By Aya Sørensen, AAU Kommunikation & Public Affairs
Photo: Roar

As a new member, she joins the prestigious academy, which consists of approximately 500 members—11 of whom are researchers from Aalborg University. A proud Lene Tanggaard has been admitted to the academy’s Humanities Class.

“It is a great honor to become a member of the Academy, both professionally and personally. It’s not something I’ve ever aimed for—because I don’t think one can—but it’s a wonderful surprise and a recognition of my work as a professor,” she says og adds:

“I hope I can use both my experience as a professor and as a former rector to help strengthen conditions for research and researchers in Denmark. I look forward to discovering how and where I can contribute—that’s what I now need to explore.”

The Importance of Humanistic and Social Science Research
Since its founding in 1742, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters has worked to strengthen the position of science in Denmark. This is done by promoting basic scientific research and increasing interdisciplinary understanding across fields. The academy plays a central role in communicating knowledge and building bridges between research environments.

Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Aalborg University, Rasmus Antoft, expresses great pride in the recognition and says:

“It is an honor when our researchers are acknowledged by an academy with such a long scientific tradition. It speaks not only to the high academic quality but also to the societal relevance of research in the humanities and social sciences.”

Research is about making a difference
For Lene Tanggaard, research is about making a difference—not just in society, but in the life one lives as a researcher. As she puts it, it’s not about waiting for life to happen, but about making sure you live while you research.

To young researchers and students dreaming of an academic path, she offers this advice:

“I encourage younger researchers and students to let curiosity guide them and to be open to taking on challenges—even if they’re not exactly what you dream of right now. There’s always a way, and it’s about staying engaged and believing that you can do it—even if your work doesn’t immediately fit into an existing strategy or seem relevant at first. It will all come together if you keep going. It’s not about waiting for life to happen—it’s about making sure you live while you do research.”