebration of the 100 year of Niels Bohr's Nobel Prize in Phyiscs. Videnskabsår22 was genously supported by the Villum Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Poul Due Jensen Foundation and the Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation.

I supervise bachelor, master and PhD-students within astrophysics. 

My research is centered around the astrophysics of dust. Cosmic dust particles play an important role for the thermal, dynamical and chemical conditions in many astrophysical environments, especially for the star and planet formation process and the late stages of stellar evolution. Dust particles determine the spectral appearance of proto-stars as well as of evolved stars with circumstellar envelopes, and they also dominate extinction curves of galaxies. I have a handful of recognized papers on ISM dust growth in nearby galaxies, and another handful on dust production at high redshift. I also have a series of papers on laboratory work determining optical properties of meteoritic and synthetic dust species. The laboratory data I used for developing mass-loss theory for AGB stars. Currently I am working on identifying the origin of certain elements and its implication for the ISM evolution. As part of this effort I co-author of a paper for Nature on the origin of the r-process elements.

As part of my public outreach of science I work with Mette Holbæk on promoting sceince, one of the means is the podcast series: Videnskab fra vilde hjerner (Scince from Bright Brains) where we interview high profiled scientist in Denmark. I also co-host the Danish podcast series Flyvendetallerken (the Flying Saucer) and Generation Mars (Generation Mars) produced by Frederik Dirks Gottlib. Previously I have participated  in the podcast series Genial Galakser (Ingeinous Galaxies) aimed at children by Rikke Mia Skovdal which won the Danish Podcast prize 2021 in the category "Niche". 

I am currently writing on my 15'th popular science book in Danish which will be a general introduction to the Universe. 

Teaching

I have supervised B.Sc (27), M.Sc (12) and Ph.D.-theses’ (4) work. I am part of University of Copenhagen’s mentor network for mentoring young female scientists and have, through this network, mentored many young scientists. I have also served as mentor/supervisor for postdocs (4) who have managed to get funding to come to the Niels Bohr Institute to work with me. I have extensive experience in teaching at all levels from primary school to PhD. I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Uppsala University and University of Copenhagen. Right now I am teaching the two bachelor couses: NFYB16004U Stars and Planets (Astro2) og  NFYB19001U Extragalactic Astrophysics (Astro4).

CV

CV – Anja C. Andersen
ResearcherID: P-4822-2014ORCID:0000-0001-8169-7273 
 
Education:
2011 – Leadership training course for female academics, University of Copenhagen
2003 – Diploma in Higher Education Teaching and Teaching Practice, University of Copenhagen
1999 – Ph.D. in astrophysics from University of Copenhagen
1995 – M.Sc. in Physics and Astronomy from University of Copenhagen 

Academic positions:
Since 2017 Professor of Public Understanding of Science and Technology, University of Copenhagen
2017 – 2023 Adjunct Professor at University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
2005 – 2017 Associate Professor at Dark Cosmology Centre, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen
2002 – 2005 Fellow at the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (NORDITA) 
2001 – 2002 Postdoc at University of Copenhagen (Carlsberg Fellow)
2000 – 2001 Postdoc at Uppsala University (Carlsberg Fellow)
1999 – 2000 Research assistant at Danmarks Lærerhøjskole
1996 – 1999 PhD-student at University of Copenhagen and AIU Frederich-Schiller Universität Jena
1995 – 1996 Science lecturer at Copenhagen Day- and Evening College of Teacher Training (KDAS)

Awards and honours:
2022 – The Danish "Hørups debatpris" for engaging public outreach.
2022 – The Danish Podcastprisen 2021 for the podcast series aimed at children: Geniale Galakser.
2021 – The Danish Society for Women in Science (DANWISE) award for exceptional efforts to improving diversity in Higher Education. 
2021 – The H.C. Ørsted price for public science engagement.
2018 – Ebbe Munch’s Prize from H.M. Queen Margrethe II
2017 – Danish Author Society’s award for outstanding non-fiction.
2016 – TheØrsted Silver Medal for dissemination of Natural Science.
2015 – Danish Physical Society’s UNESCO Year ofLight prize for Outstanding Public Outreach.
2014 – Direktør N. Bang og hustru Yrsa Bang fødtTroensegaards Scholarship for Outstanding Research. 
2011 – The Copenhagen University’s Faculty of Science Public OutreachAward.
2009 – Bergsøefondens Prizefor Outstanding Public Outreach.
2009 – The Mathilde Prize for contributions towards Equity in Academia.
2008 – The DanishAssociation of Masters and PhDs Research Prize.
2007 – Elected member of TheDanish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV).
2006 – Awarded The DanishPublic TV and Radio’s Rosenkjærpris for Outstanding Public Outreach.
2006 – The Kirstine Meyer’sAward by the Danish Society for Natural Sciences (SNU).
2006 – Outstanding Young Person TOYP 2006 for ”Academic achievement and leadership”.
2005 – The Descartes prizefor Outstanding Science Communication by the European Union.
2004 – The National DanishAward for Outstanding Public Outreach by the Danish Minister ofResearch. 
2000 – The Allan MacIntosh'Public Outreach Award.
1997 – Writer of the Year bythe Danish Astronomical Society.

