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2011
Annual Report 2011
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Ole Haupt<br />
Background and purpose<br />
Civil engineer Villum Kann Rasmussen (1909-1993) set up <strong>the</strong> current<br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION in 1971 by transferring <strong>the</strong> majority of his<br />
shares <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> newly formed foundation. Ten years later he founded <strong>the</strong><br />
VELUX FOUNDATION with a cash donation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VKR Group, which Villum Kann Rasmussen founded in 1941,<br />
develops, manufactures and markets VELUX roof windows and o<strong>the</strong>r in-<br />
dustrial building components, which bring daylight, fresh air and a bet-<br />
ter environment in<strong>to</strong> people’s everyday lives. <strong>The</strong> VKR Group employs<br />
a workforce of around 15,000 in over 40 countries and achieved a net<br />
turnover of DKK 16,8 billion in 2010. VKR Holding A/S is <strong>the</strong> VKR<br />
Group’s parent company, which still has <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
as its main shareholder.<br />
Donations are allocated for a number of public purposes, taken from re-<br />
venue in <strong>the</strong> form of dividends from <strong>the</strong> VKR Group and from <strong>the</strong> return<br />
on <strong>the</strong> foundations’ basic capital.<br />
Both foundations have a broad non-profit purpose, supporting scientific,<br />
artistic, cultural, environmental and social purposes. <strong>The</strong> foundations can<br />
also award honorary prizes <strong>to</strong> people who have made a particular contri-<br />
bution <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> understanding of <strong>the</strong> value and importance of daylight or<br />
a similar contribution with regard <strong>to</strong> industrially manufactured building<br />
components.<br />
In addition one of <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION’s particular objectives<br />
is <strong>to</strong> provide support for activities involving elderly people, along with<br />
research in <strong>the</strong> fields of geron<strong>to</strong>logy, geriatrics and ophthalmology.<br />
One of <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION’s particular objectives is fur<strong>the</strong>r-<br />
more <strong>to</strong> present an annual award for technical and scientific research. This<br />
annual award bears <strong>the</strong> founder’s name and is presented in recognition of<br />
an outstanding contribution within <strong>the</strong>se areas.<br />
For more information, visit www.veluxfondene.dk<br />
4 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 5
Tobaksvejen 10<br />
DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark<br />
Tel. (+45) 39 57 09 57<br />
Fax (+45) 39 66 04 24<br />
E-mail: info@veluxfondene.dk<br />
www.villumfonden.dk<br />
www.veluxfonden.dk<br />
Management: Kjeld Juel Petersen, MSc (Pol. sc.), Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Legal adviser: Christian Gregersen, At<strong>to</strong>rney, Law firm Bruun & Hjejle<br />
Audi<strong>to</strong>r: Gert Fisker Tomczyk (CA), Audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers<br />
© VILLUM FOUNDATION and VELUX FOUNDATION 2012<br />
<strong>The</strong> Annual Report is published in January 2012<br />
Edited by: Kjeld Juel Petersen and Henrik Tronier<br />
Sub-edi<strong>to</strong>r: Dorte Sandberg<br />
Translated by: CLS Communication A/S<br />
Layout: Jens Raadal<br />
Production: Marketingbrokers ApS<br />
ISSN: 1902-7087<br />
Printed by: Sangill Grafisk Produktion<br />
Print no.: 0083<br />
<strong>The</strong> Annual Report is published in accordance<br />
with <strong>the</strong> environmental managing standard ISO<br />
DS/EN 14001.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Annual Report is published on paper meet-<br />
ing <strong>the</strong> SWAN Label and <strong>the</strong> Forest Stewardship<br />
6 COLOPHON<br />
Council ® Label. <strong>The</strong> Cocoon paper is a new and<br />
very white type of recycled paper. <strong>The</strong> paper is<br />
manufactured of recycled paper from offices<br />
around Paris in France. Cocoon is part of a<br />
sustain ability forest replanting project in Mozam-<br />
bique. <strong>The</strong> climate compensation is administered<br />
by <strong>the</strong> paper supplier.<br />
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8<br />
<strong>The</strong> s<strong>to</strong>ry behind <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION ............................................................... 10<br />
Troels Rasmussen and Henrik Tronier<br />
Diversified donations by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION ................................................ 16<br />
Boards ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22<br />
Daylight Award ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24<br />
Eva Beckmann<br />
Postcards from supported projects ........................................................................................................................................................................ 28<br />
<strong>The</strong> Internet – now with a geographic dimension ......................................................................................................................................... 40<br />
Christian S. Jensen<br />
S<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry and image analysis .............................................................................................................................................................. 44<br />
Eva B. Vedel Jensen<br />
Evolution and climate change .................................................................................................................................................................................. 48<br />
Bodil K. Ehlers, Martin Holmstrup and Jesper Givskov Sørensen<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>tle <strong>the</strong>n and now ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 54<br />
Sten Ebbesen and David Bloch<br />
Political attitudes and behaviour: nature or nurture? ................................................................................................................................. 60<br />
Robert Klemmensen and Asbjørn Sonne Nørgaard<br />
Medieval Language on <strong>the</strong> Web ............................................................................................................................................................................... 64<br />
Merete K. Jørgensen<br />
Osteoarthritis of <strong>the</strong> knee and weight loss ........................................................................................................................................................ 70<br />
Henning Bliddal<br />
Eye amputees ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 76<br />
Marie Louise Roed Rasmussen<br />
From heart <strong>to</strong> heart. Building bridges between cultures on Nørrebro .............................................................................................. 80<br />
Merete Tangstad<br />
<strong>Home</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>skylark</strong>. Residential nature programme for lonely elderly persons .......................................................................... 84<br />
Christine E. Swane<br />
Presenting for active duty in 1917. Old men in old uniforms ............................................................................................................... 86<br />
Christian Raun<br />
Social inventions ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 88<br />
Andreas Hjorth Frederiksen and Bernhard Jensen<br />
Facilitating employment for people with autism in Poland ..................................................................................................................... 94<br />
Thorkil Sonne<br />
Social development project for children and youth in Greenland ......................................................................................................... 98<br />
Kirsten Ørgaard<br />
<strong>The</strong> Louisiana Museum of Modern Art’s new art s<strong>to</strong>res ......................................................................................................................... 102<br />
Poul Erik Tøjner<br />
<strong>The</strong> Royal <strong>The</strong>atre’s past digitised ....................................................................................................................................................................... 108<br />
Martin Thaarup Larsen<br />
Exploring <strong>the</strong> science of art his<strong>to</strong>ry .................................................................................................................................................................... 112<br />
Jørgen Wadum<br />
Climate policy: perhaps <strong>the</strong> most important indica<strong>to</strong>r of sustainable development? ................................................................ 116<br />
Thomas Færgeman<br />
Focused bird protection <strong>to</strong> save vulnerable species ..................................................................................................................................... 122<br />
Tine Stampe, Henning Heldbjerg and Michael Borch Grell<br />
CONTENTS<br />
7
Foreword<br />
Past and future in <strong>the</strong> same vein<br />
<strong>The</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION have frequently made donations<br />
<strong>to</strong> activities designed <strong>to</strong> preserve <strong>the</strong> past for pos-<br />
terity. Only a fraction of our donations, but still a<br />
prominent <strong>the</strong>me.<br />
To name but a few examples of our range under<br />
this <strong>the</strong>me: a TV series about women in <strong>the</strong> Danish<br />
Resistance Movement, a biography of <strong>the</strong> scientist<br />
H.C. Ørsted, protective glass casings for <strong>the</strong> runic<br />
s<strong>to</strong>nes at Jelling, archaeological digs around Ribe<br />
Ca<strong>the</strong>dral and funding for an extension <strong>to</strong> house<br />
<strong>the</strong> archaeological and ethnographical collections of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Moesgård Museum. From small bites of Danish<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry – memories and destinies – <strong>to</strong> large-scale re-<br />
search and dissemination projects, all of which serve<br />
<strong>to</strong> define our common understanding. For <strong>the</strong>se<br />
purposes, donations from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Foundations</strong> have<br />
helped <strong>to</strong> document <strong>the</strong> past and bring it <strong>to</strong> life.<br />
A new green <strong>the</strong>me<br />
<strong>The</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION’s and <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION’s environment and sustainability<br />
donations support a relatively new funding area and<br />
have been made mainly in aid of research projects.<br />
But in 2011, we trod new ground, and decided <strong>to</strong><br />
set our sights on a more distant future. 100 years<br />
from now.<br />
A future-oriented project designed <strong>to</strong> demonstrate<br />
what it takes <strong>to</strong> become a sustainable society based<br />
on conscientious use of resources and protection of<br />
<strong>the</strong> natural world.<br />
By sustainable development we mean – <strong>to</strong> quote <strong>the</strong><br />
Brundtland Report of 1987 – ”development that<br />
meets <strong>the</strong> needs of <strong>the</strong> present without compromis-<br />
ing <strong>the</strong> ability of future generations <strong>to</strong> meet <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
own needs”.<br />
We all know that <strong>the</strong> world’s complex environmen-<br />
tal challenges require innovation. We hope <strong>to</strong> be<br />
able <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> debate on several fronts.<br />
Among o<strong>the</strong>r things by supporting <strong>the</strong> develop-<br />
ment of new economic models, o<strong>the</strong>r mindsets and<br />
Lars E. Kann-Rasmussen<br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
patterns of consumption and behaviour. In sum,<br />
projects that look far in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> future and acknowl-<br />
edge that what we do <strong>to</strong>day will <strong>to</strong> a great extent<br />
determine what is possible <strong>to</strong>morrow. In this way,<br />
by opting for some things, we will necessarily have<br />
<strong>to</strong> opt out of o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> coming years, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Foundations</strong> will be con-<br />
tinuing <strong>to</strong> cater for past, present and future alike<br />
through donations with <strong>the</strong> common interest in<br />
mind.<br />
We would like <strong>to</strong> convey our thanks for <strong>the</strong> con-<br />
tinued attention from applicants within our many<br />
funding areas. And for <strong>the</strong> discussions and openness<br />
we meet whenever we launch new initiatives. Our<br />
thanks also <strong>to</strong> board members, experts and employ-<br />
ees for <strong>the</strong>ir efforts over <strong>the</strong> past year.<br />
Hans Kann Rasmussen<br />
VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
8 FOREWORD VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
9
<strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> s<strong>to</strong>ry behind<br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
and <strong>the</strong><br />
BY TROELS RASMUSSEN AND HENRIK TRONIER<br />
Troels Rasmussen (born 1967), MA in his<strong>to</strong>ry 1995 and until 2001 researcher<br />
at Department of Border Region Studies in Aabenraa. Since 2002 employed at<br />
VKR Holding’s company his<strong>to</strong>ry department. Head of department since 2003.<br />
Henrik Tronier (born 1965), MDiv. 1989. Research fellow and subsequently<br />
associate professor at <strong>the</strong> Faculty of <strong>The</strong>ology at <strong>the</strong> University of Copenhagen,<br />
1990-2006. Since 2007, foundations adviser with <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDA-<br />
TION’s human sciences programme as his special area of responsibility.<br />
In 2011 <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION celebrated its 40 th anniversary,<br />
while <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION celebrated its 30 th anniversary.<br />
“Well it can’t only be for <strong>the</strong> sake of your blue eyes” might be <strong>the</strong> knowing,<br />
almost reassuring re<strong>to</strong>rt if you are <strong>the</strong> recipient of what appears <strong>to</strong> be a be-<br />
nevolent gift. Aside from generalised scepticism surrounding <strong>the</strong> real inten-<br />
tions behind human actions, this kind of scepticism in <strong>the</strong> face of charitable<br />
acts is perhaps reinforced in our culture by <strong>the</strong> legacy of Protestant suspicion<br />
surrounding “good deeds”. In a nutshell: isn’t this just self-interest? Or is it<br />
perhaps slightly more complicated?<br />
A pressing problem<br />
In 1941, when Villum Kann Rasmussen (1909-1993) – or KR as he was<br />
known – founded <strong>the</strong> company that went on <strong>to</strong> become what is now VKR<br />
Holding, he could scarcely have imagined <strong>the</strong> massive growth he would be<br />
looking back at by <strong>the</strong> late 1960s as he approached his 60th birthday, when<br />
<strong>the</strong> future of <strong>the</strong> company and <strong>the</strong> issue of corporate succession had become<br />
pressing concerns. How was this <strong>to</strong> be accomplished without incalculable<br />
financial impacts on <strong>the</strong> business? And how <strong>to</strong> achieve <strong>the</strong> ideal future gov-<br />
ernance of <strong>the</strong> company?<br />
<strong>The</strong> answer for KR was <strong>to</strong> set up a non-profit foundation, since this would<br />
unite a complex of differing interests and considerations: it would eliminate<br />
<strong>the</strong> threat of ruinous financial draining of <strong>the</strong> company in<strong>to</strong> inheritance tax<br />
following generational succession, and it would establish a form of corpo-<br />
rate governance that would give <strong>the</strong> company long-term stability and resil-<br />
ience. And last, but not least, a large proportion of <strong>the</strong> company’s profits<br />
could <strong>the</strong>reby be channelled back <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> society that, according <strong>to</strong> KR, was<br />
Villum Kann Rasmussen from<br />
<strong>the</strong> period in which he became<br />
increasingly taken up<br />
with finding <strong>the</strong> answer <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> question of his company’s<br />
future and corporate succession.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: 1966<br />
10 THE STORY BEHIND THE VILLUM FOUNDATION AND THE VELUX FOUNDATION VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
11
Villum Kann Rasmussen at his office on his 60 th<br />
birthday, 23 January 1969<br />
ultimately <strong>the</strong> source of its wherewithal.<br />
KR, <strong>the</strong> son of a church minister, was, if anyone, aware of<br />
<strong>the</strong> duality of <strong>the</strong> motives: he is quoted as saying – per-<br />
haps also as an expression of modesty – that “all forms of<br />
altruism are essentially egotistical”. Yet he was driven by a<br />
philanthropic involvement that had already inspired similar<br />
moves in <strong>the</strong> past: in <strong>the</strong> early 1960s he had established a<br />
memorial fund named for his parents: “Pas<strong>to</strong>r Lars Bertel<br />
Rasmussen and wife, née <strong>The</strong>rese Kann’s Memorial Fund”<br />
for <strong>the</strong> benefit of Mandø Church and <strong>the</strong> fur<strong>the</strong>r education<br />
of children from Mandø, KR’s island birthplace. He was<br />
also cited as invoking a well-known Danish quotation “all<br />
endeavours are owed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>rland” <strong>to</strong> account for his<br />
motives. This philosophy matched that of J.C. Jacobsen,<br />
founder of <strong>the</strong> Carlsberg brewery and Carlsberg Founda-<br />
tion, who had combined a commitment <strong>to</strong> safeguarding his<br />
business with charitable works, and who was presumably an<br />
important source of inspiration for KR.<br />
Establishing <strong>the</strong> foundations<br />
On 21 December 1971, KR went ahead and established <strong>the</strong><br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION (originally called <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION) by transferring all of his B-class shares <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> non-profit foundation, which <strong>the</strong>reby became <strong>the</strong> prin-<br />
cipal shareholder of <strong>the</strong> company. <strong>The</strong> board of direc<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
was <strong>to</strong> be composed of external members in order <strong>to</strong> keep<br />
<strong>the</strong> running of <strong>the</strong> foundation and <strong>the</strong> business separate<br />
in financial and legal terms. <strong>The</strong> foundation name change<br />
occurred a decade later with <strong>the</strong> founding of <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION of 1981 (now <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDA-<br />
TION) by means of a cash endowment and with its own<br />
independent board of direc<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> foundation statutes, a direct descendant<br />
of <strong>the</strong> founder must always be represented on <strong>the</strong> board,<br />
and KR himself <strong>to</strong>ok up <strong>the</strong> position of chairman of <strong>the</strong><br />
board. <strong>The</strong> Rasmussen family’s commitment <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> work<br />
of <strong>the</strong> foundation has certainly been considerable. KR’s<br />
elder bro<strong>the</strong>r, Aage Kann Rasmussen and subsequently<br />
Villum Kann Rasmussen presents a donation <strong>to</strong> a retired employee at <strong>the</strong> No. 10 Tobaksvejen site in Søborg. Seen<br />
on <strong>the</strong> far left: Magdalene Jørgensen, CFO of <strong>the</strong> VKR Group’s parent company. Pho<strong>to</strong>: 1973<br />
KR’s children – Aino, Lars, Anne-Margrete (Sussi)<br />
and Hans – gradually taking up a number of key<br />
appointments both on <strong>the</strong> boards and within <strong>the</strong><br />
management of <strong>the</strong> joint foundation secretariat.<br />
Today, KR’s grandchildren also serve on <strong>the</strong> boards<br />
of <strong>the</strong> foundations.<br />
<strong>The</strong> original funding programmes reflected KR’s<br />
interests, work and his personal circumstances:<br />
honorary awards <strong>to</strong> individuals for achievements in<br />
raising awareness of <strong>the</strong> value and use of daylight;<br />
support for <strong>the</strong> activities of senior citizens; funding<br />
for research in<strong>to</strong> diseases of <strong>the</strong> eye (ophthalmol-<br />
ogy), geron<strong>to</strong>logy and geriatrics; and assistance<br />
for employees of <strong>the</strong> company in difficult circum-<br />
stances or with special needs. Since 1991, <strong>the</strong> last<br />
of <strong>the</strong>se programmes has been managed indepen-<br />
dently through <strong>the</strong> establishment of <strong>the</strong> “Employee<br />
Foundation of <strong>the</strong> VKR Group”, which accordingly<br />
celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.<br />
Expansion<br />
As <strong>the</strong> company’s profits expanded, so <strong>to</strong>o did <strong>the</strong><br />
non-profit funding capacity. In 1986, <strong>the</strong> original<br />
charitable purposes were augmented in <strong>the</strong> statutes<br />
with a very broadly-defined funding area: support<br />
for major undertakings with scientific, artistic, cul-<br />
tural or social – and from 2008 also environmental<br />
– objectives.<br />
In this way, donations from <strong>the</strong> two foundations<br />
were extended from areas which more specifical-<br />
ly reflected KR’s interests and circumstances <strong>to</strong> a<br />
wider range of non-profit purposes spanning much<br />
of society, including donations <strong>to</strong> Greenland and<br />
Central and Eastern European countries for social<br />
12 THE STORY BEHIND THE VILLUM FOUNDATION AND THE VELUX FOUNDATION VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
13
1986 saw <strong>the</strong> release of an anniversary publication<br />
<strong>to</strong> mark <strong>the</strong> 15th anniversary of <strong>the</strong> establishment of<br />
<strong>the</strong> two foundations. This was followed in <strong>the</strong> ensuing<br />
years by annual reports for <strong>the</strong> two foundations. As<br />
such, <strong>the</strong> foundations’ annual report 2011 is a 25th anniversary<br />
publication.<br />
purposes. Not only <strong>the</strong> breadth, but also <strong>the</strong> an-<br />
nual amounts donated expanded from a few hun-<br />
dred thousand Danish kroner in <strong>the</strong> initial years<br />
<strong>to</strong> several hundreds of millions of Danish kroner<br />
annually in recent years. As such, <strong>to</strong>day, <strong>the</strong> two<br />
foundations are among <strong>the</strong> most significant non-<br />
profit foundations in Denmark.<br />
This breadth and significance entail a great re-<br />
sponsibility for ensuring that <strong>the</strong> funds that are<br />
disbursed are of maximum societal benefit. Ac-<br />
cordingly, over <strong>the</strong> last decade, <strong>the</strong> foundations<br />
have made every effort <strong>to</strong> increase <strong>the</strong>ir outreach<br />
and dialogue with those parts of society that<br />
might benefit from funding. In addition, more<br />
recently, <strong>the</strong> foundations have sought <strong>to</strong> strength-<br />
en <strong>the</strong>ir dialogue with society at large through a<br />
number of initiatives <strong>to</strong> preserve <strong>the</strong> openness and<br />
transparency that surrounds <strong>the</strong> activities of <strong>the</strong><br />
foundation in line with <strong>the</strong> natural demands of a<br />
democratic society.<br />
Personal interest and public interest hand in<br />
hand<br />
Aside from being a s<strong>to</strong>ry of dramatic growth, <strong>the</strong><br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry of <strong>the</strong> foundations is thus also a testimony<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that personal interests and public inter-<br />
ests are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and may<br />
instead form a complex interaction and go happily<br />
hand in hand given <strong>the</strong> right societal and legislative<br />
conditions. This is true of <strong>the</strong> bigger s<strong>to</strong>ry, just as<br />
it was originally, at a personal level in KR himself.<br />
Certainly, <strong>the</strong> fact remains that <strong>the</strong> foundations set<br />
up by KR 40 and 30 years ago have so far result-<br />
ed in a diverse range of non-profit donations and<br />
grants worth in excess of DKK 3 billion “for <strong>the</strong><br />
benefit, encouragement and use of many people”,<br />
as KR modestly expressed it in 1986 in <strong>the</strong> first an-<br />
nual report for <strong>the</strong> foundations.<br />
Timeline for <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
1971 <strong>The</strong> non-profit foundation VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION (now <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION) is<br />
established by Villum Kann Rasmussen on 21<br />
December 1971.<br />
1981 <strong>The</strong> original foundation changed its<br />
name <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> VILLUM KANN RASMUSSEN<br />
FOUNDATION (now <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUN-<br />
DATION), and on 2 December a new nonprofit<br />
foundation was set up under <strong>the</strong> name<br />
of <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION of 1981 (now <strong>the</strong><br />
VELUX FOUNDATION).<br />
1986 On 21 December, an addition was<br />
made <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> statutes of <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUN-<br />
DATION <strong>to</strong> permit conferral of ”<strong>The</strong> Villum<br />
Kann Rasmussen Annual Award for Technical<br />
Research”, and <strong>the</strong> two foundations’ statutes<br />
are supplemented with extensively formulated<br />
funding areas.<br />
1988 <strong>The</strong> preamble <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> statutes of <strong>the</strong><br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION was amended with <strong>the</strong><br />
omission of a number of <strong>the</strong> purposes now<br />
devolved <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION; <strong>the</strong>se<br />
being support for <strong>the</strong> activities of senior citizens;<br />
support for research in ophthalmology,<br />
geron<strong>to</strong>logy and geriatrics.<br />
1991 To tie in with <strong>the</strong> VKR Group’s golden<br />
jubilee on 1 April, <strong>the</strong> board of <strong>the</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION established <strong>the</strong> Employee<br />
Foundation of <strong>the</strong> V. Kann Rasmussen Group<br />
(now <strong>the</strong> VKR Group).<br />
1993 Founder Villum Kann Rasmussen passed<br />
away on 24 August at <strong>the</strong> age of 84.<br />
2004 ”<strong>The</strong> Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual<br />
Award for Technical Research” changed its<br />
name <strong>to</strong> ”<strong>The</strong> Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual<br />
Award for Technical and Scientific Research”.<br />
2008 <strong>The</strong> Danish ”Hædersprisen” (award<br />
for excellence), which since 1980 had been<br />
conferred by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM KANN RASMUSSEN<br />
FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
was converted in<strong>to</strong> an international award<br />
entitled ”<strong>The</strong> Daylight and Building Components<br />
Award”. This award was first presented<br />
<strong>to</strong> physicist Professor Richard Perez.<br />
2008 Amendments <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> statutes of both<br />
foundations permitted environmental purposes<br />
<strong>to</strong> be incorporated as a funding area.<br />
2009 <strong>The</strong> centenary of Villum Kann Rasmussen’s<br />
birth on 23 January was celebrated<br />
throughout <strong>the</strong> VKR Group, and <strong>to</strong> tie in with<br />
<strong>the</strong> events, <strong>the</strong> VILLUM KANN RASMUSSEN<br />
FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> Employee Foundation<br />
of <strong>the</strong> VKR Group received endowments of<br />
DKK 750 and 100 million, respectively.<br />
2010 On 1 January, <strong>the</strong> VILLUM KANN<br />
RASMUSSEN FOUNDATION changed its name<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION.<br />
2011 On 2 December, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION celebrated its 30th anniversary, and<br />
on 21 December <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
followed suit with its 40th anniversary. On 2<br />
Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>the</strong> anniversaries were celebrated at<br />
a command performance at <strong>the</strong> Royal Danish<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre in Copenhagen.<br />
14 THE STORY BEHIND THE VILLUM FOUNDATION AND THE VELUX FOUNDATION VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
15
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Carsten Andersen<br />
<strong>the</strong><br />
and <strong>the</strong><br />
Diversified<br />
donations by<br />
VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION<br />
VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION<br />
Both of <strong>the</strong> foundations operate with a broad-based donations strate-<br />
gy embracing a number of different areas, all of which are comprised<br />
by <strong>the</strong> foundations’ statutes. <strong>The</strong> bar charts below indicate which areas<br />
each of <strong>the</strong> two foundations have supported over <strong>the</strong> last five years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> following presents a number of examples of funding areas. Exam-<br />
ples of specific and current donations are provided on a regular basis<br />
on <strong>the</strong> foundations’ websites.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
<strong>The</strong> foundation primarily supports research activi-<br />
ties in science and technology, but also funds pro-<br />
jects in which <strong>the</strong> emphasis is on dissemination of<br />
research in <strong>the</strong>se disciplines. <strong>The</strong> foundation also<br />
provides funding for major social undertakings<br />
and cultural projects in and outside of Denmark.<br />
Since 2007, <strong>the</strong> foundation has provided fund-<br />
ing for social projects in Poland, Hungary and a<br />
few o<strong>the</strong>r countries in Eastern and Central Europe<br />
and in Greenland. In addition, environment and<br />
sustainability was adopted as a new funding area in<br />
connection with a change in <strong>the</strong> statutes in 2008.<br />
Examples of funding areas<br />
In association with <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Daylight and Building Components Award is<br />
conferred on an individual or group whose artis-<br />
tic, scientific or practical work has made a signifi-<br />
cant contribution <strong>to</strong> appreciation of <strong>the</strong> value and<br />
importance of daylight. <strong>The</strong> award is worth EUR<br />
100,000.<br />
Technical and scientific research<br />
Annual Award for Technical and Scientific Re-<br />
search – DKK 2.5 million <strong>to</strong> a Danish researcher<br />
of high international standing upon nomination by<br />
an external committee.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION’s <strong>to</strong>tal donations 2006-2011 (DKK million)<br />
350<br />
300<br />
250<br />
200<br />
150<br />
100<br />
50<br />
0<br />
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011<br />
Research projects (basic research) – funding <strong>to</strong><br />
cover payroll, equipment, operating, travel and<br />
administration expenses. A typical grant is worth<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r statu<strong>to</strong>ry objectives outside Denmark<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r statu<strong>to</strong>ry objectives within Denmark<br />
Environment and sustainability<br />
Social purposes outside Denmark (incl. Greenland)<br />
Social purposes within Denmark<br />
Technical and natural sciences<br />
Figures for 2011 were estimated at <strong>the</strong> time of going <strong>to</strong> press. <strong>The</strong> precise figures for <strong>to</strong>tal donations for 2011 are<br />
presented in <strong>the</strong> insert enclosed at <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> annual report.<br />
16 DIVERSIFIED DONATIONS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
17
DKK 2-5 million.<br />
VKR Centres of Excellence – each grant is typically<br />
worth DKK 25-60 million over 5-10 years for sci-<br />
entific and technical basic research centres without<br />
walls conducting original, innovative research at an<br />
advanced international level.<br />
Visiting Professor Programme – a <strong>to</strong>tal of DKK 15<br />
million is granted every o<strong>the</strong>r year for visiting re-<br />
searchers in order <strong>to</strong> boost research and education<br />
in Denmark and build up international research<br />
networks. Each university distributes <strong>the</strong> funds it-<br />
self among <strong>the</strong> applicants.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION’s Young Investi-<br />
ga<strong>to</strong>r Programme – DKK 50 million per annum<br />
in funding for talented young Danish researchers<br />
aiming <strong>to</strong> establish <strong>the</strong>ir own, independent re-<br />
search profiles.<br />
Postdoc<strong>to</strong>ral programme – DKK 40 million grant-<br />
ed every o<strong>the</strong>r year <strong>to</strong> talented researchers in science<br />
and technology at Danish or foreign universities.<br />
Infrastructure – funding for major, advanced<br />
equipment, e.g. special labora<strong>to</strong>ry facilities, re-<br />
search centres, databases, biobanks, etc.<br />
Social purposes in Denmark<br />
Funding for activities in aid of socially at risk chil-<br />
dren, people with disabilities and homeless people.<br />
Social purposes outside Denmark<br />
Stand-alone projects and activities lasting 2-5<br />
years that aim <strong>to</strong> improve quality of life for disad-<br />
vantaged children and young people in Poland,<br />
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greenland, etc.<br />
Eligible projects may cover welfare protection and<br />
alleviation of social distress, preventive activities,<br />
support for labour market integration or develop-<br />
ment and reform of <strong>the</strong> social and welfare system.<br />
Donations typically amount <strong>to</strong> between DKK 2-10<br />
million out of a <strong>to</strong>tal funding allocation of approx.<br />
DKK 90 million.<br />
On <strong>the</strong> opposite page: <strong>The</strong> sculpture ”<strong>The</strong> Thought Provoker” at <strong>the</strong> VKR Holding headquarters in Hørsholm. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Carsten Andersen<br />
<strong>The</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
<strong>The</strong> Foundation makes a number of annual grants<br />
for <strong>the</strong> purpose of motivating and supporting sen-<br />
ior citizens in staying active. <strong>The</strong> foundation also<br />
supports ophthalmological research and geron<strong>to</strong>-<br />
logical research. Since 2007, <strong>the</strong> foundation has<br />
increased its funding for research projects in <strong>the</strong><br />
human sciences. <strong>The</strong> foundation also supports<br />
cultural, artistic and social purposes, and envi-<br />
ronment and sustainability was adopted as a new<br />
funding area in 2008 in connection with a change<br />
in <strong>the</strong> statutes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION’s <strong>to</strong>tal donations 2006-2011 (DKK million)<br />
180<br />
160<br />
140<br />
120<br />
100<br />
80<br />
60<br />
40<br />
20<br />
0<br />
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011<br />
Environment and sustainability<br />
Art and culture and o<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
Social purposes<br />
Humanities<br />
Health sciences generally<br />
Geron<strong>to</strong>logy and ophthalmology research<br />
Acitivity among older persons<br />
Figures for 2011 were estimated at <strong>the</strong> time of going <strong>to</strong> press. <strong>The</strong> precise figures for <strong>to</strong>tal donations for 2011 are<br />
presented in <strong>the</strong> insert enclosed at <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> annual report.<br />
18 DIVERSIFIED DONATIONS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
19
Examples of funding areas<br />
Human sciences<br />
Collective core group grants with an annual fund-<br />
ing allocation of DKK 25-30 million. Funding for<br />
independent research in all fields of humanities<br />
research, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with anthropology, political<br />
science, sociology, psychology and public health<br />
science with a humanities component. A typical<br />
research project lasts 3-4 years and usually re-<br />
ceives funding of DKK 5-6 million.<br />
In addition <strong>to</strong> which, individual postdoc<strong>to</strong>ral<br />
grants of DKK 1-2 million per project.<br />
Geron<strong>to</strong>logical research and ophthalmological<br />
research<br />
Typically PhD projects with grants of DKK 1-2<br />
million, but also larger amounts for procurement<br />
of new equipment at university hospitals and re-<br />
search institutions, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with major multidis-<br />
ciplinary research projects.<br />
Active senior citizens<br />
A large number of small grants for active senior<br />
citizens.<br />
Social purposes<br />
Funding for activities <strong>to</strong> counter social vulnerabil-<br />
ity, especially among people with disabilities and<br />
homeless people.<br />
Culture<br />
For example joint donations with <strong>the</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION for heritage and preservation-<br />
worthy monuments, archaeology, museums or<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r cultural institutions.<br />
Administration percentage<br />
<strong>The</strong> two foundations share one secretariat and<br />
have a joint administration at <strong>the</strong>ir disposal. How-<br />
ever, <strong>the</strong> statutes of <strong>the</strong> two foundations differ in<br />
certain respects. Consequently <strong>the</strong>y have different<br />
portfolios, and <strong>the</strong> number of applications and<br />
<strong>the</strong> size of donations also vary.<br />
This means that <strong>the</strong> administration percentage<br />
differs within <strong>the</strong> two foundations. <strong>The</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION for example makes a large num-<br />
ber of small grants <strong>to</strong> active senior citizens (a row-<br />
ing boat, a book publication, a set of personal ar-<br />
chives), whereas <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
typically funds major projects.<br />
<strong>The</strong> administration percentage is <strong>the</strong> sum of <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>to</strong>tal expenses (management, operation, rent, fees<br />
