A targeted effort: Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen puts fertility on the political agenda in the Danish Parliament
It didn’t come out of the blue when Professor of Epidemiology Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen from the Department of Public Health recently participated in a panel debate at Christiansborg. In recent years, she has worked strategically to move fertility research from laboratories and datasets into the political arena.
Science in society
The University Act requires that researchers, alongside their research and teaching, engage in disseminating their work through so-called knowledge exchange or research-based communication.
“Science in society” is a series of articles about Health researchers who apply their expertise in society in ways that go beyond traditional research communication and expert commentary.
In early September, Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen was invited to a panel debate in the Danish Parliament, where she, alongside politicians and fellow researchers, discussed how Denmark should address the challenges in the field of fertility - a debate that, just a few years ago, wasn’t even on the political agenda.
“I experienced an enormous receptiveness to the debate. One of the things I contribute as a researcher is the latest data and knowledge that no one else can provide. When politicians later refer to what I’ve said, I can feel it makes an immediate difference that I’m participating,” she says.
A fortunate coincidence and a strategic choice
Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen has researched reproductive health for decades. Among other topics, she has studied how prenatal factors, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and maternal lifestyle, can affect children’s genital development, puberty, and adult fertility.
For many years, the results were primarily disseminated via press releases with limited political impact. That changed in 2022, when she and colleagues from Norway and Germany received a major EU grant for the BIOSFER project, which investigates the causes of low fertility in modern societies.
“At the same time as receiving the grant, we began to see increased political interest. Fertility rates are declining globally, making the issue both politically and socially important. I felt a responsibility to become more visible, so the research could be part of the decision-making process and contribute more actively to society,” she says.
From reactive to proactive communication
The first step was a strategic plan to increase visibility. Up until then, Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen had mostly responded when the media called, but now she began to reach out herself.
“I wrote to journalists and people I thought might be interested in the project. Initially, it didn’t yield much. But once I had made a few public statements, journalists started calling back, and that was the launchpad for a whole new level of visibility,” she explains.
At the same time, she contacted politicians and civil servants. She wrote position papers, presented BIOSFER to the parliamentary health committee, and received advice from a consultancy firm specialising in the political environment.
Panel debates and follow-up messages
Today, Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen participates in political hearings, roundtable discussions, and panel debates like the recent one at Christiansborg. In addition to formal presentations, she prioritises speaking with politicians and follows up with emails and text messages to ensure her key messages are retained.
“I try to be visible wherever it makes sense. Politicians are busy and there are many competing interests. If you want to be heard, you need to maintain the dialogue and remind them that you’re available with knowledge when they need it,” she says.
Although this effort has only been ongoing for three years, she is already seeing results. For Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen, it adds a new dimension to her work when research findings can directly influence decisions that affect citizens’ lives.
“There’s already talk of whether we should have a national fertility plan. I see much greater awareness among politicians of the need for research-based knowledge. Of course, it’s not solely my achievement - many things are aligning right now - but I truly feel we’re helping to shape the agenda,” she says.
Balancing research and politics
When researchers engage in political processes, the question of neutrality quickly arises: Can one take part in the political sphere without being labelled political?
“I’m very conscious of treading carefully when I comment on what I think should happen politically. But I always base my input on the research findings. It’s those results that set the direction. When the evidence clearly points to a problem, I actually believe it’s my duty to say so,” says Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen, and adds:
“Being this active in public debate takes time, and it’s a double-edged sword, because I love research and want to spend as much time as possible on that part of my work. But on the other hand, it really adds something when you can help inform decisions that matter to people here and now.”
A research field in a unique position
To other researchers aspiring to create more political awareness around their work or field of research, her message is clear:
“Don’t wait to be discovered. Take the initiative yourself, be visible, reach out and offer your knowledge. Politicians are genuinely happy to receive input from researchers, but they don’t have time to find us. So we have to make ourselves visible,” says Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen.
However, she emphasises that her field of research offers a unique opportunity not available to all researchers.
“I really do feel privileged. Fertility is a field in a unique position, capturing the attention of both politicians and citizens. And I have knowledge that can make a difference. That motivates me enormously in my daily work as both a researcher - and now also as a communicator and debater,” she says.
Contact
Professor Cecilia Ramlau-Hansen
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Phone: +45 26 29 57 15
Email: crh@ph.au.dk