Research:
Astrophysics of dust. Cosmic dust particles play an important role for the thermal, dynamical and chemical conditions in many astrophysical environments, especially for the star and planet formation process and the late stages of stellar evolution. Dust particles determine the spectral appearance of proto-stars as well as of evolved stars with circumstellar envelopes, and they also dominate extinction curves of galaxies.

Public Outreach:
Regularly interviewed (5-10 times per month) for TV, radio (i.e. EuroNews, Danish, Swedish and British Broadcast), newspapers,and magazines on topics of astrophysics, space physics, space technology, andgender in academia. Have written numerous (> 80) popular science papers as well as several (>6) popular astronomy books and numerous commentaries (>25 ) on Gender in Academia. Present talks at schools, high-schools, public libraries,planetariums etc. 

Teaching:
Have taught at both undergraduate and graduatelevel at University of Copenhagen and Uppsala University. Currently teaching a BSc course on Stars and Planet formation. Have previous taught a course on Stellar Structure and Evolution and a general astronomy course for non-physics majors Astronomy. Have previously taught a MSc course on Compact Objects and Relativistic Astrophysics. 

Supervision:
Have supervised 5 postdocs, 7 PhD, 7 MSc, 21 BSc and several (>100) first year students on their physics projects. 
Chaired 12 Ph.D.-dissertation committeesat the University of Copenhagen and been a member of 6 Ph.D.-dissertation committees abroad (Uppsala University, Frederick-SchillerUniversität Jena and Lund University).
Part of University of Copenhagen’s mentor networkfor mentoring of young female scientists.

Appointments to boards and learned societies:
2022 – CEO of the national science year Videnskabsår22.dk.
2022 – Chair person of Young Researchers UngeForskere.dk. 
2022 – Chair person of Videnskabsklubben.dk.
2021 – Member of the DTU Space Advisory Board. 
2020 – Appointed chair of the Scienctific Board for lex.dk 
2019 – Appointed chair of the national initiative NaturvidenskabensABC.dk 
2018 – Appointed member of the Danish UNESCO national comittee.
2017 – Member of the board for Selskabet for Naturlærens Udbredelse (SNU), Chair person since 2022.
2017 – Medlem af ESO's La Sille / Paranal Committee (ESO LSP).
2017 – 2022 Chair of the University of Copenhagen Student Sports (KU Studenter Idræt).
2013 – 2019 Member of the Governing Board of the University of Copenhagen (KU bestyrelse). 
2013 – 2022 Chair of the board of Directors of the Danish Copenhagen University Extension (FolkeuniversitetetKøbenhavn).
2013 – Board member of Dr.N.P. Wieth-Knudsen Fondet.
2010 – 2020 Danish National SpaceBoard (Det Nationale Rumudvalg).
2010 – Board member ofBergsøe Fondet (chair since 2017).
2007 – Elected to the Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV), Denmark.
2010 – 2013 ESA’s Astronomy WorkingGroup (AWG).
2008 – 2013 Advisory Board of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU-repræsentantskab).
2008 – 2013 Advisory Board for DTUSpace.
2006 – 2015 Board member of Danish Science Factory, deputy chair since 2013.
1995 – 2003 Chair of the DanishNetwork for Women in Physics (KIF).