for advisers and experts, etc.) incurred by each<br />
foundation divided by <strong>the</strong> year’s <strong>to</strong>tal donations<br />
amount for each foundation.<br />
All figures stated in<br />
DKK 1,000<br />
VILLUM<br />
FOUN-<br />
DATION<br />
VELUX<br />
FOUN-<br />
DATION<br />
Total foundation operating<br />
costs 15.569 9.033<br />
Foundation’s donations<br />
in 2010 290.508 121.469<br />
Administration<br />
percentage 5,4% 7,4%<br />
YEAR’S RESULT AND BALANCE 2010<br />
All figures in thousands DKK VILLUM FOUNDATION VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
INCOME STATEMENT 2010 2009 2010 2009<br />
Dividend from shares in VKR-Holding 900.640 314.872 - -<br />
Received donation from <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION - - 60.000 2) 20.000<br />
Income from securities and bank deposits 113.526 175.546 58.819 72.037<br />
Profit for <strong>the</strong> year 1.014.166 490.418 118.819 92.037<br />
Board 750 600 875 700<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r administration costs 14.819 11.354 8.158 9.107<br />
Total management and administration 15.569 11.954 9.033 9.807<br />
Annual result 998.597 478.464 109.786 82.230<br />
Annual grants 290.508 193.821 121.469 48.611<br />
BALANCE AS PER 31. DECEMBER 2010 2009 2010 2009<br />
20 DIVERSIFIED DONATIONS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 21<br />
Assets<br />
Tied-up foundation assets:<br />
Shares in VKR Holding (nominal value) 90.000 1) 90.000 - -<br />
Securities 1.876.906 1.615.264 1.862.174 1.648.702<br />
Office premises 27.328 27.539 27.328 27.328<br />
Bank balance and o<strong>the</strong>r receivables 282 5.118 14.975 18.695<br />
Total tied-up foundation assets 1.994.516 1.737.921 1.904.477 1.694.725<br />
Available foundation funds:<br />
Securities 1.434.692 854.970 232.790 190.850<br />
Bank balance and receivables 61.820 26.835 27.419 26.648<br />
Total available foundation funds 1.496.512 881.805 260.209 217.498<br />
Total assets 3.491.028 2.619.726 2.164.686 1.912.223<br />
Liabilities<br />
Awarded, not yet disbursed amounts 636.664 607.290 226.615 172.824<br />
Deposits for later use 771.790 223.449 33.837 45.797<br />
Tied-up equity 2.082.574 1.788.987 1.904.234 1.693.602<br />
Total liabilities 3.491.028 2.619.726 2.164.686 1.912.223<br />
1) According <strong>to</strong> VKR Holding’s annual report as per 31. December 2010 <strong>the</strong> net asset value of <strong>the</strong>se is equivalent <strong>to</strong> 11 billion DKK (2009: 10,1 billion DKK)<br />
2) <strong>The</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION received a donation of fur<strong>the</strong>r 40 million DKK <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir tied-up foundation assets (2009: 40 million DKK)
<strong>The</strong> board of <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
From left: Peter Landrock, Lars E.<br />
Kann-Rasmussen, Nina Smith, Bodil<br />
Nyboe Andersen, Bjarne Gråbæk<br />
Thomsen, Kristian Elmholdt Stubkjær<br />
(<strong>the</strong> foundation’s observer Jens Kann-<br />
Rasmussen is not on <strong>the</strong> pho<strong>to</strong>).<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Carsten Andersen<br />
Name Year elected Titles etc. O<strong>the</strong>r boards etc.<br />
Lars E. Kann-Rasmussen (b. 1939),<br />
Chairman<br />
Kristian Elmholdt Stubkjær<br />
(b. 1953), Vice-chairman<br />
2005 Direc<strong>to</strong>r, BSc Engineering<br />
2005 Professor, head of depart-<br />
ment, MSc Engineering<br />
Peter Landrock (b. 1948) 2008 Direc<strong>to</strong>r, professor, MSc,<br />
PhD<br />
Bodil Nyboe Andersen (b. 1940) 2005 Former governor, Dan-<br />
marks Nationalbank, MSc<br />
Economics<br />
Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark,<br />
Thomas B. Thrige Fonden (Foundation), Danish Academy of Technical<br />
Sciences, <strong>The</strong> Climate Foundation<br />
Cryp<strong>to</strong>mathic Ltd. (chairman), WindowMaster A/S, Monodraught<br />
Limited, Wolfson College, Cambridge University<br />
Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Sampension, TV2, Laurits<br />
Andersens Foundation (chairman), Advisory Board for Ordrupgaard-<br />
samlingen, Advisory Board for Nordic Investment Bank, Helsinki<br />
Nina Smith (b. 1955) 2011 Professor, MSc Economics Nykredit Realkredit (mortgage credit), Nykredit Holding, <strong>The</strong> Nykredit<br />
Association (vice-chairman), Nykredit Foundation og Nykredit’s Audit<br />
Board, NIRAS Group (chairman) and NIRAS Foundation, <strong>The</strong> Aarhus<br />
Festival, Favrskov Gymnasium (6th form college) (vice-chairman), pro-<br />
gram committee of <strong>the</strong> Rockwool Foundation, Danish Economic Councils<br />
Bjarne Gråbæk Thomsen (b. 1946) 2009 Consultant, former CEO <strong>The</strong> Employee Foundation of <strong>the</strong> VKR Group, Superwood, HTF A/S<br />
Jens Kann-Rasmussen (b. 1969),<br />
serves on <strong>the</strong> board as <strong>the</strong> family’s<br />
observer under <strong>the</strong> Statutes<br />
(chairman), VKR France S.A.S, VELUX Magyarország Kft., NB Polska Sp. z<br />
o.o., A/S Østbirk Bygningsindustri, Skærbæk Bygningsindustri A/S<br />
2011 BSc Engineering VKR Holding A/S, Partizanske Building Components SK s.r.o.<br />
<strong>The</strong> board of <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
Name Year elected Titles etc. O<strong>the</strong>r boards etc.<br />
Hans H. Kann Rasmussen (b. 1945),<br />
Chairman<br />
Hans Henrik Bruun (b. 1943),<br />
Vice-chairman<br />
From left: Marianne Zibrandtsen,<br />
Hans Peter Jensen, Hans H. Kann<br />
Rasmussen, Kamilla Kann Rasmussen,<br />
Hans Henrik Bruun og Emilie Kann<br />
Elten. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Carsten Andersen<br />
2006 Bsc Engineering V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation (chairman), VKR’s Familiefond (VKR<br />
2002 Ambassador, adjunct<br />
professor, MSc Political<br />
Science<br />
Hans Peter Jensen (b. 1943) 2004 DPhil, warden of a hall of<br />
residence with <strong>the</strong> title of<br />
”Efor”<br />
family trust fund)<br />
Fondet for Dansk-Norsk Samarbejde (foundation for Dano-Norwegian<br />
cooperation), P. Mikkelsens Mindelegat (foundation), Danish House,<br />
Paris (Maison du Danemark), (chairman)<br />
Gefion Gymnasium (6 th form college), (chairman), <strong>The</strong> Council for Inter-<br />
nationalisation of Danish Education (chairman), Alectia Foundation<br />
(chairman), Eksperimentarium, Ellehammer A/S<br />
Kamilla Kann Rasmussen (b. 1967) 2004 Educationist VKR’s Familiefond (VKR family trust fund), (chairman)<br />
Marianne Zibrandtsen (b. 1951) 2005 6 th form college<br />
Emilie Kann Elten (b. 1987),<br />
serves on <strong>the</strong> board as <strong>the</strong> family’s<br />
observer under <strong>the</strong> Statutes<br />
principal, MA<br />
2010 Studying biological science<br />
at LIFE<br />
Aurehøj Gymnasium (6 th form college), Advisory Board of <strong>the</strong> University<br />
of Copenhagen, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of <strong>The</strong>ology,<br />
Øregaard Museum (chairman of <strong>the</strong> board of governors), Presiding<br />
Committee of UNICEF Denmark, Den Letterstedska Föreningen (Nordic<br />
society for industry, science and <strong>the</strong> arts), KUBULUS students’ association<br />
at <strong>the</strong> University of Copenhagen<br />
V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation (observer), manager and board member<br />
of <strong>the</strong> students’ association NOA at <strong>the</strong> University of Copenhagen<br />
22 THE BOARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
23
Daylight Award<br />
BY EVA BECKMANN<br />
Eva Beckmann (born 1965) holds a degree in Public Relations from Roskilde<br />
University and is an independent PR consultant <strong>to</strong> companies and organisa-<br />
tions. Since January 2011 she has worked on <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION’s<br />
and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION’s press relations, including conferral of <strong>the</strong><br />
Daylight Award on two innovative French architects.<br />
Light is vital for plants, animals and human<br />
beings alike. But buildings <strong>to</strong>o benefit from<br />
abundant daylight. This is true not least in<br />
social housing in deprived neighbourhoods,<br />
where simple effects and plenty of daylight can<br />
give classic concrete <strong>to</strong>wer blocks a whole new<br />
lease of life. This discipline is mastered by <strong>the</strong><br />
two French architects Anne Laca<strong>to</strong>n and Jean-<br />
Philippe Vassal. On 7 March 2011 <strong>the</strong> duo was<br />
presented with <strong>the</strong> Daylight and Building Com-<br />
ponent Award 2011, worth EUR 100,000. For<br />
year 2011, this accolade, bes<strong>to</strong>wed once a year<br />
by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> VE-<br />
LUX FOUNDATION, recognises Laca<strong>to</strong>n &<br />
Vassal’s long-standing work on daylighting.<br />
Through <strong>the</strong> 1970s, high-rise residential properties<br />
are mushrooming in <strong>the</strong> Parisian suburbs – in <strong>the</strong><br />
so-called villes nouvelles. <strong>The</strong> properties are built <strong>to</strong><br />
house people from rural districts and North African<br />
immigrants. <strong>The</strong> many new housing projects are<br />
built in a ring around <strong>the</strong> city centre, and some of<br />
<strong>the</strong>m are given a distinctive design <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong>m<br />
stand out from <strong>the</strong>ir surroundings. Yet many people<br />
<strong>to</strong>day associate this type of architecture with a failed<br />
integration policy where for a time, unrest and arson<br />
became everyday fare for <strong>the</strong> residents.<br />
An example of one such building is Tour Bois le<br />
Prêtre, a 16-s<strong>to</strong>rey high-rise situated in <strong>the</strong> 17th<br />
arondissement, and built in 1962. Once <strong>the</strong>y move<br />
in, many residents stay living here for decades.<br />
On <strong>the</strong> brink of demolition<br />
<strong>The</strong> building stands unchanged with every passing<br />
year. But one day <strong>the</strong> sight of it is just <strong>to</strong>o dilapi-<br />
dated and depressing, and <strong>the</strong>re are political moves<br />
<strong>to</strong> have <strong>the</strong> high-rise razed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> ground. By now a<br />
ghet<strong>to</strong> of immigrants where unemployment is rife,<br />
demolition of this outmoded <strong>to</strong>wer block seems <strong>the</strong><br />
obvious solution. But not if <strong>the</strong> two award-winning<br />
French architects Anne Laca<strong>to</strong>n and Jean-Philippe<br />
Vassal have anything <strong>to</strong> say.<br />
“It never pays <strong>to</strong> demolish social housing in favour<br />
of building a new replacement. <strong>The</strong> costs of renova-<br />
tion will always be lower. Instead, respect should be<br />
shown for good and solid buildings that can readily<br />
be remodelled and transformed in<strong>to</strong> new and invit-<br />
ing neighbourhoods,” says Anne Laca<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
Daylight is a free resource<br />
And <strong>the</strong>se architects know what <strong>the</strong>y are talking<br />
about. For more than 20 years <strong>the</strong>y have been stud-<br />
About <strong>the</strong> Award<br />
<strong>The</strong> Daylight and Building Component<br />
Award is presented annually <strong>to</strong> individu-<br />
als or groups for outstanding artistic, sci-<br />
entific or practical achievements in pro-<br />
moting appreciation of <strong>the</strong> value and im-<br />
portance of daylight. Previous recipients<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Award, which has been presented<br />
since 1980, include <strong>the</strong> architects Jørn Ut-<br />
zon, Henning Larsen and James Carpenter<br />
and <strong>the</strong> researcher Richard Perez.<br />
In March 2011, <strong>the</strong> two French architects Anne Laca<strong>to</strong>n and Jean-Philippe Vassal received <strong>the</strong> Daylight and Building Component<br />
Award 2011 worth EUR 100,000. <strong>The</strong> pho<strong>to</strong> shows <strong>the</strong> award being presented by Lars Kann-Rasmussen, Chairman<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Board of <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Kristian Ridder-Nielsen. See also <strong>the</strong> architects’ lecture delivered<br />
at <strong>the</strong> award ceremony in <strong>the</strong> ceremonial hall at <strong>the</strong> Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design<br />
and Conservation: http://arkitekturtv.dac.dk/<br />
24 DAYLIGHT AWARD VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
25
Greenhouses especially inspired <strong>the</strong><br />
architectural duo in <strong>the</strong>ir projects<br />
<strong>to</strong> remodel social housing. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Laca<strong>to</strong>n & Vassal<br />
Laca<strong>to</strong>n & Vassal create open spaces,<br />
in which <strong>the</strong> occupants can adapt<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> incoming daylight and create<br />
shaded areas as required. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Laca<strong>to</strong>n & Vassal<br />
ying large buildings where no restrictions apply; hangars, warehous-<br />
es, commercial greenhouses and supermarkets.<br />
“More than anything, <strong>the</strong> greenhouses impressed us. <strong>The</strong> light-<br />
weight steel structures, <strong>the</strong> full exploitation of daylight, and a simple<br />
and low-tech method of controlling humidity and sunlight. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
are methods that can be copied directly over <strong>to</strong> housing. And which<br />
don’t even cost <strong>the</strong> earth.”<br />
New lease of life for old housing<br />
<strong>The</strong> greenhouses directly inspired <strong>the</strong> transformation of dilapidated<br />
buildings according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Laca<strong>to</strong>n & Vassal duo’s vision. By intro-<br />
ducing more daylight in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> buildings, removing as many walls as<br />
possible, adding enhanced acoustics and using glass as extra cladding<br />
around <strong>the</strong> building, <strong>the</strong> architects succeeded in giving old buildings<br />
a whole new lease of life. In most cases, <strong>the</strong> extension of each housing<br />
unit by means of added glazing and light has also meant more living<br />
space for <strong>the</strong> residents.<br />
Anne Laca<strong>to</strong>n, 55, and Jean-Philippe Vassal, 57, are <strong>the</strong> principals of<br />
<strong>the</strong> architectural firm <strong>the</strong>y established jointly in 1987. <strong>The</strong> duo is re-<br />
sponsible for major projects throughout France such as <strong>the</strong> refurbish-<br />
ment of Palais de Tokyo in Paris, School of Architecture in Nantes,<br />
France and Café Una in <strong>the</strong> Viennese museum district.<br />
Besides Tour Bois de Prêtre in <strong>the</strong> 17th arrondissement (made in as-<br />
sociation with Frédéric Druot, architect), <strong>the</strong> firm is currently work-<br />
ing on ano<strong>the</strong>r social housing block in La Chesnaie, Saint Nazaire,<br />
France. In <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn of Mulhouse in sou<strong>the</strong>rn Alsace, <strong>the</strong>y are work-<br />
ing in partnership with world-renowned architects such as Jean Nou-<br />
vel, Shigeru Ban and Mathieu Poitevin – again, on a large-scale social<br />
housing project.<br />
In <strong>the</strong>ir designs <strong>the</strong>y strike an accomplished balance between daylight<br />
quality, energy consumption and cost-efficiency which is humanistic<br />
and aes<strong>the</strong>tically convincing. <strong>The</strong> projects are run on <strong>the</strong> principle<br />
that 90% of what is required for a project is already available on site.<br />
Respect for <strong>the</strong> existing building<br />
“For us, sustainability is accomplishing a radical improvement in <strong>the</strong><br />
living conditions of a great many people. <strong>The</strong>se days, <strong>the</strong>re’s a lot of<br />
focus on developing technologies <strong>to</strong> save energy. That’s all well and<br />
good, but it doesn’t hold up on its own. Instead, we want <strong>to</strong> be able<br />
<strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> most of existing methods and help people <strong>to</strong> achieve<br />
improved liveability so <strong>the</strong>y feel <strong>the</strong>y have good living conditions.<br />
That will naturally inspire residents <strong>to</strong> assume more responsibility for<br />
taking better care of <strong>the</strong> environment and <strong>the</strong>ir surroundings, so that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y <strong>to</strong>o get involved in saving energy.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> two architects call for modern man <strong>to</strong> learn from more primitive<br />
ways of life, for example, from <strong>the</strong> ability of nomadic peoples <strong>to</strong> adapt<br />
<strong>to</strong> prevailing conditions.<br />
Jean-Philippe Vassal certainly credits some of <strong>the</strong> firm’s inspiration<br />
for social refurbishment <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> five years he spent working in Niger.<br />
Here he saw how creativity and innovation could produce significant<br />
changes – with limited resources available. A number of Laca<strong>to</strong>n &<br />
Vassal’s housing projects incorporate this flexibility – such as <strong>the</strong> use<br />
of a loose bamboo roof <strong>to</strong> provide shade in a sunny conserva<strong>to</strong>ry or<br />
curtains <strong>to</strong> split a large interior up in<strong>to</strong> discrete functions and so forth.<br />
Refurbishment without rehousing<br />
For <strong>the</strong> 97 families of <strong>the</strong> high-rise on <strong>the</strong> outskirts of Paris, <strong>the</strong> refur-<br />
bishment works are carried out with <strong>the</strong> occupants still in residence.<br />
Initially, when <strong>the</strong> residents were asked if <strong>the</strong>y were interested in radi-<br />
cal renovation of <strong>the</strong> property, <strong>the</strong> architects were met with scepti-<br />
cism and a lot of questions, but when <strong>the</strong> project was put <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> vote,<br />
nine in ten gave it <strong>the</strong> thumbs up.<br />
While <strong>the</strong> refurbishment has called for flexibility and patience on<br />
<strong>the</strong> part of <strong>the</strong> contrac<strong>to</strong>rs, architects and residents alike, <strong>the</strong> pro-<br />
ject is now nearing completion. Everyone now has a conserva<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
in <strong>the</strong> form of an additional layer of glass on <strong>the</strong> exterior of <strong>the</strong> large<br />
<strong>to</strong>wer block, and some have even been given a balcony. Among <strong>the</strong><br />
residents <strong>the</strong>re is satisfaction with <strong>the</strong> result, and <strong>the</strong> architects <strong>the</strong>m-<br />
selves sense a better atmosphere when <strong>the</strong>y drop by <strong>the</strong> high-rise with<br />
its new ‘packaging’.<br />
<strong>The</strong> renovation of Tour Bois le Prêtre will cost an estimated EUR 11<br />
million – around 880 €/sqm - and will extend <strong>the</strong> building’s life by<br />
up <strong>to</strong> 50 years.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> cost of building a brand new high-rise could easily run <strong>to</strong> twice<br />
as much, regardless of how green <strong>the</strong> replacement building might<br />
be,” says Anne Laca<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
Tour Bois de Prêtre was originally<br />
built with an asbes<strong>to</strong>s facade, which<br />
was peeled off during <strong>the</strong> renovation<br />
project. In its place, a whole new<br />
glass frontage was fitted <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> exterior<br />
of <strong>the</strong> building. Graphics: Laca<strong>to</strong>n<br />
& Vassal<br />
“<strong>The</strong> occupants stayed on in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
flats during <strong>the</strong> refurbishments, so<br />
<strong>the</strong> builders and installers had <strong>to</strong><br />
work efficiently. Every day, as many<br />
as six flats were fitted with <strong>the</strong> new<br />
glass frontage,” says Jean-Philippe<br />
Vassal. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Frêdêric Druot<br />
26 DAYLIGHT AWARD VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
27
Postcards<br />
from supported projects<br />
<strong>The</strong> foundations support many more<br />
projects than can be described in <strong>the</strong><br />
confines of this annual report. To give<br />
an impression of <strong>the</strong> range of <strong>the</strong> ac-<br />
tivities, however, <strong>the</strong> foundations have<br />
asked a representative selection of <strong>the</strong><br />
ongoing projects <strong>to</strong> send us postcards<br />
with snapshots of <strong>the</strong>ir activities.<br />
Thin film solar cells not so inefficient<br />
Solar cells are being made thinner and thinner <strong>to</strong><br />
save on <strong>the</strong> costly optically active material in or-<br />
der <strong>to</strong> keep <strong>the</strong> price down. However, when thin-<br />
ner, <strong>the</strong> solar cells are less able <strong>to</strong> absorb sunlight,<br />
which makes it more difficult for <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> generate<br />
energy, and <strong>the</strong>ir efficiency is reduced. <strong>The</strong> price<br />
per KWh is <strong>the</strong>refore not necessarily any lower un-<br />
less something is done <strong>to</strong> compensate for <strong>the</strong> re-<br />
duced thickness. This is exactly what <strong>the</strong> PLATOS<br />
project is working on. In this project we exploit <strong>the</strong><br />
fact that fractions of <strong>the</strong> sunlight interact extremely<br />
efficiently with metallic, nano-sized particles if <strong>the</strong><br />
light’s wavelength matches a characteristic length<br />
of metal particle. Under certain circumstances,<br />
which are being investigated <strong>the</strong>oretically and ex-<br />
perimentally, <strong>the</strong> sunlight is propagated efficiently<br />
in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> solar cell at large angles following <strong>the</strong> in-<br />
teraction with <strong>the</strong> metal particles on <strong>the</strong> surface of<br />
<strong>the</strong> solar cell. This has <strong>the</strong> effect of increasing <strong>the</strong><br />
light’s effective path length within <strong>the</strong> solar cell and<br />
<strong>the</strong>reby compensates for <strong>the</strong> reduced cell thickness.<br />
Professor Arne Nylandsted Larsen, DSc, Depart-<br />
ment of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University.<br />
In 2009, “Localised surface plasmons and silicon<br />
thin-film solar cells – PLATOS” was awarded a<br />
grant of DKK 11,926,619 by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUN-<br />
DATION.<br />
Solar cells under manufacture in a clean room.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Thorbjørn Villesen<br />
28 POSTCARDS Pho<strong>to</strong>: <strong>The</strong>a Bech-Petersen<br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
29
Project manager Mat<strong>the</strong>w James Driscoll studying saga manuscripts with PhD student Silvia Hufnagel. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Ragnheiður Mósesdóttir<br />
Tales from prehis<strong>to</strong>ric Scandinavia<br />
<strong>The</strong> Icelandic Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda, <strong>the</strong><br />
legendary sagas or literally ‘tales of Norse times<br />
past’, constitute a key genre of saga literature and<br />
are an indispensable part of <strong>the</strong> Scandinavian cul-<br />
tural heritage both in that <strong>the</strong>y concern Norse<br />
prehis<strong>to</strong>ry and because of <strong>the</strong>ir reception in more<br />
recent times, <strong>the</strong> Romantic Period in particular,<br />
when <strong>the</strong>y provided an important source of inspi-<br />
ration for literary authors in Denmark of <strong>the</strong> likes<br />
of Johannes Ewald and Adam Oehlenschläger. <strong>The</strong><br />
some 35 sagas that make up this genre are also<br />
immensely entertaining, with <strong>the</strong>ir splendid bat-<br />
tle scenes and populations of supernatural beings,<br />
fair maidens and valiant heroes. This is probably<br />
<strong>the</strong> main reason why <strong>the</strong>y were also one of <strong>the</strong><br />
most popular genres in Icelandic literary his<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
<strong>The</strong> large number of manuscripts in which <strong>the</strong> sa-<br />
gas have been passed down testifies <strong>to</strong> this – some<br />
1,550 manuscripts in all, <strong>the</strong> earliest from circa<br />
1300, <strong>the</strong> latest from <strong>the</strong> early 20th century. But<br />
who transcribed all <strong>the</strong>se manuscripts? And how<br />
were <strong>the</strong>y used, and by whom? At <strong>the</strong> Department<br />
of Scandinavian Research, University of Copenha-<br />
gen, a core group of researchers have teamed up <strong>to</strong><br />
survey <strong>the</strong> origin, dissemination and reception of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Icelandic Fornaldasagas from <strong>the</strong> Middle Ages<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> modern era. <strong>The</strong> texts are being analysed in<br />
<strong>the</strong> context of wider his<strong>to</strong>rical, social and cultural<br />
processes, and on <strong>the</strong> basis of <strong>the</strong>se transmission<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry studies, a series of digital versions will be es-<br />
tablished of some of <strong>the</strong> most important and most<br />
interesting of <strong>the</strong> manuscripts, making <strong>the</strong>m avail-<br />
able in a whole new way <strong>to</strong> researchers, students<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r interested readers.<br />
Mat<strong>the</strong>w James Driscoll, D.Phil. (Oxon), Associate<br />
Professor, Department of Scandinavian Research,<br />
University of Copenhagen. In 2011, “Alle tiders his-<br />
<strong>to</strong>rier: De islandske fornaldarsagaer” (S<strong>to</strong>ries of all<br />
time: <strong>the</strong> Icelandic Fornaldarsagas) was awarded a<br />
grant of DKK 5,000,000 by <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION.<br />
New Nest in Aarhus<br />
<strong>The</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION and VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION are supporting <strong>the</strong> construction<br />
of a new Nest International drop-in centre and<br />
refuge in Aarhus. This will provide some of <strong>the</strong><br />
most vulnerable people – street prostitutes with<br />
a drug addiction – with a new centre <strong>to</strong> replace<br />
<strong>the</strong> cramped and dilapidated premises which since<br />
1996, for many of <strong>the</strong> women, have been <strong>the</strong> clos-<br />
est <strong>the</strong>y get <strong>to</strong> a home and close human relations.<br />
In recent years, <strong>the</strong> Aarhus centre run by Nest<br />
International under <strong>the</strong> Danish YWCA has seen a<br />
dramatic increase in <strong>the</strong> number of women who<br />
visit <strong>the</strong> centre, some of whom stay <strong>the</strong>re for some<br />
time. New forms of abuse also mean that some<br />
of <strong>the</strong> women are conflict-seeking, some need<br />
peace and quiet, o<strong>the</strong>rs need private counselling.<br />
But what all <strong>the</strong>se women have in common is that<br />
Architect’s drawing of <strong>the</strong> new Nest in Aarhus, as viewed from <strong>the</strong> street.<br />
Graphics: Arkitektfirmaet Frost Larsen A/S<br />
<strong>the</strong>y need <strong>to</strong> find a place of refuge from <strong>the</strong> risks<br />
of working <strong>the</strong> streets. “<strong>The</strong> life lived by drug-ad-<br />
dicted, prostituted women is unbelievably <strong>to</strong>ugh<br />
because it is fraught by a combination of differ-<br />
ent forms of abuse, psychiatric issues, prostitution<br />
and homelessness. <strong>The</strong>se women do not reach old<br />
age, but <strong>the</strong>y do age before <strong>the</strong>ir time. Which is<br />
why we are very pleased <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> offer <strong>the</strong><br />
women brand new premises, which provide <strong>the</strong>m<br />
with a welcoming setting and give us better facili-<br />
ties for meeting <strong>the</strong>ir many different needs,” says<br />
Joan Hougaard, manager of <strong>the</strong> Nest in Aarhus.<br />
Susanne Exner, Head of Fundraising, Danish<br />
YWCA’s Social Work. In 2011, “New Nest in<br />
Aarhus” received donations <strong>to</strong>talling DKK<br />
15,000,000 made equally by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUN-<br />
DATION and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION.<br />
30 POSTCARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
31
Brave women<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Germans couldn’t imagine women taking part<br />
in such activities, so we had a lot more freedom <strong>to</strong><br />
get around than <strong>the</strong> men.” <strong>The</strong> comment is made<br />
during an interview with one of <strong>the</strong> many women<br />
who were involved in <strong>the</strong> Danish Liberation Move-<br />
ment of 1940-45. But not all of <strong>the</strong> women escaped<br />
attention. More than 700 women were caught by<br />
<strong>the</strong> Gestapo and sent <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Frøslev labour camp<br />
in Denmark. In a TV documentary series, Li Vil-<br />
strup and Pia Fris Laneth dispel stereotypical per-<br />
ceptions of <strong>the</strong> resistance movement as brigades of<br />
young men in trench coats. Fifteen women tell <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
dramatic s<strong>to</strong>ries. Some became gradually involved<br />
in railway and fac<strong>to</strong>ry sabotage. O<strong>the</strong>rs s<strong>to</strong>le and<br />
transported firearms, hid refugees, members of <strong>the</strong><br />
resistance and Bri<strong>to</strong>ns, tracked down informants or<br />
obtained fake identity papers. Still o<strong>the</strong>rs printed<br />
and distributed illegal pamphlets and books. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
are testimonies <strong>to</strong> personal courage, ethical dilem-<br />
mas, comrades who were betrayed and executed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> TV series is supplemented by a website with<br />
materials for upper-secondary his<strong>to</strong>ry teaching.<br />
Journalist and author, Pia Fris Laneth, MSc Admin-<br />
istration and Political Science. In 2010, <strong>the</strong> TV series<br />
“Danske kvinder i modstandsbevægelsen” (Danish<br />
women in <strong>the</strong> Resistance Movement), devised by Li<br />
Vilstrup, Direc<strong>to</strong>r, and Pia Fris Laneth and produced<br />
by Copenhagen Film Company, received a grant of<br />
DKK 700,000 from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION.<br />
Hedda Lundh and her husband in <strong>the</strong> uniforms of <strong>The</strong><br />
Danish Brigade. Hedda Lundh was a railway saboteur.<br />
Her group was betrayed by an informant, arrested and<br />
sent <strong>to</strong> a German concentration camp. She and her husband<br />
escaped <strong>to</strong> Sweden in time where <strong>the</strong>y joined <strong>The</strong><br />
Danish Brigade and Lottekorpset, <strong>the</strong> women’s auxiliary<br />
force. Pho<strong>to</strong>: May 1945<br />
Keeping children safe<br />
<strong>The</strong> “Safe childhood” project supports a network<br />
of more than 70 organisations operating in all 16<br />
provinces of Poland. This initiative focuses on 1)<br />
supporting parents at <strong>the</strong> initial stage of parent-<br />
hood where <strong>the</strong> new parents face various difficul-<br />
ties that pose a risk <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir child’s health and safe-<br />
ty; 2) providing education for parents, caregivers<br />
and professionals as well as providing support<br />
for children who are exposed <strong>to</strong> various kinds of<br />
abuse and need particular support if <strong>the</strong>y have <strong>to</strong><br />
give evidence in legal proceedings; 3) improving<br />
child safety on <strong>the</strong> Web, because children have ac-<br />
cess <strong>to</strong> new electronic media and are exposed <strong>to</strong><br />
harmful content and cyber-bullying or are at risk<br />
of Internet addiction. <strong>The</strong>se multifaceted threat-<br />
prevention measures, based on interservice com-<br />
munication and a national network supported by<br />
<strong>the</strong> project contribute <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> welfare of children<br />
throughout Poland.<br />
Gabriela Kühn, programme coordina<strong>to</strong>r, <strong>The</strong> No-<br />
body’s Children Foundation. In 2009, “Safe Child-<br />
hood” was granted DKK 5,276,584 by <strong>the</strong> VIL-<br />
LUM FOUNDATION.<br />
32 POSTCARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
33
Pho<strong>to</strong> and graphics by Michael Petersen<br />
Flamingos on <strong>the</strong> wing<br />
<strong>The</strong> opening of <strong>the</strong> large aviary on 21 June 2011 saw <strong>the</strong><br />
realisation of a long-held wish. In fact, <strong>the</strong> idea of a large<br />
aviary close <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> entrance was presented back in 1999,<br />
when <strong>the</strong> plan for Copenhagen Zoo Towards 2010 was<br />
launched. <strong>The</strong> aviary has provided greatly improved liv-<br />
ing conditions for <strong>the</strong> flamingos and o<strong>the</strong>r flighted birds as<br />
<strong>the</strong>y no longer need <strong>to</strong> have <strong>the</strong>ir wings clipped. Through<br />
<strong>the</strong> entrance locks, visi<strong>to</strong>rs have access <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> birds in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
new habitat. Along a hanging plank bridge, <strong>the</strong> visi<strong>to</strong>rs pass<br />
through <strong>the</strong> ‘forest’ at <strong>the</strong> western end of <strong>the</strong> enclosure.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> ‘forest edge’, <strong>the</strong>re is a view of <strong>the</strong> ‘wetlands’,<br />
where <strong>the</strong> flamingos and o<strong>the</strong>r waders are forever foraging<br />
for food in a hive of activity. From a hideout at <strong>the</strong> western<br />
end of <strong>the</strong> aviary, zoo-goers can watch <strong>the</strong> birds in peace<br />
and quiet. This is also where <strong>the</strong> visi<strong>to</strong>r information facility<br />
explains about <strong>the</strong> behaviour of <strong>the</strong> flamingo and red ibis<br />
through <strong>the</strong> year – courtship, nest-building and rearing.<br />
Lars Lunding Andersen, MSc, Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Copenhagen Zoo:<br />
In 2010,”Aviary for flamingos and o<strong>the</strong>r wading birds” re-<br />
ceived a donation of DKK 8,000,000 from <strong>the</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION.<br />
34 POSTCARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
35
Jobs for everyone<br />
Denmark has a vast potential workforce that fails <strong>to</strong><br />
find employment due <strong>to</strong> barriers in <strong>the</strong> structural<br />
design of workplaces. <strong>The</strong>se people with disabili-<br />
ties are thus prevented from working <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> best<br />
of <strong>the</strong>ir ability. <strong>The</strong> new centre built by Disabled<br />
Peoples Organisations Denmark is designed <strong>to</strong><br />
demonstrate how, by incorporating accessibility<br />
in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> architectural design, it is possible <strong>to</strong> cre-<br />
ate physical surroundings that are universally acces-<br />
sible, without having <strong>to</strong> be in any way expensive,<br />
ugly or inconvenient. As <strong>the</strong> building is intended<br />
as a model of how <strong>to</strong> design <strong>the</strong> office building of<br />
<strong>the</strong> future, a lot of emphasis was placed on making<br />
sure it would be environmentally sustainable. But<br />
sustainability often goes hand in hand with accessi-<br />
bility requirements. Good daylighting for example<br />
is a key accessibility component, while it is also key<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> building’s energy strategy. During <strong>the</strong> de-<br />
sign and construction process, we trained a great<br />
many people from <strong>the</strong> Danish building industry in<br />
Universal Design. This was such a success that we<br />
now have every confidence that <strong>the</strong>y are able <strong>to</strong><br />
live up <strong>to</strong> our ambition of designing and construct-<br />
ing <strong>the</strong> world’s most accessible office building. On<br />
completion in autumn 2012, <strong>the</strong> centre will pro-<br />
vide office space for at least 17 disabled people’s<br />
organisations. <strong>The</strong> centre will <strong>the</strong>refore serve as a<br />
powerhouse in Denmark, where people with dis-<br />
abilities meet and work, and as such will be of great<br />
benefit <strong>to</strong> all differently abled people.<br />
Stig Langvad, President of <strong>the</strong> Danish Disabled Peo-<br />
ples Organisations. Funding of DKK 34,400,000<br />
was granted in 2010 <strong>to</strong>wards <strong>the</strong> construction of <strong>the</strong><br />
centre, Handicaporganisationernes Hus, by <strong>the</strong> VIL-<br />
LUM FOUNDATION.<br />
Disused churches as a legacy of Danish his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
When construction works unearth skele<strong>to</strong>ns it is nearly always a sensation.<br />
But <strong>the</strong> finds tend <strong>to</strong> be of purely archaeological interest, and <strong>the</strong> sites are<br />
often disused churches. Yet discoveries of an increasing number of previously<br />
unknown derelict churches have posed a number of questions: how many<br />
are <strong>the</strong>re, what functions did <strong>the</strong>y serve, can we determine <strong>the</strong> church gov-<br />
ernance structure <strong>the</strong>y were part of, and so forth. Given that <strong>the</strong> churches<br />
and <strong>the</strong>ir governance structure are used in drawing conclusions as <strong>to</strong> settle-<br />
ment patterns, demographics, social structures etc., an altered perception of<br />
church governance structure may have implications for a number of o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
fields of research. But archaeology is not <strong>the</strong> only source of new knowledge.<br />
<strong>The</strong> written sources, legends, place names and parish borders etc. also help<br />
<strong>to</strong> provide answers <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>se new questions. Selected parts of this vast body of<br />
material are now being examined and analysed, and within a few years it will<br />
be possible <strong>to</strong> provide informed answers <strong>to</strong> at least some of <strong>the</strong> questions.<br />
Jakob Kieffer-Olsen, PhD, Senior Research, National Museum of Denmark.<br />
In 2008 and 2011, “Kirke og kirkestruktur i middelalderens Danmark”<br />
