News about Society

Big Brother isn’t always as clever as we think

New research questions the value of digital surveillance and big data. Sometimes traditional and less privacy-invasive data can predict human behaviour much more effectively.

Beetles that pee themselves to death could be tomorrow’s pest control

Various beetle species have gobbled through grain stores and weakened food production worldwide since ancient times. Now, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a better way of targeting and…

New invention can reduce agricultural pesticide use: Distinguishes harmful insects from helpful ones

A researcher from the University of Copenhagen has developed an algorithm that, in tandem with a sensor, makes it possible to distinguish crop-harming insects from helpful ones that pollinate and contribute to plant…

Our personality traits explain how we perceive and react to COVID-19

Both Danes and Germans with prosocial personality traits are more likely to follow health recommendations, while people with traits that make them more susceptible to negative emotions are more likely to see COVID-19 as…

Letting nature manage itself may lead to the least costs —but EU subsidies remain an obstacle

Nature management through rewilding can be significantly more cost-effective than by traditional conservation measures. However, EU agricultural subsidies distort competition. This is the conclusion of an economic…

Climate labeling reduces our CO2 footprint — even for those who willfully attempt to remain uninformed

Climate labels informing us of a meat product’s carbon footprint cause many people to opt for climate-friendlier alternatives. This applies to people who are curious about a product’s carbon footprint, as well as to…

We need to rethink the healthcare sector

The conference on chronic conditions at the UCPH revealed a growing interest in the everyday lives of chronic patients. The job is now to make improved quality of life a matter of priority, says Ayo Wahlberg, one of the…

LITTLE NINJA protein helps crops grow more side shoots

A tiny, newly discovered protein can regulate how tall grass species like wheat, barley and rice become and how many side shoots they produce. University of Copenhagen researchers have identified the microProtein LITTLE…

Award-winning professor writes forgotten women into the history books

Women sent the first computer into space and programmed some of the 1970’s most iconic computer games. Nevertheless, women are invisible in both the history and culture of computer science. Professor Pernille Bjørn want…

Researchers discover how to control zinc content in plants: Could help the world’s malnourished

Over 2 billion people worldwide are malnourished due to zinc deficiency. Led by the University of Copenhagen, an international team of researchers has discovered how plants sense zinc and use this knowledge to enhance…

Educational mobility on the decline in Denmark

In 20 years, the impact of parental background on children’s education has increased significantly, and today Denmark is on par with the US despite free education and state education grants.

The University of Copenhagen gathers medical anthropologists for a conference on chronic conditions

With close to 500 participants, the Chronic Living conference on 4-6 March will be one of the largest medical anthropological events on record.

Every fifth Dane wants to put immigrants with Covid-19 back in the hospital queue

According to a new survey, up to one in five Danes would prioritise hospital beds for COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms born in Denmark over recent immigrants.

New technical report - Processing of UAV data

A new report on methods for processing UAV-based Lidar and RGB data from Accra has been published on the website. Click to read.

Research literature increasingly dominated by a few 'elite researchers'

A new sociology study shows that a small international elite of researchers is increasingly being quoted in scientific journals.

Biotech company funds research project on diversity

In collaboration with Genmab, a new anthropological postdoc project at the Department of Anthropology will now explore and help develop the company's efforts to ensure a diverse and inclusive workplace.

The wars in Former Yugoslavia continue in the classroom

According to the Education Act, schools in the ethnically divided Bosnia and Herzegovina must teach students “democratic ideals in a multicultural society." But according to new research from the University of…

New unit at UCPH to put focus on research into children and education

New funding from the Ministry of Children and Education will enable researchers from across the Faculty of Social Sciences to strengthen quantitative research into children’s education and their social mobility.

Misguided sense of balance exacerbates climate scepticism

Many of us may have inadvertently contributed to the growing climate scepticism of recent years, a widespread phenomenon fuelled by “system errors” built into journalism, social media and parliamentary debates. A new…

The struggle for recognition: The liberal world order is eroded from both within and without

New research conludes that replacing Donald Trump with Joe Biden does not take us back to the liberal international order that represented ideas and rules of democracy, equality, trade and economic prosperity.

New study: Which beverages burst with umami potential?

In a new and first of its kind study, University of Copenhagen researchers study fermented beverages to find the one with the most umami flavour. Which one wins—champagne, beer, wine or sake? A UCPH researcher answers…

Virtual reality will help us in communicating the social benefits of vaccination

Professor Robert Böhm and Associate Professor Guido Makransky from the Department of Psychology have received funding for developing a virtual reality app to communicate herd immunity in vaccine advocacy.

New research dispels the myth of nationalism’s fading appeal

Two articles – one written by Professor Claire Maxwell and the other by Benedikte Brincker, Associate Professor – present new sociological insights into nationalism. Both articles appear in the leading journal Sociology…

Your organic waste will be upcycled to fertilise fields

Researchers behind a major EU project will develop technologies that make it easier to convert organic waste in our compostable trash bags into fertiliser. UCPH researcher says that agriculture sector needs to tackle…