Funding for student projects

Student: Grace Laura Romania, MSc. Environment & Development

Project title: PFAS contamination in the state of Maine

Main supervisor: Bjarne W. Strobel, Associate Professor, PLEN

Co-supervisor: Mette Weinreich Hansen, Associate Professor, IFRO

Project period:January-March 2026

External partner(s): Maine PFAS Fund

Description: The project is investigating how Maine farmers are responding to the ongoing crisis of PFAS contamination in the state of Maine. In what ways farm factors, activities, and policies/governance keep farms with significant levels of contamination in operation and viable, and what factors force others to shutter. These attributes may include the levels of PFAS and types of PFAS on the property, organic practices, and feed rotations.

The project will utilize participatory observation on a few Maine dairy farms, which, with their large land holdings, bear a significant brunt of the contamination in the state. I aim to gain insights into the daily operations and types of activities on each active dairy farm that enable mitigation of contamination. I also plan to conduct interviews with dairy farmers who have been forced to close their operations. This will better inform my understanding of what factors made remaining solvable forward impossible.

Student: Andreas Peter Leerbeck, MSc Computer Science, DIKU

Project title: Annotation Pipeline & NLP for Food-Waste Reduction in Schools

Main supervisor: Daniel Hershcovich, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, DIKU

Co-supervisor: Bent Egberg Mikkelsen, Professor, IGN

Project period: October 2025 – April 2026

External partner(s): Herstedlund Skole, Lindevangskolen

Description: This project is part of Mål & Minimér (“Measure & Minimize”), an interdisciplinary initiative to reduce school canteen food waste through digital measurement and participatory education. Pupils measure discarded food using digital scales, take photos, and later annotate the images in class with food categories, weights, free-text reflections about what was discarded and why.

The student will implement a data annotation pipeline and interface that links canteen images and measurements with subsequent classroom annotations, and train and evaluate NLP/ML models to generate natural-language captions describing discarded items and possible reasons, predict food categories and quantities from images, and integrate model suggestions into the annotation interface for pupils to refine, improving usability and data quality.

Student: Samuel Cook, Master's Student in Environmental Science (Soil and Water specialisation)

Project title: Floatovoltaics, Warming Summers, and Freshwater Resilience: Experimental Tests of Algal Growth Suppression and Evaporation Reduction

Main supervisor: Professor Jesper Riis Christiansen

Co-supervisor: Karl-Emil Johan Tadayoni Heidberg (CPSC) and Laura Kase (Freshwater Biology)

Project period: November 2025 - June 2026 (Experimental run: January 2026)

External partner(s): HOFOR

Description: Freshwater reservoirs face dual challenges from climate change: intensified algal blooms that threaten water quality and increased evaporative water losses. Floatovoltaics (floating solar panels) represent a dual-use solution for the green transition, generating renewable energy while potentially delivering key co-benefits for water management. This project will provide crucial experimental evidence on whether floatovoltaics can enhance water security, directly supporting sustainable resource management goals within my Environmental Science specialisation in Soil and Water.

This project will test whether floatovoltaic surface cover can:

• Suppress the growth of prominent Scandinavian freshwater algae under current and future climate scenarios
• Reduce evaporation rates in reservoir-like conditions
• Determine if these effects change under different warming conditions

Student: Ghader G. Al-Mosawy, BSc. Biotechnology

Main supervisor(s): Prof. John Dirk Nieland, Prof. Meike Burow, and special consultant Benedicte Smith-Sivertsen

Project period: 30 June to 22 August

External partner(s): Aalborg University

Read the full project article here

Description: The project focused on exploring the potential of a widely spread invasive weed, nutggrass, as a source of natural bioactive compounds for dermatological and cosmetic applications. The main aim was to investigate the plant’s capacity to inhibit hair growth and reduce inflammation in skin disorders. 

The nutgrass is an invasive species that harbours valuable bioactive compounds with promising applications in skin care and hair growth management. By extracting and utilising these natural compounds, it is possible to develop innovative, eco-friendly cosmetic products. This approach turns a problematic weed into a sustainable resource, providing novel solutions that align with environmental and health-conscious consumer demands.

Student: Julie Zacho Thorball, MSc in Global Development

Main supervisor(s): Prof. Jens Friis Lund (main supervisor), Assistant Prof. Neda Trifkovic (co-supervisor)

Project period: August 2025 to December 2025

External partner(s): European Energy

Description: I will be studying community engagement and opposition to the Nearshore Wind Farm project at Jammerland Bugt. The project is developed by European Energy and TotalEnergies in Jammerland Bugt, just 6 km from the shore and the peninsula Reersø, near western Zealand. The project faced many delays, which have affected the project. This project has been featured in local media and gained traction politically as a NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) case, however, it is yet to be covered what this opposition stems from.