(Churches and Ecclesiastical Polity in medieval Denmark) received a grant of<br />
a <strong>to</strong>tal of DKK 3,310,000 from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION.<br />
36 POSTCARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
37
Bone tissue without osteoporosis<br />
Why do some people develop osteoporosis?<br />
Osteoporosis or brittle bone disease is a condition<br />
in which even trivial everyday activities may sud-<br />
denly cause painful fractures and result in hospi-<br />
talisation and even surgery. Osteoporosis afflicts<br />
at least 25% of women in Denmark after <strong>the</strong> age<br />
of 50. Like <strong>the</strong> Eiffel Tower, bones in <strong>the</strong> human<br />
body are constructed in a latticework <strong>to</strong> provide<br />
great strength with minimal structural material.<br />
A research team at <strong>the</strong> Department of Biomedi-<br />
cines, Aarhus University, is currently conducting<br />
a study with <strong>the</strong> aid of a microCT scanner of how<br />
this microstructure changes with age. <strong>The</strong> aim<br />
is <strong>to</strong> determine how <strong>the</strong>se changes in <strong>the</strong> micro-<br />
structure influence <strong>the</strong> risk of osteoporosis.<br />
Annemarie Brüel MD, associate professor, and Jes-<br />
per Skovhus Thomsen MD, associate professor, De-<br />
partment of Biomedicine, Aarhus University. In<br />
2009, ”Procurement of a μCT scanner for research<br />
in bone microstructure and <strong>the</strong> significance of age<br />
in <strong>the</strong> development of osteoporosis” was awarded a<br />
grant of DKK 1,448,250 by <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION.<br />
Bone tissue with osteoporosis<br />
Advanced climate chamber just supplied <strong>to</strong> Technical University of Denmark - DTU<br />
Technical University of Denmark - DTU has<br />
just taken delivery of a state-of-<strong>the</strong>-art climate<br />
chamber for measuring <strong>the</strong> combined mechanical<br />
and climatic impacts (temperature and humidity<br />
levels) of materials and components. <strong>The</strong> con-<br />
figuration and construction of <strong>the</strong> chamber from<br />
Vötsch Industrietechnik in Germany has been in<br />
progress for <strong>the</strong> past twelve months. Challenges<br />
in <strong>the</strong> design notably included <strong>the</strong> choice of <strong>the</strong><br />
right multilayer glass for <strong>the</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>m-constructed<br />
ventilating pane in <strong>the</strong> door through which ad-<br />
vanced optical deformation measurements will<br />
be made. This will be accomplished using DTU’s<br />
ARAMIS systems, which were acquired a couple<br />
of years ago, also with a donation from <strong>the</strong> VIL-<br />
LUM FOUNDATION. In <strong>the</strong> months ahead,<br />
<strong>the</strong> chamber will be integrated in a so-called bi-<br />
axial impact configuration <strong>to</strong> permit impacts <strong>to</strong><br />
be delivered <strong>to</strong> test specimens inside <strong>the</strong> cham-<br />
ber. This will be followed by a battery of tests on<br />
test specimens in both wood and fibre compos-<br />
ites with a view <strong>to</strong> investigating <strong>the</strong> behaviour of<br />
wood structures and wind turbine blades under<br />
extreme climate impacts.<br />
Christian Berggreen, PhD, associate professor, De-<br />
partment of Mechanical Engineering, and Sigur-<br />
dur Ormarsson, PhD, Department of Civil Engi-<br />
neering, Technical University of Denmark.<br />
In 2010, “Climate chamber for investigation of<br />
climate-sensitive materials and structural compo-<br />
nents” was awarded a grant of DKK 1,156,410 by<br />
<strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION.<br />
38 POSTCARDS VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
39
<strong>The</strong> internet<br />
– now with a<br />
geographic<br />
dimension<br />
BY CHRISTIAN S. JENSEN<br />
Christian S. Jensen (born 1963), PhD 1991, D. Tech. 2000, Professor of Com-<br />
puter Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark, 2010. Appointment at Aal-<br />
borg University, Denmark, and research stays at <strong>the</strong> University of Maryland<br />
(USA), University of Arizona (USA) and Google Inc. (USA). Member of <strong>the</strong><br />
Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and <strong>the</strong> Royal Danish Academy of Sci-<br />
ence and Letters, and recipient of several national and international awards.<br />
<strong>The</strong> amount of data in electronic form is growing exponentially. At<br />
<strong>the</strong> same time, <strong>the</strong> IT infrastructure, including <strong>the</strong> internet, which we<br />
use every day, is developing at great speed. For example, smartphones<br />
are proliferating rapidly while mobile bandwidth is increasing all<br />
<strong>the</strong> time. At <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r end of <strong>the</strong> infrastructure, we see data centres<br />
springing up everywhere. <strong>The</strong>se are buildings with large numbers of<br />
processors and hard drives which facilitate <strong>the</strong> handling of huge vol-<br />
umes of data as cheaply as possible. This trend is continually creating<br />
new challenges and opportunities. Christian S. Jensen received <strong>the</strong><br />
Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award for Technical and Scientific<br />
Research for his work that includes contributing <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> efficient s<strong>to</strong>r-<br />
age of, and searching in, spatio-temporal data, which is data refer-<br />
enced by time and place. Part of this work aims at giving <strong>the</strong> Internet<br />
a geographic dimension. According <strong>to</strong> Christian S. Jensen, <strong>the</strong> annual<br />
award of DKK 2,500,000, will be used <strong>to</strong> enable fur<strong>the</strong>r research<br />
in<strong>to</strong> foundations of <strong>the</strong> internet of <strong>the</strong> future.<br />
Data centres have large numbers of processors and hard drives that enable <strong>the</strong> handling of huge volumes of data.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Robert Scoble<br />
Vast volumes of data<br />
<strong>The</strong> digital universe, or <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal volume of elec-<br />
tronic data, is currently doubling every 18-24<br />
months. It has been estimated that it encompassed<br />
1.2 zettabytes in 2010. A zettabyte is 1024 exa-<br />
bytes, which is 1024 petabytes, which is 1024 ter-<br />
abytes. A terabyte is equivalent <strong>to</strong> what can now<br />
be s<strong>to</strong>red on <strong>the</strong> single platter of a hard disk. In<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r words, it <strong>to</strong>ok 1.2 billion hard disks <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>re<br />
<strong>the</strong> digital universe as it existed in 2010. In 2020,<br />
<strong>the</strong> digital universe is expected <strong>to</strong> swell <strong>to</strong> 35 zet-<br />
tabytes.<br />
It is estimated that <strong>the</strong>re are about 250 million web<br />
servers and even more websites on <strong>the</strong> internet.<br />
<strong>The</strong> number of documents on <strong>the</strong> internet exceeds<br />
25 billion. Moreover, it is estimated that <strong>the</strong> Goog-<br />
le search engine alone receives about 3 billion que-<br />
ries a day. <strong>The</strong>se enormous volumes of data make<br />
for exciting challenges and new opportunities.<br />
“Google” with a geographic dimension<br />
Before long, <strong>the</strong> internet will be used more from<br />
mobile devices than from stationary computers. At<br />
<strong>the</strong> same time, it is increasingly possible <strong>to</strong> posi-<br />
tion mobile devices. It is also possible <strong>to</strong> attach a<br />
geographic location <strong>to</strong> many websites (such as a<br />
restaurant’s website). Studies show that about 20<br />
per cent of all web queries are for results that are<br />
40 THE INTERNET VILLUM FOUNDATION 41<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
Smartphones are proliferating<br />
rapidly. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Cheon<br />
Fong Liew<br />
Indexing<br />
geographically close <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> user and thus<br />
have “local intent.”<br />
This makes it relevant <strong>to</strong> add a geographi-<br />
cal dimension <strong>to</strong> “Google queries.” A<br />
normal query consists of keywords en-<br />
tered by <strong>the</strong> user. In response <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> query,<br />
a list of links <strong>to</strong> web pages matching <strong>the</strong> search<br />
words is returned. Google’s goal is <strong>to</strong> respond<br />
within 200 milliseconds. An important question <strong>the</strong>n<br />
is how <strong>to</strong> also simultaneously take <strong>the</strong> positions of <strong>the</strong><br />
users and web pages in<strong>to</strong> account.<br />
One type of geographic query finds links <strong>to</strong> web pages that both match<br />
<strong>the</strong> keywords and are close <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> user’s location. It is a bad strategy <strong>to</strong><br />
check every web page for every query. Instead, it is desirable <strong>to</strong> build in-<br />
dexes that make it possible <strong>to</strong> quickly disregard web pages that ei<strong>the</strong>r do not<br />
match <strong>the</strong> keywords or are located far away from <strong>the</strong> user.<br />
It has long been known how <strong>to</strong> create indexes that render <strong>the</strong> finding of<br />
web pages based on keywords efficient. <strong>The</strong>se are <strong>the</strong> kinds of indexes used<br />
in search engines. As something new, we have developed indexes that simul-<br />
taneously take in<strong>to</strong> account <strong>the</strong> positions of <strong>the</strong> users and web pages. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
new indexes make it possible <strong>to</strong> find relevant web pages by only looking<br />
through very little data, which enables short response times.<br />
Mobile objects<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r challenge arises because mobile users are continuously on <strong>the</strong><br />
move. Imagine that each of Facebook’s 500 million active users wants <strong>to</strong><br />
see a list of <strong>the</strong>ir 10 closest Facebook friends. Or that <strong>to</strong>urists want <strong>to</strong> look<br />
up <strong>the</strong> 10 closest points of interest (cafés, pharmacies, etc.) that best meet<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir current needs.<br />
<strong>The</strong> challenge here is <strong>to</strong> keep all lists updated as <strong>the</strong> users move, and <strong>to</strong> do<br />
this as efficiently and cheaply as possible. One strategy <strong>to</strong> solve <strong>the</strong> problem<br />
for <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>urists works by first finding <strong>the</strong> 10 currently best points of inter-<br />
est. This can be done using <strong>the</strong> indexes described above. <strong>The</strong>n a safe zone<br />
around <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>urist is calculated within which <strong>the</strong> current result does not<br />
change. When <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>urist moves outside <strong>the</strong> zone, <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>urist’s smartphone<br />
sends a message <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> data centre where a new result and a new safe zone<br />
are calculated and sent <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>urist. It turns out<br />
that safe zones can be described by multiplicatively<br />
weighted Voronoi cells.<br />
Privacy<br />
<strong>The</strong> technological advances that enable <strong>the</strong> services<br />
described here also have a downside in terms of<br />
access <strong>to</strong> increased surveillance and disclosure of<br />
private information. According <strong>to</strong> law professor<br />
Eva Smith, 82,000 pieces of information were reg-<br />
istered about each Dane in 2008, corresponding <strong>to</strong><br />
225 pieces of information per day. <strong>The</strong> concept of<br />
location privacy includes aspects such as not wish-<br />
ing <strong>to</strong> disclose your exact location <strong>to</strong> a third party,<br />
but also not wishing <strong>to</strong> reveal that you are geo-<br />
graphically close <strong>to</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r person or that you are<br />
not home.<br />
p1<br />
p3<br />
p2<br />
R1<br />
p4<br />
word<br />
word<br />
a<br />
b<br />
c<br />
a<br />
b<br />
c<br />
R5<br />
R2<br />
InvF1<br />
Use of <strong>the</strong> IR-tree for <strong>the</strong> indexing of nine web pages (p.1 <strong>to</strong> p.9) with locations. <strong>The</strong> tree structure captures <strong>the</strong> spatial<br />
containment hierarchy shown on <strong>the</strong> left. <strong>The</strong> simplified text associated with <strong>the</strong> nine pages is shown at <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>p, and <strong>the</strong><br />
bot<strong>to</strong>m table shows <strong>the</strong> contents of <strong>the</strong> so-called inverted files associated with <strong>the</strong> nodes in <strong>the</strong> tree<br />
Research on privacy shows that it is often possible<br />
<strong>to</strong> achieve support for privacy. For example, one<br />
p1<br />
0.3<br />
0.7<br />
p7 p8<br />
p5<br />
R3<br />
p9<br />
p6<br />
(p1,0.3)<br />
(p2,0.5)<br />
(p1,0.7)<br />
(p2,0.5)<br />
R4<br />
R6<br />
p2<br />
0.5<br />
0.5<br />
InvF2<br />
(p3,0.4)<br />
(p4,0.6)<br />
(p3,0.6)<br />
(p4,0.4)<br />
p3<br />
0.4<br />
0.6<br />
InvF3<br />
(p5,0.1)<br />
(p6,0.9)<br />
(p5,0.9)<br />
(p6,0.1)<br />
p4<br />
0.6<br />
0.4<br />
InvF4<br />
(p7,0.2)<br />
p5<br />
0.1<br />
0.9<br />
(p8,0.8)<br />
(p9,0.7)<br />
(p7,0.8)<br />
(p8,0.2)<br />
(p9,0.3)<br />
p6<br />
0.9<br />
0.1<br />
R5 R6<br />
InvF5<br />
(R1,0.3)<br />
(R2,0.4)<br />
(R1,0.5)<br />
(R2,0.6)<br />
(R1,0.7)<br />
(R2,0.6)<br />
can find out where <strong>the</strong> “closest pizzeria” is without<br />
revealing one’s exact position – one can just ask<br />
for all pizzeria locations in <strong>the</strong> whole of Denmark<br />
and sort <strong>the</strong> results on <strong>the</strong> phone. <strong>The</strong> challenge<br />
is <strong>to</strong> return results at <strong>the</strong> lowest possible cost <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> system. One promising strategy would, in this<br />
example, be <strong>to</strong> send pizzeria location queries at<br />
an increasing distance from a nearby false location<br />
until one is sure that one has received enough in-<br />
formation <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> provide <strong>the</strong> correct result<br />
for <strong>the</strong> correct location that only <strong>the</strong> phone knows.<br />
Applications<br />
p7<br />
0.2<br />
0.8<br />
InvF6<br />
(R3,0.1)<br />
(R4,0.2)<br />
(R3,0.9)<br />
(R4,0.8)<br />
(R3,0.9)<br />
(R4,0.8)<br />
p8<br />
0.8<br />
0.2<br />
In addition <strong>to</strong> making a wide range of location-<br />
based internet services possible, research in spatio-<br />
temporal data management also has applications<br />
in a number of o<strong>the</strong>r areas, including intelligent<br />
transportation systems, logistics, physical planning,<br />
marketing and epidemiology.<br />
p9<br />
0.7<br />
0.3<br />
InvF7<br />
R1 R2 InvF5 R3 R4<br />
InvF1 InvF2 InvF3 InvF4<br />
InvF7<br />
(R5,0.4)<br />
(R6,0.2)<br />
(R5,0.6)<br />
(R6,0.9)<br />
(R5,0.7)<br />
(R6,0.9)<br />
InvF6<br />
p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9<br />
42 THE INTERNET VILLUM FOUNDATION 43<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
S<strong>to</strong>chastic<br />
geometry and<br />
image analysis<br />
BY EVA B. VEDEL JENSEN<br />
Eva B. Vedel Jensen (born 1951), DSc 1987, professor at Aarhus Univer-<br />
sity 2003. Direc<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> Thiele Centre 2004-2009 and <strong>the</strong> research pro-<br />
ject His<strong>to</strong> Informatics 2007-2010 at Aarhus University. Coordina<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong><br />
Marie Curie training site Advanced Medical Imaging and Spatial Statistics<br />
(MISS) 2002-2006. Member of <strong>the</strong> Danish Natural Science Research Council<br />
2001-2007. Since 2010 direc<strong>to</strong>r of CSGB – a VKR Centre of Excellence.<br />
In 2010 <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION donated DKK 25,000,000<br />
<strong>to</strong> a VKR Centre of Excellence: Centre for S<strong>to</strong>chastic Geometry and<br />
Advanced Bioimaging – CSGB. <strong>The</strong> Centre has been established as<br />
an interdisciplinary collaboration between Aarhus University (AU),<br />
Aalborg University (AAU) and University of Copenhagen (KU), in-<br />
volving Department of Ma<strong>the</strong>matical Sciences (AU), Clinical Institute<br />
(AU), Department of Ma<strong>the</strong>matical Sciences (AAU) and Department<br />
of Computer Science (KU). CSGB will develop new ma<strong>the</strong>matical and<br />
statistical methods of analysing advanced image data from biological<br />
tissue (bioimaging). A particular focus is <strong>the</strong> analysis of image data<br />
at <strong>the</strong> molecular level, using state-of-<strong>the</strong>-art microscopy techniques.<br />
Many of <strong>the</strong> methods will utilise <strong>the</strong> latest advances in s<strong>to</strong>chastic ge-<br />
ometry, a discipline on <strong>the</strong> borderline between ma<strong>the</strong>matics and statis-<br />
tics. <strong>The</strong> research takes place in a combined Danish and international<br />
research environment. <strong>The</strong> centre is expected <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> added<br />
knowledge in public health-care and <strong>the</strong> biomedical industry.<br />
Ma<strong>the</strong>matics and statistics play a key role in <strong>the</strong> biosciences. Dur-<br />
ing <strong>the</strong> last 25 years ma<strong>the</strong>matical and statistical models have been<br />
developed for <strong>the</strong> analysis of cell populations, based on data from<br />
traditional light microscopy. With <strong>the</strong> development of, e.g., laser<br />
scanning and so-called cryo-electron microscopy it is, however,<br />
now possible <strong>to</strong> acquire images of biological tissue (bioimaging)<br />
at <strong>the</strong> molecular level and this requires a corresponding develop-<br />
ment of ma<strong>the</strong>matical and statistical methods.<br />
S<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry<br />
S<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry is an important prerequisite for this develop-<br />
ment of methods. S<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry is used in modelling and<br />
analysis of spatial structures such as curves and surfaces. Stereology<br />
is an important subfield of s<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry. As <strong>the</strong> name indi-<br />
cates, stereology provides information about a spatial structure<br />
(three dimensions) from a number of sections (two di-<br />
mensions) through <strong>the</strong> structure (see fig. 1).<br />
One of <strong>the</strong> principal contributions of s<strong>to</strong>chastic<br />
geometry is a number of geometric calcu-<br />
lation formulae (functionals) <strong>to</strong> describe <strong>the</strong><br />
quantitative properties of a spatial structure, for in-<br />
stance, volume, surface area, length, number and curva-<br />
ture. <strong>The</strong>se functionals have been used in numerous stereo-<br />
logical studies of biological tissue at <strong>the</strong> light microscopy level.<br />
Local stereology<br />
In s<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry, <strong>the</strong>re has recently been a lot of focus on <strong>the</strong><br />
study of a number of new functionals, so-called volume and surface<br />
tensors, that are, so <strong>to</strong> speak, able <strong>to</strong> ‘zoom in’ and provide more<br />
detailed local information about a spatial structure than <strong>the</strong> more<br />
general global information in <strong>the</strong> previous functionals. At <strong>the</strong> cen-<br />
tre we want <strong>to</strong> utilise <strong>the</strong>se advances in enhancing analysis of image<br />
data from biological tissue.<br />
For example, earlier stereological analyses of <strong>the</strong> cerebral cortex<br />
in humans with dementia or schizophrenia do not show changes<br />
in <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal number of neurons. We expect that <strong>the</strong>re are instead<br />
changes in <strong>the</strong> spatial arrangement of neurons in certain regions<br />
of <strong>the</strong> cortex. Likewise, disease-caused changes in tissue do not<br />
Fig.1. Local stereology makes it possible<br />
<strong>to</strong> calculate estimates of parameters<br />
of a spatial structure, such as volume<br />
and surface area, from observations<br />
along lines or in planes passing<br />
through a reference point. At CSGB,<br />
local stereological methods of determining<br />
so-called volume and surface<br />
tensors are developed. <strong>The</strong>se tensors<br />
can provide new information about<br />
shape and orientation distributions in<br />
cell populations. Illustration: Markus<br />
Kiderlen<br />
44 STOCHASTIC GEOMETRY AND IMAGE ANALYSIS VILLUM FOUNDATION 45<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
(1)<br />
necessarily affect <strong>the</strong> size distribution of cells but<br />
instead affect <strong>the</strong>ir orientation and shape distribu-<br />
tion. It will <strong>the</strong>refore be of immense value if de-<br />
velopment of <strong>the</strong> new methods allows us <strong>to</strong> go<br />
fur<strong>the</strong>r than merely describing <strong>the</strong> distributions of<br />
<strong>the</strong> volume and surface area of <strong>the</strong> cells <strong>to</strong> also de-<br />
scribe <strong>the</strong> distributions of cell orientation, shape,<br />
symmetry, etc.<br />
Point processes as building blocks<br />
(2)<br />
Fig.2. Point processes are <strong>the</strong> fundamental building blocks of s<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry models. Point processes can describe<br />
data consisting of simple point patterns (1), and marked point patterns where <strong>the</strong> points may have associated marks<br />
specifying e.g. different types of points (2) or geometric objects such as line segments (3), circles (4), or more complicated<br />
shapes. Illustration: Jesper Møller and Daniela Mayer<br />
During <strong>the</strong> last few decades, s<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry<br />
has also provided a wealth of s<strong>to</strong>chastic models.<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority of <strong>the</strong>se models have so-called point<br />
processes as fundamental building blocks (see fig.<br />
2). But, until now, <strong>the</strong> models have not had <strong>the</strong><br />
influence in bioimaging, especially quantitative mi-<br />
croscopy, that <strong>the</strong>y deserve. At <strong>the</strong> centre, we want<br />
<strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> more extensive use of <strong>the</strong> models<br />
in microscopy and more generally in bioimaging.<br />
In particular, <strong>the</strong> obvious potential of point process<br />
models in <strong>the</strong> analysis of spatial arrangements of<br />
cells has not yet been thoroughly investigated.<br />
Bioimaging challenges s<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry<br />
<strong>The</strong> new microscopy techniques also challenge s<strong>to</strong>-<br />
(3)<br />
chastic geometry. A number of fascinating math-<br />
ematical and statistical questions arising from <strong>the</strong><br />
study of <strong>the</strong> connection between objects in <strong>the</strong><br />
‘real’ world and <strong>the</strong>ir digital representations (for<br />
instance, in <strong>the</strong> form of microscopy images) remain<br />
<strong>to</strong> be answered. <strong>The</strong> new advanced experiments<br />
within microscopy that give access <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> mole cular<br />
level, including laser scanning microscopy and<br />
cryo-electron microscopy, require <strong>the</strong> development<br />
of completely new s<strong>to</strong>chastic geometry models for<br />
random fields. Cryo-electron microscopy especially<br />
has produced several successes in recent years with<br />
many publications in Nature and Science, but now<br />
faces a number of barriers concerning speed and<br />
optimisation of <strong>the</strong> algorithms that can only be<br />
eliminated in collaboration with ma<strong>the</strong>maticians,<br />
statisticians and computer scientists.<br />
Fluorescence microscopy taken <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> mole-<br />
cular level<br />
(4)<br />
In this CSGB project, we study <strong>the</strong> interaction be-<br />
tween proteins within a living cell by measuring<br />
distances between proteins. However, <strong>the</strong> inter-<br />
action distances are typically at <strong>the</strong> 1-10 nm scale<br />
and this resolution is impossible <strong>to</strong> achieve by tra-<br />
Structure Determination by Cryo-EM<br />
ditional fluorescence microscopy. As an alternative,<br />
we use a special technique, FRET microscopy,<br />
which allows indirect measurement of <strong>the</strong>se short<br />
distances. <strong>The</strong> raw data consists of three noisy digi-<br />
tal fluorescence images. <strong>The</strong> measurement noise<br />
now enters <strong>the</strong> analysis in a very complicated fash-<br />
ion. A crucial component of <strong>the</strong> project is <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
<strong>to</strong> model <strong>the</strong> noise correctly so that reliable results<br />
can be obtained.<br />
Image acquisition and particle selection<br />
Molecular cryo-electron microscopy<br />
Molecular cryo-electron microscopy allows us <strong>to</strong><br />
study 3D structures of macromolecular assemblies<br />
that are scarcely accessible using more traditional<br />
Two-dimensional<br />
Averaging (SNR )<br />
3D Reconstruction<br />
Fig.3. Illustration of <strong>the</strong> different steps involved in cryo-electron microscopy, from noisy images <strong>to</strong> reconstructed macromolecule.<br />
Illustration: Monika Golas and Björn Sander<br />
techniques. Data from cryo-electron microscopy<br />
comprise several thousands <strong>to</strong> millions of individ-<br />
ual particle images and analysis of <strong>the</strong>se data is ex-<br />
tremely demanding, both in terms of hardware and<br />
algorithmically. Within cryo-electron microscopy,<br />
<strong>the</strong> most important future challenges for CSGB are<br />
(1) <strong>to</strong> increase image resolution by developing new<br />
statistical methods of identifying subpopulations of<br />
macromolecules and (2) <strong>to</strong> find new efficient com-<br />
putational methods of three-dimensional recon-<br />
struction of macromolecular structures (see fig. 3).<br />
At <strong>the</strong> time of writing, (2) is in progress in a col-<br />
laboration with <strong>the</strong> Image Group at University of<br />
Copenhagen which is also participating in CSGB.<br />
46 STOCHASTIC GEOMETRY AND IMAGE ANALYSIS VILLUM FOUNDATION 47<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
Evolution and<br />
climate change<br />
BY BODIL K. EHLERS, MARTIN HOLMSTRUP AND JESPER GIVSKOV SØRENSEN<br />
Bodil K. Ehlers (born 1971) holds<br />
a PhD from Aarhus University<br />
and was appointed frontline assis-<br />
tant professor at <strong>the</strong> Department<br />
of Biology, University of South-<br />
ern Denmark in January 2010.<br />
Her principal field of research is<br />
<strong>the</strong> evolutionary ecology of plants,<br />
with particular emphasis on <strong>the</strong><br />
importance of <strong>the</strong> interplay be-<br />
tween biotic and abiotic fac<strong>to</strong>rs in<br />
adaptation and coexistence.<br />
Martin Holmstrup (born 1961)<br />
holds a PhD and DSc in biology<br />
from Aarhus University and is a<br />
professor at <strong>the</strong> Department of Ter-<br />
restrial Ecology (TERI), Aarhus<br />
University. He has investigated<br />
soil dwelling animals’ adaptation<br />
<strong>to</strong> extreme climate conditions and<br />
<strong>the</strong> potential impacts of climate<br />
change on terrestrial ecosystems.<br />
Jesper Givskov Sørensen (born<br />
1972) holds a PhD in biology from<br />
Aarhus University, and since<br />
2009 he has held an appoint-<br />
ment as Senior Scientist in <strong>the</strong><br />
Department of Terrestrial Ecology<br />
(TERI), Aarhus University. JGS<br />
is a Sapere Aude DFF-research<br />
direc<strong>to</strong>r (2011-2015) and has<br />
primarily conducted research in<br />
molecular aspects of invertebrates’<br />
physiological and evolutionary ad-<br />
aptation <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> environment.<br />
In 2010, <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION granted DKK 4,100,000 over<br />
4 years <strong>to</strong> a research project aimed at studying evolutionary responses <strong>to</strong><br />
climate change. <strong>The</strong> research project is a collaboration between scientists<br />
from <strong>the</strong> University of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Denmark (SDU) and Aarhus University<br />
(AU). <strong>The</strong> grant was awarded <strong>to</strong> Bodil Ehlers (BI, SDU), Thomas Batail-<br />
lon (BiRC, AU), Martin Holmstrup and Jesper Givskov Sørensen (TERI,<br />
AU). <strong>The</strong> aim of <strong>the</strong> project is <strong>to</strong> study whe<strong>the</strong>r, and if so how and how<br />
quickly, animals and plants respond <strong>to</strong> evolutionary climate change. <strong>The</strong><br />
project employs an existing climate project – INCREASE – which simulates<br />
future climate change in Europe. INCREASE is a climate change experi-<br />
ment in which an area of nature in each European country is subjected <strong>to</strong><br />
temperatures slightly above average or increased drought. <strong>The</strong> project aims<br />
<strong>to</strong> study whe<strong>the</strong>r evolutionary changes have in fact occurred in species that<br />
have been subjected <strong>to</strong> future climate scenarios for generations.<br />
Polar bear in trouble. Global<br />
warming poses a threat<br />
<strong>to</strong> many current animal and<br />
plant habitats. <strong>The</strong> project<br />
studies <strong>the</strong> ability of plants<br />
and animals <strong>to</strong> adapt evolutionarily<br />
<strong>to</strong> ongoing climate<br />
change. Pho<strong>to</strong>design: Mikael<br />
Rex og Sisse Bay<br />
48 EVOLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE VILLUM FOUNDATION 49<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
Clocaenog (Wales) is a field experiment<br />
in which for 10 years, areas<br />
with natural flora and fauna have<br />
been treated with warming at night<br />
and precipitation has been artificially<br />
eliminated for a period of approximately<br />
one month per year. Warming<br />
is created by night-roofing which<br />
raises <strong>the</strong> temperature in <strong>the</strong> soil by<br />
1-2 degrees, equivalent <strong>to</strong> how much<br />
it is expected <strong>to</strong> increase over <strong>the</strong><br />
next 50-100 years. Likewise, drought<br />
is created by roofing that au<strong>to</strong>matically<br />
rolls out when it rains. <strong>The</strong> effect<br />
of <strong>the</strong>se climatic manipulations on<br />
genetic changes is examined in <strong>the</strong><br />
project for certain species of plants<br />
and soil dwelling animals. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Elin<br />
Jørgensen<br />
Man affects nature<br />
<strong>The</strong> activities of man greatly affect <strong>the</strong> chances of survival of o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
living organisms. Recently, it has become clear that our various<br />
activities more or less are <strong>to</strong> blame for species becoming extinct<br />
globally and locally. <strong>The</strong> rate at which species and populations<br />
are becoming extinct has been estimated <strong>to</strong> be equal <strong>to</strong> or above<br />
previous periods of mass extinction, and scientific studies are nec-<br />
essary in order <strong>to</strong> understand <strong>the</strong> processes that lead <strong>to</strong> extinction.<br />
<strong>The</strong> species are threatened by a combination of several fac<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
Many populations have become smaller and more isolated due <strong>to</strong><br />
changes in <strong>the</strong> landscape. In small populations, related individuals<br />
may breed (inbreeding) and erosion of <strong>the</strong> genetic diversity (vari-<br />
ance) may occur. This may lead <strong>to</strong> decreased resistance <strong>to</strong> diseases<br />
or reduced fertility. It also means that small populations will be<br />
less able <strong>to</strong> adapt evolutionarily <strong>to</strong> changes in <strong>the</strong> environment, as<br />
genetic variance is <strong>the</strong> basis for adaptation. <strong>The</strong>se different fac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
that make life in a small population dangerous affect and reinforce<br />
each o<strong>the</strong>r in a so-called “extinction spiral”.<br />
Global climate change<br />
<strong>The</strong> entire world is facing <strong>the</strong> challenge of global<br />
climate change. <strong>The</strong> climate is a crucial determi-<br />
nant of which species are able <strong>to</strong> survive. Basically,<br />
a species is able <strong>to</strong> respond within 3 months of its<br />
environment having been changed: it may move<br />
(migrate) <strong>to</strong> new areas where <strong>the</strong> environment is<br />
better suited <strong>to</strong> its biology, or it may adapt <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
changes taking place in its current environment.<br />
If none of <strong>the</strong>se responses are possible, <strong>the</strong> species<br />
may become extinct.<br />
During previous periods of climate change, it<br />
may be assumed that <strong>the</strong> individual populations<br />
were <strong>to</strong> some extent able <strong>to</strong> find a suitable new<br />
environment, e.g. by migrating south or north.<br />
Today most species are “captured” in “nature is-<br />
lands” that are surrounded by a ‘hostile environ-<br />
ment’. <strong>The</strong> natural areas have largely been deter-<br />
mined and local populations may find it difficult<br />
<strong>to</strong> find new suitable areas, even if <strong>the</strong>y are able<br />
<strong>to</strong> migrate. This is why it is important <strong>to</strong> study<br />
how populations react <strong>to</strong> climate change and<br />
how <strong>the</strong>y adapt <strong>to</strong> e.g. higher temperatures. This<br />
knowledge will help us understand which genetic<br />
prerequisites must be fulfilled for adaption <strong>to</strong> a<br />
changing climate <strong>to</strong> succeed, how much time it<br />
takes, and which groups of animals and plants are<br />
particularly robust or fragile.<br />
Global warming? Graphics: NASA<br />
How do animals and plants respond <strong>to</strong> climate<br />
change?<br />
<strong>The</strong> climate is changing rapidly. Summers are warm-<br />
er and dryer and climatic fluctuations are becoming<br />
more extreme. This causes <strong>the</strong> living conditions for<br />
animals and plants <strong>to</strong> change. Climate change may<br />
lead <strong>to</strong> adverse living conditions for some species,<br />
while at <strong>the</strong> same time, some species, e.g. sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
species, may be able <strong>to</strong> thrive in nor<strong>the</strong>rn latitudes.<br />
Changes in <strong>the</strong> composition of species may also po-<br />
tentially affect species that are not directly affected<br />
by climate change and may, thus, influence <strong>the</strong> en-<br />
tire ecosystem network. Species of <strong>the</strong> biological<br />
community affect each o<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>the</strong> extinction of<br />
one species may cause a cascade of changes that may<br />
lead <strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r species’ disappearing or multiplying.<br />
In this way, biological systems consist of a myriad<br />
of interacting elements and each element cannot be<br />
seen as standing alone. Interactions may e.g. be be-<br />
tween preda<strong>to</strong>rs and prey, hosts and parasites, flow-<br />
ers and pollina<strong>to</strong>rs or seeds and seed distribu<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
New invasive or newly introduced species (flora/<br />
fauna pollution) may be caused by similar imbal-<br />
ances.<br />
This project focuses on whe<strong>the</strong>r species are able <strong>to</strong><br />
adapt evolutionarily and, if so, whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y can<br />
adapt “quickly enough”. Evolutionary adaptation<br />
implies genetic changes in a species’ genetic ma-<br />
50 EVOLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE VILLUM FOUNDATION 51<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
Soil samples are collected from field<br />
experiments that have imitated global<br />
warming since 1999/2000. Among<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r things, animals of great ecological<br />
importance for conversion of<br />
matter are collected in <strong>the</strong> soil samples.<br />
<strong>The</strong> animals are collected from<br />
test areas that have been manipulated<br />
for exposure <strong>to</strong> drought, increased<br />
summer temperatures, and<br />
unmanipulated conditions (control).<br />
<strong>The</strong> animals have lived in <strong>the</strong>se climatic<br />
conditions for ten years and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are examined for whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y<br />
have evolutionarily adapted <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
changed environment and whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>the</strong>y have <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>to</strong> continue<br />
<strong>to</strong> adapt. <strong>The</strong> examined animals are<br />
small, live in <strong>the</strong> soil and have a short<br />
generation time. An example is <strong>the</strong><br />
springtail, shown on <strong>the</strong> picture on<br />
<strong>the</strong> right. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Elin Jørgensen<br />
terial due <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> new natural selection pressure caused by climate<br />
change. <strong>The</strong> genetic changes take place over several generations and<br />
may cause a population <strong>to</strong> be better adapted <strong>to</strong> its environment.<br />
Evolutionary adaptation is happening and has happened since <strong>the</strong><br />
origin of life. Because <strong>the</strong> ongoing climate changes are happening<br />
fast, and because many natural populations <strong>to</strong>day are small and,<br />
<strong>the</strong>refore, contain less genetic variation for adaptation, <strong>the</strong> question<br />
of adaptation is two-fold. It concerns <strong>to</strong> what extent species have <strong>the</strong><br />
evolutionary potential <strong>to</strong> adapt and, if so, whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are able <strong>to</strong><br />
adapt at a rate that matches <strong>the</strong> rate of <strong>the</strong> climate change.<br />
A European experimental setup<br />
