New department head at Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
An enthusiastic forestry student from what was then the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University was the spark that ignited Vivian Kvist Johannsen's career aspirations. In the spring of 1986, he visited Rønne State School on the Baltic island of Bornholm and spoke so enthusiastically about his studies that young Vivian decided on the spot that her destiny was to work with trees and forestry. With this education, she would be able to combine three elements that were essential to her: the natural sciences, societal relevance and people.
It has all come to fruition. Since completing her graduate degree in 1993, Kvist Johannsen has worked with trees and forestry, and mighty oaks in particular. She has researched growth and forest development and, together with her colleagues, established Denmark's forest statistics. Since 2006, she has also headed various department sections.
On May 1, she will take up her position as head of one of the largest departments at the University of Copenhagen’s Faculty of Science. Here, she will be in charge of nearly 400 employees, more than 2,000 students and 150 doctoral students.
Research and education are part of the solution
The department combines unique knowledge, research and instruction in areas ranging from volcanoes to cell walls and from ecosystems to global challenges. As such, Vivian Kvist Johannsen considers this a very special opportunity to make a positive societal contribution.
"The Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management has a broad academic profile in its basic research, is deeply engaged with interdisciplinary work and is concerned with linking research to things that can be concretely applied in society and the department’s wide scope of instruction. This means that we can make a substantial contribution to, for example, sustainable development and green solutions in society, both in Denmark and globally," says Vivian Kvist Johannsen. In addition to academics, she also has ambitions for the department as a workplace.
"The department's employees are incredibly skilled in their respective fields. It is clear to me that if our ability to deliver solid research, instruction and administration is to continue, we must thrive ourselves. As such, another focal point for me will be to ensure for the well-being of all staff and students. We should be happy to go to work and study – and be proud of delivering instruction and results that benefit society."
Faculty of Science Dean Katrine Krogh Andersen looks forward to working with Kvist Johannsen.
"Vivian’s managerial experience is extensive after many years as a head of section at IGN. With a keen eye for the well-being and commitment of staff and students, she is passionate about promoting academic excellence and dedicated to instruction while bringing the department's strong academic competencies ever more into play. I’m really looking forward to welcoming Vivian to the management team at SCIENCE."
Vivian Kvist Johannsen takes the reins from Claus Beier, who over the past eight years has devoted his energies to assembling and developing the merely ten-year-old department. Along the way, he has represented IGN in numerous internal and external contexts, most recently the formation of the INNO-CCUS Partnership that is part of the Danish government's four green missions. Claus Beier will continue as a professor at the department.
Contacts
Vivian Kvist Johannsen
Seniorforsker
vkj@ign.ku.dk
http://ign.ku.dk
https://ign.ku.dk
Telefon: +4535331699
Mobil: +4520300969
Birgitte Lyhne Broksø
Kommunikationschef
Københavns Universitet
Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
Bülowsvej 17
Frederiksberg C
DIR 93 56 58 64
blb@science.ku.dk
www.science.ku.dk
Images
About Københavns Universitet - Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
Bülowsvej 17
1870 Frederiksberg C
35 33 28 28https://science.ku.dk/
Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet på Københavns Universitet – SCIENCE – er landets største naturvidenskabelige forsknings- og uddannelsesinstitution.
Fakultetets væsentligste opgave er at bidrage til løsning af de store udfordringer, som vi står overfor i en verden under hastig forandring med øget pres på bl.a. naturressourcer og markante klimaforandringer - både nationalt og globalt.
Subscribe to releases from Københavns Universitet - Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Københavns Universitet - Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Københavns Universitet - Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
Quantum researchers come up with a recipe that could accelerate drug development3.10.2024 09:50:13 CEST | Press release
University of Copenhagen mathematicians have developed a recipe for upgrading quantum computers to simulate complex quantum systems, such as molecules. Their discovery brings us closer to being able to predict how new drugs will behave within our bodies and has the potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical development.
Kvanteforskere har fundet opskriften, som kan bane vej for hurtigere udvikling af ny medicin3.10.2024 07:32:54 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
Matematikere fra Københavns Universitet har nu fundet opskriften til, hvordan man opgraderer kvantecomputere til at kunne simulere komplekse kvantesystemer som for eksempel molekyler. Dermed nærmer vi os muligheden for at kunne forudsige, hvordan nye lægemidler vil opføre sig i vores kroppe, og det kan potentielt revolutionere udviklingen af medicin.
Personlig og passioneret samfundsforsker bliver årets underviser1.10.2024 11:21:13 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
Årets Underviser: Hun er kendt for at skabe et åbent og inkluderende læringsrum og hendes engagement og personlige stil, tager de studerende med storm. Lektor Rebecca Leigh Rutt fra Institut for Fødevare- og Ressourceøkonomi får prisen som årets underviser på SCIENCE.
Langtidssyge med Covid-19 sparer på kræfterne med et ”hack” af deres fitness-ure27.9.2024 08:36:57 CEST | Pressemeddelelse
Da syge med senfølger fra Covid-19 i begyndelsen af pandemien mødte flere spørgsmål end svar hos lægen, begyndte de at måle på sig selv med fitness-ure, for at forstå deres sygdom. Forsker Sarah Homewood fra Københavns Universitet var en af dem, og har siden selv forsket i fænomenet. Selvmonitoreringen kan give mennesker mere vished og kontrol over sygdom og egen krop, men også medføre angst, viser hendes forskning.
Long-COVID sufferers are conserving strength with a "hack" of their fitness tech26.9.2024 13:21:01 CEST | Press release
When people suffering from the long-term effects of COVID-19 faced more questions than answers from doctors, they began collecting data on themselves using fitness watches to better understand their disease. University of Copenhagen researcher Sarah Homewood was one of them and has since researched the phenomenon. According to her research, while self-monitoring can offer people more certainty and control over the disease and their bodies, it can also lead to anxiety.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom