Physics Outreach is boosted
Funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Meta Research - a total of DKK 2.681.000, will boost Physics Outreach at SDU in the coming 2-3 years. Development of new activities for recruitment purposes with foundations in the frames of FysikLab will be at the core of the work ahead.
"We aim to engage and evoke interest in Physics within young people primarily in the southern region of Denmark", says Tobias Cornelius Hinse, who will be fully engaged in the project. The activities will target both elementary school and high school and bring elements of classical physics as well as modern astronomy into the center stage. Mikkel Theiss Kristensen, who is also associated, adds: "The funds are earmarked for STEM dissemination in basic education and are continuously evaluated in collaboration with FNUG here at SDU".
Deputy head of department and Professor of Physics Mads Toudal Frandsen is pleased with the grant: "With the additional funds, we hope that SDU-Galaxy and FKF can contribute to the motivation of students in basic education, secondary schools and high schools in order to increase the number of newly admitted students on the physics education at SDU . This goal is also clearly in line with what the business world and Danish industry are calling for in the Region of Southern Denmark. There is a great need for the recruitment of young people in data science, IT and for skills in solving scientific problems".
HEIMDAL moves forward at ESA
High-flying plans from our physics students
In December, our SDU-AU student team achieved a remarkable milestone as the first Danish team in 15 years. They have been selected to conduct their experiment, HEIMDAL, aboard the DLR-SNSA-ESA's stratospheric balloon for student teams in October 2024, from Kiruna, Sweden.
This balloon experiment provides our students with the opportunity to test equipment that will later be integrated into the satellites they are actively contributing to develop. Not only does it signify a significant step in their journey in aerospace, but it also represents the first spaceflight of a hyperspectral camera developed by Newtec here in Odense.
As a prelude to the launch in October, our dedicated students will participate in a training week in Kiruna in early February, where ESA (European Space Agency) will play host. During this week, the design of the equipment and the experiment will undergo its initial working process.
The pride and joy is great for both the HEIMDAL team and the scientific support team, and of course the department would like to congratulate them. We look forward to following HEIMDAL on their way to space.