Currently, <strong>the</strong>re is a serious lack of scientifically based knowledge of<br />
whe<strong>the</strong>r animal and plant species are able <strong>to</strong> evolutionarily adapt <strong>to</strong><br />
current climate changes. This knowledge is essential for predicting<br />
future species distribution and fate, and for developing strategies<br />
for future nature preservation (both for threatened species and for<br />
potentially invasive species).<br />
<strong>The</strong> cause of this lacking knowledge is a lack of long-term studies<br />
specifically designed <strong>to</strong> examine <strong>the</strong> evolutionary adaptation of spe-<br />
cies as a response <strong>to</strong> rapidly changing climate. What limited knowl-<br />
edge we do have is based on studies in natural climate gradients<br />
where <strong>the</strong> same species lives under different climate conditions and<br />
where phenotypic and genetic variation in such a species have been<br />
studied over so many years that possible changes in<br />
this variation can be documented. Very few studies<br />
meet <strong>the</strong>se requirements.<br />
<strong>The</strong> current study utilises existing experimental<br />
setups – INCREASE – which simulate future cli-<br />
mate change in Europe. INCREASE is a climate<br />
change experiment that has been set up in natural<br />
habitats with parallel experimental setups in several<br />
European countries in 1999-2000. INCREASE<br />
has been running for enough years <strong>to</strong> allow us<br />
<strong>to</strong> study whe<strong>the</strong>r evolutionary changes have, in<br />
fact, taken place in species that have lived under<br />
different future climate scenarios for generations,<br />
and <strong>to</strong> compare <strong>the</strong>se changes <strong>to</strong> populations that<br />
have not been under this natural selection pressure<br />
(control). <strong>The</strong> design makes it possible <strong>to</strong> compare<br />
populations consisting of <strong>the</strong> same species that<br />
have been living in <strong>the</strong> same habitat, but under<br />
different climate change scenarios (increased tem-<br />
perature, increased drought and control).<br />
<strong>The</strong> design of <strong>the</strong> project provides a solid foun-<br />
dation for documenting whe<strong>the</strong>r evolutionary<br />
changes have, in fact, taken place as a response <strong>to</strong><br />
climate change. Three European countries (Den-<br />
mark, Great Britain and <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands) have a<br />
great overlap of animals and plants. This makes<br />
it possible <strong>to</strong> examine, both locally and on a Eu-<br />
ropean scale, whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>se species have already<br />
responded phenotypically and genetically, due <strong>to</strong><br />
ten years’ natural selection resulting from increased<br />
temperature and drought, and whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y have<br />
<strong>the</strong> evolutionary potential <strong>to</strong> adapt in <strong>the</strong> future.<br />
<strong>The</strong> project involves a lot of experimental work in<br />
<strong>the</strong> field and labora<strong>to</strong>ry and molecular work (“next<br />
generation sequencing”). <strong>The</strong> project examines<br />
possible evolutionary changes that have taken<br />
place as a response <strong>to</strong> climate change and drought<br />
as well as species’ evolutionary potential and, con-<br />
sequently, <strong>the</strong>ir chances of adapting in <strong>the</strong> future<br />
as well. <strong>The</strong> molecular work will make it possible<br />
<strong>to</strong> localise <strong>the</strong> actual genetic regions that have re-<br />
sponded <strong>to</strong> natural selection for climate change<br />
and, thus, <strong>to</strong> find <strong>the</strong> genes that are important for<br />
future climate-induced evolutionary changes. As<br />
both plants and animals are being studied, it is ex-<br />
pected that <strong>the</strong> project will be able <strong>to</strong> reveal gen-<br />
eral patterns regarding organisms’ ability <strong>to</strong> adapt<br />
and how quickly <strong>the</strong>y do so.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Steve Hopkin<br />
52 EVOLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE VILLUM FOUNDATION 53<br />
TECHNICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES
Aris<strong>to</strong>tle<br />
<strong>the</strong>n and now<br />
BY STEN EBBESEN AND DAVID BLOCH<br />
Sten Ebbesen (born 1946), D.Phil. 1981, is<br />
professor in Greek and Latin with special as-<br />
signments concerning <strong>the</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>telian Tra-<br />
dition at <strong>the</strong> SAXO Institute, University of<br />
Copenhagen, direc<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> Centre for <strong>the</strong><br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>telian Tradition, and member of <strong>the</strong><br />
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Let-<br />
ters. He is <strong>the</strong> author of 235 books and scien-<br />
tific articles.<br />
David Bloch (born 1975), PhD 2006, is<br />
professor in Greek and Latin at <strong>the</strong> SAXO<br />
Institute, University of Copenhagen, deputy<br />
direc<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> Centre for <strong>the</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>telian<br />
Tradition, and member of <strong>the</strong> Royal Dan-<br />
ish Academy of Sciences and Letters. He is<br />
<strong>the</strong> author of 45 books and scientific articles.<br />
In 2008, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION donat-<br />
ed DKK 5,675,000 <strong>to</strong> a three-year core-group<br />
project commencing 1 April 2009 entitled<br />
“His<strong>to</strong>ry of Philosophy in Reverse. Reading<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>tle through <strong>the</strong> lenses of scholars from<br />
<strong>the</strong> Middle Ages and <strong>the</strong> 16th-17th centuries”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> premise is <strong>to</strong> study interpretations of <strong>the</strong><br />
epoch-making Greek philosopher Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s<br />
(384-322 BC) works from <strong>the</strong> period 1150-<br />
1650 in <strong>the</strong> interests of determining what <strong>the</strong>y<br />
reveal of <strong>the</strong> thought of <strong>the</strong>ir age, and whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>the</strong>y have anything of value <strong>to</strong> offer contem-<br />
porary Aris<strong>to</strong>telian research. <strong>The</strong> donation<br />
resulted in <strong>the</strong> establishment of Centre for <strong>the</strong><br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>telian Tradition, which is staffed as fol-<br />
lows: Sten Ebbesen (direc<strong>to</strong>r), David Bloch<br />
(deputy direc<strong>to</strong>r), Jakob Fink (postdoc<strong>to</strong>ral re-<br />
searcher) and Heine Hansen (postdoc<strong>to</strong>ral re-<br />
searcher). Also: Michael Stenskjær Christensen,<br />
student assistant, and, with financing from oth-<br />
er sources, postdoc<strong>to</strong>ral researcher Ana Maria<br />
Mora-Márquez.<br />
Pla<strong>to</strong>n and Aris<strong>to</strong>tle<br />
2,377 years ago, a 17-year-old doc<strong>to</strong>r’s son from a<br />
Greek provincial <strong>to</strong>wn travelled <strong>to</strong> A<strong>the</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> study<br />
under one of <strong>the</strong> greatest philosophers of <strong>the</strong> age,<br />
Pla<strong>to</strong>. <strong>The</strong> young man was Aris<strong>to</strong>tle.<br />
Pla<strong>to</strong>’s Academy was no ordinary school: among<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r things, <strong>the</strong> principal was <strong>to</strong> receive no salary;<br />
<strong>the</strong> opportunity <strong>to</strong> take part in <strong>the</strong> search for new<br />
knowledge being reward enough, but <strong>the</strong> mem-<br />
bers of what was in effect an academic ‘club’ were<br />
expected <strong>to</strong> contribute, according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir means,<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> running of <strong>the</strong> institution. <strong>The</strong>re was no<br />
nominal duration of study, as this would have been<br />
contrary <strong>to</strong> Pla<strong>to</strong>’s fundamental premise that <strong>the</strong><br />
search for truth takes however long it takes.<br />
Pla<strong>to</strong> and Aris<strong>to</strong>tle in passionate debate in A<strong>the</strong>ns, according<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Renaissance interpretation by famous<br />
Italian architect and painter Raphael (1483-1520).<br />
Source: Wikipedia<br />
54 ARISTOTLE THEN AND NOW VELUX FOUNDATION 55<br />
HUMANITIES
Centre for <strong>the</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>telian<br />
Tradition holds a series of colloquies.<br />
<strong>The</strong> project group’s<br />
Jakob Fink is seen emphasising<br />
a point, with Katerina Ierodiakonou<br />
of A<strong>the</strong>ns University<br />
and Heine Hansen from<br />
<strong>the</strong> project group listening.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Miira Touminen<br />
In any case, Aris<strong>to</strong>tle was in no hurry <strong>to</strong> leave and actually stayed at <strong>the</strong> Acad-<br />
emy for twenty years until Pla<strong>to</strong> died in 347 BC. At that time, A<strong>the</strong>ns had<br />
a magnetic attraction for intellectuals from <strong>the</strong> whole of <strong>the</strong> Greek world,<br />
which extended almost right round <strong>the</strong> Mediterranean and <strong>the</strong> Black Sea.<br />
This created an inspiring environment for a man like Aris<strong>to</strong>tle, and after<br />
twenty years with Pla<strong>to</strong> he was ready <strong>to</strong> emerge as <strong>the</strong> world’s leading scien-<br />
tist and philosopher. He spent <strong>the</strong> next twelve years outside of A<strong>the</strong>ns, in-<br />
cluding a couple of years in Macedonia as tu<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> crown prince, who was<br />
later <strong>to</strong> become Alexander <strong>the</strong> Great. In 335, he returned <strong>to</strong> A<strong>the</strong>ns and cre-<br />
ated his own research academy, <strong>the</strong> Lykeion (lyceum). He died in 322 BC.<br />
<strong>The</strong> importance of Aris<strong>to</strong>tle<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s written legacy is vast. He was <strong>the</strong> founder of logic, biology, literary<br />
<strong>the</strong>ory and wrote <strong>the</strong> first comprehensive treatises on many o<strong>the</strong>r disciplines.<br />
Although a polymath, he never merely dabbled in subjects, and was both<br />
imaginative and logical in his reasoning. Posterity recognised his accomplish-<br />
ments, and he came <strong>to</strong> dominate European thought, education and research<br />
for two millennia.<br />
Our culture became suffused with Aris<strong>to</strong>telianism. Aris<strong>to</strong>tle pervaded our<br />
language and ideology. Our understanding of science and its methods and<br />
procedures, fundamental aspects of our vocabulary and system of ideas –<br />
our whole way of thinking is so influenced by this ancient philosopher that<br />
it would be no exaggeration <strong>to</strong> say that we are still essentially, in <strong>the</strong> 21st<br />
century, Aris<strong>to</strong>telians. It is almost inconceivable that we should be unable <strong>to</strong><br />
distinguish between generalities and specifics or between <strong>the</strong> actual and <strong>the</strong><br />
potential, but <strong>the</strong>se and many of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r distinctions we draw are <strong>the</strong> work<br />
of Aris<strong>to</strong>tle.<br />
This is why so many scholars <strong>to</strong> this day have good reason for devoting a<br />
great deal of time <strong>to</strong> studying Aris<strong>to</strong>tle: he is his<strong>to</strong>rically important, but not<br />
only that: he is still a source of philosophical inspiration. Having familiarised<br />
oneself with his thoughts on ethics, say, or on <strong>the</strong> relationship between lan-<br />
guage and thought, one is well equipped <strong>to</strong> form a personal opinion on such<br />
matters.<br />
Each year sees <strong>the</strong> publication of excellent books and articles on Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s<br />
works and thoughts, but <strong>the</strong>y are almost always flawed in <strong>the</strong> same way: <strong>the</strong>y<br />
fail <strong>to</strong> take account of earlier scholars who might be able <strong>to</strong> offer <strong>the</strong>m a few<br />
perspectives that happen <strong>to</strong> be out of vogue in <strong>the</strong> present day and age.<br />
Earlier scholars<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is in fact a great deal of inspiration <strong>to</strong> be found for modern scholars of<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>tle in sources dating back <strong>to</strong> an era in which Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s writings were<br />
standard textbooks at <strong>the</strong> higher institutions of education in Western Eu-<br />
rope, i.e. from circa 1150 <strong>to</strong> 1650. <strong>The</strong>se writings have never been studied<br />
so intently as <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>the</strong>n. <strong>The</strong> medieval preoccupation with Aris<strong>to</strong>tle was<br />
characterised by a desire not only <strong>to</strong> understand him, but simply <strong>to</strong> under-<br />
stand, <strong>to</strong> learn what was true and real, and his writings proved <strong>the</strong>ir worth<br />
<strong>The</strong> Centre’s logo is a stylised<br />
version of a fresco in a Greek<br />
church, featuring Aris<strong>to</strong>tle.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fresco is from <strong>the</strong> 17th<br />
century and <strong>the</strong> artist has<br />
identified Aris<strong>to</strong>tle as a nobleman<br />
by dressing him in a<br />
fine turban. A pho<strong>to</strong>graph of<br />
<strong>the</strong> fresco is seen in <strong>the</strong> background<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> pho<strong>to</strong>graph<br />
from <strong>the</strong> colloquy on <strong>the</strong> opposite<br />
page. Logo: Martin<br />
Emborg<br />
56 ARISTOTLE THEN AND NOW VELUX FOUNDATION 57<br />
HUMANITIES
Teaching scene from <strong>the</strong> University of Leuven in what is<br />
now Belgium. <strong>The</strong> teacher, <strong>the</strong> only seated person present,<br />
is delivering a lecture on Aris<strong>to</strong>tle. <strong>The</strong> picture was<br />
drawn by a student in 1467, but apart from <strong>the</strong> unusual<br />
uniform worn by <strong>the</strong> students, <strong>the</strong> scene at o<strong>the</strong>r universities<br />
in <strong>the</strong> middle ages would not have been much<br />
different. Reproduced with <strong>the</strong> permission of <strong>the</strong> University<br />
of Aberdeen<br />
58 ARISTOTLE THEN AND NOW<br />
time and time again in attempts <strong>to</strong> make sense of<br />
aspects of logic, ethics, zoology, metaphysics and<br />
many o<strong>the</strong>r disciplines. <strong>The</strong>re was a reasonable<br />
expectation that making a thorough study of his<br />
writings would be rewarded, and so readings of<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>tle were taken very seriously indeed. <strong>The</strong><br />
texts were approached on <strong>the</strong> premise that <strong>the</strong>y<br />
held something valuable; it was merely a ques-<br />
tion of finding <strong>the</strong> right key <strong>to</strong> interpreting <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
This is not a bad basis for interpretation, nor one<br />
al<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r abandoned <strong>to</strong>day, although <strong>the</strong> major-<br />
ity of modern scholars soon conclude that some<br />
Aris<strong>to</strong>telian thoughts and arguments no longer<br />
pass muster.<br />
<strong>The</strong> early scholars of Aris<strong>to</strong>tle can <strong>the</strong>refore be<br />
usefully studied in two ways.<br />
First, <strong>the</strong>y can be studied as independent think-<br />
ers, who simply take Aris<strong>to</strong>telian writings and<br />
thoughts as <strong>the</strong>ir point of departure. Many early<br />
scholars were in fact first-rate <strong>the</strong>oreticians <strong>the</strong>m-<br />
selves, and often make for useful reading in that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y instruct us on <strong>the</strong>ir own bygone ideologies<br />
while spurring modern reflection. A home-grown<br />
example would be readings of Danish philosopher<br />
Boethius of Dacia’s gem of a work entitled On <strong>the</strong><br />
Highest Good from circa 1275, which is inspired<br />
by Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s Ethics. This work is perhaps less than<br />
instructive about <strong>the</strong> ancient Greek’s works, but<br />
instructive all <strong>the</strong> same.<br />
Second, we may study <strong>the</strong>se works for <strong>the</strong>ir Aris<strong>to</strong>-<br />
telian scholasticism, and ask: Given <strong>the</strong>ir different<br />
premises, were early scholars able <strong>to</strong> see something<br />
in his writings which modern scholars overlook?<br />
Have <strong>the</strong>y taken any interesting angles of ap-<br />
proach <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> text which modern readers might<br />
have forgotten? Do <strong>the</strong>y employ techniques that<br />
might be useful <strong>to</strong> take on board ei<strong>the</strong>r as-is or<br />
with some modification?<br />
Centre for <strong>the</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>telian Tradition<br />
At <strong>the</strong> Centre for <strong>the</strong> Aris<strong>to</strong>telian Tradition we<br />
do both. <strong>The</strong> first-named form of study has been<br />
practised for a long time, but <strong>the</strong>re is still potential<br />
for a great many exciting discoveries, given <strong>the</strong> vol-<br />
ume of unexamined texts that exist only as a few<br />
manuscripts from <strong>the</strong> late Middle Ages. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />
all in Latin, and penned in a script which only a few<br />
people <strong>to</strong>day are able <strong>to</strong> decipher. But this is some-<br />
thing we can do at our centre, so one of our prod-<br />
ucts is print editions of hi<strong>the</strong>r<strong>to</strong> unprinted works<br />
on Aris<strong>to</strong>telian philosophy. Poring over a manu-<br />
script which may not have been read for more than<br />
500 years is nothing short of thrilling!<br />
<strong>The</strong> second form of study is what makes our<br />
project original. We have found several types of<br />
productive thoughts and readings which would<br />
be worth pursuing fur<strong>the</strong>r. To name a couple of<br />
examples:<br />
1) Aris<strong>to</strong>tle was <strong>the</strong> first <strong>to</strong> attempt <strong>to</strong> describe<br />
<strong>the</strong> world around us systematically. To that end,<br />
he created various models for organising <strong>the</strong> dif-<br />
ferent parts of <strong>the</strong> world. One of <strong>the</strong> most fun-<br />
damental models is known as <strong>the</strong> doctrine of<br />
Categories: Aris<strong>to</strong>tle classified all that exists in 10<br />
categories – substance, quantity, quality, relation<br />
etc. – which proved an enduring concept. True,<br />
<strong>the</strong> great German philosopher Immanuel Kant<br />
(1724-1804) criticised Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s classifications<br />
as being arbitrary, yet was still unable <strong>to</strong> conceive<br />
of a philosophy without a <strong>the</strong>ory of categories,<br />
and so had <strong>to</strong> devise his own. In <strong>the</strong> Middle Ages,<br />
almost everyone accepted Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s ten catego-<br />
ries, but was like Kant aware that <strong>the</strong> Philosopher<br />
by <strong>the</strong> name of Aris<strong>to</strong>tle had not explained why<br />
<strong>the</strong>re were exactly ten and only those specific ten<br />
categories. <strong>The</strong>re were, however, many who be-<br />
lieved <strong>the</strong>y might come up with an explanation,<br />
but no proposal found a general following, and<br />
so a discussion evolved as <strong>to</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r it was pos-<br />
sible <strong>to</strong> prove that Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s classification was<br />
correct. Several medieval attempts at justifying<br />
<strong>the</strong> Categories have been rediscovered by modern<br />
scholars, yet <strong>the</strong>y lack <strong>the</strong>ir predecessors’ well-<br />
developed awareness of <strong>the</strong> problems entailed by<br />
each of <strong>the</strong> attempts, or by making <strong>the</strong> attempt in<br />
<strong>the</strong> first place. So, <strong>the</strong>re is much <strong>to</strong> learn from <strong>the</strong><br />
early scholars! And it matters <strong>to</strong> do so! After all,<br />
this concerns how we understand all that exists!<br />
2) In one of his writings, Aris<strong>to</strong>tle offers useful ad-<br />
vice on how <strong>to</strong> reveal and counter fallacious argu-<br />
ments in a discussion, but also provides tricks for<br />
how <strong>to</strong> give as good as you get if your opponent<br />
is not quite playing fair. You might for instance<br />
exploit <strong>the</strong> fact that out of loyalty <strong>to</strong> his teacher he<br />
feels obliged <strong>to</strong> defend <strong>the</strong>ories which normal au-<br />
diences would think are off <strong>the</strong> rails. Why would<br />
<strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r of logic do such a thing? Help debat-<br />
ers <strong>to</strong> cheat! Twelfth-century scholars had a good<br />
idea why, because in Paris at that time <strong>the</strong> situa-<br />
tion was probably not unlike Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s A<strong>the</strong>ns, in<br />
that <strong>the</strong> pupils of <strong>the</strong> leading philosophers met in<br />
public debates, where each of <strong>the</strong> parties felt duty<br />
bound <strong>to</strong> defend <strong>the</strong> master’s <strong>the</strong>ories, even if it<br />
sounded <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> untrained audience as if <strong>the</strong>y had<br />
lost <strong>the</strong> plot.<br />
Within <strong>the</strong> scope of our project period, we only<br />
have <strong>the</strong> time <strong>to</strong> run pilot studies of <strong>the</strong> philoso-<br />
pher’s vast authorship and <strong>the</strong> colossal volume of<br />
commentaries, but we are not in any doubt that<br />
we are on<strong>to</strong> something that holds huge potential<br />
going forward: for a whole new type of Aris<strong>to</strong>te-<br />
lian research combining modern analytical <strong>to</strong>ols<br />
with <strong>the</strong> medieval scholars’ assiduous interpreta-<br />
tive models and <strong>the</strong>ir appreciation of <strong>the</strong> enduring<br />
importance of Aris<strong>to</strong>tle’s writings.<br />
VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
59<br />
HUMANITIES
Political attitudes<br />
and behaviour:<br />
nature or nurture?<br />
BY ROBERT KLEMMENSEN AND ASBJØRN SONNE NØRGAARD<br />
Robert Klemmensen<br />
(born 1972), associate<br />
professor in political sci-<br />
ence at <strong>the</strong> University of<br />
Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Denmark. He<br />
has previously done research on<br />
governments’ negotiated policy<br />
settlements, government respon-<br />
siveness <strong>to</strong> voter demands, and<br />
political behaviour and attitude<br />
formation, at an elite as well as<br />
at a mass level.<br />
Asbjørn Sonne Nør-<br />
gaard (born 1966),<br />
professor in political sci-<br />
ence at <strong>the</strong> University<br />
of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Denmark.<br />
Among o<strong>the</strong>r things he has stud-<br />
ied <strong>the</strong> interaction between par-<br />
liament and organised interests,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> role of <strong>the</strong> media in poli-<br />
tics. His long-standing interest<br />
in attitude formation and politi-<br />
cal participation at an elite level<br />
now extends <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> mass level.<br />
In 2009 <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION granted DKK 5,435,000<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> project “Nature or Nurture - What Determines Political<br />
Attitudes, Values and Behaviour?”. Traditionally, <strong>the</strong> focus in<br />
political science has been on environmental fac<strong>to</strong>rs such as early<br />
childhood socialisation, culture, and social and economic status<br />
<strong>to</strong> account for political attitudes and behaviour. In psychology<br />
and behavioural genetics it has long been recognised that biol-<br />
ogy also influences people’s values and behaviour. By comparing<br />
fraternal and identical twins, <strong>the</strong> project examines if and how<br />
heritability influences individual political traits. <strong>The</strong> project sur-<br />
veys <strong>the</strong> political attitudes and behaviours of more than 3,500<br />
20-40-year-old twins over a four-year period. <strong>The</strong> initial results<br />
show that genetic fac<strong>to</strong>rs play a role in political attitude forma-<br />
tion and <strong>the</strong> individual’s inclination <strong>to</strong> be politically active.<br />
Thanks <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> grant, Dr. Sara Binzer Hobolt of Oxford Univer-<br />
sity has been able <strong>to</strong> join <strong>the</strong> research group under a part-time<br />
professorship at <strong>the</strong> University of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Denmark. <strong>The</strong> grant<br />
has also made it possible <strong>to</strong> recruit Dr. Peter Thisted Dinesen as<br />
a postdoc<strong>to</strong>ral assistant professor. <strong>The</strong> Danish Agency for Sci-<br />
ence, Technology and Innovation has supported <strong>the</strong> hiring of<br />
two PhD students, who are now working on dissertations re-<br />
lated <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> project. Recently, <strong>the</strong> Dean of <strong>the</strong> Faculty of Social<br />
Science at <strong>the</strong> University of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Denmark decided that a<br />
research programme developed on <strong>the</strong> basis of <strong>the</strong> project sup-<br />
ported by <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION is <strong>to</strong> be a priority field<br />
of high international standard.<br />
Since <strong>the</strong> era of Enlightenment, social sciences have largely assumed that<br />
human behaviour, feelings and values could be explained by externally<br />
given fac<strong>to</strong>rs. Man is born as a ‘clean slate’, a ‘tabula rasa’. Gradually, <strong>the</strong><br />
slate fills up via early socialisation at home, <strong>the</strong>n among friends, at edu-<br />
cational institutions and with experiences from work and family life. All<br />
<strong>the</strong>se elements help people shape <strong>the</strong>ir outlook on life.<br />
According <strong>to</strong> this classic paradigm, we should be able <strong>to</strong> explain our at-<br />
titudes and values by differences in <strong>the</strong> socialisation <strong>to</strong> which we have<br />
been exposed. It follows that people who have been exposed <strong>to</strong> identical<br />
socialisation and have similar experiences should develop similar values<br />
and attitudes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> challenge<br />
Our project challenges <strong>the</strong>se assumptions. We ask <strong>to</strong> what extent biology<br />
can explain why people develop different attitudes; in o<strong>the</strong>r words, could<br />
genetic disposition play a role in addition <strong>to</strong> external socialisation?<br />
<strong>The</strong> first step in our investigation is <strong>to</strong> examine whe<strong>the</strong>r attitudes and<br />
values are heritable at all. If <strong>the</strong>y turn out <strong>to</strong> be partially heritable, <strong>the</strong><br />
assumption of socialisation as <strong>the</strong> only cause of attitudes and values must<br />
be rejected.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Danish Twin Registry at<br />
<strong>the</strong> University of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Denmark is <strong>the</strong> oldest of its<br />
kind in <strong>the</strong> world, and as such<br />
a mine of information for scientists<br />
interested in <strong>the</strong> significance<br />
of heritability and environment<br />
in <strong>the</strong> context of ageing<br />
and predisposition <strong>to</strong> certain<br />
diseases. <strong>The</strong> registry is<br />
now also being used <strong>to</strong> investigate<br />
how heritability and environment<br />
influence political<br />
attitudes and political involvement.<br />
Logo: <strong>The</strong> Danish Twin<br />
Registry<br />
Identical twins have not only<br />
been raised by <strong>the</strong> same parents,<br />
genetically <strong>the</strong>y are also<br />
100% identical. Both fac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
may indicate that <strong>the</strong>y develop<br />
identical political attitudes<br />
and interests, because heritability<br />
<strong>to</strong>o plays a role. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Colourbox.com<br />
60 POLITICAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR VELUX FOUNDATION 61<br />
HUMANITIES
Twin studies<br />
In cooperation with <strong>the</strong> Danish Twin Registry we<br />
asked Danish twins about how <strong>the</strong>y participate in<br />
politics, where <strong>the</strong>y place <strong>the</strong>mselves on a right-<br />
left political scale, how interested <strong>the</strong>y are in poli-<br />
tics and many o<strong>the</strong>r questions about social values<br />
and political attitudes.<br />
Twin studies are particularly well suited <strong>to</strong> iden-<br />
tifying heritability in a given area. In this type<br />
of study, we compare responses from fraternal<br />
twins with responses from identical twins. If <strong>the</strong><br />
responses from <strong>the</strong> identical twins are more uni-<br />
form than <strong>the</strong> responses from <strong>the</strong> fraternal twins,<br />
we have reason <strong>to</strong> believe that <strong>the</strong>re is a genetic<br />
component in <strong>the</strong> expression of attitude.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are two reasons for believing that this ‘ho-<br />
mogeneity’ is due <strong>to</strong> heritability: (1) identical<br />
twins are 100% identical, whereas fraternal twins<br />
on average are 50% identical; (2) each set of twins<br />
is exposed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> same early socialisation in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
nuclear families. Socialisation <strong>the</strong>refore cannot<br />
explain <strong>the</strong> more uniform responses among <strong>the</strong><br />
identical twins, which leaves only <strong>the</strong> ‘homogene-<br />
ity’ in biology <strong>to</strong> explain why <strong>the</strong> identical twins<br />
are more alike.<br />
<strong>The</strong> initial results<br />
So what do <strong>the</strong> initial Danish twin studies show?<br />
Surprisingly, it turns out that <strong>the</strong> hereditary com-<br />
ponent in political participation is quite large. We<br />
have measured political participation in activities<br />
such as taking part in a demonstration, writing<br />
<strong>to</strong> a politician etc. Approximately half of <strong>the</strong> vari-<br />
ation we measure can be explained by a genetic<br />
component.<br />
<strong>The</strong> fact that we find largely <strong>the</strong> same results in<br />
American twin studies conducted by our partners<br />
makes <strong>the</strong> result even more sensational. It is re-<br />
62 POLITICAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR<br />
markable that heritability is significant for politi-<br />
cal participation in a political culture that is so dif-<br />
ferent from <strong>the</strong> Danish political culture.<br />
In addition, we find that ‘political sense of effi-<br />
cacy’, i.e. <strong>the</strong> feeling that one can make a differ-<br />
ence in politics, <strong>to</strong> a very great extent stems from<br />
<strong>the</strong> same basic genetic component that influences<br />
political participation.<br />
This is a very interesting result for research on<br />
political participation. Earlier research has point-<br />
ed out that <strong>the</strong> feeling of being able <strong>to</strong> make a<br />
difference in politics is quite decisive for whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
individuals want <strong>to</strong> engage in politics. <strong>The</strong> notion<br />
has been that <strong>the</strong> sense of political efficacy is so-<br />
cialised and something you can acquire given <strong>the</strong><br />
right experiences and <strong>the</strong> right influences from<br />
your surroundings. Our research shows that <strong>the</strong><br />
reason a correlation was established between <strong>the</strong><br />
two phenomena is that <strong>the</strong>y stem <strong>to</strong> a large ex-<br />
tent from <strong>the</strong> same latent genetic fac<strong>to</strong>r. In o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
words, we are genetically predisposed both <strong>to</strong> a<br />
great sense of political efficacy and <strong>to</strong> being politi-<br />
cally active.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r surprising result is that much of <strong>the</strong> vari-<br />
ation in political interest can also be explained by<br />
heredity. For those who are politically interested,<br />
approximately 50% of <strong>the</strong> variation can be ac-<br />
counted for genetically. Again, <strong>the</strong> result among<br />
American twins is remarkably close <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Danish<br />
results.<br />
Future outcomes<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> next few years we will be developing <strong>the</strong><br />
project via two paths: (1) We will be inves-<br />
tigating how personality inter-<br />
acts with genetics<br />
in forming<br />
political<br />
Political interest – e.g. taking part in a political demonstration is not only a question of socialisation. Political interest is also<br />
genetically determined. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Raadal<br />
attitudes and values. We know from psychology<br />
that personality traits (e.g. extro- or introversion,<br />
conscientiousness or carelessness etc.) are highly<br />
hereditary – it is very difficult <strong>to</strong> teach an intro-<br />
vert <strong>to</strong> become extrovert. Our idea is that <strong>the</strong><br />
influence of genetics on political behaviour and<br />
attitudes is partly explained by <strong>the</strong> fact that genet-<br />
ics affect people’s personality, which affects <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
attitudes and disposition <strong>to</strong> be politically active.<br />
(2) We will be investigating how <strong>the</strong> environment<br />
people move around in interacts with both <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
personality and with genetics. <strong>The</strong> idea is <strong>to</strong> in-<br />
vestigate under which conditions genetic fac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
are especially important,<br />
and under which con-<br />
ditions environmental<br />
fac<strong>to</strong>rs are significant in terms of explaining po-<br />
litical behaviour and political attitudes.<br />
Our grant from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
allows us <strong>to</strong> follow <strong>the</strong> same twins over several<br />
years, and we will be <strong>the</strong> first in <strong>the</strong> world <strong>to</strong> study<br />
how nature and nurture affect political attitudes<br />
and behaviour from a dynamic perspective. One<br />
of many interesting questions is whe<strong>the</strong>r twins<br />
who were previously very similar become increas-<br />
ingly dissimilar as <strong>the</strong>y complete different educa-<br />
tions and gain different life experiences. <strong>The</strong> in-<br />
terplay between nature and nurture is precisely a<br />
dynamic process, and it will be interesting <strong>to</strong> see<br />
if this process also affects <strong>the</strong> formation of politi-<br />
cal attitudes, <strong>the</strong> sense of political efficacy and <strong>the</strong><br />
inclination <strong>to</strong> be politically active.<br />
VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
63<br />
HUMANITIES
Medieval<br />
Language<br />
on <strong>the</strong> Web<br />
BY MERETE K. JØRGENSEN<br />
Merete K. Jørgensen (born 1951), MA (Copenhagen) in Danish and his<strong>to</strong>ry. She has worked for <strong>the</strong> Dictionary of<br />
Old Danish project since 1984; as edi<strong>to</strong>r-in-chief since 1991.<br />
In 2008, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION grant-<br />
ed DKK 1,378,405 <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> project “Documen-<br />
tation of <strong>the</strong> Danish language from 1100 <strong>to</strong><br />
1515 on <strong>the</strong> Internet”. <strong>The</strong> aim of <strong>the</strong> pro-<br />
ject was <strong>to</strong> digitise <strong>the</strong> citation-slip collec-<br />
tion, numbering nearly one million slips in<br />
<strong>to</strong>tal, that forms <strong>the</strong> basis for edi<strong>to</strong>rial work<br />
on <strong>the</strong> Dictionary of Old Danish. <strong>The</strong> project<br />
also included <strong>the</strong> construction of a structured<br />
database, and production of a website with<br />
sophisticated search functions and help texts.<br />
64 MEDIEVAL LANGUAGE ON THE WEB<br />
A number of advanced search options based<br />
on <strong>the</strong> dictionary’s very comprehensive and<br />
detailed inven<strong>to</strong>ry of sources were developed,<br />
enabling various criteria <strong>to</strong> be combined, so<br />
that searches can be refined and very precise.<br />
<strong>The</strong> process of digitisation and <strong>the</strong> subsequent<br />
development of <strong>the</strong> database and website were<br />
outsourced, while planning, moni<strong>to</strong>ring and<br />
quality control were tasks undertaken by <strong>the</strong><br />
dictionary’s two edi<strong>to</strong>rs, Merete K. Jørgensen<br />
and Marita Akhøj Nielsen.<br />
Why do we need <strong>to</strong> know Old Danish?<br />
Danish identity is currently under much<br />
discussion. Although this article is not an<br />
opinion piece, it does concern <strong>the</strong> concept<br />
of identity. If we are not acquainted with<br />
our past, how can we preserve our identity?<br />
Maintaining and deepening our his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
awareness needs <strong>to</strong> be done on a scholarly<br />
basis so as not <strong>to</strong> create myths. We have<br />
<strong>to</strong> explore his<strong>to</strong>rical written sources, and in order <strong>to</strong> understand <strong>the</strong>m<br />
properly, a thorough knowledge of <strong>the</strong> language from various linguistic<br />
periods is essential. As far as <strong>the</strong> Middle Ages are concerned, knowledge<br />
