Christmas is fast approaching and a well-deserved Christmas break awaits just around the corner.
When the corona started in the spring of 2020, no one knew the consequences of the pandemic. Now almost two years later, we have become wiser, not least thanks to the Department's corona team, but unfortunately we must once again prepare for a time with increased restrictions and uncertainty about how it will affect the future. I would like to thank you once again for your great efforts and adaptability, which is and has been crucial for the Department in order to get through the crisis.
I am glad that, despite all odds, we managed to organize the Department summer seminar in August. Many of us had looked forward to meet physically, which was also reflected in the large number of participants. Although we have now gained a lot of experience with digitalisation and online meetings, the physical meetings are absolutely crucial when it comes to strategic thinking, building relationships and networking. So thank you to all of you who prioritized the seminar and thank you for your positive participation and constructive input. I hope we will succeed with a physical summer seminar in 2022, which is already planned for 25th -26th. August.
2021 was also the year we launched the new AAU strategy, Knowledge for the World 2022-26. The Department have been well represented during the proces. I look forward to implementing the strategy at BIO and to contribute to the development of a mission-driven university, and thus help to lift the global challenges facing the world of today. Thanks to our joints efforts we are doing very well at BIO. This was also emphasized, when we had the pleasure of the Executive Board's visit in November, who were very fond of the programme including the presentations and laboratory visits planned during the day. I have received a lot of positive feedback from the management after their visit.
Just before the summer holidays, we initiated a reorganization of the Department, which means that the Department now consists of two sections, including a number of research areas. During the autumn, we have had constructive meetings with the existing research areas, and we have now defined 10 research areas for the future; four in the section for Chemical Science and Engineering and six in the section of Bioscience and Engineering. In this connection, we would like to thank you for the inspiring and constructive inputs we have received during the process. Early in the new year we will spend time adapting the tasks and responsibilities of the research areas and determining the final area names. I look forward to working with the new sections, the research areas and the administration.
Despite a somewhat challenging year, we have managed to maintain a very high level of applications and have experienced great success with the return of external research funding. We are working hard to establish a more systematic approach to fundraising, support and prioritized efforts which will be further developed in the new year. At the faculty level, a number of initiatives have been initiated through out the year. Several of you have applied for funding from the internal faculty pool, which has already resulted in increased collaboration across the faculty's departments and is expected to result in further interdisciplinary collaborations and applications for external funding. Workshops have also been initiated within the Faculty's nine focus areas for sustainability, and even more will be held in the coming year. The department laid the groundwork for the first workshop on agriculture and food, with was supportet by several departments across AAU. For our younger and aspiring research talents, we have established a PhD and postdoc committee with the aim of promoting a more vibrant and academic environment - I look forward to seeing the effects of this initiative in the coming year.
With regards to teaching, we can celebrate an increasing intake again this year - in some programmes we even succeeded to have the highest number of applicants at AAU. A focused effort on international recruitment in Esbjerg has also shown positive results. Thank you for your dedicated contribution - when our number of applicants increases, it is largely due to your efforts as well. Also a thank you to our students who have proven to be hugely adaptable and able to deliver quality and results despite a year characterised partly by lockdown. I would also like to highlight that several students have contributed to publications and received scholarships from both internal and external funds. Our students are the core of what we do, and therefore I am pleased to see that initiatives to strengthen the study environment after returning from the corona lockdown have been well received by the students. Finally, we can celebrate that our Bioengineering programme now has students in all semesters.
We should also celebrate that a 5-year process of approving our curricula is now finally in place. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the process, not least thanks for your patience and persistence. From the summer of 2022, we look forward to a new and exciting change for the Department's students in Aalborg; all first year student will in future be located at 'Campus East' and is planned to have premises on Fredrik Bajers Vej 5. I look forward to this, and I think it makes really good sense to gather our Aalborg campus students on Fredrik Bajers Vej. We kindly ask for your patience with the inconveniences that may accompany this change.
Finally, I am pleased that the Department's efforts to promote a good working environment have now been recognized with a green working environment smiley after the Danish Working Environment Authority paid us a two-day visit in November.
Before concluding, I would also like to congratulate the many award recipients and other awards received during the year. Very well deserved and a proof that we have great potential at both individual and department level.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Take good care of yourself and each other.
I look forward to seeing you in the new year and to take on the exciting tasks and challenges that awaits us.
On behalf of the management
/Michael
