Join a debate on reason and emotion in nature management, find out when we can once again catch flounder in the fjord, or grab a knife yourself and dissect a fish and make jewellery from its ear stones.

When Naturmødet kicks off on Thursday 28 May and continues for two days, there will be ample opportunity to meet researchers from Aarhus University. On the main stages, AU researchers will take part in 32 out of around 100 sessions.

For Mikkel Tamstorf, Head of the Department of Ecoscience, Naturmødet is an ideal opportunity both to bring research to the public and to take new perspectives home.

“Naturmødet is the place where we can talk with citizens, organisations, decision-makers and colleagues. We exist to create new knowledge, and at Naturmødet we share it. At the same time, it is important for us to receive input in return. It is essential that our research is rooted in the questions and challenges that concern society,” says Mikkel Tamstorf.

AU has its own tent

Naturmødet was first held in 2016 and, according to the organisers, has developed into one of Denmark’s largest events on nature and the green transition. Last year it attracted around 30,000 visitors to roughly 660 debates, talks and activities.

This is the second year in a row that Aarhus University will set up its own tent and, according to plan, host 60 sessions over the course of the event.

Jesper Givskov Sørensen, Head of the Department of Biology, fully supports staff participation in Hirtshals. He sees Naturmødet as a unique opportunity to strengthen dialogue between researchers and the wider public.

“We are very keen to make our knowledge available, and it is an ideal opportunity for our researchers – not least the younger ones – to present their work, build connections and listen to the expectations and concerns that people have,” says Jesper Givskov Sørensen.

Communicating knowledge is a core task

Visitors can, among other things, experience discussions about the state of lakes and the value of lowland soils, hear about plant mania in 19th‑century paintings, listen to a talk on the wild history of the horse, or get an update on the green tripartite negotiations. For children, the programme includes dissections of fish and birds.

It takes time and money to prepare and participate, but it is a core task on a par with conducting research, says Mikkel Tamstorf.

“Aarhus University provides knowledge on everything from wolves and the marine environment to biodiversity and the green tripartite agreement. At a time when nature and the environment are taking up more and more space in public debate, Naturmødet gives us an important opportunity to strengthen the relationship between researchers and the public. That is an opportunity we must hold on to,” he says.

Eight different departments and actors across the Nat and Tech faculties stand behind the joint AU stand

See AU’s programme here: programmet for Aarhus Universitets telt.

See where you can find researchers from Aarhus University on the other stages at Naturmødets here.
 
Full programme for Naturmødet: https://naturmoedet.dk/

Contact: 

Signe Brokjær Nielsen
signe.brokjaer@ecos.au.dk
53 17 34 54

Marianne Knudsen
mk@bio.au.dk
60 77 71 88