HEALENAE (HEALth and ENvironment in Africa and Europe) brings together seven universities across continents and gives 15 new PhD students the opportunity to research the global links between environment and health – and at the same time become part of a strong international community of researchers.

The collaboration is a natural extension of Denmark's Africa Strategy and Aarhus University's commitment to research collaborations on the African continent, including the new "Knowledge and Innovation Programme", which aims to strengthen partnerships between Danish and African universities.

"It is a big pat on the back for Aarhus University and for Anthropology that we lead and are part of this network. It is important that we as anthropologists contribute to educating researchers who understand the connections between climate, environment and health – and at the same time strengthen PhD programmes in Europe and Africa in equal relationships," says Professor Lotte Meinert, Department of Anthropology at Aarhus University, who is the overall leader and project coordinator of Healenae.

Four PhD projects at AU
The partner in HEALENAE, Anthropology at Aarhus University will receive four of the network's 15 PhD projects. AU researchers such as Nanna Schneidermann, Rikke Sand Andersen, Michael Eilenberg and Lotte Meinert will be principal supervisors – in close collaboration with African colleagues as co-supervisors.

The department will also help arrange training schools, workshops and writing retreats for all the network's PhD students.

The contribution of anthropologyHEALENAE is interdisciplinary, combining anthropology with historical, health sciences, and environmental science approaches. For AU, it is anthropology's special method and approach that makes a difference.

"Long-term fieldwork, where we follow people's experiences with environmental and health changes in everyday life, provides an insight that cannot be captured through natural or health science studies alone. This is precisely where anthropology contributes something unique," explains Lotte Meinert.

Equal collaboration
The network builds on the experience of the previous PhD network ANTHUSIA, where AU was also the overall coordinator. Back then, African universities could only be associate partners. With HEALENAE, they are full participants on an equal footing with European universities.

"In colonial times, researchers travelled from north to south and brought the results home with them. That's no longer how research works. The collaboration must be reciprocal, and therefore it is also important that African PhD students can investigate health and environmental issues in Europe. It provides new perspectives and strengthens research," says Lotte Meinert.

New opportunities for PhD students
In January 2026, the 15 PhD scholarships in HEALENAE will be advertised, starting in September of the same year. Students will receive dual degrees from both a European and an African university.

"They get access to two educational environments and get to know different academic traditions. There are more requirements and more mobility – but in return, they get a very strong and unique PhD degree," says Lotte Meinert.

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About HEALENAE

• EU-funded PhD networks (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks)
• Budget: DKK 34.8 million
• Universities: Aarhus, Oslo, Leuven, Edinburgh, Cape Town, Nairobi, Makerere
• 15 PhD projects (call for proposals in January 2026, start September 2026)
• Partners: NGOs and companies working with the environment, climate and health
• Focus: links between environment and health across Africa and Europe

Contact

Lotte Meinert, Professor and Project Manager
Department of Anthropology
School of Culture and Society
Aarhus University
Mail: lotte.merinert@cas.au.dk
Mobile: + 45 2426 2202