Lene Hansen receives the Susan Strange Award

Over the years, Lene Hansen has received numerous awards and grants in relation to her research on security policy and other fields within political science. Now, Lene Hansen can add another award to her list of honours: the prestigious Susan Strange Award, which was presented at the ISA conference in San Francisco in early April.

"As well as being a talented research leader and committed mentor and supervisor of early career researchers, Lene’s research contributions have shaped the field of critical security studies over the last two and half decades," emphasises Laura Shepherd, retiring president of the International Studies Association.

Has counteracted narrow mindsets

Lene Hansen has opened up creative and innovative avenues for research through her meticulous work with discourse and representation, according to Laura Shepherd.

"Moreover, Lene’s work on feminism and poststructuralism in security studies has persistently worked against narrow ways of thinking and conventional wisdoms," she says and elaborates:

"Through her scholarship and professional activities, Lene has created and held space for critical and feminist researchers seeking to identify and understand the operations of power – including gendered and racialized power – in practices of world politics."

Thanks research colleagues for the support

Lene Hansen herself is very honoured to be this year's recipient of the Susan Strange Award.

"And I am very grateful for the kind words expressed by ISA President Professor Laura Shepherd at the Awards Ceremony at the conference in San Francisco. The description of the award focused on a singular individual, but I would not have received the award within the support from many other scholars over the years, including my amazing colleagues here in Copenhagen," Lene Hansen points out.

At the Department of Political Science, Professor and Head of Department Nina Græger is pleased that this year's Susan Strange Award goes to Lene Hansen.

"It's typical of Lene to mention the support from national and international research colleagues. Perhaps it's because she herself is among those who contribute the most to the community and help colleagues at all levels and students achieve their goals. She is a tremendous resource for the department," says Nina Græger and continues:

"Lene is a top researcher in IR and security studies, known for her intellectual curiosity, rock-solid knowledge and for challenging conventional thinking and power structures – both in her research and in the academic environment. I can't think of a better candidate for the Susan Strange Award, and she's in good company when you look at past recipients. This is a very well-deserved award."