Dorte Olesen – A Scientific Pioneer Honoured with the H.C. Ørsted Bronze Medal
Consultant at DTU Compute, Professor, Dr. Scient. Dorte Olesen is a female pioneer in the field of science. Her impressive career also includes nearly 40 years as the first female president of the Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science (SNU). Her tireless efforts for SNU have now been recognised with the bronze medal.
From left: Rasmus Larsen, Professor at DTU Compute and Vice President at SNU, Dorte Olesen, Andreas Mogensen, Simon Michael Barchard (Director at TICRA, sponsor of the silver medal), and President at SNU Anja C. Andersen. Photo: Rochelle Coote Photography
Tuesday 13 May 2025
Hanne Kokkegård
It was a grand celebration last Friday at the Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science (SNU). While Adjunct Professor at DTU Space, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen was awarded the H.C. Ørsted Silver Medal, Consultant at DTU Compute, Professor, Dr. Scient. and former president of SNU Dorte Olesen received the H.C. Ørsted Bronze Medal.
Dorte Olesen has a remarkable academic background with degrees from the University of Copenhagen, the University of Southern Denmark, and research stays in the USA and France. She was the first female dean at the University of Copenhagen and a professor of mathematics at Roskilde University.
As the managing director of UNI-C, she played a central role in bringing the internet to Denmark and led the European association of research and education networks, TERENA. Since 2011, she has been affiliated with DTU Compute, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, at the Technical University of Denmark.
Under Dorte Olesen's leadership, SNU has undergone significant changes and introduced new concepts for lectures and dissemination. She has also worked to highlight good teaching and dissemination within science and technology through the awarding of H.C. Ørsted medals.
Remarkable dissemination of science
H.C. Ørsted is often called the father of electromagnetism. In 1820, he discovered that an electric current could affect a magnetic needle, a groundbreaking discovery that laid the foundation for electromagnetism.
The Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science (SNU) was founded in 1824 by H.C. Ørsted, who was inspired by similar societies and associations for the dissemination of science during his travels around Europe.
"H.C. Ørsted himself made an impressive effort as a researcher, communicator, teacher, and organiser. I am sure that I can thank you not only on behalf of the board but also on behalf of our many members and, not least, on behalf of H.C. Ørsted," said Anja C. Andersen, president of the Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science and professor at the Niels Bohr Institute.
The medals to Andreas Mogensen and Dorte Olesen were awarded at Nørre Campus in Copenhagen.
The Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science, SNU
The Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science, SNU, was founded by H.C. Ørsted in 1824 to bridge the gap between science and industry – so that the latest scientific advancements could be understood and utilized in society.
From the very beginning, the main goal has been to "translate" the language of science and technical science so that the results of these sciences could be understood and accessible to more than just the experts themselves.
