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Throwback: Fall semester is off to a flying start

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New friendships, parties and unveiling of new art on campus are but a few of the impressions and events the new Helix Lab Fellows have met in their first few weeks of their time in Kalundborg. Ahead lies a semester of Tech Talks and settling into life in West Zealand.
Helix Lab new scultures in the foreground

Two brand new sculptures have been revealed at Campus Kalundborg. “Another World” and “Perspective Changer” are the first pieces of art on campus, and their unveiling ceremony marked the first of several events in the first weeks of the semester.

The sculptures are a symbol, and a reminder, of the connection between art and science, and are created by artists Per Ahlmann and Anders Hald. They were commissioned by the Lundbye committee, and coincided with the Lundbye Arts Festival, which celebrates the life and work of Golden Age painter, and Kalundborg local, Johan Thomas Lundbye. 

At the unveiling event speeches were, among others, held by the president of the Lundbye Committee, Holger Prehnum as well as Helix Lab director Anette Birck. The ceremony was followed by talks at Helix Lab with Gry Hedin from SMK – National Gallery of Denmark and historian Jes Fabricius Møller, and a panel debate with the artists.

Penal debate
Anette Birck, Speach

The unveiling ceremony marked the beginning of a new semester at Helix Lab, and several of the new Fellows joined the event to see the sculptures, listen to speakers, and engage in the community surrounding Campus Kalundborg.

- Our new sculptures have sparked some really interesting talks about how art inspires us when we work and study, and how it’s perceived in general. Hosting an event like this one at Helix Lab is new to us, but I think it’s a good example of our role as a dynamic and open house, director at Helix Lab, Anette Birck, says.

First party and life as a Fellow

The first week of September also saw eight new Helix Lab Fellows from five different countries settling into student life at the Kalundborg Kollegium. Fellows share a kitchen and common room facilities, which makes socializing easy. Sharing accommodation and working on various thesis projects simultaneously also creates common ground and good conditions for new friendships, Helix Lab fellow Dennis Zhuang says. 

- The fact that we’re all new to Kalundborg and are here for the same purpose means that we’re on common ground and are equally curious on the town and what it has to offer. We hang out a lot, and since we’re a relatively small group of fellows, we’ve gotten to know each other really well early on.

Helix Lab Fellows Fall 2024
Study Start Party

Dennis Zhuang and his thesis partner David Ostenfeldt, who are both Fellows from DTU, are off to a good start on their thesis project in collaboration with Meliora Bio. They are looking forward to delving into their research, while also joining in on social activities with other new students.

- We’ve already attended the first campus party, which was good fun. I really enjoy the international community among the other fellows and students at the campus, it creates a diversity and an international feel that I really didn’t expect, so that’s a positive surprise, Dennis Zhuang says.

Apart from the thesis project that lies ahead, Dennis Zhuang is planning to take a closer look at some of the events Helix Lab has on offer this autumn. Especially the upcoming Tech Talks have sparked an interest.

- Some Tech Talk subjects are relevant to our thesis project, so it makes perfect sense to attend those. Others are on topics I know nothing about, and that’s just as exciting. I look forward to gaining new knowledge.

Networking
Sculture infront of Helix Lab
"Perspective Changer” by Per Ahlmann
Sculpture unveiling session
“Another World” by Anders Hald
"Another World" by Anders Hald