Michael Svarer is once again the most cited AU researcher in the media
Nine researchers from Aarhus University are among the 50 most cited expert sources in the media in 2024. For the third consecutive year, Professor Michael Svarer is the highest-ranked from AU. The list includes five returning names and four new names from AU compared to last year.
Disclaimer: This text was translated using machine translation / AI and post-edited by Maria Nielsen Pedersen
Professor of Economics, Michael Svarer, is once again the most cited researcher from Aarhus University in the media for the third consecutive year. This is according to the list of the top 50 most cited experts in the media for 2024, compiled by Akademikerbladet in collaboration with Infomedia.
He is ranked second on the overall list and was cited 939 times last year. The most cited expert in 2024 is Associate Professor Peter Viggo Jakobsen from the Royal Danish Defence College, with 1,220 citations.
Michael Svarer, a former “wiseman” for the chairmanship of the Danish Economic Councils, has been frequently cited in articles about the government's green tax reform. He led the expert group that presented its report with recommendations for a green tax reform in 2024. This group is also known as the Svarer Committee. There was significant attention when he, following the release of the report in February, attended the general meeting of Sustainable Agriculture to share his thoughts on a CO2 tax for agriculture. At the meeting, one participant remarked, “If it had been 1824, we'd be out back this morning building a gallows to hang the messenger. So, be glad it's 2024.”
Five AU Researchers in top 20
Professor of Marine Ecology Stiig Markager is the second most cited researcher from AU, and Jørgen E. Olesen, professor of agroecology, is the third. Following them are Peter Sunde, professor of wildlife ecology, and Rune Stubager, professor of political science. They all made it into the top 20 on the list.
Four AU researchers are new to the list compared to last year. They are Rune Stubager, who has previously been at the top of the list, Derek Beach, professor of political science, Jens Meldgaard Bruun, senior hospital physician and clinical professor, and Ellen Margrethe Basse, professor emerita of environmental law. Ellen Margrethe Basse is also the only woman from Aarhus University on the list. Looking at the overall list, five out of the 50 experts are women.
Environment and climate
The overall list highlights a high demand for researchers with expertise in climate and environmental issues. Like last year, there are also many researchers with knowledge of war, security, and military matters.
This is the fifth time that DM Akademikerbladet has published a list of the most cited expert sources in the media. The study was conducted by Infomedia and is based on a search of content from Danish news media – including articles, radio, and TV.
This year, Akademikerbladet has added a new metric in addition to the total number of citations: the number of citations excluding those circulated by Ritzau's Bureau, which produces news used by many Danish media outlets. When excluding citations from Ritzau's Bureau, the number of citations for most researchers in Danish media is significantly lower. For instance, Michael Svarer was cited 435 times instead of 939. Peter Viggo Jakobsen, who is in first place, was cited 750 times instead of 1,220.