To date, research and policy debates have primarily focused on opposition to renewable energy infrastructure in resource-constrained, rural communities, where local populations often lack the means to resist. By contrast, Jammerland Bugt is a unique case: opposition has been driven primarily by upper-middle-class summerhouse owners, who possess both the financial resources and organisational capacity to mobilise against the project. Their opposition centres on visual intrusion and noise impacts.

I will conduct a single case study based on the Jammerland Bugt case, utilising both qualitative and quantitative methods. My research method is interviews and statistical analysis.

Student(s): Jonathan Fogt Khan, Evangelos Balatsos, Kyriakos Lymperopoulos, Nature and Forestry Management, Medicinal Chemistry

Main supervisor(s): Benedicte Smith-Sivertsen, Special Consultant, KU Lighthouse

Co-supervisors: Anna Vestergård Jacobsen, Senio Consultant, KU Lighthouse, Carsen Nico Portefée Hjortsø, Associate Professor, IFRO

Project period: 14 months

External partner(s): DHI, Everllence, Skibsværftet V/Niels Kristian Stumman, Havhøst

Description: Biofouling on ships and marine infrastructure increases fuel consumption, emissions, and maintenance, while conventional antifouling solutions can rely on toxic biocides that contribute to marine pollution. This project will explore sustainable antifouling coating concepts inspired by seaweed chemistry, with the aim of developing and testing low-toxicity approaches that can reduce early-stage biofilm formation and ultimately decrease the need for harmful active ingredients.

The project will be anchored in practical industry needs and test practices through dialogue with stakeholders such as DHI and the shipbuilding company Niels Stummann. The work will begin by identifying a small set of promising seaweed-inspired compounds and formulation strategies from the literature, followed by small-scale synthesis. These candidates will be incorporated into simple coating formulations and applied to standardized test coupons/panels. Performance will be compared against relevant controls using a practical, reproducible testing and scoring approach (e.g., image-based surface coverage, staining-based assessment, or other feasible proxies depending on available facilities). The outcome will be a structured set of results linking formulation choices to antifouling performance, along with clearly documented protocols and an organized dataset that can be reproduced and built upon.

The results are relevant for ports and harbors, vessel operators, shipyards (skibsværfter), coating stakeholders, and environmental management efforts. The project is interdisciplinary, combining marine/environmental problem framing, chemistry/materials formulation, and experimental design/measurement, while keeping end-user requirements in view. Findings will be disseminated through a public or semi-public presentation (e.g., a KU seminar/Living Lab session) and summarized in a short public-facing one-page brief.

Student: Iris Groot

Main supervisor(s): Teis Hansen, Professor, IFRO

Co-supervisors: Adéla Plechatá, Tenure Track Adjunkt, Department of Psychology

Project period: February 2026 to June 2026

External partner(s): To be determined.

Description: Football has a significant environmental footprint, driven by fan transport, stadium operations, consumption, and merchandise, highlighting the urgency of engaging this sector in sustainability efforts. However, its audience, traditionally male-dominated and often perceived as disengaged from environmental issues, has received limited attention in pro-environmental behaviour research. At the same time, football communities are characterised by strong social identities and norms, creating unique opportunities for collective behavioural change. Therefore, this thesis project will investigate: Who should be the messengers of change within football communities? Through an experimental survey, distributed preferably among Danish football fans, the study will examine which type of actor (elite players, professional clubs, or fellow fans) is most influential in changing fans’ second-order beliefs about sustainability. That is, perceptions of what other members of one’s social group think. Such beliefs are powerful drivers of behaviour and, in many contexts, even stronger predictors of action than personal attitudes. This makes them powerful indicators for reshaping collective expectations and accelerating norm change within football communities. The project is interdisciplinary, combining perspectives from environmental psychology (social norms and belief formation), sports philosophy (role modelling, ethical responsibility, the governance of sport institutions), and green transition research. By integrating these fields, the thesis project advances understanding of how football can contribute to broader societal transformations toward sustainability.

Student: Ruowan Su, MSc in Animal Science

Project title: Mechanistic modeling of enteric methane inhibitors to accelerate green transition on livestock farms

Main supervisor: André Luis Alves Neves, Associate Professor, Animal Welfare and Disease Control

Co-supervisor: Rajan Dhakal, Industrial Postdoc, Animal Welfare and Disease Control

Project period: February 2026 – May 2026

External partner(s): Lennart Bunch

Description: Enteric methane (CH₄) is a major target for EU climate mitigation, and 3‑NOP is currently one of the most promising compounds for reducing emissions by inhibiting the enzyme MCR. However, mechanistic, parameter‑based evaluations of CH₄ inhibitors are limited and therefore an identification of this, can accelerate the development of new mitigation strategies.

