News from SDU
Follow and stay updated on everything from research results and business collaboration to student life and exciting initiatives at the university.
Latest news
Society is our laboratory
Head of department Lars Tønder gives his take on why social science is important for understanding the world around us. His point is simple: knowledge needs to go out and live. This is especially important in a time characterised by war, climate change, technological upheaval and growing uncertainty about the future of democracy.
Winning team selected: New collaboration to shape university and new neighbourhood at Nordkajen
Vejle Municipality and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) have named the winning team in a project competition that will set the direction for a new university and the development of Nordkajen.
Millions for excellent research at SDU
Four researchers at SDU have each just received a grant from Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) for innovative research projects that , among other things, examine the connections between Northern European identity and the Ku Klux Klan, early Danish dramatic works that have so far been overshadowed by Holberg, and how colonial history has influenced Danish legal policy.
Danes' support for AI in their interactions with the public sector depends on how often they use AI - and to a lesser extent on their age
A new report from the Digital Democracy Centre takes the temperature of Danes' attitudes towards artificial intelligence in the public sector. The overall result is that Danes' support is highly dependent on the type of case and also the type of AI-based tool in question.
New research centre strengthens the interplay between law, artificial intelligence and robotics
The Department of Law at the University of Southern Denmark is establishing CLAIR – Center for Law, AI and Robotics. The Centre will contribute with new knowledge that can be applied in education, legislation and practice at the intersection of law and technology.
What actually happens when you boil a bean?
Researchers from SDU Food Matters at the University of Southern Denmark will spend the next five years studying how the natural microstructures of beans change during preparation, and how this knowledge can be used to develop better food packed with plants.
Global experts agree: Physical activity should be assessed, prescribed and promoted in routine healthcare
An international consensus initiated by the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (IFSPT) and led and coordinated by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark and the University of Copenhagen outlines how healthcare professionals can routinely assess and prescribe physical activity for people with chronic conditions.
SDU and the Danish Defence to work more closely together on public safety
The first group of drone conscripts and soldiers has begun at SDU in Odense. They are to attend a drone engineering course as part of the cooperation between the SDU Drone Centre and the Danish Defence Drone Centre. Below, Rector Jens Ringsmose explains why increased cooperation with the Danish Defence is both important and relevant.
Denmark launches energy-efficient AI supercomputer that reuses waste heat in local energy system
The University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with Danfoss and HPE, is bringing a new national AI supercomputer online, enabling Danish universities to handle large data volumes and advanced AI models within a single shared infrastructure. At the same time, the project demonstrates a new model for how AI infrastructure can be built more energy-efficiently at global scale by integrating data centers into energy systems and reusing waste heat.
Angela Chang appointed professor of Global Health Economics and Metrics
A new professor will strengthen research into global health inequalities and develop improved methods for measuring disease and quality of life. The aim is to generate knowledge that can be applied in health policy and international initiatives.
AI, sensors and drones could make the district heating in your radiator cheaper
Today, district heating pipes are often replaced on the basis of age rather than knowledge of their actual condition. A new research project headed by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) aims to make maintenance smarter, which could yield both economic benefits and improvements in security of supply.
SDU puts distinctive villa in Esbjerg into use
The University of Southern Denmark has now officially taken possession of Langlihus at Sædding Strandvej 18 in Esbjerg. The handover was marked at a reception in the villa on 4 May. The property was donated to SDU in 2025 by the Henning G. Kruse Foundation and will now be the setting for a number of academic activities.
Liver disease on the rise in Europe – up to half of cases can be prevented
A new Lancet report with participation from the University of Southern Denmark highlights that a lack of prevention is driving a largely preventable public health crisis, costing both lives and billions across Europe.
DKK 21 million for an interdisciplinary project on new diagnostics
A project involving SDU and OUH has received just under DKK 21 million from Innovation Fund Denmark. The project will develop technology that can make diagnostics for infections, antibiotic resistance and disease both faster and more precise.
Fabian Haiden receives DKK 18.2 million from the Villum Foundation
With a new programme, the Villum Foundation supports researchers at particularly competitive stages of their careers. One of the nine recipients identified as having the potential to push the boundaries of science is mathematician Fabian Haiden.
Rapid action by bystanders plays a crucial role in cardiac arrest
A new nationwide study from the University of Southern Denmark shows that survival after cardiac arrest is more than twice as high when resuscitation is started before the ambulance arrives. Outcomes also vary depending on whether the initial resuscitation is provided by bystanders, volunteer responders, or ambulance personnel.
