Johan Andersen-Ranberg wins PhD Cup 2015

Johan Andersen-Ranberg presenting his PhD project live on stage at the PhD Cup 2015 championship accompanied by his research object the plant Coleus forskohlii

In fierce competition with PhDs from all Danish Universities, biochemist Johan Andersen-Ranberg from Center for Synthetic Biology at University of Copenhagen wins the prestigious competition PhD Cup

A spectacular extravaganza of brilliant science communication was showcased in prime time Danish television this Saturday in the prestigious PhD Cup – the competition where PhDs battle to become Denmark’s best PhD-science communicator.  

Science Minister Sofie Carsten Nielsen and Johan Andersen-Ranberg

For his “lively and accessible communication, tangible examples of lice and lipstick and societally relevant science,” the judges selected Johan Andersen-Ranberg as the winner.

With the help a lipstick and his trusty companion through three years of research – the plant Coleus forskolii – he had shown the audience how plants can teach us how to produce important medicine through the use of yeast and algae farming. By this method, overexploitation of Nature can be avoided.

Danish Science Minister Sofie Carsten Nielsen expressed her accolade for science and her wish for more science in public debate in her speech to the contestants:

“We truly need accomplished people like you to partake in societal discussions, you have to disturb us, you have to intrude and enable the deepest knowledge reaches the broadest audience.”

Johan Andersen-Ranberg receiving flowers and applaus on stag

Captivating science for all
The contestants had been prepared through coaching in retorics, stage performance and posture and presented an impressive string of fascinating science projects for the audience, viewers and judges. 

Vincent Hendricks, Maja Horst, Johan and Martin Breu 

On stage, the finalists made dry statistics surprising and tangible, Big Data on biodiversity and climate changed was brought to life on mountain hillsides of Ecuador, wild nature entered city landscapes and exercise addiction exposed – and much more.

Johan Andersen-Ranberg is overwhelmed by the triumph, but emphasizes that he could not have done it alone: "Research is a team effort and I could never have presented so groundbreaking results without my fellow researchers. The victory is also theirs."

He encourages future PhDs to participate next year: "It has been incredibly exciting to participate and I have learned a lot."

Watch the whole show here (in Danish only) - Source DR2

Apart from the honor, Johan Andersen-Ranberg can now look forward to a trip to one of the Science Ministry’s Innovation Centers around the globe guided by the Ministry’s attaché in Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Bangalore, Sao Paolo or Munich.

Read more about Johan Andersen-Ranberg's science here ...>

The three judges:

• Professor in Science Communication Maja Horst
• Professor in Formal Philosophy Vincent Hendricks
• Journalist Martin Breum

Radioshow featuring the contestants:

The PhD cup will also be featured in DR P1 on Monday April 20th from 9-10 in the program Hjernekassen with Peter Lund Madsen, who also hosted the finals Thursday night.