LIFE's seven core competences
At LIFE, we carry out research, education and innovation in the areas of food, veterinary medicine and natural resources.
Internationally, LIFE is well known for our core competences in the following seven fields:
Furthermore, LIFE has five strategic research initiatives:
- Bio-fuel – Fuel for Life
- Biomedicine and systems biology – BEST – Build a Healthy Life
- Chemometrics and statistics - CHANCE CHemometric ANalysis CEntre
- Animal models – SHARE – Synergy in Human and Animal Research
- Water – Viva – Water Research Initiative
And a number of core research fields (page in Danish but links to English descriptions) which were established in connection with a listing of core research fields in Danish research by the Danish Council for Research Policy in 2005.
The seven core competences
Animals, Ethics and Welfare
Research and education within the fields of Animals, Ethics and Welfare focus on the ways in which LIFE can help enhance animal health and welfare and at the same time secure profitable production. To that end, LIFE’s researchers work in close cooperation with the agricultural sector. Also, LIFE is the only faculty in Denmark to educate and train veterinary surgeons. Within the field of biomedicine, researchers develop animal models (in particular pigs) that can give us insight into and tools to improve the health of both humans and animals.
Climate, Energy and the Environment
Research and education in the fields of Climate, Energy and the Environment focus on trying to ensure that the energy we use does not have a negative impact on the climate and environment of our globe. LIFE has set up a climate group which, together with University of Copenhagen’s Climate Panel, will work to help promote climate change research and climate-related education. Furthermore, one of LIFE’s strategic research initiatives, Fuel for LIFE, focus on the development of bio-ethanol.
Food, Nutrition and Health
Research and education in the fields of Food, Nutrition and Health aim at furthering the development of foods which are safe and of a high quality in terms of their sensory and nutritional value. LIFE’s research and education in exactly these areas have been assessed as world-leading in a recent analysis. The award of a so-called UNIK grant from the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to LIFE researchers in this area as well as the winning of other large national and international grants are evidence that the field of food science and human nutrition are among LIFE’s strong points.
Plants, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Research and education in the fields of Plants, Agriculture and Natural Resources focus on ways to ensure that there will be sufficient food not only in the industrialised world but also in the developing world in the future. This is done though a focused effort in molecular plant breeding. Furthermore, LIFE has set aside means for a strategic research initiative related to water (VIVA). Focus is on how we can help ensure that we use Nature in a sustainable way and how we make the best use of natural resources while still maintaining respect for humans, animals and plants. In this connection, LIFE has a special research school (SOAR), part of The Cluster of Research Schools in Natural Resources, and actively takes part in International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems.
Politics, Economics and Developing Countries
At LIFE, Politics, Economics and Developing Countries are an integral part of many research areas and study programmes. Research within these fields includes subjects such as Danish food economics and how to ensure sustainable development in developing countries. Other research focuses on the effect of food prices and taxes on popular health, on how to ensure sustainable trade, and how Denmark and the EU can use free trade or trade barriers, respectively, to increase the living standard of the world’s poorest people. LIFE has Denmark’s strongest research environment within the field of development economics and agribusiness and this area will be strengthened in the coming years with the establishment of a new centre, new professorships and cooperation with Copenhagen Business School, CBS on study programmes.
LIFE will thus be one of University of Copenhagen’s strongest players in relation to the recommendations of the Africa Commission.
Forests, Land and Urban Development
Research and education within the fields of Forests, Land and Urban Development are concerned with how to fix a value for Nature, how to make our environment attractive and sustainable, and how to design and manage our landscape and cities in a way that provides the best conditions for humans, animals and plants.
Especially city development and urban landscape development have been further strengthened at LIFE; the Faculty is the only faculty in Denmark to offer BSc and MSc programmes in landscape architecture and Forest and Landscape has a special obligation to provide consultancy services to the Ministries of Environment and Climate.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is an integrated part of the veterinary, food and natural resource research carried out at LIFE. In the fields of animal and veterinary medicine, LIFE can boast an outstanding research environment where genetic experts together with pathologists study hereditary diseases in domestic animals. In the field of cell biology, LIFE houses excellent research into embryos and embryonic stem cells. LIFE’s plant biotechnology group is among the world’s leading research groups. The group works with basic research related to cell wall biology, naturally occuring substances, photosynthesis, etc. This systems biology approach is unique. In the area of food, biotechnology is essential in, for instance, food microbiology and nutrition (nutrigenomics).
Kirsten Jenlev, - last update:27 October 2010