Eske Willerslev receives the 2011 Research Communication Award

Eske Willerslev’s research has changed our perception of the past: he has mapped migration to North America, found a 150,000-year-old forest under Greenland's inland ice and found evidence of 500,000-year-old life in the Siberian tundra.

By developing DNA analysis, Willerslev has revolutionised discoveries within evolutionary biology.

Eske Willerslev, 39, is a global scientific research star and was awarded the Danish Elite Research Prize this year. Not only is he a talented researcher, but communicates his discoveries in an exceptional way to a broader audience.

He is therefore this year's recipient of the Science Ministry’s Research Communication Award of DKK 100,000. The annual prize is awarded to a researcher who uses relevant means of communication to create broader awareness of their research.

– Eske Willerslev communicates his research results in a clear and easily understandable way, which can be understood by all no matter their background. He brings his research to life with his fantastic communication abilities and shows why scientific research is exciting and has meaning for us all, says Science Minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen.

As a professor at the University of Copenhagen, Eske Willerslev is often broadcast on television and radio bringing his research and discoveries to life in a way that peaks our curiosity. Through his engaged skills of communication he has brought much attention to his research, both in Denmark and abroad.

Apart from his media appearances, Eske Willerslev has also made documentary films, written popular scientific books and helped arrange numerous museum exhibitions.

Eske Willerslev received the Research Communication Award in absentia on April 28th.

Further information:

Science Minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen can be contacted via press officer Charlotte Holst, tel: +45 2211 0200 or email: chhh@vtu.dk