of <strong>the</strong> relevant medieval languages is <strong>the</strong> gateway <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> period’s poetry,<br />
his<strong>to</strong>riography, view of justice, medicine, ideas about education, religious<br />
life and world-view. <strong>The</strong> period, referred <strong>to</strong> in his<strong>to</strong>rical linguistics as Old<br />
Danish, covers <strong>the</strong> years 1100 <strong>to</strong> 1515. It is a very long period, covering<br />
almost half of those centuries for which it makes sense <strong>to</strong> talk of a fully<br />
developed and au<strong>to</strong>nomous Danish language.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Dictionary of Old Danish<br />
Staff at <strong>the</strong> Dictionary of Old Danish have spent many years working <strong>to</strong><br />
provide <strong>the</strong> foundation for a scholarly description of <strong>the</strong> Danish language<br />
during <strong>the</strong> Middle Ages. In real terms, this foundation comprises a cita-<br />
tion-slip collection, based on all <strong>the</strong> extant texts from <strong>the</strong> Middle Ages<br />
written in Danish. Every single word in <strong>the</strong>se sources, whe<strong>the</strong>r it occurs<br />
thousands of times or only once, has been copied on<strong>to</strong> citation slips. For<br />
very common words, only carefully selected examples have been included.<br />
<strong>The</strong> collection comprises nearly one million slips, grouped under approx.<br />
30,000 headwords. On each slip <strong>the</strong>re is a well-defined text quotation with<br />
a reference <strong>to</strong> its source, <strong>the</strong> headword in a normalised orthography and<br />
information about its word-class. <strong>The</strong> edi<strong>to</strong>rs have written extra information<br />
on many of <strong>the</strong> slips clarifying each word’s spelling, inflection or meaning.<br />
Some of <strong>the</strong> Old Danish texts, particularly <strong>the</strong> provincial laws, are preserved<br />
in many manuscripts that differ from one ano<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>the</strong> citation slips<br />
include <strong>the</strong> readings from <strong>the</strong>se o<strong>the</strong>r manuscripts. O<strong>the</strong>r texts have been<br />
translated, typically from Latin, Swedish or German, and <strong>the</strong> wording in<br />
<strong>the</strong>se foreign original texts is also included. Finally, references are sometimes<br />
provided <strong>to</strong> recent scholarly literature.<br />
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65<br />
HUMANITIES
So, <strong>the</strong> information collected on <strong>the</strong>se slips is a veritable<br />
goldmine, and <strong>the</strong>ir scholarly value is <strong>the</strong>refore priceless.<br />
Information about <strong>the</strong> sources on which <strong>the</strong> dictionary is<br />
based has been collected in a very extensive source list that<br />
also acts as an overview of everything that has been pre-<br />
served in Danish from <strong>the</strong> Middle Ages. Here information<br />
can be found on <strong>the</strong> dating of <strong>the</strong> sources, genre, modern<br />
editions (if any), archival details and <strong>the</strong> identification of<br />
parallel manuscripts in Danish as well as of relevant origi-<br />
nal texts in o<strong>the</strong>r languages.<br />
Digitisation<br />
When <strong>the</strong> dictionary project was rehoused in a building<br />
next <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal Library’s “Black Diamond”, we began<br />
thinking about digitising <strong>the</strong> collection. <strong>The</strong> move had<br />
brought <strong>the</strong> question of security in<strong>to</strong> focus, and plans for<br />
making a backup copy of <strong>the</strong> collection were soon devel-<br />
oped fur<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong> become plans for making a digital copy<br />
and for publishing <strong>the</strong> collection on <strong>the</strong> Web and using<br />
<strong>the</strong> digitised citation slips in future editing of <strong>the</strong> diction-<br />
ary articles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> necessary financial support came in 2008 from <strong>the</strong><br />
VELUX FOUNDATION and made <strong>the</strong> project “Docu-<br />
mentation of <strong>the</strong> Danish language from 1100 <strong>to</strong> 1515 on<br />
<strong>the</strong> Internet” possible. In addition <strong>to</strong> being aimed at any<br />
interested non-specialist, <strong>the</strong> website is geared <strong>to</strong>wards<br />
researchers and students investigating <strong>the</strong> Scandinavian<br />
languages and <strong>the</strong>ir his<strong>to</strong>ry, and cultural, literary and reli-<br />
gious his<strong>to</strong>ry more generally. After being digitised, all <strong>the</strong><br />
slips existed as image and text files, and a website was set<br />
up <strong>to</strong> present <strong>the</strong> citation slips with related search options.<br />
<strong>The</strong> website interface is designed <strong>to</strong> be as simple and in-<br />
Rimkrøniken, <strong>the</strong> Rhymed Chronicle, which in<br />
1495 was <strong>the</strong> first book printed in Danish. It<br />
contains <strong>the</strong> his<strong>to</strong>ry of <strong>the</strong> Danish kings up <strong>to</strong><br />
and including Christian I <strong>to</strong>ld in verse. Here we<br />
see <strong>the</strong> beginning of Margrete I’s s<strong>to</strong>ry (p5r =<br />
15. quire, <strong>the</strong> front of leaf 5). She relates that<br />
although women are frail, she herself became<br />
ruler of <strong>the</strong> Nordic kingdoms. Pho<strong>to</strong>: <strong>The</strong> Royal<br />
Library, Copenhagen<br />
Left page: Codex Holmiensis K48, which among o<strong>the</strong>r things contains medical texts by Henrik Harpestreng, dates back<br />
<strong>to</strong> c.1300. Here we see page 10 rec<strong>to</strong> (= <strong>the</strong> front of leaf 10). In <strong>the</strong> middle of <strong>the</strong> page <strong>the</strong> paragraph about Porrus or<br />
chives begins. It says that chives are a good remedy if you are spitting blood, and that <strong>the</strong>y help women who are bleeding<br />
from <strong>the</strong> abdomen. In <strong>the</strong> margin we can see later writings, <strong>the</strong> first is “blot spøtte” (blood-spitting). Pho<strong>to</strong>: <strong>The</strong> Royal<br />
Library, S<strong>to</strong>ckholm<br />
66 MEDIEVAL LANGUAGE ON THE WEB VELUX FOUNDATION 67<br />
HUMANITIES
In 1997, <strong>the</strong> Dictionary of Old Danish, <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>The</strong> Society for Danish Language and Literature, moved<br />
<strong>to</strong> Fisken (“<strong>the</strong> fish”), <strong>the</strong> small white building next <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal Library. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Schmidt Hammer Lassen / DSL<br />
tuitive as possible, and extensive help pages have<br />
been included with instructions and guidelines<br />
on searching, information about <strong>the</strong> material and<br />
also about Old Danish.<br />
Initially, <strong>the</strong> idea was <strong>to</strong> operate only with searches<br />
for headwords. However, a number of advanced<br />
searches were made possible by linking <strong>the</strong> in-<br />
formation available in <strong>the</strong> dictionary source-list<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> abbreviations on each citation slip that act<br />
as references <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> sources. When searching it is<br />
possible <strong>to</strong> define <strong>the</strong> time period, subject matter<br />
and source (or group of sources) as desired. Fur-<br />
<strong>the</strong>rmore, searches for sources can be restricted<br />
<strong>to</strong> specific periods and subjects. It is possible <strong>to</strong><br />
perform very complex searches by combining <strong>the</strong><br />
headword, source, period and subject matter. For<br />
example, if we want <strong>to</strong> study <strong>the</strong> occurrence of a<br />
certain word at different stages, we can search for<br />
it in specific periods of time; or if we are interested<br />
in <strong>the</strong> development of legal concepts, <strong>the</strong>n we can<br />
find all <strong>the</strong> words with a specific suffix in <strong>the</strong> later<br />
law texts; or if we want <strong>to</strong> conduct detailed stud-<br />
ies, we can investigate <strong>the</strong> entire vocabulary of a<br />
particular source. Users can define <strong>the</strong>ir search<br />
profiles entirely as <strong>the</strong>y wish. This goldmine can<br />
be found at: http://gammeldanskordbog.dk/<br />
Future plans<br />
By publishing <strong>the</strong> citation-slip collection on <strong>the</strong><br />
Web, we have come a long way <strong>to</strong>wards making<br />
<strong>the</strong> medieval world intelligible <strong>to</strong> modern people.<br />
But <strong>the</strong> slip collection only provides a <strong>to</strong>ol, and<br />
is not in itself a complete linguistic description<br />
of Old Danish. We will only have this when <strong>the</strong><br />
edi<strong>to</strong>rs have processed <strong>the</strong> material and shaped it<br />
in<strong>to</strong> dictionary articles. During this processing,<br />
<strong>the</strong> digital slips will also be utilised. Links <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
relevant slips will be used in <strong>the</strong> dictionary articles<br />
instead of traditional citations. <strong>The</strong> website of <strong>the</strong><br />
citation-slip collection will thus function along-<br />
side a new site, currently being planned, that will<br />
present <strong>the</strong> edited dictionary articles.<br />
<strong>The</strong> front page of <strong>the</strong> Old Danish citation-slip collection on <strong>the</strong> Web. On <strong>the</strong> left is <strong>the</strong> entry point <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> pages where help is available, and in <strong>the</strong> middle it is possible <strong>to</strong> start searching straightaway<br />
Here is a search with <strong>the</strong> following search profile: early quotations from diplomas and law-texts with<br />
<strong>the</strong> suffix -dom. <strong>The</strong> first quotation on <strong>the</strong> word “anøthighdom” (slavery) can be seen in <strong>the</strong> middle<br />
68 MEDIEVAL LANGUAGE ON THE WEB VELUX FOUNDATION 69<br />
HUMANITIES
Osteoarthritis<br />
of <strong>the</strong> knee<br />
and weight loss<br />
BY HENNING BLIDDAL Henning Bliddal (born 1952), MD 1986, specialist in rheuma<strong>to</strong>logy<br />
1989, senior consultant in rheuma<strong>to</strong>logy 1990, professor 1997. Clin-<br />
ical professor in rheuma<strong>to</strong>logy and arthritis at <strong>the</strong> Parker Institute,<br />
Frederiksberg Hospital and University of Copenhagen, and assistant<br />
professor at SMI, Aalborg University. Since March 2011, head of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Parker Institute. Special research interests in osteoarthritis and<br />
diagnostic imaging of rheuma<strong>to</strong>logical diseases.<br />
In 2007, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION granted DKK<br />
5,100,000 for <strong>the</strong> project “Is deterioration of osteoarthritis<br />
preventable?”, and <strong>the</strong>reby became <strong>the</strong> main donor <strong>to</strong>wards<br />
<strong>the</strong> Parker Institute’s studies of <strong>the</strong> influence of weight loss on<br />
knee osteoarthritis. <strong>The</strong> idea was <strong>to</strong> give a large group of pa-<br />
tients with concomitant osteoarthritis of <strong>the</strong> knee and clinical<br />
obesity treatment involving high weight reduction, which re-<br />
sults in a relatively substantial improvement in knee function.<br />
<strong>The</strong> studies will establish whe<strong>the</strong>r this improvement is reflect-<br />
ed in <strong>the</strong> tissue surrounding <strong>the</strong> knee, i.e. cartilage, bone and<br />
muscle. Originally 192 patients were recruited for <strong>the</strong> project,<br />
and after approx. three years around 150 are still taking part<br />
in one of <strong>the</strong> longest-running studies <strong>to</strong> date of <strong>the</strong> influence<br />
of weight reduction on knee osteoarthritis. Aside from Hen-<br />
ning Bliddal, <strong>the</strong> research team is made up of Pia Christensen<br />
and Arne Astrup (dieticians), Robin Christensen (statistician),<br />
Mikael Boesen and Henrik Gudbergsen (MR scanning), Søren<br />
Torp-Pedersen and Birgit Falk Riecke (ultrasound diagnos-<br />
tics), Marius Henriksen and Jens Aaboe (gait analysis), Else<br />
Bartels (biochemistry), and <strong>the</strong> project is collaborating with<br />
<strong>the</strong> universities of Lund, Leeds and Tasmania.<br />
Osteoarthritis, on account of its prevalence alone, is a significant<br />
problem for <strong>the</strong> everyday life of <strong>the</strong> population. <strong>The</strong> problem is so<br />
widespread that <strong>the</strong> World Health Organization regards it as a main<br />
cause of impaired mobility in <strong>the</strong> elderly.<br />
In a Dutch study, where a cohort representing a wide age-range<br />
underwent X-rays of virtually <strong>the</strong> entire skeletal system, signs of in-<br />
cipient osteoarthritis in different joints were detected in individuals<br />
as young as 20, and with high age, almost everyone will have at least<br />
one joint affected by osteoarthritis.<br />
<strong>The</strong> importance of <strong>the</strong> knee<br />
Osteoarthritis causes different kinds of problems depending on<br />
which joint or joints are affected. However, of all <strong>the</strong> joints in <strong>the</strong><br />
body, <strong>the</strong> knee joint is <strong>the</strong> most significant for <strong>the</strong> individual’s social<br />
functioning. A well-functioning knee joint is needed for standing<br />
up without appliances or assistance, for coping with stairs or dis-<br />
tance walking etc.<br />
Among people aged 55+, around 10% of <strong>the</strong> population suffer per-<br />
sistent pain from knee osteoarthritis, and in old age up <strong>to</strong> one third<br />
of people will be dependent on help from o<strong>the</strong>rs because of prob-<br />
lems with <strong>the</strong>ir knee joints. This makes knee osteoarthritis <strong>the</strong> com-<br />
monest, treatment-requiring joint disease, and <strong>the</strong> one associated<br />
with <strong>the</strong> highest costs <strong>to</strong> society.<br />
<strong>The</strong> symp<strong>to</strong>ms are partly pain, partly reduced mobility. <strong>The</strong> joint<br />
cartilage has no nerve supply; <strong>the</strong> pain of osteoarthritis comes from<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r tissues. <strong>The</strong> focal point is particularly <strong>the</strong> bone immediately<br />
beneath <strong>the</strong> cartilage, which can be assessed by MR scanning.<br />
Basic <strong>the</strong>rapy: weight reduction<br />
In some people, <strong>the</strong>ir knees are so affected that surgery <strong>to</strong> replace<br />
<strong>the</strong> knee joint is <strong>the</strong> only treatment available, bearing in mind that<br />
such surgery is not critical for survival. Many patients are able <strong>to</strong> do<br />
something <strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>to</strong> ei<strong>the</strong>r delay or completely avoid surgery.<br />
Approximately half of all sufferers are also obese, a complication<br />
which is becoming increasingly widespread. For <strong>the</strong>se individuals<br />
<strong>the</strong> recommendation is just common sense: <strong>to</strong> lose weight.<br />
<strong>The</strong> effects of weight reduction have been investigated scientifically.<br />
Studies at <strong>the</strong> Parker Institute have determined <strong>the</strong> significance of<br />
70 OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE AND WEIGHT LOSS VELUX FOUNDATION 71<br />
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losing weight – ideally a weight reduction of more than 10% – and<br />
also of maintaining <strong>the</strong> weight reduction over <strong>the</strong> following year.<br />
Not surprisingly, <strong>the</strong> result is improved mobility and in <strong>the</strong> major-<br />
ity also reduced pain. Based on a <strong>to</strong>tal score of symp<strong>to</strong>ms from<br />
<strong>the</strong> knee, a 10% weight reduction results in clinical improvement<br />
of approx. 30%. <strong>The</strong> degree of osteoarthritis has no influence on<br />
<strong>the</strong> scale of <strong>the</strong> weight loss or <strong>the</strong> degree of improvement achieved<br />
from dieting, which allows us <strong>to</strong> impress on patients that bad knees<br />
are no excuse for not losing weight.<br />
Clearly, care has <strong>to</strong> be taken in any weight-loss plan. If patients<br />
go on a crash diet, <strong>the</strong>y risk becoming deficient in important sub-<br />
stances, including vitamins. This may be avoided by taking dietary<br />
products such as special powder soups <strong>to</strong> replace ordinary meals for<br />
a period. On <strong>the</strong> Parker Institute’s programme, almost 200 partici-<br />
pants had <strong>the</strong>ir poor vitamin status thoroughly rebalanced on this<br />
form of diet (see <strong>the</strong> diet plan at www.parkerinst.dk). At <strong>the</strong> end of<br />
<strong>the</strong> weight-loss programme, <strong>the</strong> idea is <strong>to</strong> gradually taper off <strong>the</strong><br />
meal replacement products in favour of an ordinary healthy diet,<br />
and patients are recommended <strong>to</strong> seek <strong>the</strong> advice of a dietician for<br />
this process.<br />
An extra piece of advice on weight loss: it is not possible <strong>to</strong> lose<br />
weight through physical exercise alone if <strong>the</strong> patient’s knees are not<br />
up <strong>to</strong> it. <strong>The</strong>re is no avoiding a change in diet, but after weight<br />
reduction, physical exercise will be that much easier.<br />
Basic <strong>the</strong>rapy: physical exercise<br />
Staying fit is always a good idea, and not least for people with bad<br />
knees. If <strong>the</strong> knee osteoarthritis is still in its early stages, it appears<br />
that people can exercise without limitation, although it has not<br />
been finally established whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> same applies <strong>to</strong> severely af-<br />
fected knees. Pain after physical activity is a good guide <strong>to</strong> what <strong>the</strong><br />
knees can cope with, and for people who are obese, it is in any event<br />
a good idea <strong>to</strong> lose weight alongside physical exercise.<br />
Left page: <strong>The</strong> team behind <strong>the</strong> ultrasound-based studies at <strong>the</strong> Parker Institute: Professor Bente Danneskiold-Samsøe<br />
MD; Dr Søren Torp-Pedersen, senior research consultant, ultrasound specialist (left) and Henning Bliddal.<br />
72 OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE AND WEIGHT LOSS VELUX FOUNDATION 73<br />
AGEING RESEARCH AND OPHTHALMOLOGY
MR scan of a knee affected by<br />
osteoarthritic changes (coronal<br />
T1 weighted scan). On <strong>the</strong><br />
left: before; on <strong>the</strong> right: after<br />
weight reduction. <strong>The</strong> arrow<br />
indicates bone changes<br />
beneath <strong>the</strong> joint surface<br />
inside <strong>the</strong> knee (medial tibial<br />
condyle). <strong>The</strong>se changes<br />
are indicative of inflammation<br />
in <strong>the</strong> bone. Note <strong>the</strong><br />
severe changes in <strong>the</strong> knee<br />
joint with bone spurs. <strong>The</strong><br />
diet-based projects demonstrate<br />
that bad knees are no<br />
excuse for not losing weight<br />
- and that it is never <strong>to</strong>o late<br />
<strong>to</strong> aim for improvement<br />
through weight reduction.<br />
<strong>The</strong> patient was a 75-year-old<br />
woman, who <strong>to</strong>ok part in a<br />
diet- based project and within<br />
16 weeks achieved weight<br />
reduction from a BMI of 38<br />
down <strong>to</strong> 33.9. In our studies<br />
based on 200 participants, a<br />
number of scans were unchanged<br />
following weight<br />
loss, but where <strong>the</strong> scans did<br />
change <strong>the</strong>y were more often<br />
than not for <strong>the</strong> better.<br />
Objective measurements of knee status<br />
Aside from subjective descriptions, scientific measurement techniques<br />
provide an indication of <strong>the</strong> condition of <strong>the</strong> knee joint. Weight reduction<br />
is thus an excellent investment, since losing one kilo in body weight means<br />
two kilos less strain on <strong>the</strong> knee. Scans indicate that <strong>the</strong> condition of <strong>the</strong><br />
knee joint improves as a result of weight reduction, e.g. with reduced<br />
fluid visible on ultrasound, while MR scans reveal that weight reduction<br />
prevents worsening of <strong>the</strong> inflammation of <strong>the</strong> bone closest <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> joint<br />
(see figure).<br />
Inflammation<br />
74 OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE AND WEIGHT LOSS<br />
Osteoarthritis is not normally regarded as an inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry disease like for<br />
example rheuma<strong>to</strong>id arthritis. Inflammation causes swelling of tissue with-<br />
out any bacterial infection being present. But <strong>the</strong>re is much <strong>to</strong> indicate that<br />
<strong>the</strong> pain of knee osteoarthritis is actually caused by inflammation, and scans<br />
using ei<strong>the</strong>r MR or ultrasound detect inflammation in approx. 80% of pa-<br />
tients with relatively severe osteoarthritis. Some patients have no symp<strong>to</strong>ms<br />
from <strong>the</strong>ir osteoarthritis affecting <strong>the</strong> joint, and are affected by a disease<br />
mechanism o<strong>the</strong>r than inflammation, or <strong>the</strong> patients simply do not register<br />
inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry symp<strong>to</strong>ms. <strong>The</strong> findings of <strong>the</strong> dietary studies at <strong>the</strong> Parker<br />
Institute indicate that inflammation may be gradually reduced as a result of<br />
weight reduction. Given that inflammation is <strong>the</strong> primary source of pain in<br />
osteoarthritis, it is worth considering whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> improvement achievable<br />
from weight reduction is attributable not only <strong>to</strong> alleviation of <strong>the</strong> weight<br />
burden on <strong>the</strong> knee but also <strong>to</strong> a reduction of <strong>the</strong> inflammation.<br />
Medication for osteoarthritic pain<br />
Recognition of <strong>the</strong> significance of inflammation for <strong>the</strong> pain of knee osteo-<br />
arthritis has led <strong>to</strong> revised treatment regimens. Common medication for<br />
inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry pain, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, are widely used <strong>to</strong> alleviate<br />
osteoarthritic pain, but since NSAIDs have side effects, <strong>the</strong>y are not re-<br />
commended for long-term pain relief.<br />
<strong>The</strong> outlook<br />
<strong>The</strong> treatment available for knee osteoarthritis is currently very variable in<br />
Denmark. An improvement in <strong>the</strong> condition may be achieved from weight<br />
reduction programmes for people with obesity, combined with physical<br />
exercise regimes, and even if it ends in a knee replacement, <strong>the</strong>se activities<br />
will provide a better foundation for post-operative rehabilitation.<br />
However, <strong>the</strong> first choice in pain relief during <strong>the</strong> process has not been<br />
determined, nor whe<strong>the</strong>r it is significant <strong>to</strong> reduce inflammation for ex-<br />
tended periods.<br />
Most cases of knee osteoarthritis<br />
are affected by inflammation,<br />
commonly involving<br />
<strong>the</strong> accumulation of excess<br />
joint fluid, “water on<br />
<strong>the</strong> knee”. Removing <strong>the</strong> fluid<br />
relieves <strong>the</strong> symp<strong>to</strong>ms, and<br />
since <strong>the</strong> abnormal joint fluid<br />
contains substances that degrade<br />
tissue, fluid draining is<br />
a form of <strong>the</strong>rapy in itself.<br />
VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
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AGEING RESEARCH AND OPHTHALMOLOGY
Eye<br />
amputees<br />
BY MARIE LOUISE ROED RASMUSSEN<br />
Marie Louise Roed Rasmussen (born 1979). Medical Doc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
(2006) and PhD (2011) from <strong>the</strong> University of Copenha-<br />
gen. Research fellowships in <strong>the</strong> period 2006-2010 in <strong>the</strong><br />
Eye Pathology Section, Department of Neuroscience<br />
and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen and<br />
<strong>the</strong> eye department at Glostrup Hospital.<br />
In 2007, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION grant-<br />
ed DKK 1,363,000 for <strong>the</strong> PhD study “Eye<br />
amputees – development of prognostic fac-<br />
<strong>to</strong>rs for quality of life, function and progress.”<br />
Super visors: Peter B Toft, Martin Johnsson, Finn<br />
Kamper-Jørgensen, Ola Ekholm and Jan U Prause.<br />
In Denmark eye pros<strong>the</strong>ses are manufactured in both glass and acrylic. <strong>The</strong>se pictures show <strong>the</strong> blowing of a glass<br />
pros<strong>the</strong>sis. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Bent Olesen, edited by Marie Louise Roed Rasmussen<br />
Eye amputation is often <strong>the</strong> endpoint of a long<br />
clinical journey. People who undergo eye amputa-<br />
tion vary in age and have different diagnoses, but<br />
after <strong>the</strong>ir final surgeries <strong>the</strong>y all have some degree<br />
of visual impairment and facial disfigurement that<br />
affects many aspects of <strong>the</strong>ir lives.<br />
Eye amputees have <strong>to</strong> reorientate and reorganise<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir daily life. <strong>The</strong> missing eye results in a loss<br />
of visual deep perception and an inevitable blind<br />
spot. But <strong>the</strong> change in facial appearance may also<br />
cause psychological changes, <strong>the</strong> latter particu-<br />
larly in encounters with o<strong>the</strong>r people. Changes<br />
in facial appearance cannot be concealed and are<br />
consequently often more difficult <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong><br />
terms with than changes affecting o<strong>the</strong>r parts of<br />
<strong>the</strong> body.<br />
Indications for eye amputation are most frequent-<br />
ly: painful blind eye, cancer of <strong>the</strong> eye and compli-<br />
cated eye trauma. <strong>The</strong> mean age for loss of an eye<br />
is 53 years [range 0 – 102], with a slight prepon-<br />
derance among males (53%). Following amputa-<br />
tion, <strong>the</strong> patient is commonly fitted with an eye<br />
pros<strong>the</strong>sis inset in <strong>the</strong> orbit. <strong>The</strong> eye pros<strong>the</strong>sis<br />
may be made of glass or plastic (acrylic).<br />
<strong>The</strong> donation from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION<br />
has been used <strong>to</strong> investigate two circumstances.<br />
1. Phan<strong>to</strong>m eye syndrome which consists of<br />
phan<strong>to</strong>m vision and phan<strong>to</strong>m sensations (in-<br />
cluding phan<strong>to</strong>m pain).<br />
2. Quality of life, perceived stress, self-rated<br />
health and impaired capacity for work due <strong>to</strong><br />
illness and disability among Danish eye am-<br />
putees.<br />
Phan<strong>to</strong>m eye syndrome<br />
Phan<strong>to</strong>m eye syndrome consists of phan<strong>to</strong>m vision<br />
and phan<strong>to</strong>m sensations after removal of an eye. A<br />
well-known example of phan<strong>to</strong>m sensations would<br />
be <strong>the</strong> pain or intense itching experienced in a non-<br />
existing foot following leg amputation.<br />
76 EYE AMPUTEES VELUX FOUNDATION 77<br />
AGEING RESEARCH AND OPHTHALMOLOGY
Iris<br />
Pupil<br />
Eyelid<br />
Sclera<br />
Sketch and cross section of<br />
a normal eye. Graphic: Jens<br />
Raadal<br />
Visual hallucinations were described by 42% of patients. Phan<strong>to</strong>m vision<br />
is <strong>the</strong> experience of ‘seeing’ with <strong>the</strong> non-existing eye. <strong>The</strong> most frequent<br />
description is continuous, bright white light. Some patients describe white<br />
and coloured flashes and o<strong>the</strong>rs have more kaleidoscopic experiences. But<br />
<strong>the</strong> sense of seeing with two eyes (in three dimensions) is also common.<br />
Triggers for phan<strong>to</strong>m vision are individual, but <strong>the</strong> phenomenon is often<br />
experienced when <strong>the</strong> person is tired, stressed and in dark surroundings.<br />
Phan<strong>to</strong>m vision may be experienced with both closed and open eyes – and<br />
hence give rise <strong>to</strong> problems with falling asleep, night driving or psycho-<br />
logical stress owing <strong>to</strong> anxiety about mental illness. 54% of patients with<br />
phan<strong>to</strong>m vision experience <strong>the</strong>se problems once a week or more. Few have<br />
phan<strong>to</strong>m vision constantly.<br />
Approximately 23% of all eye amputees experience phan<strong>to</strong>m pain. One third<br />
of <strong>the</strong> patients experience phan<strong>to</strong>m pain every day, one third more than<br />
once a week and <strong>the</strong> rest less than once a week. Triggers were known for all<br />
patients with phan<strong>to</strong>m pain. Low temperatures, windy wea<strong>the</strong>r and psycho-<br />
logical stress⁄fatigue were <strong>the</strong> most commonly reported. In this investigation<br />
it would appear that preoperative eye pain is a risk fac<strong>to</strong>r for pos<strong>to</strong>perative<br />
phan<strong>to</strong>m pain in 30% of patients.<br />
Only two per cent of patients described phan<strong>to</strong>m sensations; mainly as itch-<br />
ing around <strong>the</strong> eye and sensation in a non-existent eyelid.<br />
Quality of life<br />
Iris<br />
Pupil<br />
Lens<br />
Cornea Ciliary body<br />
Retina<br />
Choroid<br />
Sclera<br />
Optic nerve<br />
<strong>The</strong> impact of an eye amputation is considerable. Eye amputees have poorer<br />
quality of life, poorer self-rated health and more perceived stress than <strong>the</strong><br />
100<br />
90<br />
80<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
20<br />
10<br />
0<br />
BP GH MH PF RE RP SF VT<br />
general Danish population. <strong>The</strong> largest differences in quality of life between<br />
eye amputees and <strong>the</strong> general population were related <strong>to</strong> role limitations<br />
due <strong>to</strong> emotional and mental problems.<br />
Patients who had an eye removed because of severe pain, have lower quality<br />
of life and more perceived stress than patients who had <strong>the</strong>ir eye removed<br />
because of cancer or trauma. <strong>The</strong> percentage of eye amputees who divorced<br />
or separated was twice as high as in <strong>the</strong> general population. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore,<br />
25% retired or switched <strong>to</strong> part-time jobs as a result of <strong>the</strong> eye amputation.<br />
40% s<strong>to</strong>pped participating in leisure activities due <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir eye amputation,<br />
mainly ball games but also water activities and activities involving sight con-<br />
centration (like reading books and household chores).<br />
Rehabilitation<br />
<strong>The</strong> studies indicate that eye amputation is on <strong>the</strong> whole not necessarily<br />
<strong>the</strong> best solution for all patients, not least because of <strong>the</strong> high incidence of<br />
subsequent afflictions that may require lifelong medical care. It may how-<br />
ever be possible <strong>to</strong> improve outcomes by providing eye amputees with more<br />
support and information. If so, we might be able <strong>to</strong> retain <strong>the</strong>se people on<br />
<strong>the</strong> labour market for <strong>the</strong> benefit of both <strong>the</strong> patients <strong>the</strong>mselves and society<br />
generally.<br />
Eye amputees <strong>The</strong> danish population<br />
For patients with a painful blind eye especially, new alternatives <strong>to</strong> amputa-<br />
tion should be considered. However, for patients with cancer and compli-<br />
cated traumas, eye amputation is still <strong>the</strong> best treatment available.<br />
<strong>The</strong> figure shows <strong>the</strong> results<br />
of a comparative investigation<br />
of quality of life among<br />
eye amputees and <strong>the</strong> Danish<br />
population in terms of<br />
eight different subcategories<br />
of quality of life: Bodily<br />
pain (BP), general health perceptions<br />
(GH), mental health<br />
(MH), physical functioning<br />
(PF), role limitations due <strong>to</strong><br />
emotional problems (RE),<br />
role limitations due <strong>to</strong> physical<br />
problems (RP), social functioning<br />
(SF) and vitality (VT).<br />
Graphics: Marie Louise Roed<br />
Rasmussen<br />
78 EYE AMPUTEES VELUX FOUNDATION 79<br />
AGEING RESEARCH AND OPHTHALMOLOGY
From<br />
heart<br />
<strong>to</strong> heart<br />
Building bridges<br />
between cultures<br />
on Nørrebro<br />
BY MERETE TANGSTAD<br />
Merete Tangstad (born 1956), found-<br />
er of Woman <strong>to</strong> Woman, <strong>the</strong> object of<br />
which is <strong>to</strong> free up women’s resources for<br />
<strong>the</strong> benefit of <strong>the</strong> individual woman,<br />
her network, and her community. <strong>The</strong><br />
foundation is a dynamic forum, in<br />
which projects, both large and small,<br />
have been successfully realised.<br />
In 2009 <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION grant-<br />
ed DKK 400,000 for <strong>the</strong> project “Building<br />
bridges and <strong>the</strong> meeting of cultures – a host<br />
programme for immigrants on Nørrebro, with<br />
older people as <strong>the</strong> prime initia<strong>to</strong>rs”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> important thing for <strong>the</strong> FRIENDS host pro-<br />
gramme was for it not only <strong>to</strong> be a new “pro-<br />
gramme/project” for integration, but more spe-<br />
cifically, for it <strong>to</strong> promote and facilitate friendships<br />
between people, regardless of language, nationality,<br />
religion and age. <strong>The</strong> goal was for 300 immigrants<br />
and 100 Danish women <strong>to</strong> form lasting friendships<br />
within <strong>the</strong> two years <strong>the</strong> project was scheduled <strong>to</strong><br />
run for. With this project we hoped <strong>to</strong> put <strong>the</strong> par-<br />
ticipants’ prejudices <strong>to</strong> rest, and <strong>to</strong> gain a better<br />
understanding of our differences and enriching<br />
insights. <strong>The</strong> vision is for <strong>the</strong> new insights and un-<br />
derstanding <strong>to</strong> spread throughout <strong>the</strong> FRIENDS<br />
network.<br />
Events <strong>to</strong> help form friendships<br />
To create contact between women immigrants and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Danish volunteers, we arranged monthly café<br />
nights and o<strong>the</strong>r events. <strong>The</strong>se events were <strong>to</strong> be<br />
productive, enlightening, relaxing and enjoyable,<br />
in an atmosphere of respectfulness and equality.<br />
<strong>The</strong> idea was that <strong>the</strong> more we relaxed and enjoyed<br />
ourselves, <strong>the</strong> more we would be open <strong>to</strong> each<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r, and <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> unknown.<br />
We made sure that our agenda inspired everyone<br />
<strong>to</strong> participate. <strong>The</strong> participants contributed dishes<br />
from <strong>the</strong>ir native country, and <strong>to</strong>ok part in multi-<br />
cultural dancing, singing, music and s<strong>to</strong>rytelling.<br />
We matched women immigrants with new Danish<br />
friends in this convivial atmosphere.<br />
Friendships<br />
To befriend an immigrant <strong>the</strong> volunteer has <strong>to</strong> be<br />
• well integrated in<strong>to</strong> Danish society, and be able<br />
<strong>to</strong> understand and speak a foreign language.<br />
• be able <strong>to</strong> see beyond her own surroundings<br />
(prejudices)<br />
• meet up with her immigrant friend at least 3<br />
times<br />
• introduce her immigrant friend <strong>to</strong> her own<br />
network<br />
Café nights are vital for <strong>the</strong> contact between women<br />
immigrants and <strong>the</strong> Danish volunteers. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Jessie<br />
Eisenbaum<br />
80 FROM HEART TO HEART VELUX FOUNDATION 81<br />
ACTIVE ELDERLY PEOPLE
Some of <strong>the</strong> capabilities that we talk about are<br />
• listening with both heart and ears, being<br />
flexible.<br />
• meeting <strong>the</strong> immigrant woman on an equal<br />
footing, in <strong>the</strong> belief that everyone has some-<br />
thing <strong>to</strong> contribute<br />
• acknowledging that friendships are enriching<br />
when you both give and take.<br />
Openness, trust, respect and honesty are key ele-<br />
ments.<br />
Common features of women immigrants in<br />
Denmark<br />
One of <strong>the</strong> common findings among immigrants<br />
is a feeling of loneliness and isolation. A lot of <strong>the</strong><br />
women in FRIENDS are resourceful and intelli-<br />
gent individuals, who have found Danes hard <strong>to</strong><br />
make contact with, in spite of Danes seemingly be-<br />
ing open. Some of <strong>the</strong> immigrants had not spoken<br />
<strong>to</strong> a Dane since arriving, and <strong>the</strong> isolation was a<br />
fac<strong>to</strong>r that <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>the</strong>m by surprise. Meetings with<br />
<strong>the</strong>se wonderful women, some of <strong>the</strong>m with small<br />
children, were sometimes heartbreaking, but for<br />
many of <strong>the</strong>m, FRIENDS became a very welcome<br />
way out of loneliness.<br />
Activating senior citizens<br />
Encouraging senior citizens <strong>to</strong> befriend immigrants<br />
proved more difficult than we had imagined. Some<br />
senior citizens felt that <strong>the</strong>y did not have <strong>the</strong> per-<br />
sonal resources <strong>the</strong> task required, o<strong>the</strong>rs thought<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y had nothing <strong>to</strong> offer someone from a dif-<br />
ferent culture. <strong>The</strong> elderly volunteers preferred <strong>to</strong><br />
be involved in <strong>the</strong> practical elements of our café<br />
nights, where <strong>the</strong>y made Danish national dishes,<br />
<strong>to</strong>ld s<strong>to</strong>ries from <strong>the</strong>ir lives, and described Danish<br />
traditions, often with a great deal of humour.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> hope of meeting <strong>the</strong> many requests from<br />
immigrants <strong>to</strong> meet with Danish senior citizens, we<br />
contacted <strong>the</strong> local Nørrebro Sankt Joseph senior<br />
citizens centre. This resulted in <strong>the</strong> first tea party,<br />
in which 12 immigrants went out with Danish sen-<br />
ior citizens, <strong>the</strong> result of which was enriching con-<br />
