By Dorte Larsen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Lasse Badstue Møller, Aalborg University
Translated by: LeeAnn Iovanni

As a child, Professor Per Halkjær Nielsen dreamed of following in the footsteps of the great explorers and going on adventures in the natural world. And the dream came true, although his journey did not take him to the jungle or beyond the oceans, but through a microscope into the seemingly invisible nature of microorganisms: 

"When I started looking at bacteria in their natural environment, I became enormously fascinated with exploring that world. Wow, there was just a whole lot here that we didn't know anything about," he says.

Throughout his research career, Per Halkjær Nielsen has been immersed in the wonders of the world of bacteria, a world that at the beginning of his career was still unexplored.

First recipient from Aalborg

Per Halkjær Nielsen at Department of Chemistry and Bioscience has now been awarded the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters Gold Medal as the first researcher ever from Aalborg University. The society awards the gold medal approximately every four years, and it is among the highest Danish honours a researcher can receive. Only 20 Danish researchers before him have been given the same honour.

"Receiving this gold medal is a huge recognition and something I am extremely proud of. Looking back, I am delighted to have helped inspire so many young people to be part of the exploration of exciting scientific questions, often related to bacteria, and that we have been able to contribute solutions for a better environment and health," says Per Halkjær Nielsen.

The medal is given to researchers who have exceeded expectations in Danish science and thus in their contribution to society.

Career at Aalborg University

"I started in 1984 at AUC – or Aalborg University Center, as it was then called. I was the department's first Licentiate student (now: PhD), and the department was called the Department of Water, Soil and Environmental Engineering. I worked in the Laboratory for Environmental Engineering. There was almost no tradition of research, so I had to get involved in constructing laboratory facilities myself so that I could start my research."

Later, the department was split up, and the Department of Biotechnology became a reality. Since 2008, Per Halkjær Nielsen has been affiliated with this department. The department has grown into what we know today as the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience with nearly 200 staff members, and includes biotechnology, biology and chemistry.

"My research career kick-started in earnest in 1998 when I received my first major research grant of DKK 22 million from the Danish Technical Research Council, STVF (today Independent Research Fund Denmark, DFF). Later (in 2017) I will specifically mention my Villum Investigator Grant of DKK 30 million. Both grants have been invaluable for my studies of the unknown bacteria in nature, also called 'microbial dark matter'.

The presentation of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters Gold Medal to Per Halkjær Nielsen will take place on 14 May. H.M. King Frederik will present the award at a ceremony at the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Knowledge about bacteria of great importance for the green transition 

Bacteria are crucial for almost everything on earth, such as the earth’s materials cycle, the development of greenhouse gases, food production, water purification and resource recovery, as well as human and animal health. 

"But no one knows how many different species of bacteria there are on Earth. So far, we actually only know something about around 100,000. So there are millions waiting to be discovered and investigated."

Per Halkjær Nielsen talks about bacteria in a portrait interview published by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters:

"Finding out what bacteria exist, what they are capable of, what they actually do, and how we can then use it in different contexts is really basic science. This is highly relevant for the green transition, and when you have access to the genetic makeup of bacteria, you can look for new genes that code for new enzymes, antibiotics and many other useful substances in the biotech industry."