The project tests four CH₄ inhibitors—3‑NOP, Bovaer®, bromoform and BES—using in vitro rumen systems. Across dose–response treatments, we will measure gas and CH₄ production, volatile fatty acids and substrate degradation, and integrate these data into ODE models to estimate CH₄ yield and inhibition constants (Kᵢ). This interdisciplinary work combines rumen microbiology, chemistry, modelling and climate‑oriented mitigation research.

The results will provide a transferable modelling framework for evaluating CH₄ inhibitors under controlled rumen conditions, reducing reliance on animal trials and supporting climate‑focused innovation. Outcomes will be relevant for researchers, industry partners and stakeholders working with methane mitigation in cattle production, and will be disseminated through a master’s thesis, a scientific paper and a presentation at the UCPH Cattle Seminar.

Student: Sakura Goto Bokul Brethvad, MSc in Anthropology

Project title: WASTE – Waste Banks in Denpasar: a study of everyday practices and participation

Main supervisor: Birgit Bräuchler, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology

Co-supervisor: Lukas Fort, Postdoc, Department of Anthropology

Project period: From the 1st of September 2026 to the 1st of July 2027

External partner(s): Universitas Indonesia, Monash University Indonesia, The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ), Zero Waste Alliance Indonesia (AZWI)

Description: The project WASTE explores how waste banks in Denpasar, Indonesia are organised and experienced in everyday life. Indonesia faces major waste‑management challenges with social and environmental consequences, including climate change. In response, circular‑economy principles have been promoted, positioning waste banks as key tools for participation, resource recovery and community engagement. Yet many waste banks struggle due to limited support, operational constraints and fluctuating recyclable prices, leading to uneven participation. This project investigates these dynamics by examining social and everyday engagement in waste banks in Denpasar.

Fieldwork will be conducted in at least two waste banks, including participation in workshops and daily activities as a transparent participant observer. Around 15–20 participants will be recruited for individual interviews and at least one focus group.

The project contributes to the green transition by analysing grassroots circular‑economy practices aimed at improving waste management and recycling in a context facing significant environmental pressures. By examining both potentials and limitations, the study expands understandings of sustainable transitions beyond policy frameworks. The project forms part of a broader interdisciplinary collaboration across anthropology, STS, data science and journalism.

Findings will be shared through a peer‑reviewed article, an open lecture with panel discussion, and a short introductory pamphlet, and disseminated to project partners, participating waste banks and development actors, including Danish stakeholders working with waste management in Indonesia.

Student: Hannah Munck Birch, MSc in Anthropology

Project title: Queens of the Waste Banks: Female Leadership in the Digitalisation of Waste Management in Denpasar, Indonesia

Main supervisor: Birgit Bräuchler, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology

Co-supervisor: Lukas Fort, Postdoc, Department of Anthropology

Project period: 2026 Sep/Jul 2027

External partner(s): Universitas Indonesia, Monash University Indonesia, The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ), Zero Waste Alliance Indonesia (AZWI)

Description: The project is relevant to the green transition because it examines waste management and gender equality as interconnected parts of sustainable solutions. Indonesia is the world’s second‑largest plastic polluter, producing around 3.2 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste each year, much of which ends up in the ocean. In response, the country is implementing a broad green transition involving government actors, international partnerships and NGOs working to develop more efficient and digitalised waste‑management systems. At a local level, Waste Banks offer a concrete and scalable way of addressing these challenges. Furthermore, this project examines women‑led Waste Banks in Indonesia as a community‑based circular‑economy model that addresses both waste management and gendered labour dynamics. Waste Banks function as local, scalable systems where households exchange sorted waste for economic value, and what distinguishes them is that they are predominantly led by women in an otherwise male‑dominated sector. By following waste from households to Waste Banks, the project shows how environmental solutions intersect with income generation, community building and gendered forms of work, contributing to a broader understanding of green transitions beyond technical recycling models.

The project is developed as an ethnographic film and is relevant for NGOs, civil‑society organisations and practitioners working with waste management, circular economy, entrepreneurship and gender equality. It also speaks to policymakers and researchers seeking socially grounded and locally anchored approaches to sustainability.