versation across different age-groups and cultures.<br />
What has FRIENDS meant <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> individual?<br />
FRIENDS has been a golden opportunity for im-<br />
migrants <strong>to</strong> meet women across <strong>the</strong> divides of cul-<br />
ture, age, and language, and has provided a setting<br />
for new friendships <strong>to</strong> be formed in an easier and<br />
more relaxed fashion, as in <strong>the</strong> case of Khaluin and<br />
Lisette, Birgit and Madelis.<br />
“I studied in Denmark for three years. For <strong>the</strong><br />
first two years I felt incredibly alone, and it was<br />
hard <strong>to</strong> build up a social network outside of <strong>the</strong><br />
university. My first encounter with FRIENDS<br />
was great; here I could meet Danish women, and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs in <strong>the</strong> same situation as myself. It gave me<br />
a large network outside of <strong>the</strong> university, and I<br />
always looked forward <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> next event”, says<br />
Khaluin Eakbat, 25, from Mongolia, and friend<br />
with Lisette Jacobsen, 47.<br />
“Lisette was so sweet. <strong>The</strong> first time we met, we<br />
went for coffee and <strong>the</strong>n came back <strong>to</strong> my place.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second time she invited me round for tradi-<br />
tional Danish Christmas food. In spite of <strong>the</strong> age<br />
difference, it was easy <strong>to</strong> connect. I learned a great<br />
deal about Danish culture, and got some great in-<br />
sights in<strong>to</strong> Danish family life that I wouldn’t have<br />
missed for <strong>the</strong> world. Now I’m heading back <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
UK, but with so many great friends in Denmark, I<br />
wouldn’t rule out returning <strong>to</strong> Denmark. I have<br />
encouraged four of my immigrant friends <strong>to</strong> attend<br />
FRIENDS events, even though I’m not going <strong>to</strong><br />
be <strong>the</strong>re. <strong>The</strong>y have <strong>to</strong> experience what I have ex-<br />
perienced.”<br />
Similar feelings are expressed by Birgit Schachtenhaufen, 66, from Bal-<br />
lerup, Denmark and friend Madelis Gonzales Medina, 40, from Cuba: “I<br />
had heard so many bad things about immigrants, but meeting Madelis has<br />
changed my perception of immigrants. Madelis is really keen and hard-<br />
working, we share <strong>the</strong> same sense of humour, and it has been wonderful <strong>to</strong><br />
see her blossom and come in<strong>to</strong> her own in <strong>the</strong> time we have known each<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r. Madelis soon found a place in my heart, in my family and network,<br />
and even though I didn’t feel I was missing out on anything before, Madelis<br />
has given my life new meaning.”<br />
Madelis: “I had a lot of prejudices about Danes. I thought <strong>the</strong>y were cold,<br />
and completely different <strong>to</strong> me. My encounter with Birgit has meant every-<br />
thing <strong>to</strong> me. We can both laugh and cry <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r, and Birgit is very hospi-<br />
table; her heart is filled with love, and <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with her, I can be who I am.<br />
I have received a lot of good advice concerning education and work from<br />
Birgit, which has meant a lot <strong>to</strong> me. Through my friendship with Birgit, I<br />
have got <strong>to</strong> know o<strong>the</strong>r Danes, and I no longer feel lonely in Denmark.”<br />
For FRIENDS, <strong>the</strong> encounter with immigrants is all about reaching out<br />
from <strong>the</strong> heart.<br />
<strong>The</strong> friendship between Birgit<br />
Schachtenhaufen and Madelis<br />
Gonzales is one of many in <strong>the</strong><br />
FRIENDS host programme.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Eby Betsayyad<br />
82 FROM HEART TO HEART VELUX FOUNDATION 83<br />
ACTIVE ELDERLY PEOPLE
<strong>Home</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>skylark</strong><br />
Residential nature programme<br />
for lonely elderly persons<br />
Christine E. Swane (born 1960),<br />
cultural sociologist, PhD is <strong>the</strong> di-<br />
rec<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> EGV humani tarian<br />
foundation for disadvantaged<br />
elderly persons in Denmark. For<br />
more than 20 years, she has con-<br />
ducted research in <strong>the</strong> everyday<br />
lives and living conditions of frail<br />
elderly citizens.<br />
BY CHRISTINE E. SWANE<br />
In 2010, EGV received a donation from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION of DKK 217,000 <strong>to</strong>wards an experiential residential<br />
college devoted <strong>to</strong> nature appreciation aimed at lonely elderly<br />
persons from all over Denmark.<br />
To mark its centenary in 2010, EGV placed added focus on <strong>the</strong> im-<br />
portance of socialisation and shared experiences. This was achieved<br />
through various projects such as a residential nature programme at<br />
<strong>the</strong> Dronningens Ferieby resort at Grenå; a four-day-long, uncon-<br />
ditional success for just under 100 senior citizens aged 65 <strong>to</strong> 97,<br />
including voluntary helpers from <strong>the</strong> non-profit travel association,<br />
Jyttes Handyrejs.<br />
A rural snapshot<br />
<strong>The</strong> sun is high. We’re on an excursion <strong>to</strong> Fuglsang Hede (literally<br />
“birdsong heath”), set up for <strong>the</strong> day by a filling lunch and a talk<br />
by nature guide Jens Reddersen on <strong>the</strong> unique countryside near<br />
Grenå. <strong>The</strong> songbooks have been hidden away in his backpack, and<br />
<strong>the</strong>re is delight all round when he s<strong>to</strong>ps <strong>to</strong> hand <strong>the</strong>m out.<br />
This is <strong>the</strong> fourth verse of a much-loved Danish ballad celebrating<br />
<strong>the</strong> mysteries of nature on <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>me of a <strong>skylark</strong>’s nest hidden on<br />
<strong>the</strong> heath, but Jens claims that it is fakery: “You won’t see sky-<br />
larks nesting any less than 50 metres away from <strong>the</strong> nearest trees<br />
Jeg lurer bag en slåen.<br />
Dér står jeg ganske nær.<br />
Jeg rækker mig på tåen<br />
og holder på mit vejr.<br />
or bushes, else <strong>the</strong> magpies will have <strong>the</strong>m!” To<br />
<strong>the</strong> sounds of birdcall, <strong>the</strong> party collects HUGE<br />
mushrooms, examines berries, flowers, sings more<br />
songs, surveys a map of <strong>the</strong> area, asks questions and<br />
“yes, when <strong>the</strong> anemones die back, <strong>the</strong> woodruff<br />
will be <strong>the</strong>re”. Here you never walk alone, because<br />
all <strong>the</strong> flowers are <strong>the</strong>re <strong>to</strong> greet you. And <strong>the</strong> more<br />
you know about botany, say, <strong>the</strong> more interesting it<br />
is <strong>to</strong> explore <strong>the</strong> natural world and share its sights<br />
and sounds.<br />
After a full day, weariness sets in, and beneath <strong>the</strong><br />
warm autumn sun, wheeled walkers and wheel-<br />
chairs are pushed along <strong>the</strong> dusty road, and <strong>the</strong><br />
walking sticks leave <strong>the</strong>ir indents in <strong>the</strong> sandy<br />
heath. For those who managed <strong>the</strong> trip without<br />
any appliances, this is a great achievement.<br />
Reaching out <strong>to</strong> each o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
(Peeping behind <strong>the</strong> sloe.<br />
Quite close I stand <strong>the</strong>re.<br />
Stretching on tip<strong>to</strong>e,<br />
taking not a breath of air.)<br />
<strong>The</strong> EGV foundation has been working <strong>to</strong> alleviate<br />
<strong>the</strong> loneliness of elderly people for a century. We<br />
still do so through research and social projects –<br />
and by encouraging everyone <strong>to</strong> engage with and<br />
show concern for lonely elderly persons.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>s: Henrik Bjerregrav<br />
84 HOME TO THE SKYLARK VELUX FOUNDATION 85<br />
ACTIVE ELDERLY PEOPLE
Presenting for<br />
active duty in 1917<br />
Old men in old uniforms<br />
BY CHRISTIAN RAUN<br />
Christian Raun (born 1947), architect and illustra-<br />
<strong>to</strong>r. Vice President of Chakoten – <strong>The</strong> Danish Mili-<br />
tary His<strong>to</strong>rical Society. Leisure interests: Old houses<br />
and modelling figures in his<strong>to</strong>ric uniforms – and of<br />
course cultural heritage and military his<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
In 2010, Group 1914 under <strong>the</strong> Danish Mili-<br />
tary His<strong>to</strong>rical Society received a grant from<br />
<strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION of DKK 20,000.<br />
A uniform alone does not a soldier make – it takes<br />
a fair bit of equipment <strong>to</strong>o. Group 1914 is conse-<br />
quently extremely grateful <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION for <strong>the</strong> large grant it received for kitting<br />
out a large corps with <strong>the</strong> equipment issued <strong>to</strong> each<br />
infantryman when he was called up for active duty in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Danish First World War Defence Force. Stand-<br />
ard issue field gear included a belt, cartridge pouch,<br />
entrenching <strong>to</strong>ol (spade), water flask and enamelled<br />
tin mug, bread bag and signalling equipment.<br />
Group 1914’s mission is <strong>to</strong> re-enact <strong>the</strong> everyday<br />
life of soldiers called up for active duty under <strong>the</strong><br />
Danish Defence Force of 1914-18. <strong>The</strong> group’s<br />
members are generally 25 years older than <strong>the</strong> old-<br />
est of <strong>the</strong> men called up at <strong>the</strong> time, but given that<br />
‘mature’ men a century ago tended <strong>to</strong> look much<br />
older than we do now – and <strong>the</strong> fact that our pas-<br />
time keeps us on our <strong>to</strong>es – our ‘old boys corps’ is<br />
in pretty good shape!<br />
Many events<br />
Uniforms and equipment were first presented <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> public at an event at <strong>the</strong> Vestvold Copenhagen<br />
Fortifications on 26 September 2010. In association<br />
with Projekt Vestvolden, a job training programme,<br />
we set up a military camp with tents, equipment,<br />
telegraph stations, a casualties clearing tent, medical<br />
officer and nurse, medics and 26 privates and non-<br />
commissioned and commissioned officers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> renactments demonstrated collection of casu-<br />
alties, <strong>the</strong> medical officer working under an alert,<br />
and signalling using flags, light signals and <strong>the</strong> lat-<br />
est invention of <strong>the</strong> day: <strong>the</strong> field telephone. Meals<br />
and coffee were prepared on <strong>the</strong> canteen com-<br />
ponent of <strong>the</strong> mess kit. <strong>The</strong> Artillery Magazine<br />
housed an exhibition of models of <strong>the</strong> Vestvolden<br />
fortifications along with live workshops where tin<br />
soldiers were cast and painted. <strong>The</strong> some 4,000<br />
visi<strong>to</strong>rs were fascinated!<br />
During winter half-term 2011, Group 1914 and<br />
Projekt Vestvolden were invited <strong>to</strong> take part in an<br />
event at Roskilde Museum’s his<strong>to</strong>ric grocer’s s<strong>to</strong>re,<br />
Members of Group 1914 presenting for morning rollcall<br />
in front of <strong>the</strong> Artillery Magazine at <strong>the</strong> Vestvolden<br />
section of <strong>the</strong> Copenhagen Fortifications.<br />
At <strong>the</strong> Roskilde Museum’s grocer’s s<strong>to</strong>re, children signed<br />
up for military service and were issued with an au<strong>the</strong>ntic<br />
copy of an old service record.<br />
where we set up a medical board for examining<br />
military conscripts. On arrival, <strong>the</strong> visiting children<br />
were issued with a service record. <strong>The</strong>y were <strong>the</strong>n<br />
dressed in ‘uniform’ and assigned four tasks: bak-<br />
ing pancakes over a canteen, scoring points in an<br />
au<strong>the</strong>ntic game of skittles, writing field postcards<br />
using a real pen and ink – which left some of <strong>the</strong>m<br />
pretty smudged – and casting a tin soldier. This<br />
event also featured live workshops and presenta-<br />
tions of original equipment, including knapsack<br />
contents. We never saw such well-behaved chil-<br />
dren! Maybe old soldiers are still held in some awe?<br />
At <strong>the</strong> Copenhagen Fortifications event day, several<br />
types of signalling were demonstrated <strong>to</strong> an audience<br />
over <strong>the</strong> day of more than 3,000.<br />
Sergeant Hald assisting a young recruit <strong>to</strong> write a field<br />
postcard <strong>to</strong> Mum and Dad.<br />
<strong>The</strong> children’s interest and involvement were over-<br />
whelming – so we will definitely be back <strong>to</strong> repeat<br />
<strong>the</strong> success at Roskilde next year.<br />
In April 2011, Group 1914 provided <strong>the</strong> live ac-<br />
tion in a documentary on <strong>the</strong> Copenhagen For-<br />
tifications produced for Skoletjenesten, an educa-<br />
tional service institution. Naturally we were in full<br />
combat gear, complete with original rifles. Fortu-<br />
nately, <strong>the</strong> producers hadn’t scripted any scenes<br />
requiring us <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>rm <strong>the</strong> ramparts, as our forte is<br />
more <strong>the</strong> leisurely patrol!<br />
86 PRESENTING FOR ACTIVE DUTY IN 1917 VELUX FOUNDATION 87<br />
ACTIVE ELDERLY PEOPLE
Social<br />
inventions<br />
BY ANDREAS HJORTH FREDERIKSEN AND BERNHARD JENSEN<br />
Andreas Hjorth Frederiksen (born 1976), MA in<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry and minority studies as well as multimedia<br />
design. Senior consultant and project manager at<br />
Social Development Centre SUS. Has specialised in<br />
social inventions and project design via positions held<br />
with Danish Red Cross Youth, Save <strong>the</strong> Children<br />
Denmark, <strong>the</strong> online voluntary worker register and<br />
placement agency FrivilligJob.dk and as <strong>the</strong> direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of <strong>the</strong> KPH project venue and consulting centre.<br />
Bernhard Jensen (born 1956), MSc Social Science<br />
and socio-educational teacher. Direc<strong>to</strong>r of Develop-<br />
ment, Social Development Centre SUS. Has exten-<br />
sive experience in developing and implementing so-<br />
cial inventions and civil society innovation, volun-<br />
tary social work and user influence. Has previously<br />
worked for organisations such as <strong>the</strong> Nordic Council<br />
of M inisters and as head of <strong>the</strong> governmental social<br />
services information and consulting centre in Esbjerg.<br />
In 2009, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION donated DKK 2,996,750<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Social Inventions project mounted by <strong>the</strong> non-profit, non-<br />
governmental Social Development Centre SUS. <strong>The</strong> object of <strong>the</strong> pro-<br />
ject is <strong>to</strong> promote opportunities <strong>to</strong> extend and enhance social inven-<br />
tion processes. <strong>The</strong> project identified innovative programmes in <strong>the</strong><br />
professional and voluntary social work sec<strong>to</strong>r and <strong>the</strong> people behind<br />
<strong>the</strong> social inventions. <strong>The</strong> project, which is founded on both <strong>the</strong>ory<br />
and practice, concluded with a report, available <strong>to</strong> download (in Dan-<br />
ish) at www.sus.dk.<br />
November 1572. Tycho Brahe, who goes on <strong>to</strong> become <strong>the</strong> world famous<br />
Danish astronomer, happens <strong>to</strong> discover a bright new star in <strong>the</strong> Cassiopeia<br />
constellation. Since ancient times, it was commonly held that this constel-<br />
lation was immutable. But Tycho Brahe’s observations and measurements<br />
indicated o<strong>the</strong>rwise: what he had observed was a supernova, a gigantic ex-<br />
ploding star.<br />
From his observa<strong>to</strong>ry on <strong>the</strong> island of Hven, Tycho Brahe led <strong>the</strong> world <strong>to</strong><br />
a new understanding of celestial bodies. His main resources were curiosity,<br />
a systematic approach, patience and <strong>the</strong> naked eye. Telescope technologies<br />
had not yet been invented, but Brahe gave us an optic through which<br />
<strong>to</strong> view <strong>the</strong> celestial realm, which paved <strong>the</strong> way for<br />
even more discoveries.<br />
Hven return trip<br />
September 2010. A crowd has ga<strong>the</strong>red on<br />
<strong>the</strong> quayside of Copenhagen’s Nyhavn. To <strong>the</strong><br />
sounds of a Balkan-style innova<strong>to</strong>r’s an<strong>the</strong>m, 50<br />
creative minds from <strong>the</strong> whole of Denmark march<br />
aboard <strong>the</strong> boat destined for <strong>the</strong> island of Hven<br />
off Scania, Sweden. 24 hours’ hard work lie ahead.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y will be coming up with 100 ideas for radical<br />
new solutions <strong>to</strong> social problems.<br />
Without <strong>the</strong> advantage of a technology that predicts<br />
<strong>the</strong> future, <strong>the</strong> social innova<strong>to</strong>rs can avail <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
only of <strong>the</strong> same resources as Tycho Brahe: curiosity,<br />
a systematic approach and <strong>the</strong> naked eye. But <strong>the</strong>re will<br />
scarcely be time for patience, given <strong>the</strong> ambitious target<br />
of 100 trail-blazing ideas for social inventions.<br />
88 SOCIAL INVENTIONS VELUX FOUNDATION 89<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
After what feels like <strong>the</strong> blink of an eye, <strong>the</strong> 24 hours have gone by. <strong>The</strong><br />
result: 104 ideas. For example: <strong>the</strong> idea of ‘stewardship pay’ in deprived<br />
neighbourhoods, where residents are rewarded for fewer incidents of van-<br />
dalism. <strong>The</strong> idea of social charter trips, where <strong>the</strong> whole family gets <strong>to</strong><br />
spend one week of <strong>the</strong>ir holiday doing voluntary social work. And <strong>the</strong><br />
idea of offering prison inmates entrepreneurship programmes as<br />
an independent way of rejoining <strong>the</strong> labour market after serv-<br />
ing a prison sentence. <strong>The</strong> target has been reached and <strong>the</strong><br />
ideas are shared between all <strong>the</strong> participants for subsequent<br />
elaboration.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 24 hours on Hven and <strong>the</strong> 104 ideas are part of a<br />
project on social inventions. For more than a year, Social<br />
Development Centre SUS, with funding from <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION, has studied, analysed and upended <strong>the</strong><br />
ana<strong>to</strong>my of social development work and <strong>the</strong> quantum leaps<br />
that give impetus <strong>to</strong> innovations and new paradigms.<br />
What are social inventions?<br />
Social inventions are pioneering initiatives that change <strong>the</strong> way people<br />
relate <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>mselves and each o<strong>the</strong>r. A social invention solves or prevents a<br />
social problem – or facilitates new, social improvements.<br />
A new legal statute will – provided it is completely original – be a social<br />
invention. That was <strong>the</strong> case, for example, with Section 68 of <strong>the</strong> Social<br />
Assistance Act of 1976, which authorised <strong>the</strong> establishment of sheltered<br />
home-shares for people with disabilities and pointed <strong>the</strong> way forward <strong>to</strong><br />
brand new ways of giving people with disabilities enhanced quality of life.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first Danish folk high school for adult residential non-vocational educa-<br />
tion in 1844 was without doubt a world first in terms of organising educa-<br />
tion. And stepping even fur<strong>the</strong>r back in time, primary and secondary school<br />
education, public libraries and kindergartens were examples of social inven-<br />
tions of a more revolutionary kind.<br />
<strong>The</strong> internet is <strong>to</strong> be regarded as one of <strong>the</strong> greatest social inventions of our<br />
time. <strong>The</strong> internet has given us whole new ways of accessing and exchanging<br />
information and forming and maintaining relationships with o<strong>the</strong>r people.<br />
<strong>The</strong> internet has solved problems, created new opportunities and launched<br />
new innovations such as social media like Facebook and YouTube. But <strong>the</strong><br />
internet has also created new problems and challenges, which now have <strong>to</strong><br />
be solved by social inventions.<br />
Not all inventions are tangible<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority of private-sec<strong>to</strong>r business and product areas are based on a<br />
number of technological, methodological or organisational advances that<br />
enhance production efficiency, create new products or identify new markets.<br />
Developments in market terms are profit-driven, so protection – patenting<br />
– of innovative products or production methods has consequently been a<br />
key precondition for urging companies and individuals <strong>to</strong> invest time, effort<br />
and resources in development. Because of <strong>the</strong> resulting patents, trademark<br />
registrations and o<strong>the</strong>r protection mechanisms it is relatively easy <strong>to</strong> identify<br />
<strong>the</strong> pioneering advances commonly referred <strong>to</strong> as inventions or innovations.<br />
But when it comes <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> social invention arena in Denmark, <strong>the</strong> picture is<br />
quite different.<br />
<strong>The</strong> whole of our society depends on innovation. We have a constant need<br />
<strong>to</strong> organise our society in <strong>the</strong> best possible way <strong>to</strong> meet <strong>the</strong> challenges we<br />
are presented with, and new problems are cropping up all <strong>the</strong> time, begging<br />
An intense effort was made<br />
when 50 creative people<br />
ga<strong>the</strong>red on <strong>the</strong> island of<br />
Hven <strong>to</strong> come up with ideas<br />
and social inventions. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Tine Harden<br />
90 SOCIAL INVENTIONS VELUX FOUNDATION 91<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
for new solutions. <strong>The</strong> entire structure, function<br />
and progress of our society is <strong>the</strong> result of innova-<br />
tive solutions. <strong>The</strong>se are <strong>the</strong> original, trail-blazing<br />
initiatives known as social inventions. Inventions<br />
that are not patented because <strong>the</strong>y are not for pro-<br />
fit. Inventions that are not necessarily tangible, but<br />
are a way of thinking perhaps; for example, how<br />
we perceive <strong>the</strong> concept of ‘disability’ or ‘normal’.<br />
Everyone has a creative streak<br />
Every social invention starts with a creative pro-<br />
cess. And input is welcome from everyone! This<br />
creativity is – as cognitive brain research would tell<br />
us – just conceptual blending. Meaning that ideas<br />
do not come out of nowhere. Anything new being<br />
merely two or more existing insights blended in a<br />
new way.<br />
<strong>The</strong> point is not that ideas, concept development<br />
and creativity should be underrated or that <strong>the</strong>y<br />
are not important elements in <strong>the</strong> innovation pro-<br />
cess, ra<strong>the</strong>r that concept development and creati-<br />
vity need <strong>to</strong> be demystified. Everyone has a creative<br />
streak, and everyone can have good – even brilliant<br />
– ideas with a bit of help along <strong>the</strong> way.<br />
Social inventions result in new social inventions.<br />
New combinations of familiar solutions and prob-<br />
lems create new ways forward in creating <strong>the</strong> socie-<br />
ty and social inventions of <strong>the</strong> future.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no lack of problems <strong>to</strong> tackle. Here is a selection of social challenges as expressed by socially marginalised people.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Tine Harden<br />
Social imagination – just supposing …<br />
Social inventions are not just about solutions <strong>to</strong> social problems, but also<br />
about facilitating new social progress. Which is why <strong>the</strong> idea for a social<br />
invention might also start with a possibility or with what might be termed<br />
‘social imagination’.<br />
Supposing, for example…<br />
• <strong>the</strong> authorities acted as if <strong>the</strong>y were (almost) family?<br />
• <strong>the</strong> authorities asked what you had in mind?<br />
• society didn’t regard socially marginalised persons as victims, but as<br />
players who haven’t yet found <strong>the</strong>ir mission?<br />
If a social invention is based on questions and potentials, it goes on <strong>to</strong> be-<br />
come an initiative that turns “supposing...” in<strong>to</strong> a reality. That being so, it’s<br />
a question of meeting an unarticulated need – or <strong>to</strong> put it ano<strong>the</strong>r way: of<br />
meeting a need people didn’t know <strong>the</strong>y had.<br />
An optic for observations<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no formula for coming up with good ideas. And no formula for<br />
dreaming up social inventions. But if we imagine <strong>the</strong>re was, it might look<br />
like this:<br />
Social problem* (imagination + innovative attainment)<br />
+ pioneering actuation = social invention<br />
We are unlikely <strong>to</strong> discover a formula that tells us how <strong>to</strong> solve <strong>the</strong> world’s<br />
problems. But Tycho Brahe gave us an optic for observing celestial bodies,<br />
so we could make new discoveries about <strong>the</strong> universe. And with this grant<br />
from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION we now have an optic through which<br />
<strong>to</strong> observe, analyse and learn from social inventions – and hopefully create<br />
new and better solutions <strong>to</strong> social problems and create brand new social<br />
potentials.<br />
We are convinced that everyone can come up with good ideas for social<br />
inventions. What is your idea?<br />
92 SOCIAL INVENTIONS VELUX FOUNDATION 93<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
BY THORKIL SONNE<br />
for people with autism<br />
in Poland<br />
Thorkil Sonne (born 1960) holds an MSc<br />
in surveying and is <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r of three<br />
children. He has worked in <strong>the</strong> field of<br />
IT in <strong>the</strong> corporate sec<strong>to</strong>r for 20 years.<br />
He founded Specialisterne and Specialist<br />
People Foundation after his youngest son<br />
was diagnosed with autism. He has been<br />
awarded an Ashoka Globalizer Fellow-<br />
ship.<br />
Facilitating<br />
employment<br />
In 2010 <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION grant-<br />
ed DKK 5,357,448 <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> three-year project<br />
“Specialisterne – Creating jobs for people with<br />
autism in Poland.” <strong>The</strong> project will enable Spe-<br />
cialist People Foundation, in association with<br />
local partners, <strong>to</strong> establish a Specialisterne li-<br />
cence partnership which will give well-func-<br />
tioning people with autism spectrum disorder<br />
in Poland a new opportunity <strong>to</strong> assess <strong>the</strong>ir po-<br />
tentials on <strong>the</strong> labour market. Following posi-<br />
tive assessment and subsequent training, people<br />
with ASD in Poland will for <strong>the</strong> first time have<br />
opportunities for meaningful and productive<br />
employment where <strong>the</strong>ir special skills can be<br />
turned in<strong>to</strong> specialist capabilities. Specialisterne<br />
Poland will break new ground as <strong>the</strong> first-ever<br />
employment opportunity for people with ASD<br />
in Eastern Europe and will as such become a<br />
role model for Eastern Europe.<br />
From left, Specialisterne Danmark consultants Christian Andersen, Morten Lolck and Trygve Rastad Bjørst working onsite<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Specialisterne offices in Ballerup. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Specialisterne<br />
A personal background<br />
Thirteen years ago when our youngest son Lars<br />
was 2½ years old, he rejected <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r kids in his<br />
kindergarten class and seemed most comfortable<br />
alone on <strong>the</strong> swing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> staff at <strong>the</strong> kindergarten had great difficulties<br />
with Lars. He was a nice child who never harmed<br />
<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r kids, but he would not take part in so-<br />
cial activities. <strong>The</strong> staff recommended that Lars<br />
should be observed by psychologists. After thor-<br />
ough observation and assessment, <strong>the</strong> psycholo-<br />
gists <strong>to</strong>ld us that <strong>the</strong>re was no doubt that Lars<br />
was affected by “infantile autism,” an incurable<br />
lifelong pervasive developmental disorder.<br />
We only knew autism from <strong>the</strong> Rain Man film –<br />
but we found out that autism is much more than<br />
what you see in this film. We learnt that around<br />
1% of <strong>the</strong> population would qualify for a diagno-<br />
sis within <strong>the</strong> autism spectrum – and we found<br />
out that hardly any people with autism had a job<br />
where <strong>the</strong>y could use <strong>the</strong>ir special skills. Despite<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir strong memory, structured mind, passion<br />
for details and perseverance in repeating tasks<br />
<strong>the</strong>y were excluded from <strong>the</strong> labour market by<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir lack of social skills.<br />
With support from my family and a mortgage on<br />
our house, I set out <strong>to</strong> create new opportunities<br />
for people with autism and founded Specialis-<br />
terne (<strong>The</strong> Specialists), a for-profit enterprise in<br />
which well-functioning people with autism would<br />
receive <strong>the</strong> understanding and support needed<br />
<strong>to</strong> feel wanted and <strong>to</strong> excel. <strong>The</strong> company was<br />
launched in 2004 in Denmark.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Specialists in Poland<br />
Specialisterne employs people with autism in our<br />
business section as consultants working on valu-<br />
able tasks like software testing, programming and<br />
data input for <strong>the</strong> corporate sec<strong>to</strong>r. Our cus<strong>to</strong>m-<br />
ers are large and medium-sized companies, and<br />
have included many international companies.<br />
In 2008 I gave a speech in Cracow at a software<br />
94 FACILITATING EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IN POLAND VILLUM FOUNDATION 95<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
From left, Specialisterne Youth Education students Adam Ejby Eliasen, Phillip Thrane Møller, Jonathan Luthmann and<br />
March Urbanovitz going through training onsite in Ballerup. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Specialisterne<br />
testing seminar where I presented Specialisterne<br />
and discussed <strong>the</strong> opportunities for replicating <strong>the</strong><br />
Specialisterne model in Poland and <strong>the</strong>reby let <strong>the</strong><br />
software test industry gain access <strong>to</strong> an untapped<br />
pool of skilled resources from people with autism.<br />
Later on that year I was invited by <strong>the</strong> Polish Au-<br />
tism Organisation <strong>to</strong> present Specialisterne at a<br />
conference in Szczecin in front of a large number<br />
of parents with family members affected by au-<br />
tism. <strong>The</strong> interest from <strong>the</strong> software testing in-<br />
dustry and <strong>the</strong> autism organisation seemed very<br />
strong – but our organisation did not have <strong>the</strong><br />
capacity <strong>to</strong> replicate <strong>the</strong> Specialisterne model <strong>to</strong><br />
Poland.<br />
In 2008 I founded Specialist People Founda-<br />
tion as a not-for-profit organisation which <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
over ownership of Specialisterne. <strong>The</strong> purpose of<br />
Specialist People Foundation is <strong>to</strong> make societies<br />
globally respect and accommodate specialist peo-<br />
ple with autism and similar challenges as worthy<br />
and valuable citizens. We have been urged by peo-<br />
ple in 60 countries <strong>to</strong> replicate <strong>the</strong> Specialisterne<br />
model. To that end, we set ourselves <strong>the</strong> goal of<br />
facilitating one million jobs for people with au-<br />
tism and similar challenges.<br />
With <strong>the</strong> Specialist People Foundation as a plat-<br />
form for disseminating our knowledge on assess-<br />
ment and employment internationally, we carried<br />
out our first international replication when Spe-<br />
cialisterne Scotland was launched in 2010.<br />
Since my speeches in Poland, I have been wait-<br />
ing for an opportunity <strong>to</strong> come back <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> stake-<br />
holders in Poland and start planning for a Spe-<br />
cialisterne replication. Poland is a very important<br />
Specialisterne Danmark consultant Thomas Jacobsen and Specialist People Foundation Business Development Manager<br />
Anne-Marie Søbye Rapp working with Lego Minds<strong>to</strong>rm. Specialisterne Danmark use Lego Minds<strong>to</strong>rm <strong>to</strong> help evaluate<br />
<strong>the</strong> talents and skills of each candidate. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Specialisterne<br />
country in our international plans as a country<br />
with a well developed IT industry close <strong>to</strong> Den-<br />
mark and with <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>to</strong> serve as a gateway<br />
<strong>to</strong> Eastern Europe.<br />
A helping hand<br />
In 2010 I got in contact with <strong>the</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION and suddenly <strong>the</strong> opportunity<br />
was <strong>the</strong>re <strong>to</strong> start planning for Specialisterne in<br />
Poland. We applied for funding <strong>to</strong> carry out a fea-<br />
sibility study, business plan and <strong>to</strong> launch Special-<br />
isterne Poland with a local partner.<br />
We were very happy and proud <strong>to</strong> be granted<br />
three-year funding for planning and setting up<br />
Specialisterne in Poland.<br />
Since November I have been in Poland several<br />
times <strong>to</strong> meet parent organisations, business pro-<br />
fessionals, authorities and o<strong>the</strong>r stakeholders.<br />
Wherever we visit we are met with great inter-<br />
est and willingness <strong>to</strong> support our quest – <strong>to</strong> set<br />
up Specialisterne as a lighthouse demonstrating<br />
that people with autism can contribute <strong>to</strong> society<br />
through meaningful and productive jobs in Po-<br />
land.<br />
Without <strong>the</strong> support of <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDA-<br />
TION we would not have been able <strong>to</strong> undertake<br />
<strong>the</strong> thorough planning needed <strong>to</strong> translate <strong>the</strong><br />
Specialisterne concept from <strong>the</strong> Danish welfare<br />
setting in<strong>to</strong> a welfare model as different as <strong>the</strong><br />
Polish one.<br />
We look forward <strong>to</strong> working with <strong>the</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION for many years in this project<br />
and hopefully taking our results deeper in<strong>to</strong> East-<br />
96 FACILITATING EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IN POLAND VILLUM FOUNDATION 97<br />
ern Europe.<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
Social<br />
development project<br />
for<br />
children and youth<br />
in Greenland<br />
BY KIRSTEN ØRGAARD<br />
Kirsten Ørgaard (born 1957), MSc<br />
in Psychology, vocational leadership<br />
diploma (2002), is <strong>the</strong> superintendent<br />
of <strong>the</strong> children’s and youth residential<br />
centre “Mælkebøtten” in Nuuk, Greenland. For 20<br />
years she has been involved in projects under <strong>the</strong> Green-<br />
land <strong>Home</strong> Rule Administration, <strong>the</strong> Municipality of<br />
Sermersooq and <strong>the</strong> Greenland Employers Association.<br />
<strong>The</strong> aim of <strong>the</strong> various projects has been <strong>to</strong> improve so-<br />
cial welfare for vulnerable children and adolescents in<br />
Greenland. Kirsten Ørgaard has, among o<strong>the</strong>r things,<br />
carried out <strong>the</strong> study “Children and youth in police<br />
reports – who and why?” and is co-author of “Children<br />
and youth in Greenland – an anthology”, MIPI, Ilis-<br />
matusarfik, University of Greenland.<br />
In 2010 <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION grant-<br />
ed DKK 4,800,000 for <strong>the</strong> establishment of <strong>the</strong><br />
Mælkebøtten residential care centre for vulner-<br />
able children and adolescents in Greenland. In<br />
addition <strong>the</strong> foundation is covering 50% of <strong>the</strong><br />
running costs for <strong>the</strong> first two years. In Green-<br />
land <strong>the</strong>re are not enough placement homes for<br />
vulnerable children who – due <strong>to</strong> social problems<br />
– are unable <strong>to</strong> stay living with <strong>the</strong>ir parents.<br />
Thus, <strong>the</strong> Foundation has contributed <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
implementation of an “open-around-<strong>the</strong>-clock”<br />
provision for children and adolescents in need of<br />
“family-style” residential placements with caring<br />
adults. <strong>The</strong> age limit is 3-17 years, and siblings<br />
have <strong>the</strong> opportunity <strong>to</strong> live <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r. Fur<strong>the</strong>r-<br />
more <strong>the</strong> children stay within <strong>the</strong>ir immediate<br />
environment in order <strong>to</strong> maintain contact with<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir social network and parents.<br />
Background<br />
In 2003 <strong>the</strong> Greenland Employers Association initiated a partnership<br />
with Save <strong>the</strong> Children, Nuuk Rotary Club and Lions Club Nuuk<br />
on projects <strong>to</strong> improve conditions for vulnerable children and youth<br />
and prevent fur<strong>the</strong>r neglect. In order <strong>to</strong> document <strong>the</strong> scale of <strong>the</strong><br />
problems – and <strong>to</strong> professionally orchestrate and develop relevant fo-<br />
cus areas – <strong>the</strong> employers initiated <strong>the</strong> study: “Children and youth in<br />
