AAU researcher wins Kamma Prize: An inspiration for future research
: 30.10.2024
Linda Nhu Laursen, Head of Research at AAU Design Lab, is the winner of the Kamma Prize 2024 which recognizes women who have made a significant difference in their field. Three younger women researchers were behind the nomination – which was what moved Linda Nhu Laursen the most.
By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: ELS Production/Emil Lang Skovbølling
Sometimes it happens that a person makes such a big and positive impression on you that they deserve recognition. This is how three young women researchers at the Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology feel about Linda Nhu Laursen, Associate Professor and Head of Research at AAU Design Lab.
Earlier this year, they therefore nominated her for the Kamma Prize – a North Jutland award that honours visionary and inspiring women in the Danish business community. And the other day, it was announced that Linda Nhu Laursen is the winner of the Kamma Prize 2024. It happened at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year at Aalborg Congress and Culture Center on 29 October.
In the nomination, PhD student Nikoline Sander, PhD student Lea Becker Frahm and project manager Lene Filtenborg Buhl Kejser wrote the following about Linda Nhu Laursen:
"Linda is a visionary research leader who manages to inspire everyone around her – whether it is students, colleagues or external partners. She is not afraid to take the lead, and her determination paves the way. She wants to transform Danish design to once again be agenda-setting based on current societal problems. And with her passionate and empathetic nature, she manages to bring together people from all over Denmark around this shared mission."
Linda Nhu Laursen is proud and honoured to receive the Kamma Prize 2024, and she was moved to tears when she found out that three young women researchers in her team had nominated her for the award.
"The university world has a reputation for being tough, competitive and male-dominated. Being nominated for the Kamma Prize tells me that we’ve come a long way in the fight to make a difference and in creating an inspiring and diverse research environment," says Linda Nhu Laursen.
At the same time, the head of research is proud that the many votes she received come from all kinds of people in different companies and organizations.
"Since I became head of research, I’ve wanted to create something bigger. I’ve had responsible design at heart, and I have invited all of Denmark: researchers, companies and actors to join. This means that my research agenda has impact – we make a difference in reality," she explains.
Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
About the Kamma Prize
The purpose of the Kamma Award is to bring together and make visible the women in Northern Jutland who are particularly inspiring, groundbreaking in their work and thus worthy of admiration. Women who actively exploit their position and influence in a positive way. In 2024, 130 North Jutland women were recommended for the Kamma Prize, 10 of whom were nominated for the award.
The Kamma Prize was founded in 2020 on the initiative of Karina Burgdorff Jensen and Maja Torp and is run in close collaboration with the Kamma Award's operations manager Trille Stenshøj Nielsen.