Global Astronomy Survey: Denmark
SPoC Approved : YES
1. Professional (Research) Astronomy:
(i) Number of universities offering Astronomy (and their names)
2
University of Copenhagen
University of Aarhus
(ii) Number of universities offering Physics (and their names)
6
University of Copenhagen
University of Aarhus
Roskilde University
University of Southern Denmark
Danish Technical University
Aalborg University
(iii) Number of academics who have been trained in Astronomy (ideally with their names and levels of qualification)
About 80 full time researchers in Astronomy in all of Denmark
(about 30 PhD students, 4 full professors, 15 assistant professors, 20 non-permanent/postdocs)
(iv) Number of astronomical facilities (observatories, telescopes, etc) and as much detail about each as possible (websites/contact details)
Nordic Optical Telescope, 2.5 meter, www.not.iac.es
Denmark is member of ESO and ESA and has as such access to a suite of telescopes.
(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Professional Astronomy? Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)
Phase 1
2. Public Understanding of Astronomy:
(i) What governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the public take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or national facilities)
The only governmental outreach programme for science is a new web portal with news and background www.videnskab.dk
(ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the public take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your country is involved in)
None
(iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the media (TV, radio, newspapers). Is it very prominent? Are there specific programmes on astronomy? Is the media generally willing to publish news on astronomy?
Quite prominent - astronomy stories easily makes the news.
Astronomical institutions have good contacts with the media.
There is a weekly half hour national TV program on science - often featuring astronomy stories.
There is a national weekly one hour radio program on science, which also often features astronomy.
(iv) Comment on the presence of astronomy/science in the general culture of the people. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Is astronomy a welcome subject of conversation?
Astronomy quite easily captures the interest of the public.
The main challenge is that there is no organization of public outreach at the national level. Each institution (university, planetaria, museum/science centre) runs individual activities independently.
(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Public Understanding of Astronomy? Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)
1 (or 2)
3. Astronomy in Schools:
(i) What governmental astronomy/science education and outreach programmes for schools take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or national facilities)
Astronomy is part of the curriculum in primary schools and high schools
(ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science education and outreach programmes for schools take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your country is involved in)
None
(iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the school curriculum. Is it part of the school curriculum? Is it very prominent? What age groups?
Not really prominent, but exists all the way from age 7 to age 18
(iv) Comment on the status of astronomy/science in schools. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Sufficient number of students studying maths and science? General interest in maths/science/astronomy in schools?
Too few teachers in primary school who have actually specialized in maths/science/astronomy. Too few students interested in, and studying, maths/science/astronomy
(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Astronomy in Schools? Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)
1
|
