- I am very honored to be chosen for this important and exiting position in the Academy, which represents the very top of Danish research, states Lars Arge.

The Royal Academy of Sciences is an almost 275 year old institution, founded in 1742 by King Christian VI. The Academy has 250 national and 250 international members. The aim of the Royal Academy is to help strengthen the position and significance of basic research in Denmark.

Approximately two-thirds of the members are from the humanities and social sciences and three-fifths from the natural sciences.

- The Academy serves as a meeting place for top researchers in Denmark. We gather approximately 15 times a year and engage in many interesting interdisciplinary discussions. As the new Secretary General, I will be managing the secretariat of the Academy in close corporation with the head of secretariat. In addition I will e.g. participate in various grant and awards committees, protect the Academy's interests through meetings with relevant politicians and government officials, and in general represent the Academy together with the President, says Lars Arge, who is also Director of the Danish National Research Foundation Center for Massive Data Algorithmics (MADALGO).

Apart from the closed meetings, the Royal Academy organizes a number of public events, symposiums and lectures, including lectures by Nobel Laureates.