Associate professor Thomas Bolander receives H.C. Ørsted Medaljen

Associate professor Thomas Bolander is one of the leading researcher within artificial intelligence (AI) in Denmark and he really understands how to communicate his research. Bolander is an experienced teacher and diligent lecturer, and likes to participate in debates about the significance of artificial intelligence in society. Thereby, he helps create a basis for a better understanding among politicians, business people and citizens, about artificial intelligence.

He has held lectures in such different forums as Digital Summit in the Danish Parliament, Aalborg University Hospital, Folkemødet at Bornholm, Forskningens Døgn for high schools, and several ministries, as well as interviews for radio-, tv-, and newspapers.

Early interest in dissemination

The interest in dissemination started early for Thomas Bolander.

"I have always tried to be a better and better communicator," says Thomas Bolander and elaborates: "It all started when, as a young student, I went to all kinds of public lectures in all areas of mathematics, science and philosophy. Any lectures that differed positively in terms of communication, I always thought, 'when I grow up, I would like to give such lectures'."

Bolander's research on artificial intelligence focuses on the area between logic, mathematics and computer science, and primarily on the social aspects of artificial intelligence. Bolander is working to get computers and robots to interact socially with people so that the machines can start to understand a little of what people think and not just the other way around.

Absolutely exceptional

The H.C. Ørsted Medal is awarded by Selskabet for Naturlærens Udbredelse. This Society is not obliged to award the medal every year, but can award it when they meet an exceptional communicator. Every year, 10 major public lectures on the most current in Danish research are held, in order to make the latest knowledge available to as many people as possible. Thomas Bolander's lecture attracted an unseen large number of spectators and knocked the legs away under the Society’s management. The president of the Society, Professor Dorte Olesen, says:

"There are many excellent lectures, but on rare occasions there is one speaker who strikes us as absolutely exceptional. It does not happen so often, but when that happens, we begin to consider the possibility of an H.C. Ørsted medal. However, it is only given if we can see that the scope and the quality of his / her other dissemination efforts are also exceptional. "

Outstanding ability to communicate

To receive H.C. Ørsted Medal makes an impression on Thomas Bolander.

"I think the dissemination of science and research to the wider public is a very important task, and it's great that it's something to be rewarded for."

The award of the medal "is a recognition of Thomas Bolander's unique ability to convey both his own field of specialization - artificial intelligence - as well as much broader parts of the mathematical basis of modern engineering achievements," writes the Society in their press release.

The medal has previously been awarded to such exceptional communicators as Ove Nathan, Jens Martin Knudsen and Anja C. Andersen, so Thomas Bolander is now part of this very fine company.

"It is, of course, a very great honor, and I am in almost frightening good company with the former medal recipients," says Thomas Bolander.

Congratulations!