police reports – who and why?” <strong>The</strong> study, which was conducted by <strong>the</strong><br />
author of this article, reports on <strong>the</strong> number of children aged 0-17<br />
years who were involved with <strong>the</strong> police in 2002 and 2003, ei<strong>the</strong>r as<br />
victims, perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs or o<strong>the</strong>rwise in police-related incidents. A <strong>to</strong>tal<br />
of 1,075 children were registered during <strong>the</strong> two years.<br />
3.5% of <strong>the</strong> registered children and youth are estimated <strong>to</strong> have suf-<br />
fered severe neglect and social and psychological distress, while 8% of<br />
<strong>the</strong> children were exposed <strong>to</strong> a lesser degree of neglect. This group of<br />
children is Mælkebøtten’s primary target group. Based on <strong>the</strong> study<br />
and on meetings and <strong>the</strong>me days held with professionals in Nuuk, <strong>the</strong><br />
idea for a children’s house <strong>to</strong>ok form, and <strong>the</strong> 4 partners joined forces<br />
<strong>to</strong> raise capital for a child and youth house in Nuuk. In March 2006<br />
Mælkebøtten became a reality.<br />
<strong>The</strong> purpose<br />
Housed in a 510m 2 , two-s<strong>to</strong>rey building in Nuuk, Mælkebøtten is<br />
an independent institution and development project, where research-<br />
based knowledge is applied. Mælkebøtten is a combination of a crea-<br />
tive activity centre for all children in Nuuk and a shelter for socially<br />
disadvantaged children, where help is available around <strong>the</strong> clock. By<br />
arrangement with <strong>the</strong> Welfare Administration, <strong>the</strong> centre can take<br />
nine children for overnight stays. <strong>The</strong> children may turn up at <strong>the</strong><br />
centre <strong>the</strong>mselves, or may be referred by <strong>the</strong> Administration. <strong>The</strong><br />
placements may be arranged as emergencies or in connection with<br />
social welfare investigations in cooperation with <strong>the</strong> child’s network.<br />
Toge<strong>the</strong>r, we aim for holistic solutions, which give <strong>the</strong> children and<br />
adolescents opportunities <strong>to</strong> move on <strong>to</strong> a life that is better than <strong>the</strong><br />
one <strong>the</strong>y came from. One important mission is <strong>to</strong> help break negative<br />
Mælkebøtten is situated near <strong>the</strong> Colonial Habour – one of <strong>the</strong> oldest<br />
parts of Nuuk. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Jens-Jørgen Pedersen<br />
98 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN GREENLAND VILLUM FOUNDATION 99<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
TRH <strong>The</strong> Crown Prince and Crown Princess contributed financially <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> project, and in 2009 <strong>the</strong>y visited Mælkebøtten.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Kirsten Ørgaard<br />
social and psychological legacies by creating ‘pattern<br />
breakers’ and preventing suicide, sexual abuse and<br />
crime. <strong>The</strong> children who attend <strong>the</strong> creative work-<br />
shops are both resourceful and vulnerable. All <strong>the</strong><br />
children are part of <strong>the</strong> community. <strong>The</strong> resourceful<br />
children achieve social insights that not all children<br />
are well adjusted, and come <strong>to</strong> understand that dis-<br />
advantaged children also have rights, and <strong>the</strong> im-<br />
portance of being a good friend. Based on evalua-<br />
tion of <strong>the</strong> experiences from Mælkebøtten, we have<br />
found that <strong>the</strong>re is a great need for more residential<br />
care for children who cannot be returned <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
parents due <strong>to</strong> social problems at home. Because of<br />
this, Mælkebøtten had a long-held ambition <strong>to</strong> ex-<br />
pand <strong>the</strong> centre with a housing unit, which has now<br />
been realised. <strong>The</strong> housing unit is located in a large<br />
house that is leased for <strong>the</strong> purpose and <strong>the</strong> 24-hour<br />
care concept at Mælkebøtten has been extended <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> housing unit, which can take 6 children.<br />
Visions and values<br />
Key words at Mælkebøtten and <strong>the</strong> housing unit<br />
are dialogue, mutual respect and problem-solving.<br />
Children learn <strong>to</strong> use language ra<strong>the</strong>r than resort-<br />
ing <strong>to</strong> violence. Bullying is forbidden at Mælkebøt-<br />
ten and we pay great attention <strong>to</strong> conflict resolu-<br />
tion, as <strong>the</strong>re must be room for everyone. <strong>The</strong><br />
adults can be relied on and have time <strong>to</strong> talk, listen<br />
and have fun. <strong>The</strong> content takes in<strong>to</strong> account <strong>the</strong><br />
special needs of neglected children and adolescents<br />
in terms of closeness, caring, structure, predictabil-<br />
ity, trust and credibility. It was important <strong>to</strong> create<br />
space for fun and enjoying life, but also for immer-<br />
sion and reflection. <strong>The</strong> paedagogical aim is - in<br />
a structured environment - <strong>to</strong> help each child <strong>to</strong><br />
achieve optimal physical and mental wellbeing in<br />
order <strong>to</strong> thrive and develop his or her own poten-<br />
tials. <strong>The</strong> kids are empowered, and so better able<br />
<strong>to</strong> cope with <strong>the</strong>ir lives and break former patterns.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y learn that frustrations and barriers can be<br />
overcome, that problems can be solved and that<br />
if <strong>the</strong>re are difficult problems in life one should<br />
not choose suicide as <strong>the</strong> solution. We strive <strong>to</strong><br />
encourage, praise and motivate, so that <strong>the</strong> chil-<br />
dren <strong>the</strong>mselves experience <strong>the</strong> vic<strong>to</strong>ry of solving a<br />
problem or overcoming everyday challenges such<br />
<strong>The</strong> activities in Mælkebøtten are planned according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> seasons – in <strong>the</strong> summertime <strong>the</strong> children will often go on<br />
fishing trips. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Mælkebøtten<br />
as attending school, doing homework, preparing<br />
food, tidying <strong>the</strong>ir room. <strong>The</strong> mission is for <strong>the</strong><br />
children <strong>to</strong> enjoy a full life, in which self-esteem<br />
and confidence are achievable.<br />
Cooperation with <strong>the</strong> Municipality of Serm-<br />
ersooq<br />
Mælkebøtten and <strong>the</strong> Municipality of Sermersooq<br />
have entered in<strong>to</strong> a cooperation agreement con-<br />
cerning children who are undergoing social welfare<br />
assessment. We cooperate with <strong>the</strong> child’s network,<br />
school, parents and <strong>the</strong> Welfare Administration <strong>to</strong><br />
find <strong>the</strong> best overall solution for <strong>the</strong> child, not least<br />
with regard <strong>to</strong> encouraging pattern-breaking.<br />
Budget<br />
<strong>The</strong> establishment of Mælkebøtten - <strong>the</strong> purchase<br />
and refurbishment of <strong>the</strong> centre - was funded en-<br />
tirely by money raised from foundations, businesses<br />
and private contribu<strong>to</strong>rs. <strong>The</strong> budget is covered by<br />
donations, grants from <strong>the</strong> Government of Green-<br />
land, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq and day-rate re-<br />
imbursements for children in care. <strong>The</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION has allocated funds for <strong>the</strong> hous-<br />
ing unit <strong>to</strong> cover both construction and half of <strong>the</strong><br />
running costs for <strong>the</strong> first two years.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Mælkebøtten child” – from being margin-<br />
alised <strong>to</strong> becoming a pattern breaker<br />
In order <strong>to</strong> maintain a continuous evaluation pro-<br />
cess, cooperation with senior researcher Else Chris-<br />
tensen, from “SFI” – <strong>The</strong> National Centre for So-<br />
cial Research – has begun on: “Implementation<br />
of <strong>the</strong> research study: “<strong>The</strong> Mælkebøtten-child”<br />
– from being marginalised <strong>to</strong> becoming a pattern<br />
breaker”<br />
<strong>The</strong> study will follow <strong>the</strong> development and wellbe-<br />
ing of <strong>the</strong> children who have undergone social wel-<br />
fare assessment at Mælkebøtten. <strong>The</strong> aim is <strong>to</strong> find<br />
positive or negative causal relations regarding <strong>the</strong><br />
development of <strong>the</strong> children and <strong>the</strong>ir conditions<br />
of life, while concurrently obtaining knowledge<br />
about who are pattern breakers, and who are not.<br />
It is <strong>the</strong> first time a study of this kind has been con-<br />
ducted in Greenland. <strong>The</strong> study will run for 9 years<br />
and <strong>the</strong> first report is due <strong>to</strong> be published in 2013.<br />
100 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN GREENLAND VILLUM FOUNDATION 101<br />
SOCIAL PROJECTS
<strong>The</strong> Louisiana<br />
Museum of<br />
Modern Art’s<br />
new art s<strong>to</strong>res<br />
BY POUL ERIK TØJNER<br />
Poul Erik Tøjner (born 1959). Di-<br />
rec<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Museum of<br />
Modern Art since 2000. Tøjner is<br />
Chairman of <strong>the</strong> Board of Gylden-<br />
dal Publishers, Member of <strong>the</strong> Board<br />
of <strong>The</strong> C. L. David Foundation and<br />
Museum and of <strong>the</strong> Board of <strong>The</strong><br />
Queen’s Foundation. 1997-2000 Culture Edi<strong>to</strong>r at<br />
Weekendavisen. Tøjner has written extensively on<br />
culture, art his<strong>to</strong>ry, literature, design and aes<strong>the</strong>tics.<br />
In 2010 a grant <strong>to</strong>talling DKK 26,900,000<br />
was made evenly by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDA-<br />
TION, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong><br />
Augustinus Foundation <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Mu-<br />
seum of Modern Art <strong>to</strong>wards <strong>the</strong> construction<br />
of new state-of-<strong>the</strong>-art s<strong>to</strong>rage facilities and<br />
conservation technology. <strong>The</strong> art s<strong>to</strong>res will<br />
not only be used <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>re already-purchased<br />
art – that is, <strong>to</strong> secure an irreplaceable part of<br />
<strong>the</strong> international and Danish cultural herit-<br />
age – <strong>the</strong>y will also extend capacity for future<br />
acquisitions for <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Collection. <strong>The</strong><br />
construction of <strong>the</strong> approx. 1,914 m2 build-<br />
ing more than meets <strong>the</strong> requirements for<br />
energy-efficient design, and <strong>the</strong> art s<strong>to</strong>res will<br />
thus serve as a paradigm for future sustainable<br />
management of modern heritage.<br />
Louisiana is situated in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn part of Zealand with a panoramic view of Øresund. <strong>The</strong> museum encircles <strong>the</strong> sculpture<br />
park facing <strong>the</strong> sea, and <strong>the</strong> interplay between art, nature and architecture is unique. This is <strong>The</strong> Calder Terrace in<br />
front of <strong>the</strong> museum café. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Louisiana<br />
Museum people think a lot about <strong>the</strong> past. It comes<br />
with <strong>the</strong> job – with <strong>the</strong> very word ‘museum’ – that<br />
we are duty bound <strong>to</strong> rescue by whatever means<br />
what once was for <strong>the</strong> here-and-now, and all <strong>the</strong><br />
while keeping it in <strong>the</strong> public eye. But <strong>the</strong> here-<br />
and-now is always moving on, and <strong>the</strong> past keeps<br />
getting bigger as time goes by. So past and present<br />
<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r can easily take up every working hour for<br />
museum cura<strong>to</strong>rs and direc<strong>to</strong>rs. Now and again we<br />
might give some thought <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> future, but not<br />
<strong>to</strong>o much. Because <strong>the</strong> thought of having <strong>to</strong> ex-<br />
tend <strong>the</strong> past in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> present, and not only that,<br />
but of launching <strong>the</strong> whole shebang in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> future<br />
is not a little daunting. Busy as we are amassing<br />
items, representing our world with infinite care,<br />
working out where <strong>to</strong> display or s<strong>to</strong>re each item,<br />
we are only <strong>to</strong>o well aware that our job is not <strong>to</strong><br />
make things disappear, but <strong>the</strong> exact opposite – <strong>to</strong><br />
preserve <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
New works of art for <strong>the</strong> collection<br />
But <strong>to</strong> be more specific: for many years as <strong>the</strong> di-<br />
rec<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Museum of Modern Art,<br />
<strong>the</strong> generosity of Danish foundations and certain<br />
private collec<strong>to</strong>rs has allowed me <strong>to</strong> rejoice in <strong>the</strong><br />
timely growth in our financial capacity <strong>to</strong> acquire<br />
new works for <strong>the</strong> collection. It is absolutely cru-<br />
cial for a museum <strong>to</strong> be able <strong>to</strong> keep up with <strong>the</strong><br />
acquisitions side, for at least two reasons: first, we<br />
do not want <strong>to</strong> end up as a ‘period museum’; we<br />
do not want <strong>to</strong> be <strong>the</strong> Hirschsprung Collection of<br />
Modernism (and not a word against that splen-<br />
did collection!); what we do want is <strong>to</strong> be a living<br />
home for <strong>the</strong> contemporary; that is, permanently<br />
in contact with <strong>the</strong> layers of interpretation in which<br />
our life and world may be rendered visible. Col-<br />
lecting contemporary art is one way of doing this;<br />
making <strong>the</strong> museum a setting for relevant cultural<br />
events, as <strong>the</strong> Louisiana also does, is ano<strong>the</strong>r. And<br />
102 THE LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART’S NEW ART STORES VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 103<br />
CULTURE
<strong>The</strong> old villa seen from <strong>the</strong><br />
street – <strong>the</strong> museum entrance.<br />
With 3,000 works of art, <strong>the</strong><br />
collection is among <strong>the</strong> largest<br />
in Scandinavia. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Jens<br />
Frederiksen / Louisiana<br />
second, nowadays, a strong collection is <strong>the</strong> key <strong>to</strong> loans between museums,<br />
so without continuous updating of its collection an international museum<br />
loses mobility. If that sounds like mutual back-scratching, make no mistake:<br />
that is exactly what it is. Because every time <strong>the</strong> Louisiana can lend out<br />
works from <strong>the</strong> collection, we can justifiably hope for a quid pro quo at<br />
some time. This argument may sound shockingly pragmatic, but that hap-<br />
pens <strong>to</strong> be how it works – <strong>the</strong> culture industry of which Denmark’s most-<br />
visited museum of art is also a part.<br />
Lack of space<br />
To return <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> introduction’s little analysis of <strong>the</strong> parameters of museo-<br />
logical behaviour – past, present, future – <strong>the</strong>re have been limits <strong>to</strong> how<br />
long <strong>the</strong> undersigned has been able <strong>to</strong> ignore <strong>the</strong> fact that if you project just<br />
a little, <strong>the</strong> Louisiana simply has no room for <strong>the</strong> art <strong>the</strong> museum acquires.<br />
And since it cannot all be on <strong>the</strong> walls or <strong>the</strong> floors all at <strong>the</strong> same time – and<br />
because dynamic work with <strong>the</strong> collection in a variety of configurations is<br />
always going on – some of it has <strong>to</strong> be kept elsewhere, secured, under lock<br />
and key in a suitable indoor climate. <strong>The</strong> Louisiana has been a building in<br />
progress for more than <strong>the</strong> first forty years of its existence – but anything as<br />
tiresome as s<strong>to</strong>rage facilities was hardly at <strong>the</strong> centre of <strong>the</strong> founder Knud<br />
W. Jensen’s world-picture. And who can blame him when you see what a<br />
magnificent setting for modern art he was able <strong>to</strong> create? But <strong>the</strong> rest of us<br />
are now left with <strong>the</strong> problem; and – fortunately, as it has turned out – <strong>the</strong><br />
solution <strong>to</strong>o.<br />
<strong>The</strong> path <strong>to</strong>wards <strong>the</strong> project has been part of an overall professionalisa-<br />
tion strategy for <strong>the</strong> museum, partly necessitated by outside events, but also<br />
driven by ever greater demands from our international partners. Since we<br />
began <strong>the</strong> major modernisation of <strong>the</strong> buildings of <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Museum<br />
in 2003, which <strong>to</strong>ok four years and cost some DKK 220 million, we have<br />
continued with this strategy – from internal routines <strong>to</strong> external commit-<br />
ments. Today, <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is equipped for <strong>the</strong><br />
future with a good grasp of <strong>the</strong> present. In 2008 we renewed <strong>the</strong> museum<br />
decisively by introducing four days of evening opening a week all year round<br />
– Tuesday <strong>to</strong> Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. – which has created a platform for<br />
all sorts of activities and enabled working people <strong>to</strong> visit <strong>the</strong> museum on<br />
weekdays.<br />
Something that has been exceptionally successful, as pointed out, is kick-<br />
starting <strong>the</strong> museum’s acquisitions of new art for <strong>the</strong> collection. And we see<br />
At <strong>the</strong> time of writing construction<br />
of <strong>the</strong> new 1914 m 2<br />
s<strong>to</strong>rage facility had just got<br />
underway. This sketch illustrates<br />
<strong>the</strong> planned result.<br />
104 THE LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART’S NEW ART STORES VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 105<br />
CULTURE
Nor<strong>the</strong>rn wing. Glass hallways create an interplay between architecture, art and nature. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Hans Ole Madsen /<br />
Louisiana<br />
this <strong>to</strong>o as a professionalisation of <strong>the</strong> Louisiana.<br />
<strong>The</strong> professionalisation of <strong>the</strong> collection is a s<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
in its own right: <strong>the</strong> first phase has been a complete<br />
barcode registration of everything that has super-<br />
seded <strong>the</strong> less precise registration of former times.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second phase has been <strong>the</strong> lending out of<br />
masterworks from <strong>the</strong> original Danish part of <strong>the</strong><br />
collection <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Danish museums that have been<br />
interested in supplementing <strong>the</strong>ir own collections:<br />
17 museums have received a <strong>to</strong>tal of 115 works on<br />
loan, provisionally for ten years, since we want <strong>the</strong><br />
art <strong>to</strong> be shown as far as possible. <strong>The</strong> third phase,<br />
as mentioned above, has been a focus on financ-<br />
ing <strong>the</strong> acquisition of art – a fundraising perspec-<br />
tive; and <strong>the</strong> fourth phase is <strong>the</strong> procurement of<br />
adequate s<strong>to</strong>rage facilities for securing <strong>the</strong> cultural<br />
heritage, which ultimately belongs <strong>to</strong> Danish socie-<br />
ty, insofar as <strong>the</strong> works, according <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Museums<br />
Act, can never be sold, although <strong>the</strong>y have partly<br />
been acquired with private funding. <strong>The</strong>n <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
<strong>the</strong> fifth and last phase – digitisation of <strong>the</strong> collec-<br />
tion with a view <strong>to</strong> increased accessibility beyond<br />
<strong>the</strong> purely physical kind.<br />
A long-term solution<br />
And now <strong>to</strong> be even more specific. You have <strong>to</strong><br />
think big and think along new lines in such a situ-<br />
ation; that is, no more patching-up and tinkering,<br />
no lumber rooms here and <strong>the</strong>re or premises out<br />
in <strong>to</strong>wn. <strong>The</strong> Louisiana’s volume and international<br />
standing, and Denmark’s museum tradition, dic-<br />
tate that we must mount a proper project that<br />
might even serve in future as a paradigm for <strong>the</strong><br />
challenge of safeguarding cultural heritage, which<br />
as a result of <strong>the</strong> above fac<strong>to</strong>rs does not seem <strong>to</strong> be<br />
getting any smaller. In o<strong>the</strong>r words, <strong>the</strong> Louisiana<br />
wanted its s<strong>to</strong>rage problems solved once and for all<br />
– that is, for <strong>the</strong> next generation – and <strong>the</strong> solution<br />
had <strong>to</strong> provide <strong>the</strong> following: a s<strong>to</strong>rage building<br />
relatively close <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> museum <strong>to</strong> minimise trans-<br />
port, a s<strong>to</strong>rage facility that is state-of-<strong>the</strong>-art in<br />
terms of security, climatic and energy criteria; and<br />
finally a s<strong>to</strong>rage building that allows for acquisi-<br />
tions for many years <strong>to</strong> come.<br />
A dialogue with <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION<br />
and <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION revealed on<br />
<strong>the</strong> one hand a willingness <strong>to</strong> consider support-<br />
ing such a project, and, most importantly, a clear<br />
involvement from <strong>the</strong> foundations – including <strong>the</strong><br />
Augustinus Foundation, which is <strong>the</strong> third party<br />
in <strong>the</strong> funding – in <strong>the</strong> technical execution of <strong>the</strong><br />
building. <strong>The</strong> ‘Zephyr principle’ has been made<br />
<strong>the</strong> basis of this building, which means it should<br />
be a model of passive climate control. This means<br />
that you make <strong>the</strong> building itself – <strong>the</strong> thickness<br />
and permeability of <strong>the</strong> body of <strong>the</strong> building – <strong>the</strong><br />
productive element in <strong>the</strong> maintenance of humid-<br />
ity and temperature levels, instead of, as happened<br />
not so long ago, investing in energy- and space-in-<br />
tensive ventilation and air-conditioning. <strong>The</strong> new<br />
building, which is located in <strong>the</strong> municipality’s for-<br />
mer s<strong>to</strong>rage yard in Humlebæk, is in o<strong>the</strong>r words a<br />
low-tech building, but its realisation grows out of<br />
progressive, sophisticated, innovative thinking, for<br />
example about <strong>the</strong> approach <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> energy issue.<br />
<strong>The</strong> consultants <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> project, who developed <strong>the</strong><br />
Zephyr concept, have also been consultants <strong>to</strong> pro-<br />
jects in Vejle, Ribe, S<strong>to</strong>ckholm and Berlin, and we<br />
have benchmarked <strong>the</strong> project against <strong>the</strong> s<strong>to</strong>res<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Kungliga Husgerådskammare (Royal Col-<br />
lections) at <strong>the</strong> Royal Palace of S<strong>to</strong>ckholm, Swe-<br />
den. We have attempted in our project <strong>to</strong> achieve<br />
<strong>the</strong> ultimate in energy-conscious fixtures with re-<br />
spect for <strong>the</strong> specific requirements of this calibre of<br />
building. <strong>The</strong> choice of materials is in o<strong>the</strong>r words<br />
determined by <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> task, but we have<br />
wished <strong>to</strong> go as far as we can within <strong>the</strong> given con-<br />
straints.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION, <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> Augustinus Foundation,<br />
with one third of <strong>the</strong> construction costs coming<br />
from each, have agreed <strong>to</strong> solve an urgent problem<br />
for <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, agreed<br />
<strong>to</strong> think long-term in collaboration with a Dan-<br />
ish cultural institution – <strong>the</strong>re is s<strong>to</strong>rage capacity<br />
for thirty years – and, finally, have agreed <strong>to</strong> con-<br />
tribute <strong>to</strong> a new generation of sustainable, energy-<br />
conscious museum construction. <strong>The</strong> foundations<br />
have thus demonstrated responsibility for <strong>the</strong> quite<br />
fundamental, basic care of <strong>the</strong> artworks, of <strong>the</strong> cul-<br />
tural heritage; which means that <strong>the</strong> museum staff<br />
of yet ano<strong>the</strong>r future will be able <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> art-<br />
works of our present and future <strong>the</strong> object of new<br />
presentations.<br />
I believe I speak on behalf of all museum staff<br />
when I say that this is a dream one rarely sees come<br />
true. <strong>The</strong>re is not much <strong>to</strong> boast about in <strong>the</strong> first<br />
round as a donor – in practice a windowless cel-<br />
lar above ground; but in <strong>the</strong> second round I think<br />
<strong>the</strong> laurels will grow in a profusion worthy of a<br />
Danish August with record rainfall. Support for<br />
<strong>the</strong> Louisiana’s new art s<strong>to</strong>res is due diligence in<br />
<strong>the</strong> most literal sense, social responsibility and true<br />
cultural commitment all rolled in<strong>to</strong> one. And now<br />
<strong>the</strong> Louisiana Museum of Modern Art can put its<br />
back in<strong>to</strong> building up <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r interfaces that ben-<br />
efit <strong>the</strong> general public, which, without this basis,<br />
would all be in vain.<br />
106 THE LOUISIANA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART’S NEW ART STORES VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 107<br />
CULTURE
<strong>The</strong><br />
Royal <strong>The</strong>atre’s<br />
past<br />
digitised<br />
Martin Thaarup Larsen<br />
(born 1973) graduated<br />
from <strong>the</strong> Royal Danish<br />
Academy of Music in 1999.<br />
Since 2000 he has worked<br />
at <strong>the</strong> Royal <strong>The</strong>atre, first<br />
as a music archivist and<br />
from 2009 as project man-<br />
ager for digitisation and<br />
digital archiving.<br />
BY MARTIN THAARUP LARSEN<br />
In 2010, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION grant-<br />
ed DKK 2,200,000 for <strong>the</strong> digitisation of <strong>the</strong><br />
Royal <strong>The</strong>atre’s video archive. <strong>The</strong> archive<br />
holds thousands of recordings of <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>atre’s<br />
performances and is an important source of<br />
documentation in relation <strong>to</strong> restaging and<br />
often serves as inspiration for new produc-<br />
tions. A large part of <strong>the</strong> archive is in an out-<br />
dated format, and this grant has made it pos-<br />
sible <strong>to</strong> secure an invaluable archive of unique<br />
cultural his<strong>to</strong>rical material.<br />
His<strong>to</strong>ry of <strong>the</strong> video archive<br />
<strong>The</strong> performing arts are by <strong>the</strong>ir very nature ephemeral.<br />
After <strong>the</strong> curtain falls, <strong>the</strong> ballet, opera or play is s<strong>to</strong>red<br />
only in <strong>the</strong> mind of <strong>the</strong> specta<strong>to</strong>r and it is difficult <strong>to</strong> de-<br />
scribe <strong>to</strong> one who has not experienced it. Often <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
a need <strong>to</strong> represent <strong>the</strong> performance, for example <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
singer who is unfamiliar with <strong>the</strong> staging and who must<br />
replace a sick colleague, or for <strong>the</strong> dancer who needs <strong>to</strong><br />
learn <strong>the</strong> choreography of a ballet that has not been staged<br />
in 25 years.<br />
Manuscripts and sheet music are good starting points for<br />
learning new text or music, but information about move-<br />
ment on stage is difficult <strong>to</strong> reproduce in print. Where<br />
does <strong>the</strong> ac<strong>to</strong>r move after his line, and how and how<br />
fast? Video recordings of performances are a great help<br />
in preserving movements on stage, and in particular in<br />
capturing choreography. This is probably why <strong>the</strong> ballet<br />
has been especially keen <strong>to</strong> make video recordings of its<br />
performances.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> 1950s and 60s, Artistic Direc<strong>to</strong>r Niels Bjørn Larsen<br />
(1913-2003) filmed <strong>the</strong> Royal Ballet with a 16 mm cam-<br />
era (often without sound), and Flemming Flindt (1936-<br />
2009) had as artistic direc<strong>to</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> 1970s acquired an<br />
IVC camera. <strong>The</strong> IVC format was a magnetic tape format<br />
like VHS, but <strong>the</strong> tape was twice as wide and on open<br />
reels. It was difficult <strong>to</strong> handle, and <strong>the</strong> equipment <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
up so much space that it was not possible <strong>to</strong> record with<br />
an audience present.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> late 1990s, on <strong>the</strong> initiative of former principal<br />
dancer Kirsten Simone and designer Mia Okkels, <strong>the</strong> old<br />
ballet footage was transferred <strong>to</strong> digital tapes.<br />
From around 1980, <strong>the</strong> Royal <strong>The</strong>atre systematically re-<br />
corded all premieres and revivals of plays, ballet and op-<br />
era. In <strong>the</strong> beginning, performances were recorded using<br />
a fixed camera mounted on <strong>the</strong> balcony which shot <strong>the</strong><br />
whole scene, but later two or more cameras were used<br />
which also made it possible <strong>to</strong> get close-up shots of <strong>the</strong><br />
performers. For <strong>the</strong> first 20 years or so <strong>the</strong> shows were<br />
IVC video tape recorder (International Video<br />
Corporation)<br />
U-matic cassette<br />
Plastic base<br />
Glue<br />
Oxide coating<br />
Schematic drawing of <strong>the</strong> structure of a<br />
magnetic tape<br />
108 THE ROYAL THEATRE’S PAST DIGITISED VELUX FOUNDATION 109<br />
CULTURE
Flemming Ryberg and Anna Lærkesen in A Folk Tale<br />
(1977). Pho<strong>to</strong>: John R. Johnsen<br />
recorded in U-matic format which is also a mag-<br />
netic tape format, but on cassettes. From around<br />
2000, performances were recorded digitally.<br />
Video recordings are frequently used by perform-<br />
ers as described above, but also by students and<br />
researchers who can use <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> study for exam-<br />
ple production design, costumes or performance<br />
practice.<br />
Digitisation<br />
<strong>The</strong> digital recordings are in good condition, but<br />
time is running out for <strong>the</strong> old U-matic tapes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> tapes have <strong>to</strong> be played on machines that<br />
went out of production in <strong>the</strong> late 1990s, and it is<br />
difficult <strong>to</strong> maintain <strong>the</strong> equipment and <strong>to</strong> obtain<br />
spare parts. Besides which, <strong>the</strong> tapes <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
are degrading.<br />
A video tape basically consists of a base and mag-<br />
Caroline Cavallo and Peter Bo Bendixen in A Folk Tale<br />
(1996). Pho<strong>to</strong>: Martin Mydtskov Rønne<br />
netic particles which are glued on <strong>the</strong> base. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
basic components (base, glue and magnetic parti-<br />
cles) are all potential weaknesses of <strong>the</strong> tape. <strong>The</strong><br />
base may lose its flexibility so <strong>the</strong> tape breaks,<br />
<strong>the</strong> glue may degrade so <strong>the</strong> magnetic layer peels<br />
off, or it may absorb moisture causing <strong>the</strong> tape<br />
<strong>to</strong> become sticky, or <strong>the</strong> magnetic particles may<br />
become unstable resulting in a poor video signal.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Royal <strong>The</strong>atre consulted <strong>the</strong> Danish Broad-<br />
casting Corporation, which has substantial experi-<br />
ence in digitising audio and video in-house, and<br />
two specialists were hired <strong>to</strong> perform <strong>the</strong> digitisa-<br />
tion.<br />
<strong>The</strong> actual digitisation work is being done in a<br />
studio in Copenhagen, and a large number of <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>atre’s video machines have been transported<br />
<strong>to</strong> this studio. Most of <strong>the</strong> machines serve as a<br />
spare parts pool for keeping a few machines in <strong>the</strong><br />
best possible condition. <strong>The</strong> old tapes challenge<br />
<strong>the</strong> two digitisation specialists almost daily with<br />
new problems which require skill and ingenuity<br />
<strong>to</strong> solve. Some tapes break, some disintegrate and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs just will not ‘behave’.<br />
While <strong>the</strong> tapes are being digitised, <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>atre’s<br />
IT infrastructure is being expanded <strong>to</strong> handle <strong>the</strong><br />
large amount of data <strong>the</strong> digitised video files rep-<br />
resent. Backup procedures are being established<br />
as well as platforms for granting access <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
archive from all <strong>the</strong>atre locations. <strong>The</strong> tapes are<br />
viewed by (retired) employees who can still re-<br />
member details about <strong>the</strong> performances and <strong>the</strong><br />
performers, and all this information is entered<br />
along with <strong>the</strong> recordings <strong>to</strong> provide an unprec-<br />
edented means of searching <strong>the</strong> entire collection<br />
of video recordings.<br />
<strong>The</strong> future<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal collection of 2,600 U-matic tapes is ex-<br />
pected <strong>to</strong> be fully digitised within two years when<br />
<strong>the</strong> digital footage will be transferred <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> new<br />
video servers. <strong>The</strong> <strong>the</strong>atre is also working on get-<br />
ting both audio recordings and paper documents<br />
digitised <strong>to</strong> provide a digital performance archive<br />
for employers and researchers seeking knowledge<br />
and inspiration. <strong>The</strong> grant from <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION has made it possible <strong>to</strong> launch<br />
this great and important project in time, and <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>atre is working <strong>to</strong> clarify <strong>the</strong> many complex<br />
rights issues associated with <strong>the</strong> recordings, so<br />
audiences worldwide can enjoy this huge archival<br />
treasure.<br />
Hilary Guswiler in A Folk Tale (2011). Pho<strong>to</strong>: Per Morten<br />
Abrahamsen<br />
110 THE ROYAL THEATRE’S PAST DIGITISED VELUX FOUNDATION 111<br />
CULTURE
Jørgen Wadum (born 1951), MSc, PhD<br />
in fine art conservation. Chief Conserva-<br />
<strong>to</strong>r at Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis,<br />
<strong>The</strong> Hague, <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands 1990; Keeper<br />
of Conservation, National Gallery of Den-<br />
mark 2005. Has specialised in scientific art<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry, notably from <strong>the</strong> Dutch Golden Age,<br />
with a specific focus on <strong>the</strong> painting tech-<br />
niques of Rembrandt, Dou and Vermeer.<br />
Exploring<br />
<strong>the</strong> science<br />
of art his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
Science moves in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
National Gallery of Denmark<br />
BY JØRGEN WADUM<br />
In 2011 <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION and <strong>the</strong> VE-<br />
LUX FOUNDATION donated DKK 20,000,000 for<br />
<strong>the</strong> establishment of <strong>the</strong> Centre for Art Technologi-<br />
cal Studies and Conservation (CATS). <strong>The</strong> centre is<br />
unique in being a joint undertaking between <strong>the</strong> Na-<br />
tional Gallery of Denmark, <strong>the</strong> National Museum of<br />
Denmark and <strong>the</strong> Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts,<br />
Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation.<br />
As indicated by <strong>the</strong> name, <strong>the</strong> centre will be devoted<br />
<strong>to</strong> technology-based studies of art and art conserva-<br />
tion in which conserva<strong>to</strong>rs, scientists, art and cultural<br />
his<strong>to</strong>rians engage in multidisciplinary research in <strong>the</strong><br />
painting techniques and media employed in <strong>the</strong> crea-<br />
tion of works of art. Decoding <strong>the</strong> artistic processes<br />
will provide new and surprising art his<strong>to</strong>ry revelations<br />
for our public. But above all, CATS will improve our<br />
ability <strong>to</strong> determine <strong>the</strong> diverse and often complex<br />
ageing processes that affect <strong>the</strong> visual arts. <strong>The</strong> aim is<br />
<strong>to</strong> develop new and more precise methods for diagnos-<br />
ing, handling and conserving our visual art heritage.<br />
How costly were <strong>the</strong> robes of <strong>the</strong> Apostles?<br />
From Afghanistan <strong>to</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Europe – via Venice. In<br />
<strong>the</strong> 16th-17th centuries, transport along <strong>the</strong> trade routes<br />
from Central Asia was so time-consuming and trouble-<br />
some that <strong>the</strong> price of ultramarine, a natural blue pigment<br />
derived from lapis lazuli, a semi-precious s<strong>to</strong>ne, exceeded<br />
that of gold by <strong>the</strong> time it reached its final destination: <strong>the</strong><br />
