Anders Bjarklev, President of DTU—and Per Michael Johansen, Rector, Aalborg University in Jyllands-Posten: "If there is anything positive to be gleaned from the corona crisis, it is that the pandemic has made clear the need for talented researchers."
Long live research. Long live science. So said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in her New Year’s address. As representatives of the university sector, it is hard not to rejoice after such a pat on the back from the Prime Minister.
2020 has been a dramatic year, and both scientists and women have been at the eye of the storm. It has become clear to everyone that research has a crucial part to play in creating solutions to the major challenges we face as a society.
Long live researchers
We are truly delighted by the Prime Minister’s words of tribute. That said, we would like to add a further tribute—namely long live researchers!—because it is people who are behind the research, and when Denmark went into lockdown, it was the researchers at the universities who continued their work—many focusing on different aspects of corona.
In collaboration with several companies, a research group developed an emergency respirator to address the acute shortage of respiratory equipment. Another group discovered a simple means of analysing corona tests for different variants of the virus. The universities repurposed the labs for COVID-19 test analysis. Many medical students have helped out in test centres and served as substitute doctors. And finally, we shouldn’t forget all the coronavirus researchers who have kept us abreast of coronavirus developments every day in the media.
Multiple disciplines at work
In record time, medical science has developed a vaccine, but there have been a multitude of scientific disciplines and researchers at work during the pandemic—e.g. behavioural theory in order to ensure the most effective risk-prevention measures. The pandemic has called upon mathematicians to calculate infection-spreading models—not to mention the need for rhetoric, concise language, and clear communication, so the authorities could effectively inform society about corona. The interaction between multiple disciplines has been crucial, and the corona crisis shows that a broad field of research is needed to address the world’s major—and above all—unforeseen challenges.
But we must also not forget that Denmark has so far been able to deal with the pandemic because we have a well-educated population that has reacted responsibly—and one that has the knowledge and the ability to ask questions and understand the answers. This, too, stems from the knowledge created and disseminated by researchers at universities.
The next challenges
A year ago, there were probably not many people who could describe in detail the work of a virologist. Now we are on a first-name basis with several of them. We cannot predict the future, but a solid basis for both strategic and free research in all scientific fields is a prerequisite for Denmark being able to address the challenges that lie ahead.
There are certainly challenges abound. The world is experiencing a new global knowledge-based economy where highly skilled employees are crucial to maintaining Denmark’s competitiveness. Denmark and the rest of the world are also facing a number of major societal challenges in areas such as climate, energy, and various forms of inequality. It is essential that research not only delivers knowledge and an understanding of the world—science must also contribute to changing the world and solving the major challenges facing society.
The government’s goal of a 70 per cent CO2 reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 requires the same approach as that used to deal with the pandemic. It also requires a huge effort on the part of our researchers, active involvement of multiple research areas, and close cooperation with the outside world.
Investment in the future
A few years ago, a study conducted by Altinget revealed that an extremely small proportion of the population considered research to be an important political issue. The handling of the corona crisis should be an eye-opener for us all. Without the efforts of the researchers, the future would look very different. We hope that more people will now realize the importance of research. We will certainly do our part to achieve this outcome.
We also hope that political ambition in the field of research will be strengthened. We can start by looking at our Nordic neighbours, where funds earmarked for research are regarded as investments, and where the level of ambition is high. Investing in research is investing in our future. It creates new opportunities, solutions, and hopes, and it offers a way forward in dealing with the challenges we as a society will face in the future.
We hope that Denmark’s Prime Minister will remember the importance of research not only in her New Year's speech, but also in the work of the government and parliament—and put firm action behind those words. We must be ambitious on behalf of research and we must ensure the best possible conditions for our researchers. Because knowledge is our future. And knowledge drives Denmark.