5 Things You Should Know About Disease Carrying Bacteria Around You
Pathogens—such as streptococci and staphylococci—are everywhere around us. But they don’t always make us sick. When are they harmless? And when do they become dangerous? Find out in this explainer, produced in collaboration with microbiologist Clare Kirkpatrick.
Obituary: Thomas Buchvald Vind (1971-2026)
It is with great sadness that the University of Southern Denmark has received the news that University Director Thomas Buchvald Vind suddenly passed away on the night of Saturday 25 April. Thomas Buchvald Vind was 54 years old.
SDU researchers exhibit at Milan Design Week
Milan Design Week, held from 20 to 26 April, is usually a platform for architects and designers to showcase their latest work. This year, however, a team of researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at University of Southern Denmark is also taking part.
Pauline Møller reaches the PhD Cup final with research on the exercise pill of the future
Pauline Møller, PhD in Biomedicine, has advanced to the final of the PhD Cup organized by Information, the Lundbeck Foundation and DR, also known as the Festival of Research. She has investigated how physical exercise affects the body at a molecular level – and her findings point towards a potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Turning Waste into Green Energy: DKK 50 Million for Microbe Research
How can we generate more green energy from our organic waste? With almost DKK 50 million in funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, a new research project will search for microbiological solutions.
People in prison experience health inequalities
Research from the University of Southern Denmark shows that people in prison face challenges in accessing health care. Both legal frameworks and security considerations can limit equality in practice.
A fixed clinical base strengthens medical students in Esbjerg
Medical students at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Esbjerg are attached to the same hospital department throughout their master’s degree programme. This benefits both the students and the employers who recruit them after graduation, according to recent experiences.
New partnership agreement to bring patients’ and relatives’ knowledge closer to research and development
All Faculties of Health Sciences in Denmark are entering into a new partnership with Danish Patients and the National Centre for User Involvement in shaping the future of health research.
Jens Ringsmose's appointment is extended as Rector at SDU
SDU's Board of Directors has decided to extend Jens Ringsmose's appointment as Rector for a 3-year period.
5 Things You Should Know About Women’s Fat Cells
Men and women have different kinds of fat. For example, women generally have more fat cells than men, but that does not make them less healthy. Together with obesity researcher Anne Loft, we take a closer look at what sets women’s fat cells apart.
New research project could extend critical battery life for drones
By rethinking the way computers work, it is possible to improve the energy efficiency of digital systems, including drones for both civilian and military use. That is precisely what researchers from the University of Southern Denmark will be working on in a major new European project.
Experience SUND at the Festival of Research 2026
On Saturday 18 April, you can experience the Festival of Research at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense – where researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences are ready with a programme full of knowledge, debate and activities for both children and adults.
Unexpected Predator: Jellyfish Shown to Hunt Polychaete worms
During warm summer nights when the full moon rises, some species of polychaetes swim up from the seafloor to spawn. It’s a perilous journey, because hungry jellyfish are waiting in the water column. This has now been documented for the first time.
New Danish-Tanzanian research project to improve health among older people in Tanzania
A new international research project aims to improve the care and treatment of older people in Tanzania and strengthen capacity across the healthcare system. The project brings together researchers and healthcare professionals from Tanzania and Denmark and has received DKK 10 million in funding from Danida.
Mikkel Højlund receives European psychiatry research award
Associate Professor Mikkel Højlund from the Department of Regional Health Research and Hospital Sønderjylland has received the EPA Next Generation Psychiatrist Award in the category of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The award is presented by the European Psychiatric Association (EPA).
What can we learn from demographic concerns of the past?
The welfare system will come under pressure as the proportion of young people decreases and the proportion of older people increases. Professor Paul Sharp puts today’s challenges into a historical perspective ahead of the SDU event ‘Fewer young people, more older people: On the brink of the abyss?’ on 12 March 2026.
SDU and partners receive millions in grant money to develop new concept of Bildung
With a grant of almost DKK 21 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to the University of Southern Denmark and a wide range of partners, a major new research project focuses on investigating the understandings of Bildung in Danish, history and social studies in primary and secondary education and developing a new, interdisciplinary concept of Bildung.
New project aims to help digital natives adopt healthier mobile habits
A team of researchers will develop an app that can measure and help prevent mobile addiction among Gen Z. SDU is heading the project, which is supported by TrygFonden.
Claes de Vreese receives the 2025 Carlsberg Foundation Research Prize
Professor Claes de Vreese receives the prize for his extensive and internationally recognised research into the role that artificial intelligence plays in democratic processes.
Claes de Vreese receives the 2025 Carlsberg Foundation Research Prize
Professor Claes de Vreese receives the prize for his extensive and internationally recognised research into the role that artificial intelligence plays in democratic processes.
kunstigt-edderkoppespind-kan-afloese-elastan
Researchers at SDU will soon print a small piece of high-tech, plastic-free future. They are aiming to replace elastane with artificial spider silk. This could mean saying goodbye to microplastics from our sportswear and underwear.
Award-winning Atwood demonstrates the ethical and political potential of literature
Author Margaret Atwood receives the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award for her narratively superior and socially critical writing. We asked Associate Professor of Literature Emily Hogg why Atwood is such a recognised voice in literature.
How do you get more young people to choose vocational education?
Politicians have dreamed of solving this challenge for years, but the proportion of Danish young people in vocational education is decreasing – and is now well below the EU average. In a new research project on 7,500 European young people, SDU researchers and European partners will investigate why the young people choose or refuse vocational education. The project receives DKK 21 million from EU.
Chemical Analyses Find Hidden Elements from Renaissance Astronomer Tycho Brahe’s Alchemy Laboratory
Tycho Brahe was most famous for his contributions to astronomy. However, he also had a well-equipped alchemical laboratory where he produced secret medicines for Europe’s elite.
Ambitious research project addresses significant climate issue within the shipping industry
The formation of ships queuing outside ports is a widespread problem, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption and, consequently, CO2 emissions. With a total budget of 7,5 million euros, a new European research project, spearheaded by the University of Southern Denmark, is set to find a solution.
From Denmark to Ghana: Mathias creates sustainable water supply
Mathias Thuborg Madsen works at the Danish Embassy in Ghana, where he is leading a Danish-Ghanaian collaboration to improve the country’s water sector. He studied Market and Management Anthropology at SDU and has always been curious about people and the world.
ocean alkalinity enhancement
The CO2 levels in the atmosphere continue to rise as we strive to reduce our emissions. Now, an international team of researchers proposes a radical solution: pour crushed stone into the sea and it will empower the water to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
Grants of DKK 43 million to make the Danish/German border region more climate resilient
The EU's Interreg program has granted support for two projects led by SDU Climate Cluster, aiming to strengthen collaborative climate efforts in the region.
How to keep your New Year’s resolutions
Goals and motivation are among the most important factors for achieving what you set out to do.
New life emerges as the ice melts in the Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth and is headed towards being ice free in the summer. However, this provides opportunities for new ecosystems to develop, biologist Karl Attard argues.
Less mold, more food
Foods like fruit, vegetables and dairy products often get attacked by mold or fungus and therefore must be discarded. If we can extend the shelf life just a few days, we can save a lot of food from being thrown out. SDU researchers are trying to contribute to that.
Floors in Greek luxury villa were laid with recycled glass
Several decorative mosaic floors have been excavated in a luxury villa located in present-day Turkey, once overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. New chemical analyzes reveal that recycled glass was used in laying the mosaic floors.
Bacteria to wear protection
Bacteria can contribute to a more sustainable production of chemicals, so providing a good working environment for them is a good investment. Now SDU- researchers present a nano protection suit, developed for bacteria, in Nature Communications.
Sebastian H. Mernild set to head SDU’s climate efforts
The internationally renowned Professor of Climate Change is set to head SDU’s largest-ever strategic initiative in climate change, sustainability and green transition.
Finally, the eelgrass is coming back
Scientists’ effort to bring the eelgrass back to Danish waters has proven very successful: After 2 years, there are now 70 times more eelgrass shoots in Horsens Fjord in Denmark.
Can theatre help climate change?
Students have been involved in improvised theatre to become aware of how to live more sustainably. Behind the project are researchers from SDU and they are impressed with the young people's dedication.
Can theatre help climate change?
Students have been involved in improvised theatre to become aware of how to live more sustainably. Behind the project are researchers from SDU and they are impressed with the young people's dedication.
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Welcome to the Press and News Room at University of Southern Denmark, which is managed by Communication. The office delivers news and views in relation to the research and events at the University and offers service to journalists who are looking for information and knowledge. Our business is to get you the information you need when you need it. You are one click away from the latest press releases. This information is only available in Danish.
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Last Updated 27.07.2024