Support for instruments and equipment to assist SDU's researchers in their climate-related research
Biofuels, artificial reefs for fish, more sustainable textiles and algae's response to climate change are some of the topics being researched at SDU. They now receive support for scientific equipment.
SDU Climate Cluster has again allocated financial instruments to climate researchers at the university. The funding is intended to co-finance the purchase of research infrastructure such as instruments and laboratory equipment necessary for conducting new interdisciplinary climate-related research that supports SDU Climate Cluster's mission to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050.
The five grants are allocated for the purchase of the following instruments and equipment:
Project title: Genetic foundations of algae-bacteria interactions to predict phytoplankton dynamics and design algae biotechnology strategies.
An instrument capable of analyzing how algae and bacteria interact with each other. Photosynthetic algae produce half of the oxygen in the atmosphere, and microalgae have the potential to replace fossil fuels and produce food, bioplastics, biofuels and medicines in green bio-factories. The interaction between algae and bacteria influences the oceans' vast algae production, which is exposed to climate change, and it also has significance for the development of future algae biotechnology.
Researchers: Michele Fabris, Department of Green Technology, TEK and Lin Lin, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, NAT.
Project title: Complex natural soft matter formulations (CONFORM).
An instrument that can study responses in soft materials and fluids. It can contribute to the development of new soft materials necessary for the green transition, primarily for the development of plant- or marine-based foods, but also textiles with longer durability and new nature-inspired materials for the pharmaceutical, robotics, and construction industries.
Researchers: Mathias Clausen, Department of Green Technology, TEK; Adam Simonsen, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, NAT; Jonathan Brewer, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, NAT; Jose Bonilla, Department of Green Technology, TEK; René Holm, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, NAT; Roberto Naboni, Mærsk McKinney Møller Institute, TEK and Ahmad Abbasi, Mærsk McKinney Møller Institute, TEK
Project title: Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy for Quantification and quantification of high-value as well as hazardous compounds.
An instrument capable of performing chemical analyses of ingredients in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, drinking water, emission air and hazardous waste. By understanding the exact composition of the ingredients, it is possible to reduce the climate impacts associated with manufacturing these products.
Researchers: Rime Bahij, Department of Green Technology, TEK and Lars Porskjær Christensen, Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, NAT
Project title: Capturing the Unseen: FlowCam's Quest to Monitor Phytoplankton.
An instrument that can quickly and accurately identify marine microalgae including phytoplankton. The instrument can be used for real-time monitoring of marine ecosystems, analyzing ballast water for potential invasive species, and investigating how algae in a laboratory respond to changing conditions, enabling the development of strategies to strengthen ecosystems' ability to withstand climate change.
Researchers: Jamileh Javidpour, Department of Biology, NAT and Martin Aage Barsøe Hedegaard, Department of Green Technology, TEK
Project title: 3DReefBot. Robotic infrastructure for 3D printing and monitoring of climate-neutral artificial reefs.
A robotic system designed to support an ongoing project focused on 3D printing artificial underwater reefs. Marine biodiversity is declining, and there is a need for more reefs that can serve as habitats and shelter for fish and other marine organisms. The system will, among other things, test various materials that can be used to build artificial reefs.
Researchers: Roberto Naboni, Department of Technology and Innovation, TEK; Karl Attard, Department of Biology, NAT and Cintia Quintana, Department of Biology, NAT.
Project title: Advanced Microscope Stage Incubator for Climate and Food Research
A cutting-edge microscope stage incubator equipped with comprehensive environmental control capabilities: Temperature regulation, oxygen level adjustments and CO₂ concentrations. The purpose is e.g. to study bacteria that can be useful in waste reduction, sustainable energy production etc. and to study the microbial activities in foodstuffs. The researchers will also delve into how bacteria interact with nanoparticles – can it lead to innovative, environmentally-friendly ways to control pollution and waste.
Researchers: Jonathan R. Brewer, Professor, Director of DaMBIC, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathias P. Clausen, Associate Professor, Department of Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering