Crown Prince Frederick at the Anniversary Celebrations of the Niels Bohr Institute

Danish Crown Prince Frederik visited the Niels Bohr Institute on Thursday. There he gave a speech because this year Niels Bohr was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 100 years ago. He also presented honorary medals to two researchers who have conducted exceptionally pioneering research in their fields.

In his speech Frederick reflected on the world Bohr. The king told his audience that Niels Bohr’s 1913 atomic model, for which he was awarded the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physics, was radical. This was because it contradicted the most important elements of classical physics at the time. “It wasn’t just a new theory, but a whole new kind of science.”

Bohr was 27 years old and was an adjunct teacher when he wrote three groundbreaking treatises on the atomic model. According to Frederick, “A great achievement, done by one man.” But the world is not only admired for its atomic model. By founding the Department of Theoretical Physics—informally at first, but soon officially known as the Niels Bohr Institute—Bohr helped pave the way for a scientific revolution in the form of the emergence of quantum mechanics.

“To this day, the institute continues the legacy of Niels Bohr,” says Friedrich. According to him, this is done by attracting the best talent, creating a young, lively and informal environment where, according to King, “open discussion and the free exchange of ideas are essential.” The Crown Prince called on the institute, in the name of Bur, to continue its efforts to make known the unknown.