Anja Cetti Andersen (born 25 September 1965) is an

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, g ...

and astrophysicist from

Hørsholm Hørsholm () is an urban area on the Øresund coast approximately north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It covers most of Hørsholm Municipality and straddles the borders neighbouring Fredensborg Municipality and Rudersdal Municipality. Hørsholm prope ...

, Denmark.

Life

She received her BSc in 1991, MSc in astronomy in 1995, and her PhD in 1999, from the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in ...

. Her thesis was titled "Cosmic Dust and Late-Type Stars". Her postdoctoral research was funded by the

Carlsberg Foundation Carlsberg Foundation ( da, Carlsbergfondet) was founded by J. C. Jacobsen in 1876, by allocating some of his shares in the Carlsberg Brewery to fund and operate the Carlsberg Laboratory and the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Palace. ...

, firstly at the Department of Astronomy & Space Physics,

Uppsala University Uppsala University ( sv, Uppsala universitet) is a public university, public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the List of universities in Sweden, oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in opera ...

, and then at the Astronomical Observatory at the University of Copenhagen. After this she was funded by her home institution and received a Diploma in Higher Education Teaching and Teaching Practice from the Faculty of Sciences. Her interest in astronomy was kindled when she was in the seventh grade, after a visit to her school from Uffe Grae Jorgensen, a Danish astronomer, and with whom she now works in Copenhagen. She has three children, Julie, Cecilie and Jakob.

Career

Her work concentrates on

cosmic dust Cosmic dust, also called extraterrestrial dust, star dust or space dust, is dust which exists in outer space, or has fallen on Earth. Most cosmic dust particles measure between a few molecules and 0.1 mm (100 micrometers). Larger particles are c ...

, and its role "in relation to the formation of complex molecules, stars and planets." She is currently an associate professor at the

Niels Bohr Institute The Niels Bohr Institute (Danish: ''Niels Bohr Institutet'') is a research institute of the University of Copenhagen. The research of the institute spans astronomy, geophysics, nanotechnology, particle physics, quantum mechanics and biophysics. ...

, and is part of the management team where she conducts research at the Dark Cosmology Center in Copenhagen. She is a publisher of academic papers, has written several books, and is a lecturer, and also considered one of the best speakers currently using public outreach techniques in order to raise the profile of science in the community. It is characteristic of Anja Andersen's research that she works at the intersection between physics, chemistry, geology and biology. Her early research was involved with presolar grains from meteorites. Working with Susanne Hofner, their research in 2003 showed that "correct micro-physical description of the dust is crucial for predicting the mass loss rates of AGB stars." Her work with Hofner continued, leading to further developments in the understanding of the action of dust-driven wind, and she collaborated with researchers in

Uppsala Uppsala (, or all ending in , ; archaically spelled ''Upsala'') is the county seat of Uppsala County and the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, fourth-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. It had 177,074 inha ...

to study "how the optical properties of dust grains change" when they leave a star and move into inter-stellar regions. While she is researching the influence of

on early

planet formation The nebular hypothesis is the most widely accepted model in the field of cosmogony to explain the formation and evolution of the Solar System (as well as other planetary systems). It suggests the Solar System is formed from gas and dust orbiting t ...

, she is also working on models of why life on Earth is constructed of left hand twisted

amino acids Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha am ...

and right hand twisted

sugars Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double s ...

. There is a hint of the unconventional about Andersen in her

interdisciplinary Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several other fields like sociology, anthropology, psychology, ec ...

approach to her work, and indeed her method of working. She states that she feels herself to be an "atypical astronomer, because I am in the laboratory much of the times studying the chemical composition of

meteorites A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon. When the original object en ...

in order to use that knowledge for theoretical models of how solar systems can be formed". She is also an author, working with fellow Dane Peter Clausen to produce works about astronomy which are aimed at the general public. Whilst she is recognized as one of the foremost researchers in her fields, she is also a scientist who believes that "it is important to tell the world and young people in particular about exciting new research". She has written books for children, explaining astronomy to a young audience, as well as "Stjernsov og Galakser" (Starduast and Galaxies), and most recently "Livet er et Mirakel" (Life is a Miracle), with theologist Anna Mejlhede. Many of her awards have been for her teaching ability, and "public outreach", her work in raising the profile of science. She is also an advocate of improving the numbers of women currently in respected positions within science academia, stating at the Djof Conference on Gender Equality in 2007 "I'd rather have a top post, because I'm a woman, and show what I can do, than sit outside the door and never get the chance. For me it does not matter whether you use a whip or a carrot, we just get some action." She explains her work about dark energy and dark matter, cosmic dust and many other matters in astronomy in the following educational video: "Interview with Anja Cetti Andersen - Author, Professor, and Researcher - Copenhagen University". In addition, she has a minor planet named after her,

8820 Anjandersen 88 may refer to: * 88 (number) * one of the years 88 BC, AD 88, 1888 CE, 1988 CE, 2088 CE, etc. * "88", a song by Sum 41 from '' Chuck'' * "88", a song by The Cool Kids from ''The Bake Sale'' * The 88, an American indie rock band * ''The 88'' ...