Nor<strong>the</strong>rn European apo<strong>the</strong>cary shops, where many artists<br />
purchased <strong>the</strong> pigment for <strong>the</strong>ir paints. Since <strong>the</strong> Middle<br />
Ages, natural ultramarine had been used <strong>to</strong> paint <strong>the</strong> blue<br />
capes on <strong>the</strong> most notable Biblical figures, although its cost<br />
was beyond <strong>the</strong> means of many artists. Instead, <strong>the</strong>y had <strong>to</strong><br />
make do with cheaper blue pigments such as azurite and<br />
crushed glass containing cobalt, called smalt.<br />
Studies of <strong>the</strong> layers of pigment and o<strong>the</strong>r media in paint-<br />
ings give us fascinating insights in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> past, while sources<br />
of information about trade routes, artists’ media and tech-<br />
niques are vital in <strong>the</strong> techno-his<strong>to</strong>rical studies undertak-<br />
en by conserva<strong>to</strong>rs. Exploring <strong>the</strong> material attributes of a<br />
work of art, allied with art his<strong>to</strong>ry, allows us <strong>to</strong> piece <strong>to</strong>-<br />
ge<strong>the</strong>r new insights in<strong>to</strong> a given work; with <strong>the</strong> odd as-<br />
<strong>to</strong>nishing revelation along <strong>the</strong> way, as was <strong>the</strong> case with<br />
<strong>the</strong> pioneering international research collaboration on <strong>the</strong><br />
Rembrandt paintings at <strong>the</strong> National Gallery of Denmark<br />
in 2006 before CATS was established. Besides <strong>the</strong> many<br />
valuable discoveries that emerged from exhaustive analysis<br />
of <strong>the</strong> paintings, which are variably claimed <strong>to</strong> be <strong>the</strong> work<br />
of Rembrandt, one of <strong>the</strong> conclusions of <strong>the</strong> research was<br />
that two of <strong>the</strong> works are indubitably attributable <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Dutch master.<br />
Can a dead artist paint a picture?<br />
<strong>The</strong> extraordinary imagery teaming with people and activ-<br />
ity in <strong>the</strong> Bosch-Bruegel project’s painting at <strong>the</strong> National<br />
Gallery is matched by <strong>the</strong> complexity surrounding its con-<br />
servation, as revealed by technical conservation and art his-<br />
<strong>to</strong>ry studies. Investigation of <strong>the</strong> narratives in <strong>the</strong> work is<br />
undertaken at several levels in this project, which under <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> detail shows a blue robe and white undergarment<br />
from a 15th-century painting of “Madonna<br />
with Child”. <strong>The</strong> blue colour is painted<br />
using <strong>the</strong> semi-precious s<strong>to</strong>ne lapis lazuli, also<br />
known as natural ultramarine. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Troels<br />
Filtenborg<br />
This cross-section of <strong>the</strong> paint layer shows<br />
that <strong>the</strong> 15th century artist made do by painting<br />
only <strong>the</strong> uppermost, darker blue layer in<br />
<strong>the</strong> costly lapis lazuli. Heavy underpainting using<br />
<strong>the</strong> less costly blue pigment called azurite,<br />
which is seen as paler-coloured blue blocks under<br />
<strong>the</strong> dark blue, was an economical means<br />
of achieving a convincing deep blue effect.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Troels Filtenborg<br />
112 EXPLORING THE SCIENCE OF ART HISTORY VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 113<br />
CULTURE
A conserva<strong>to</strong>r employing a mixture<br />
of solvents <strong>to</strong> remove old yellowed<br />
varnish from a painting from <strong>the</strong> late<br />
16th century. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Riccardo Buccarella<br />
<strong>The</strong> painting “Christ Driving <strong>the</strong> Money-lenders<br />
from <strong>the</strong> Temple”, formerly<br />
attributed <strong>to</strong> Pieter Bruegel <strong>the</strong> Elder<br />
(1525-1569), is seen here after removal<br />
of yellowed varnish and overpainting.<br />
<strong>The</strong> white sections are<br />
where <strong>the</strong> original paint has deteriorated<br />
over <strong>the</strong> last 500 years. All <strong>the</strong><br />
damaged areas are re<strong>to</strong>uched <strong>to</strong> res<strong>to</strong>re<br />
<strong>the</strong> integrity of <strong>the</strong> work. Pho<strong>to</strong>:<br />
Riccardo Buccarella<br />
title of “Four Paintings Magnified – Tracing Bosch and<br />
Bruegel” is <strong>the</strong> first international research partnership <strong>to</strong><br />
be launched under <strong>the</strong> aegis of CATS.<br />
<strong>The</strong> painting at <strong>the</strong> National Gallery is one of four known<br />
works on wood from <strong>the</strong> 16th century; a second is in pri-<br />
vate ownership and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r two belong <strong>to</strong> Kadriorg Art<br />
Museum in Tallinn and Glasgow Museums, respectively.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se museums, in association with <strong>the</strong> Royal Danish<br />
Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design<br />
and Conservation, <strong>the</strong> National Museum of Denmark’s<br />
conservation department and University of Glasgow, are<br />
collaborating closely with CATS on <strong>the</strong> Bosch-Bruegel<br />
research and conservation project. <strong>The</strong> four paintings all<br />
portray <strong>the</strong> same Biblical motif of “Christ Driving <strong>the</strong><br />
Money-lenders from <strong>the</strong> Temple” – and <strong>the</strong>re has been<br />
much <strong>to</strong> suggest that <strong>the</strong>se works were painted by artists<br />
such as Bosch (circa 1450-1516) and Bruegel (1525-<br />
1569).<br />
However, initial analysis based on <strong>the</strong> dating and origin<br />
of <strong>the</strong> wood <strong>the</strong> pictures are painted on, turned up some<br />
surprises. <strong>The</strong> so-called dendrochronological analyses in-<br />
dicate that <strong>the</strong> oakwood came from trees that were still<br />
growing deep in what is now Polish forest as late as in<br />
1560-1570 and could not have been ready <strong>to</strong> receive<br />
paint within <strong>the</strong> lifetime of ei<strong>the</strong>r Bosch or Bruegel. A<br />
real piece of detective work has now been launched be-<br />
tween CATS and <strong>the</strong> institutional partners <strong>to</strong> shed light<br />
on aspects such as <strong>the</strong> origin of <strong>the</strong> paintings.<br />
How does ox bone glue react <strong>to</strong> water-based clean-<br />
ing fluid?<br />
<strong>The</strong> detective work surrounding Henri Matisse’s myste-<br />
rious image of bathing girls, Le Luxe II, from 1907-1908<br />
is an al<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r different s<strong>to</strong>ry. In this case, ox bone glue<br />
emerged as <strong>the</strong> answer <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> question of how surface<br />
staining and soiling could be removed without damaging<br />
<strong>the</strong> painting. If Matisse – as is claimed by <strong>the</strong> his<strong>to</strong>rical<br />
sources – had in fact used <strong>the</strong> highly insoluble substance<br />
known as casein in his paints, a water-based cleaning fluid would<br />
<strong>the</strong>n have been ideal for <strong>the</strong> job. However, <strong>the</strong> pigment layer was<br />
extremely sensitive <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> effects of moisture, and a research alli-<br />
ance with Professor Ole Nørregaard Jensen, MSC, PhD, of <strong>the</strong><br />
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at <strong>the</strong> Uni-<br />
versity of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Denmark established that <strong>the</strong> artist had in fact<br />
used animal-based distemper. This insight in<strong>to</strong> Matisse’s choice of<br />
materials and method meant that original plans for water-based<br />
cleaning had <strong>to</strong> be rejected in favour of a treatment favouring <strong>the</strong><br />
medium.<br />
How <strong>to</strong> do puncture repair on modern sculpture?<br />
If we move on in time and place <strong>to</strong> later works and contempo-<br />
rary art, we find ourselves surrounded by media as diverse as plas-<br />
tic, rubber, lead, pigment and textiles in <strong>the</strong> series of pneumatic<br />
sculptures by Willy Ørskov from <strong>the</strong> period 1975-1985 entitled<br />
Bøjninger (“Inflexions”). Here, <strong>the</strong> challenge for <strong>the</strong> conserva-<br />
<strong>to</strong>r lay in <strong>the</strong> very substance of <strong>the</strong> products <strong>the</strong>mselves, where<br />
deterioration of <strong>the</strong> plastic medium was causing <strong>the</strong> sculptures <strong>to</strong><br />
deflate. <strong>The</strong> problem is typical of various types of plastic and may<br />
result in <strong>the</strong> impaired durability of contemporary art compared <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> more traditional materials of earlier artworks. Contemporary<br />
artworks tend <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>to</strong> age rapidly unless <strong>the</strong> deterioration can<br />
be halted.<br />
Studies devoted <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> prevention and remediation of <strong>the</strong> dete-<br />
rioration of <strong>the</strong> media are now in progress under <strong>the</strong> innovative<br />
PRIMI (Plastics Research and Innovation for Museums and In-<br />
dustry) research project, which bridges <strong>the</strong> traditional divide be-<br />
tween arts and science: an ambitious and innovative partnership<br />
between <strong>the</strong> plastics industry, artists, designers, researchers and art<br />
conserva<strong>to</strong>rs. <strong>The</strong> project is unique in that it establishes <strong>the</strong> sci-<br />
ence of modern art media; a science which will be channelled from<br />
<strong>the</strong> art world <strong>to</strong> an agreed commercial application in <strong>the</strong> plastics<br />
industry. <strong>The</strong> contribution by <strong>the</strong> National Gallery <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> PRIMI<br />
project sorts naturally under CATS, given that <strong>the</strong> multidiscipli-<br />
nary structure, expertise, new analytical <strong>to</strong>ols and methods and<br />
professional networks of this new research centre embody both<br />
exploration and discoveries in <strong>the</strong> science of art his<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
Studies of sample media using a stereo polarisation<br />
microscope. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Riccardo Buccarella<br />
Oil paint and varnish, urine, foam rubber and<br />
thick grease are among <strong>the</strong> media used by<br />
Claus Carstensen (born 1957) in his monumental<br />
work Æterlegeme (“E<strong>the</strong>r Body”) from 1986<br />
(400 x 300 cm on canvas). <strong>The</strong> close-up shows<br />
sections of <strong>the</strong> heavily-deteriorated foam rubber<br />
elements that were respectively blue and<br />
white originally. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Louise Cone<br />
114 EXPLORING THE SCIENCE OF ART HISTORY VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 115<br />
CULTURE
Climate<br />
policy:<br />
perhaps <strong>the</strong> most<br />
important indica<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of sustainable<br />
development?<br />
BY THOMAS FÆRGEMAN<br />
Thomas Færgeman (born 1965) holds degrees<br />
in agronomy and journalism, and has devoted<br />
his entire career <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> environmental field:<br />
initially at Novo Nordisk A/S, <strong>the</strong>n as an en-<br />
vironmental consultant <strong>to</strong> Deloitte, followed<br />
by 10 years as assistant general manager of <strong>the</strong><br />
Danish Society for Nature Conservation, where<br />
he was responsible for nature and environment<br />
policy development and lobbying, until he be-<br />
came head of department at <strong>the</strong> Danish Minis-<br />
try of <strong>the</strong> Environment. Since 2008 he has been<br />
<strong>the</strong> managing direc<strong>to</strong>r of CONCITO.<br />
In 2010, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION granted DKK 5,460,000 <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> CONCITO think tank, for <strong>the</strong> completion of its “Annual Climate<br />
Outlook 2010-2011” project, and in 2011 <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDA-<br />
TION granted DKK 4,978,000 for a project on a green tax reform.<br />
<strong>The</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION granted additionally DKK 6,646,667<br />
for ‘Climate Outresch’ in 2012 and 2013. CONCITO is a Danish cli-<br />
mate network with 100 members, one third of which are businesses,<br />
one third scientists, and one third organisations and individuals re-<br />
presenting a broad segment of civil society. “Annual Climate Outlook<br />
2010-2011” consists of an annual analysis of Danish climate policies<br />
in <strong>the</strong> areas of transportation, buildings, agriculture, and energy. On<br />
<strong>the</strong> basis of this analysis, CONCITO’s members draft a number of<br />
concrete recommendations for <strong>the</strong> Danish Parliament. CONCITO<br />
also conducts analyses of <strong>the</strong> environmental impact of Danish con-<br />
sumer behaviour, as well as maintaining a focus on <strong>the</strong> availability<br />
of sustainable biomass, and <strong>the</strong> possibility of calculating <strong>the</strong> climate<br />
impact of individual products.<br />
In late May 2011, <strong>the</strong> International Energy Agency announced that global<br />
CO 2 emissions had never been higher, and that <strong>the</strong>y were rising at a steadily<br />
increasing pace. According <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> IEA’s senior economist, this was <strong>the</strong> worst<br />
possible news that <strong>the</strong> world could have received.<br />
A week earlier, 17 Nobel Prize laureates made an urgent appeal <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> poli-<br />
ticians of <strong>the</strong> world <strong>to</strong> take action now, because <strong>the</strong>y, based on <strong>the</strong>ir sci-<br />
entific knowledge, feared immeasurable and irreversible consequences for<br />
<strong>the</strong> Earth and mankind. This was not an appeal from an environmental<br />
organisation or a political interest group, but from people whose knowledge<br />
is universally admired and appreciated.<br />
A few weeks prior <strong>to</strong> this appeal, <strong>the</strong> Arctic Council published a report on<br />
sea level rises in this century, concluding that <strong>the</strong>se had in all likelihood been<br />
grossly underestimated, and might be considerably greater than previously<br />
assumed. And a few weeks before <strong>the</strong> publication of that report, it was an-<br />
nounced that, globally, 2010 had been <strong>the</strong> warmest year on record.<br />
2010 also saw climate change manifest itself in floods in Australia and Pa-<br />
kistan, hurricanes in <strong>the</strong> United States, droughts in Russia with subsequent<br />
forest fires, and rising food prices. Food prices which led <strong>to</strong> rebellion and<br />
revolution, but which frail new democracies have no chance of addressing<br />
without resolute efforts <strong>to</strong> stem <strong>the</strong> worst consequences of climate change.<br />
116 CLIMATE POLICY Fo<strong>to</strong>: Ojbyrne<br />
VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 117<br />
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
But <strong>the</strong> climate changes responsible for <strong>the</strong> current situ-<br />
ation are nothing compared <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> human and economic<br />
costs <strong>to</strong> come, even if we fulfil <strong>the</strong> goal of a maximum glob-<br />
al temperature rise of two degrees Celsius.<br />
Never<strong>the</strong>less, it has been extraordinarily difficult <strong>to</strong> reach<br />
international agreements with binding targets for <strong>the</strong> re-<br />
duction of greenhouse gases, just as very little is happening<br />
at <strong>the</strong> national level in Denmark.<br />
Every year in May with funding from <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUN-<br />
DATION, CONCITO publishes an analytical situation<br />
report for Denmark, of <strong>the</strong> preceding year’s political initia-<br />
tives aimed at responding <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> warning lights which could<br />
not be blinking any more brightly, rapidly, and alarmingly<br />
than <strong>the</strong>y are at present. <strong>The</strong> analysis is called <strong>the</strong> Annual<br />
Climate Outlook, and was first published in 2010. In 2011<br />
it was published in both Danish and English.<br />
<strong>The</strong> conclusion of <strong>the</strong> 2011 report is crystal clear: <strong>the</strong>re is<br />
much talk and drafting of visions and plans of action, but<br />
absolutely nothing is actually happening. <strong>The</strong> government<br />
and <strong>the</strong> opposition have both presented proposals for strat-<br />
egies, but nothing has been ratified. It is difficult <strong>to</strong> point<br />
<strong>to</strong> a year with less activity on Denmark’s part, even though<br />
<strong>the</strong> scientific community is becoming increasingly certain<br />
and increasingly sharp in its warnings and statements.<br />
To be fair, Danish greenhouse gas emissions are falling, but<br />
not nearly <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> extent necessary in order for Denmark <strong>to</strong><br />
meet its obligations for 2020 and 2050. And with regard<br />
<strong>to</strong> Danish consumption and its climate impacts, things are<br />
moving in <strong>the</strong> wrong direction: an adverse trend which re-<br />
flects <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> bulk of <strong>the</strong> world’s heavy industry<br />
has been relocated <strong>to</strong> developing economies – even though<br />
<strong>the</strong> West still has <strong>the</strong> largest consumption per capita. In<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r words, emissions have been exported <strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r coun-<br />
tries – without <strong>the</strong> climate benefiting in <strong>the</strong> slightest.<br />
<strong>The</strong> primary purpose of CONCITO is <strong>to</strong> change <strong>the</strong>se<br />
conditions.<br />
Pushing <strong>the</strong> boundaries of realpolitik<br />
It all started in November 2007. <strong>The</strong> general election had just been held, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> last ballots were being counted. Martin Lidegaard, who at <strong>the</strong> time had been<br />
a member of Parliament for six years, had not been reelected. Over <strong>the</strong> follow-<br />
ing days, he was approached by a number of businesses and NGOs, encouraging<br />
him <strong>to</strong> start a new, green think tank in Denmark. <strong>The</strong> reasoning was straight-<br />
forward: <strong>the</strong> climate challenge is here <strong>to</strong> stay – and <strong>the</strong>re is a pressing need for<br />
businesses, civil society, and <strong>the</strong> scientific community <strong>to</strong> join forces <strong>to</strong> come up<br />
with concrete options for moving society in a more sustainable direction.<br />
Toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> author of this article, Martin Lidegaard set <strong>to</strong> work on build-<br />
ing a new think tank from <strong>the</strong> ground up. <strong>The</strong> goal was – and is – <strong>to</strong> ga<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong><br />
best and most influential businesses, organisations, scientists, and individuals in a<br />
network, which is independent of party politics and independent of commercial<br />
interests. <strong>The</strong> former was ensured by a broad membership, <strong>the</strong> latter by <strong>the</strong> bulk<br />
of <strong>the</strong> think tank’s funding being comprised of grants from non-profit founda-<br />
tions.<br />
<strong>The</strong> network outputs scientifically-founded scenarios, which identify ways in<br />
which <strong>the</strong> transport sec<strong>to</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> agricultural sec<strong>to</strong>r, energy production, construc-<br />
tion, and consumption may be developed in a way that is actually sustainable,<br />
i.e. that contributes <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> prosperity of society without destroying <strong>the</strong> resources<br />
upon which that prosperity is based.<br />
No sooner said than done: in September 2008, <strong>the</strong> first 90 members were in<br />
place, and a founding board of direc<strong>to</strong>rs had already drafted articles of associa-<br />
tion for <strong>the</strong> think tank over <strong>the</strong> summer. A grant from <strong>the</strong> Tryg Foundation<br />
and <strong>the</strong> initial membership fees made possible <strong>the</strong> hiring of a managing direc<strong>to</strong>r<br />
and a project manager, as well as a salary for <strong>the</strong> chairman of <strong>the</strong> board. <strong>The</strong><br />
first chairman was Martin Lidegaard, until he was elected Minister of Climate,<br />
Energy and Building in Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2011.<br />
Since <strong>the</strong>n things have been progressing rapidly: new projects have been com-<br />
pleted with funding from Realdania, <strong>the</strong> Nordea Foundation, <strong>the</strong> Roskilde<br />
Foundation, <strong>the</strong> Percentage Tax Foundation – and especially <strong>the</strong> VELUX<br />
FOUNDATION. Today <strong>the</strong> secretariat employs eight people. Funding from<br />
<strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION has been of primary importance <strong>to</strong> CONCITO<br />
in 2010 and 2011, since it is due <strong>to</strong> this grant that CONCITO has been able <strong>to</strong><br />
conduct thorough, interdisciplinary analyses of Danish climate policies, just as<br />
it has been possible <strong>to</strong> develop separate analyses of Danish consumer habits. In<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r words, <strong>the</strong> VELUX FOUNDATION is funding CONCITO’s main raison<br />
d’être, and has decided <strong>to</strong> continue until end of 2013.<br />
118 CLIMATE POLICY VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 119<br />
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Tons of CO2e/capita<br />
25<br />
20<br />
15<br />
10<br />
5<br />
0<br />
1980<br />
1981<br />
1982<br />
1983<br />
1984<br />
1985<br />
1986<br />
1987<br />
1988<br />
1989<br />
1990<br />
1991<br />
1992<br />
Annual greenhouse gas emissions measured in carbon dioxide equivalents per Dane. <strong>The</strong> “national emissions” label refers<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> official emissions originating from within Denmark, i.e. from <strong>the</strong> Danish production of energy and goods,<br />
heating, electricity production, agriculture, transportation, etc. <strong>The</strong> “consumer emissions” label refers <strong>to</strong> those emissions<br />
which result from <strong>the</strong> Danish consumption of goods, travel, food, etc., including imported goods. Graphic: CONCITO<br />
18%<br />
1993<br />
1994<br />
Simplified summary of <strong>the</strong> sources of Danish consumer emissions. It is evident that <strong>the</strong> areas on which energy conservation<br />
efforts have focused over <strong>the</strong> past many years, i.e. consumption of electricity, heating, oil, and car fuels, account for<br />
less than a fifth of <strong>the</strong> combined Danish consumer emissions. Graphic: CONCITO<br />
1995<br />
1996<br />
Year<br />
65%<br />
Consumer emissions/capita<br />
National emissions/capita<br />
1997<br />
1998<br />
1999<br />
17%<br />
2000<br />
2001<br />
2002<br />
2003<br />
2004<br />
2005<br />
2006<br />
2007<br />
2008<br />
2009<br />
2010<br />
Food<br />
Electricity, district heating, oil and gasoline<br />
Products, travel and services<br />
<strong>The</strong> outcome of <strong>the</strong> project has been that two an-<br />
nual reports now exist, both containing a situation<br />
report and a recommendation report, which have<br />
been presented directly <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> political parties in<br />
Denmark. In addition, <strong>the</strong> hosting of a 24-hour<br />
‘camp’ has been instrumental in focusing media at-<br />
tention on Danish consumer habits, and CONCI-<br />
TO has succeeded in collaborating with <strong>the</strong> Danish<br />
Energy Association and <strong>the</strong> Danish Agriculture and<br />
Food Council <strong>to</strong> introduce <strong>the</strong> need for sustainable<br />
biomass policies <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> political agenda.<br />
And that is <strong>the</strong> core of CONCITO’s political work:<br />
<strong>to</strong> unite <strong>the</strong> relevant stakeholders, most of which<br />
are members of CONCITO, and convene <strong>the</strong>m<br />
four times a year for meetings in specialised work-<br />
ing groups on issues surrounding transportation,<br />
agriculture, energy, consumption, etc., and – based<br />
on solid technical expertise – <strong>to</strong> identify ways in<br />
which <strong>the</strong> boundaries of realpolitik may be pushed.<br />
CONCITO may not be able <strong>to</strong> get Greenpeace<br />
and DSV (both members of CONCITO’s trans-<br />
portation group) <strong>to</strong> see eye <strong>to</strong> eye on transporta-<br />
tion policies, but when challenged <strong>to</strong> come up with<br />
ways in which Denmark might reduce CO 2 emis-<br />
sions relating <strong>to</strong> transportation by 20% in 10 years,<br />
both organisations are able and willing <strong>to</strong> discuss<br />
road-pricing versus <strong>to</strong>ll roads versus higher fuel<br />
prices, and <strong>to</strong> come up with a number of political<br />
scenarios, each with <strong>the</strong>ir pros and cons.<br />
Danish consumption not sustainable<br />
Danish greenhouse gas emissions are falling slight-<br />
ly, primarily as a result of an ongoing transition<br />
from coal-powered power plants <strong>to</strong> sustainable en-<br />
ergy. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, things in <strong>the</strong> transport<br />
and agricultural sec<strong>to</strong>rs are progressing very slowly.<br />
And with regard <strong>to</strong> Danish consumption and its<br />
carbon footprint, things are going entirely in <strong>the</strong><br />
wrong direction.<br />
Consumption of electronics produced in Asia, con-<br />
sumption of air travel, and consumption of meat all<br />
contribute <strong>to</strong> raising emission averages. And this<br />
may well be <strong>the</strong> core of <strong>the</strong> issue: if <strong>the</strong> world is<br />
<strong>to</strong> have any hope of avoiding climate change of a<br />
magnitude which would drastically change settle-<br />
ment patterns and result in international wars and<br />
conflicts, it is crucial that citizens in <strong>the</strong> ‘old’ econ-<br />
omies as well as <strong>the</strong> new, developing economies do<br />
not persist in <strong>the</strong>ir current habits.<br />
For such a goal <strong>to</strong> be met, <strong>the</strong>re is only one realistic<br />
way forward, and that is for <strong>the</strong> West <strong>to</strong> take <strong>the</strong><br />
lead with regard <strong>to</strong> altered consumption patterns,<br />
in order <strong>to</strong> show <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> world that it is<br />
possible <strong>to</strong> live a good and fulfilling life without<br />
destroying <strong>the</strong> Earth’s resources in <strong>the</strong> process.<br />
<strong>The</strong> climate is <strong>the</strong>refore an issue involving much<br />
more than energy policies. <strong>The</strong> climate is basically<br />
<strong>the</strong> most important indica<strong>to</strong>r of our ability <strong>to</strong> re-<br />
structure our economy and our society in a more<br />
sustainable direction, for <strong>the</strong>re is an indisputable<br />
link between climate, consumption, biodiversity,<br />
and our utilisation of <strong>the</strong> Earth’s scarce natural<br />
resources. And only fundamentally new political<br />
concepts will be able <strong>to</strong> lay <strong>the</strong> groundwork for <strong>the</strong><br />
necessary changes.<br />
It is <strong>the</strong>refore very positive that <strong>the</strong> VILLUM<br />
FOUNDATION decided <strong>to</strong> donate just under<br />
DKK 5 million <strong>to</strong> CONCITO in <strong>the</strong> spring of<br />
2011, for a green tax reform project <strong>to</strong> be realised<br />
over two and a half years. A project which will grap-<br />
ple with <strong>the</strong> fundamentals of our entire tax system,<br />
and investigate ways in which scarce resources and<br />
environmental impact may be taxed more heavily,<br />
while lowering business and income taxes, in re-<br />
cognition of <strong>the</strong> fact that it makes <strong>the</strong> most long-<br />
term sense <strong>to</strong> tax what you burn, not what you earn.<br />
120 CLIMATE POLICY VILLUM FOUNDATION AND VELUX FOUNDATION 121<br />
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Focused bird protection<br />
<strong>to</strong> save vulnerable<br />
species<br />
BY TINE STAMPE, HENNING HELDBJERG AND MICHAEL BORCH GRELL Over <strong>the</strong> last 36 years, <strong>the</strong> Danish Ornithological Society has carried out a Adult Montagu’s harrier be-<br />
great many surveillance projects which now constitute a solid body of sciing tagged with a satellite<br />
Tine Stampe (born 1963) holds an MA in<br />
communication studies, and has worked<br />
In 2011, <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION donated DKK<br />
4,983,000 <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Danish Ornithological Society’s proentific<br />
data on <strong>the</strong> state of <strong>the</strong> population of all breeding birds in Denmark.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se data reveal <strong>the</strong> stark reality that <strong>the</strong> populations of a large number of<br />
transmitter in Southwest Jutland<br />
(2010). Pho<strong>to</strong>: Michael<br />
Grell<br />
as a public relations officer for <strong>the</strong> Danish ject ‘Focused Bird Protection’. <strong>The</strong> project is designed<br />
breeding birds are in rapid decline. Numerous international reports confirm<br />
Ornithological Society for seven years.<br />
Henning Heldbjerg (born 1966) is a bio<br />
logist and project manager with <strong>the</strong> Dan<br />
ish Ornithological Society. He is <strong>the</strong> senior<br />
manager of PFF, <strong>the</strong> project for focused<br />
bird protection.<br />
Michael Borch Grell (born 1961) has led<br />
<strong>the</strong> Danish Ornithological Society’s Natu<br />
ral Science Department since 2003, which<br />
deals with <strong>the</strong> Society’s scientific, nature<br />
policy and international nature conserva<br />
tion work.<br />
<strong>to</strong> increase <strong>the</strong> breeding population of <strong>the</strong> common<br />
merganser, red kite, white-tailed eagle, Montagu’s har-<br />
rier, peregrine falcon, Kentish plover, little owl and<br />
Tengmalm’s owl. <strong>The</strong>se species make up a carefully<br />
selected group of vulnerable and threatened breeding<br />
birds in Denmark. <strong>The</strong>re is a great need <strong>to</strong> develop fo-<br />
cused methods for protecting individual species in <strong>the</strong><br />
interests of maintaining a high level of biodiversity in<br />
Denmark. Focused Bird Protection will employ GPS<br />
transmitters and webcams <strong>to</strong> map <strong>the</strong> birds’ foraging<br />
areas and <strong>the</strong>ir production of chicks. In <strong>the</strong> future,<br />
<strong>the</strong>se methods will be in high demand among Danish<br />
local authorities and among private and public sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
nature management bodies once EU nature conserva-<br />
tion requirements come <strong>to</strong> be implemented.<br />
that <strong>the</strong> same is true of biodiversity as a whole in Denmark (and in Europe),<br />
and in many cases, extensive political intervention and management of bird<br />
habitats is required <strong>to</strong> reverse this adverse trend.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Danish Ornithological Society however holds that <strong>the</strong> populations of a<br />
small group of bird species, given <strong>the</strong> existing pressure on natural habitats,<br />
can only be boosted by means of a new type of measure consisting of a<br />
targeted intervention for a single, specific species. We call this ‘focused bird<br />
protection’. Many of our most vulnerable and threatened species are de-<br />
pendent on specific protection and surveillance at nesting and foraging sites.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is a pressing need for more precise information as <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> cause of <strong>the</strong><br />
decline in <strong>the</strong> populations, and what it would take <strong>to</strong> reverse <strong>the</strong> situation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Focused Bird Protection project will take <strong>the</strong> Danish Ornithologi-<br />
cal Society’s nature protection <strong>to</strong> a whole new level. We will be able <strong>to</strong><br />
make use of <strong>the</strong> huge volume of existing data and try out different protec-<br />
tion methods directly on <strong>the</strong> affected species. This will enable us <strong>to</strong> record<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>: Justin Carr<br />
122 FOCUSED BIRD PROTECTION VILLUM FOUNDATION 123<br />
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
successful results in <strong>the</strong> efforts <strong>to</strong> stabilise or in-<br />
crease <strong>the</strong> populations of <strong>the</strong> selected species.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Focused Bird Protection project incorporates<br />
five main elements:<br />
• Selection of species that stand <strong>to</strong> benefit from<br />
focused protection.<br />
• Data analysis and enhancement of surveillance<br />
methods.<br />
• Surveillance of <strong>the</strong> species – with <strong>the</strong> assistance<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Society’s large network of trained, vol-<br />
untary ornithologists and o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
• Focused interventions <strong>to</strong> increase <strong>the</strong> popula-<br />
tion of <strong>the</strong> selected species.<br />
• Dissemination <strong>to</strong> scientific, governmental and<br />
lay target audiences via nest cameras, websites<br />
and public events etc.<br />
<strong>The</strong> eight selected species are all vulnerable and de-<br />
pendent on protection measures for <strong>the</strong>ir survival<br />
as Danish breeding birds. <strong>The</strong> project will largely<br />
be carried out in partnership with <strong>the</strong> Danish Or-<br />
nithological Society’s members, local chapters and<br />
active volunteers who will receive skills upgrades<br />
through courses, workshops and seminars. <strong>The</strong><br />
Danish Nature Agency and University of Copen-<br />
hagen are national partners, and <strong>the</strong> Society is also<br />
collaborating with international experts.<br />
Example: Poor breeding performance of Mon-<br />
tagu’s harriers<br />
<strong>The</strong> Montagu’s harrier is a rare Danish breed-<br />
ing bird, which has been under <strong>the</strong> Danish Or-<br />
nithological Society’s watch programme since <strong>the</strong><br />
mid-1990s. Through a productive partnership<br />
<strong>The</strong> Kentish plover is one of Denmark’s rarest wading<br />
birds and is currently breeding only on islands in <strong>the</strong><br />
Wadden Sea. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Helge Sørensen<br />
A large Tengmalm’s owl chick being ringed on Danish breeding grounds. Pho<strong>to</strong>: Johanna M. Hartmann<br />
with o<strong>the</strong>r ac<strong>to</strong>rs in <strong>the</strong> Montagu harrier’s Danish<br />
main range in <strong>the</strong> southwest of Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Jutland,<br />
we have ga<strong>the</strong>red data on <strong>the</strong> size of <strong>the</strong> popula-<br />
tion and production of young from year <strong>to</strong> year.<br />
This observation programme has been carried out<br />
as part of a dedicated ‘Montagu’s harrier project’<br />
in partnership with <strong>the</strong> Danish Nature Agency<br />
(Danish Ministry of <strong>the</strong> Environment), farmers,<br />
local authorities and <strong>the</strong> Danish Ornithological<br />
Society. We have found chicks in <strong>the</strong> nests, which<br />
commonly occur in arable farmland, and have<br />
protected <strong>the</strong>m against destruction by harvesting<br />
machines and predation by foxes. We have also<br />
recorded data on <strong>the</strong> biological conditions of <strong>the</strong><br />
nests. In addition, in partnership with Zoological<br />
Museum in Copenhagen and Dutch Montagu’s<br />
harrier researchers from Groningen University,<br />
we have investigated <strong>the</strong> migration routes and<br />
wintering quarters of Danish breeding birds by<br />
tagging <strong>the</strong>m with satellite transmitters.<br />
In spite of this extensive intervention, <strong>the</strong> Danish<br />
population is in continual decline, and we can see<br />
that Danish breeding pairs are not producing suf-<br />
ficient chicks for <strong>the</strong> population <strong>to</strong> be conserved,<br />
or, ideally, increased. It is estimated that at least<br />
1.5 chicks must be bred per pair per year in order<br />
<strong>to</strong> conserve <strong>the</strong> population, and this level has only<br />
been achieved in 2 of <strong>the</strong> last 10 years. This makes<br />
it crucial <strong>to</strong> investigate what <strong>the</strong> birds forage for,<br />
and where, and this is exactly what will be done in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Danish Ornithological Society’s project funded<br />
by <strong>the</strong> VILLUM FOUNDATION.<br />
<strong>The</strong> project will capture a number of Danish breed-<br />
ing birds, which will be tagged with GPS transmit-<br />
ters, weighing just 14 grams and mounted on <strong>the</strong><br />
bird as a small, flat backpack. This will enable us <strong>to</strong><br />
track <strong>the</strong> movements of <strong>the</strong> breeding birds in great<br />
detail and <strong>to</strong> calculate <strong>the</strong>ir home range, i.e. <strong>the</strong><br />
area <strong>the</strong>y use for foraging in <strong>the</strong> breeding period.<br />
At <strong>the</strong> same time, cameras will be set up by selected<br />
nests <strong>to</strong> study <strong>the</strong> type of food <strong>the</strong> adult birds bring<br />
back <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> chicks in <strong>the</strong> nests.<br />
From <strong>the</strong>se activities, we expect <strong>to</strong> obtain sufficient<br />
insights <strong>to</strong> enable us <strong>to</strong> provide recommenda-<br />
tions for management of <strong>the</strong> Montagu’s harrier’s<br />
breeding area so that we may ultimately improve<br />
<strong>the</strong> chances of conserving this species as a Danish<br />
breeding bird.<br />
124 FOCUSED BIRD PROTECTION VILLUM FOUNDATION 125<br />
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
2011