Mikkel Lund has been awarded DKK 2 million to support his project titled “Starlight Through the Lens: A New View on Stellar Oscillations”. Mikkel's project will start in March 2025. He will use the grant to test whether stellar oscillations with a higher angular degree than usually attainable from integrated starlight can be obtained during microlensing events observed with NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope."

Andrew Cassidy has been awarded DKK 1.96 million to support his project titled “Molecular Motions in Frozen Water”. Andrew’s project will start in January 2025. He will use the grant to test whether surface voltages on films of condensed water can be used to measure diffusion at cryo-temperatures.

The Villum Experiment grant aims to support special research projects that challenge the norm and have the potential to fundamentally change the way we approach important topics.

Thomas Bjørnholm, Research Director at the Villum Foundation, explains the idea behind the Villum Experiment Programme, which gives bold research ideas a chance: "Villum Experiment represents the unexpected and the untested. Here, we support researchers who dare to take chances, and we know that some of these projects can lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Our goal is to give space to ideas that can change the world—even if they may seem completely wild at first."

About the Villum Experiment Programme

• Focus on innovative and unconventional research ideas
• Anonymous evaluation ensures focus on the potential of the idea rather than the researcher's merits
• High risk factor and potential for breakthroughs
• Supports research projects in their early stages
• Annually awards approximately 50 grants

Learn more.