Institutional responsibilities:
2014 – 2015 Rector’s Task Force forimproving diversity in academia, University of Copenhagen.
2013 – 2017 Staff representative atthe Niels Bohr Institute for the Danish Association of Masters and PhDs (TR).
2005 – 2015 Teaching Committee (Undervisnings Udvalg), Niels Bohr Institute.
2007 – 2011 Strategy Committee (Visions Udvalg), Niels Bohr Institute.
2007 – 2009 Rector’s Task Force for gender equality in academia, University of Copenhagen.

Community service: 
Often used as refereeby a diversity of the major relevant journals. Referee on average 1–2 papersper year. Regularly used (4–6 times per year) as an evaluator by variousnational research foundations for grant proposals, as well as by the EuropeanSouthern Observatory for evaluation of observing proposals. Have also severaltimes served as an external expert in relation to various European Universities hire of associate professors. 

Evaluator for: 
US National Science Foundation (NSF) – (research proposals) 
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DG) – (research proposals and programs)
European Commission Space Research Unit at REA – (research proposals)
European Research Council (ERC) – (remote evaluator of consolidator proposals)
European Commission Descartes Prize – (ranking of nominations)
UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council – (research proposals) 
Austrian Academy of Sciences – (research proposals)
Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) – (research proposals) 
Swedish Research Counsil (VR) – (research proposals)
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences – (the Göran Gustafsson Prize)
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) – (research proposals)
Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) – (research proposals)
Catholic University Leuven, Belgium – (hire of permanent lecturer) 
Lund University, Sweden – (hire of permanent lecturer)
University of Oslo – (yearly professor promotions)
University of Toledo – (promotion to professor)
Uppsala University – (hire of permanent lecturer)
Danish Technical University (DTU Space) – (promotion to senior scientist)
Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics (NORDITA) – (hire of postdocs/associates)
ESO observing committee (panel C) – (observing proposals)

Editorships:
Volume 4 of The International Journal of Astrobiology (2005)
Proceedings of Science: The Life Cycle of Dust in the Universe:Observations, Theory, and Laboratory Experiments (2014)

Referee of scientific journals: 
Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A)
Astrophysics Journal Letters (ApJL)
Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer (JQSRT)
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Journal of Applied Optics
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)
Journal for Mineralogy and Petrology
Astronomische Nachrichten (AN)
Cambridge University Press’ Planetary Science Series

Memberships of professional societies:
International Astronomical Union (IAU)
European Astronomical Society (EAS)
European Physical Society (EPS)
Meteoritical Society
Academy of the Technical Sciences (ATV)
Danish Physical Society (DFS)

Scientific organizingcommittees (SOC):
2021 NORDITA workshop on SN dust, Stockholm, Sweden (online)
2018 IAU Focus Meeting: Nano Dust in Space and Astrophysics, Vienna, Austria.
2018 Co-chair of theInternational Conference: Cosmic Dust: Origin, Applications & Implications,Copenhagen, Denmark.
2014 Co-chair of theInternational symposia: Origin of Cosmic Dust, Geneva, Switzerland. 
2013 International Conference:The life cycle of dust in the universe, Taipei, Taiwan.
2013 Annual European meeting: The European Week of Astronomy and Space Science, Turku, Finland.
2009 Co-chair InternationalWorkshop: Current Problems in Extragalactic Dust, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2009 International Summer School:CompSchool 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2008 International Conference: CosmicDust - Near and Far, Heidelberg, Germany.
2008 International Conference:Chirality 2008, Stockholm, Sweden.
2007 Splinter D meeting: TheChemical Evolution of the Universe on its Smallest Scales, Wurzburg, Germany.
2006 Co-chair of JD11: Pre-solar Grains as Astrophysical Tools, IAU XXVIth GeneralAssembly, Prague, Czech Republic.
2005 Nordic Conference:Astrobiology and Origins of Life, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2004 Nordic Conference:Astrobiological problems for physicist and biologists, Tuorla, Finland.
 

Education/Academic qualification

PhD in Astrophysics, University of Copenhagen

Award Date: 1 Sep 1999

External positions

Visiting Professor, Princeton University

1 Apr 2023 → 1 Nov 2023

Adjunct Professor, University of Southern Denmark

1 Jan 2018 → 31 Dec 2022

Keywords

  • Faculty of Science
  • Astrophysics
  • Astronomy
  • Public Understanding of Science
  • Physics
  • Stars
  • Galaxies

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View all 203 research outputs
  • 2 Organisation of and participation in conference
  • 1 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
  • 1 Membership in research network
View all 19 prizes