, alternate designation 1985 VG = 1961 CE1 = 1978 YO1 = 1992 SG24 = 1994 CS1

Awards

* 2016: Awarded the Silver H.C. Ørsted Medal for outstanding dissemination of exact science to broad circles. * 2011: Awarded Det Naturvidenskabelige Fakultets Formidlingspris (Dissemination Prize) for extraordinary contributions to the public outreach activities of the Faculty, * 2009: Awarded Svend Bergsøes Fonds Formidlingspris for outstanding public outreach. * 2009: Awarded Mathilde Prize for contributions towards equality between women and men in academia. The prize is named after

Mathilde Fibiger Mathilde Fibiger (13 December 1830 – 17 June 1872) was a Danish feminist, novelist, and telegraphist. Biography Mathilde Fibiger was born in Copenhagen in 1830. Her father, Captain Johan Adolph Fibiger, was an army officer; her mother was ...

. * 2008: Awarded The Danish Association of Masters and PhDs research prize "for her unparalleled ability to combine internationally recognized leading edge research with the ability to communicate her research results and create a broad interest for astronomy." * 2007: Elected member of The * 2006: Awarded the

Danish Radio DR (), officially the Danish Broadcasting Corporation in English, is a Danish public-service radio and television broadcasting company. Founded in 1925 as a public-service organization, it is Denmark's oldest and largest electronic media enterp ...

's Rosenkjær Prize for outstanding public outreach. * 2006: Awarded The

Kirstine Meyer Kirstine Bjerrum Meyer (12 October 1861 – 28 September 1941) was a Danish physicist and was first woman from her country to earn a doctorate in natural sciences. Biography Kirstine Bjerrum was born in Skærbæk, Denmark and died in Hellerup ...

Award for outstanding research. * 2006: Awarded The Outstanding Young Person TOYP 2006 for academic achievement, by JCI - Worldwide Federation of Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs. * 2005: Awarded The

Descartes Prize The Descartes Prize was an annual award in science given by the European Union, named in honour of the French mathematician and philosopher, René Descartes. The prizes recognized Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievements Resulting f ...

for Science Communication (laureate) for outstanding excellence in Science Communication, given by the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

. * 2004: Awarded The Danish Award for Outstanding Public Outreach (Danmarks Forskningskommunikationspris 2004) by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation * 2003: Nominated for The Educational Material Prize (Undervisningsministeriets Undervisningsmiddelspris 2003) from the

Danish Ministry of Education Education Minister of Denmark ( da, Undervisningsminister, ), or Minister of Education in Denmark, is a Danish minister office currently held by Mattias Tesfaye in the Frederiksen II Cabinet. The office was created in 1916 when the post Kultu ...

, for the teaching material Videnskabet, which included the book "Made of Stardust" (Skab af Stjernestøv). * 2000: Awarded the Allan Mackintosh Award for public outreach by Jette Mackintosh and the

. * 1999: The program Kosmos, on which Andersen was a presenter, won the Prix Magazine at the 16th International Science-television-festival in Paris. Kosmos was the most popular programs on DR2 in 1998. * 1997: Awarded Writer of the year (Årets forfatter 1997) by the Danish Astronomical Society (Dansk Astronomisk Selskab).

Memberships

Learned Societies * Since 2007: The Danish Academy of Technical Sciences * Since 2003: The

International Astronomical Union The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreac ...

* Since 2001: The

European Astronomical Society The European Astronomical Society (EAS) is a learned society, founded under the Swiss Civil Code in 1990, as an association to contribute and promote the advancement of astronomy in Europe, and to deal with astronomical matters at a European lev ...

* Since 1999: Foreningen for Kønsforskning i Danmark * Since 1997: The

European Physical Society The European Physical Society (EPS) is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote physics and physicists in Europe through methods such as physics outreach. Formally established in 1968, its membership includes the national physical so ...

* Since 1996: The

Meteoritical Society The Meteoritical Society is a non-profit scholarly organization founded in 1933 to promote research and education in planetary science with emphasis on studies of meteorites and other extraterrestrial materials that further our understanding of the ...

* Since 1994:

The Danish Physical Society The Danish Physical Society is the national association for physics for Denmark. As such, it is also one of the 41 members of the European Physical Society, and contributes to joint European projects such as the A Large Ion Collider Experiment, ALIC ...

, Dansk Fysisk Selskab * Since 1993: The Danish Astronomical Society, Dansk Astronomisk Selskab * In addition she is a Fellow of The Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics

NORDITA The Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, or NORDITA, or Nordita ( da, Nordisk Institut for Teoretisk Fysik), is an international organisation for research in theoretical physics. It was established as Nordisk Institut for Teoretisk Atomfys ...

, and sits on the Astrophysics and Astrobiology Research Committee. Network Groups * Since 2009: VLgruppe 77 - København * Since 2007: Albrightgruppen.dk * Since 2005: The Nordic network of women in physics (NORWIP) * Since 2003: Skeptica.dk * Since 1999: Women in Physics in Sweden * Since 1998: Networks of Women Scientists established under the fifth frame work program of EU * Since 1995: Network for Women in Physics in Denmark

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Andersen, Anja Cetti 1965 births Living people 21st-century Danish astronomers Danish astrophysicists University of Copenhagen alumni People from Hørsholm Municipality 20th-century Danish astronomers Women astronomers 20th-century Danish women scientists 21st-century Danish women scientists