The study is interdisciplinary through collaborations with researchers at the University of Indonesia, Monash University Indonesia and BRIN, and through engagement with civil‑society actors such as SIEJ, AZWI, local NGOs and women’s alliances. Using co‑creation and multimodal film methods—including iterative editing, self‑reporting and visual documentation of waste circulation—the project integrates community knowledge, NGO practice and academic research to generate actionable insights on green transitions in waste, gender and economy.

Student: Alma Indira Sapru, BA Geografi & Geoinformatik

Project title: Hejremarken: A pilot study of community-based agriculture as a transformative practice

Supervisor: Laura Vang Rasmussen, Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Project period: February 2026 – June 2026

External partner(s): Dyrkningsfællesskabet Hejremarken

Description: This project investigates how the community‑based regenerative market‑garden association Hejremarken can sustain itself socially and financially while promoting conscious consumption and supporting young people in the agricultural sector. The study explores how Hejremarken can make locally produced food accessible to groups facing financial barriers while ensuring ethical and sustainable use of volunteers. By examining these questions, the project contributes to the green transition by addressing how food can be grown, shared and understood in ways that respect planetary boundaries.

The project uses participant observation, informal interviews with volunteers, and semi‑structured interviews with students in the agricultural sector, regenerative farmers and relevant KU staff. Data will be coded and analysed to identify key organizational and social conditions shaping Hejremarken’s development. This interdisciplinary approach draws on economics, sociology, agroecology and soil science to understand how community‑based regenerative agriculture can support sustainable transitions.

The findings will inform Hejremarken’s ongoing strategy and will be relevant for volunteers, members, young people considering careers in sustainable agriculture, regenerative farmers, researchers, policymakers and grassroots organisations exploring community‑driven food production. Results will be shared through a flyer and a public event including a field walk, project introduction and an opportunity to join work at the field.

Student: Ghader Al-mosawy, BS in Biotechnology

Project title: Investigating the Effect of Cyperus Rotundus Extract on Gene Expression in Glioblastoma Cells

Supervisor:
Meike Burow, Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, UCPH
Bodil Jørgensen, Associate Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, UCPH
John Dirk Nieland, Associate Professor, Department of Health Science and Technology, AAU
Tong Tong, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Science and Technology, AAU

Project period: 20. April – 23. August 2026

External partner(s): Aalborg Universitetshospital – Laurids Østergaard Poulsen

Description: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tomour in adults and remains highly resistant to conventional therapies, creating a strong need for new treatment approaches. Cyperus rotundus, a medicinal plant known for its bioactive compounds, has shown potential anticancer properties. This project investigates how extracts from Cyperus rotundus affect glioblastoma cells in vitro, focusing on changes in proliferation‑related markers such as MKI67 (Ki‑67), identifying which plant components drive these effects, and examining how different extraction methods preserve key bioactive molecules.

The project supports the green transition by exploring plant‑based therapeutic alternatives that may reduce reliance on chemical drugs and radiation in cancer treatment. It is relevant for hospitals, patients, and medical professionals seeking more sustainable treatment options.

The project is interdisciplinary, combining molecular biology, oncology, pharmacology, and phytochemistry, and includes collaboration with a hospital for data discussion and presentation of results.

Student: Freja Benditte Ingildsen, BS in Natural Resources

Project title: The Role of Civil Society in Local Nature Management: Volunteer Actors in Silkeborg Municipality’s Biodiversity Effort

Supervisor: Henrik Vejre, Professor, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Project period: 1. February to 1. June 2026

External partner(s): Silkeborg Kommune

Description: The project investigates what motivates volunteers to participate in nature management and how Silkeborg Municipality’s biodiversity policy is translated into practice through collaboration with volunteers and landowners. Through qualitative interviews with volunteers in Silkeborg, Skanderborg and Horsens Municipalities, as well as an interview with Silkeborg Municipality, the study explores the drivers of engagement and the practical opportunities and constraints shaping voluntary biodiversity work.

The project supports the green transition by examining how volunteer involvement can strengthen Denmark’s biodiversity goals during large‑scale landscape changes linked to the Green Tripartite Agreement. Understanding what motivates volunteers is essential for developing effective, socially anchored nature initiatives, making the findings relevant for municipalities, environmental organisations, policymakers and local volunteers.

The work is interdisciplinary, combining environmental policy, biodiversity management and qualitative social science to analyse both ecological practices and the social dynamics behind civic engagement.

Within the Living Lab "Our Plant-based Future" earlier projects have surrounded  the themes of:

• Behavioral changes in canteens and commercial kitchens
• School meals
• Language and identity
• Legunes
• Robots in the field
• Historic crops = new opportunities

Check out earlier funded student projects within Our Plant-based future here.