Flemming Besenbacher

Character introduction

Positions
Flemming Besenbacher is a professor of nanoscience at Aarhus University, and he was the founding director of the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) from 2002-2012. Prof. Besenbacher is chairman of the Carlsberg Group, the Carlsberg Foundation, and Aarhus Water A/S. Prof. Besenbacher is also deputy chairman of Innovation Fund Denmark and board member of Unisense A/S. In 2016, Prof. Besenbacher was appointed both chairman of the Danish government’s Advisory Board for Circular Economy, member of the Danish government’s Digital Growth Panel, and member of the Danish Ministry of Taxation’s advisory panel for succession planning in commercial foundations. In 2019, he was also appointed chairman of the Danish Think Tank on Food Loss and Food Waste. Prof. Besenbacher sits on several advisory boards related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and he is chairman of the non-profit organization UNLEASH.
Research and achievements
Prof. Besenbacher is an international leading scientist within the field of nanoscience, and he has published more than 700 scientific articles in international journals such as Science and Nature. He is one of the most cited Danish scientists with more than 37,000 citations and an H-factor of 100. Furthermore, Prof. Besenbacher is honorary doctor at 16 Chinese universities, and he has received several distinctions in Denmark and abroad for his research, for instance “The Chinese Government Highest International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award” of the People’s Republic of China.
He is foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Academician) and holds the title of Commander of the Order of Dannebrog.

Topic: Global Challenges: From Science to Solutions

Abstract  We live in an increasingly complex and globalized world facing numerous global challenges such as climate changes, the highest concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere for three million years, water scarcity, and threats to agricultural sustainability and food security. It is thus evident that we must do everything in our power to create a more sustainable world by aiming to meet the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The latest scientific report prepared by the Independent Group of Scientists appointed by the UN Secretary-General1 underlines the fact that incremental steps are not enough: we need scientific breakthroughs in order to avoid trigging a tipping point in our climate and biodiversity that would radically alter the basis of our existence. A sustainable future is attainable only if we shift current research and innovation priorities and support innovative approaches to sustainability science and emphasize cross-disciplinary partnerships.

I will give a presentation starting from the bigger perspective of the present world and the challenges facing the globe to concrete examples of how science and innovation can help create a more sustainable world.  

KEY WORDS: Sustainable Development Goals, global challenges, science and innovation

REFERENCES
1. Global Sustainable Development Report 2019, United Nations

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