Eight science teachers from primary and secondary schools and one teacher from a teacher college recently received Novo Nordisk Foundation science teaching prizes in recognition of their committed and outstanding teaching within the natural sciences.
Each prize is accompanied by DKK 250,000, divided into personal awards for the teacher or team of teachers of DKK 50,000 and DKK 200,000 for use by the prize recipients’ educational institutions for developing science teaching.
The achievements by this year’s prize recipients include establishing a science festival; establishing teaching collaborations between schools and museums; developing coherent teaching modules in the natural sciences for children from preschool childcare centres to grade 6; arranging for children to Skype with a wildlife photographer tracking down leopards in an Indonesian jungle; and inspiring future schoolteachers to make mathematics and science teaching more interesting and relevant for students.
“In awarding the science teaching prizes, the Novo Nordisk Foundation aims to celebrate and recognize committed and talented science resources that are absolutely vital for children and young people’s interest in and learning about the natural sciences. This year’s prize recipients are inspiring role models who, in their different ways, help to raise the level of science teaching. They are therefore very deserving recipients of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s 2019 teaching prizes,” says Berith Bjørnholm, Senior Programme Manager, Education and Outreach, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The Foundation also wants to recognize that Denmark has a generally high standard in the natural sciences that must be maintained and developed in the future.
The Foundation’s three prizes for primary and secondary schoolteachers are divided into two prizes: one for eastern Denmark and one for western Denmark. The prize for a teacher from a teacher college is a national prize.
The 2019 prize recipients
Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize for Primary Science Teachers of natural sciences and technology in grades 1–6 in primary and lower-secondary schools
Recipient for western Denmark: Anna Clausen, Firkløverskolen, Give
Recipients for eastern Denmark: Lone Jensen and Jan Barslund, Nordskolen, Egebjerg branch
Read more about the Prize recipients and their teaching here (in Danish).
Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize for Lower-secondary Science Teachers of biology, physics/chemistry, geography and mathematics in grades 7–9 in primary and lower-secondary schools
Recipient for western Denmark: Troels Riknagel, Sct. Jacobi Skole, Varde
Recipient for eastern Denmark: Helle Krogaard Hansen, Kirkebjerg Skole, Copenhagen
Read more about the Prize recipients and their teaching here (in Danish).
Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize for Upper-secondary Science Teachers of astronomy, biology, biotechnology, physics, geoscience, chemistry, mathematics, natural geography and technology
Recipients for western Denmark: Jesper Melchjorsen and Pia Møller Jensen, Egaa Gymnasium
Recipient for eastern Denmark: Lasse Seidelin Bendtsen, Borupgaard Gymnasium, Ballerup
Read more about the Prize recipients and their teaching here (in Danish).
Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize for Science Teachers at Teacher Colleges teaching biology, physics/chemistry, mathematics and natural sciences and technology
Prize recipient: Lóa Björk Jóelsdóttir, Bachelor of Education Programme, VIA University College, Silkeborg
Read more about the Prize recipient and her teaching here (in Danish).
Further information
Christian Mostrup Scheel, Senior Press Officer, phone: +45 3067 4805, [email protected]
