Majken B. E. Christensen
I am an astrophysicist, and I own Astronomicca Outreach and Science Communication.
I love astronomy, physics, programming and mathematics! I enjoy understanding and explaining complex topics by visualization and analogies. I think scientific story-telling makes the world a more fun place to live in, and I use it a lot in my blog-posts and public talks.
I am also a big fan of systems! Any type of system. Give me a messy set of data, and I immediately will apply structure and create patterns.
Over the years, I have worked with most universities in Denmark, gave more than a hundred public talks and wrote thousands of words for popular scientific articles. I have experience in academic career coaching, communication strategy and helping researchers and technical staff improve their communication toward the public, their colleagues, students and management.
On top of my degree in astrophysics, I have a project management certification from Implement Consulting Group and a management reporting diploma from Deloitte. I also have a data mining (early machine learning) diploma from SAS Institute.
Selection of public talks
- (updated sometimes)
- Brorfelde Observatoriet, title: “From Big Bang until today” (2019)
- Aarhus University, title: “Science on social media” (2019)
- Danmarks Radio, title: “Popular science” (2019)
- Aarhus University, title: “Worth to know about astronomy: Stars” (2019)
- Kosmosklubben, title: “The human body in zero-gravity” (2018)
- Herning Bibliotek, title: “The human body in zero-gravity” (2018)
- Sydvestjysk Folkeuniversitet, title: “Small and large stars” (2018)
- Astronomy On Tap, title: “Is there alcohol in stars?” (2017)
- Avnø AstroTræf, title: “Big Bang” (2017)
- Kompedal StarParty, title: “Small and large Stars” (2017)
- Kosmosklubben, title: “Frk. Brahes Univers” (2017)
- Silkeborg Bibliotekerne, title: “Where do we come from?” (2017)
- Astronomisk Ungdom, title: “High-mass star formation (2017)
- Københavns FolkeUniversitet, title: “Small and large stars” (2017)
- Aarhus FolkeUniversitet, title: “Small and large stars” (2017)
- Mensa Denmark, title: “Massive Stars” (2017)
- Københavns Astronomiske Forening, title: “Massive Stars” (2017)
- Midtjysk Astronomiforening, title: “Massive Stars” (2017)
- Astronomisk Selskab, title: “High-mass star formation” (2017)
- Brorfelde Observatoriet, title: “Girls Night in Science” (2016)
- Naturvidenskabsfestival, title: “Massive Stars” (2016, 2017)
Selection of articles
- Making Tycho Brahe’s Sky Available for Future Astronomers, International Astronomical Union, Cambridge University Press (December 2018)
- Astronomer må omskrive stjernernes livshistorie, Science Illustrated (Issue: July 2018)
- Jul i Tycho Brahes Uranienborg, videnskab.dk (December 2017)
- Vil kæmpestjernen Betelgeuse forårsage dommedag?, videnskab.dk (July 2017)
- Winter is coming – find din indre astronom, Hjerneblod (Issue: December 2017)
- Fototricks gør Universet synligt, Science Illustrated (Issue: March 2015)
- Teleskop skal afsløre kæmpestjerners hemmelighed, Science Illustrated (Issue: January 2015)
- 80 år gammel teori skal stå sin prøve: Kollision tryller lys om til masse, Science Illustrated (Issue: December 2014)
Website construction
- Nordic Network for Diversity in Physics – NORNDiP, www.norndip.com (2018)
- Danish Women In Physics, www.kvinderifysik.dk (2018)
- Tycho Brahe Project, www.sdu.dk/brahe (2017/18)
- Astronomisk Ungdom Denmark, www.astronomisk-ungdom.dk (2017)
- Astronomicca, www.astronomicca.com (2015)
Selection of Interviews
- Pandekage, kegle eller snemand? Rumsonde sender nye billeder af fjernt objekt, DR (February 2019)
- Det var et vildt fund (Einstein letters), Politiken (March 2019)
- Danskere finder næsten 100 år gamle breve fra Albert Einsten, DR (March 2019)
- Astronom får lov at kigge Tycho Brahe over skulderen, DR (December 2017)
- Røntgenteknologi møder Tycho Brahe, DR (December 2017)
- Klogere på kvantepartikler, AP Møller Fonden (April 2017)
- Der er så meget forskere ikke forstår, folkeskolen.dk (March 2017)
- KB vil få dig til at elske kvantefysik, Fyens Stiftstidende (November 2016)
- KB kommer, KVANT (November 2016)
- KB vil åbne op for vores forunderlige kvanteunivers, (October 2016)
- Universets historie – forklaret gennem et glas vin, DR Viden (September 2014)
Education
2009 – B.Sc. in astrophysics from Copenhagen University at DARK Cosmology Center, incl. telescope experience at El Teide Observatory, Spain.
2011 – Cand.Scient. in astrophysics from Copenhagen University at Center for Star and Planet Formation, incl. telescope experience at APEX Observatory, Chile.
background
2015 – 2020 Science Communicator at Astronomicca
2017 – 2020 President of Astronomical Society (Astronomisk Selskab) in Denmark
2017 – 2020 Board member and communication officer at Women In Physics (Kvinder I Fysik) in Denmark
2018 – 2019 Press consultant at the Science Faculty at University of Southern Denmark (link)
2014 – 2019 Jury in the finals of Young Researchers Denmark (Unge Forskere)
2018 – 2019 Associate editor at Frontiers for Young Minds (link)
2017 – 2019 Science writer for videnskab.dk (profile)
2014 – 2019 Science writer for Science Illustrated
2016 – 2017 Outreach officer at University of Southern Denmark
2011 – 2016 Quantitative analyst in Danske Bank and Danmarks Nationalbank (the Danish central bank)