The Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) is an elite research center at the University of Southern Denmark, bringing together exceptional minds from various disciplines to inspire groundbreaking ideas and foster interdisciplinary research. DIAS supports curiosity-driven research and encourages collaboration across different fields and levels of expertise.
One of DIAS’s key initiatives is “Wicked Problems,” which addresses complex issues that lack clear solutions and require multidisciplinary approaches. The goal is to explore the complexity of these challenges, paving the way for new perspectives and potential scientific breakthroughs.
At the moment, we have three Wicked Problems running:
1. Complex Cross-Sectorial Challenges in Africa: Challenge 1 – The West-African Climate-Nature-Health Nexus
Using Guinea Bissau as a case study, this project explores how global inequality is exacerbated by climate change disproportionately affecting the world’s poorest countries. By framing the extensive, complex, and disproportionate impacts of climate change as a wicked problem, the project aims to shed light on environmental, economic, and health impacts faced by underprivileged nations, and to ultimately collaborate with local communities to improve their living conditions and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Project leadership:
Christine Stabell Benn, DIAS Chair of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Research, SDU
2. Interacting Robots in Everyday Life and the Transformation of Society (IRELTS)
This project explores the technical and societal dynamics of integrating robots into daily life. By framing human-robot interaction as a potential wicked problem, the project aims to enhance the understanding of both robots and humans, emphasizing the need for predictive models of human behavior to ensure smooth interactions and positive societal reception.
Project leadership:
Norbert Krüger, DIAS Chair of Engineering, the Maersk McKinney Moller Institute, SDU
3. Capitalism in the Danish Experience
This project explores the economic trajectory of capitalism, specifically how it has been shaped by historical contingencies, social conflicts, and global entanglements, using Denmark as a case study. By framing capitalism itself as a wicked problem, the project seeks to move beyond simplistic narratives and instead explore the complexities that define Denmark’s economic development.
Project leadership:
Paul Sharp, DIAS Chair of Business and Social Sciences, Department of Economics, SDU
Jeppe Nevers, DIAS Chair of Humanities, Department of Language and Culture, SDU
Frontier Research
Our project at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS) qualifies as frontier research due to its interdisciplinary approach, curiosity-driven focus, and global impact. DIAS brings together top researchers from various fields to tackle complex societal challenges, fostering innovative solutions and groundbreaking ideas. The “Wicked Problems” initiative exemplifies this by addressing issues that lack clear solutions and require multidisciplinary approaches, paving the way for new perspectives and potential scientific breakthroughs.
Science journalists working with DIAS through the Frontiers database can gain access to cutting-edge research and collaborate with leading experts, enhancing their storytelling with rich, compelling content. The experience offered by the FRONTIERS residency program allows journalists to deeply understand the research process and the complexities of frontier science, providing valuable networking opportunities and insights into the latest scientific advancements.