An International and Interdisciplinary Research Project
Finding Purpose in the Face of Uncertainty
Anxiety and Confidence Looking Forward – for a new interpretive approach to our complex problems in the present and the future
The ACP research project integrates ongoing scientific work on Anxiety Culture. The thematic mix explores from different perspectives how general feelings of uncertainty in societies might turn into measurable manifestations of anxiety. These phenomena can reveal social, economic and political behaviours of citizens and influence their decisions.
The Anxiety Culture Project is externally funded. Interdisciplinarity and internationality are characteristic of the working mode.
The results of the transatlantic dialogue between the founding partners - Kiel University (Germany) and Columbia University, New York (United State), as well as other involved universities and scientific partners are used in political decision-making processes. In addition, the scientific findings are incorporated into the future curricula of educational institutions. Stakeholders in civil society are also given information through the ACP´s outreach management.
By the end of the year of 2022, the governance, the research strategy, the third-party funding milestones and the work with and the engagement for young scientists will be drafted and defined.
Learn more
anxiety-culture.net
anxiety-culture.center
anxiety-culture.art
Events
19
OCTOBER 2022
The ACP Expert-Talk | Landesvertretung
Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin
Anxiety Index 2025: Understanding citizens – protecting people
Identifying societal threats early and responding politically
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In the expert talk, stakeholders reflect on the aspirations, means and possibilities of improved civil protection. The current federal government has been in office for one year. And the threat situation for the population has changed on several levels since then.
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Both in Europe and worldwide, war, climate crises and conflicts show that the core topics of the transatlantic research project ACP around a social insecurity that can turn into fear phobias of citizens is highly relevant.
In the Expert Talk, the ACP – Anxiety Culture Project of the Universities of Kiel and Columbia New York – scientists, politicians, administrators, stakeholders and company representatives will come together in Berlin in October. The aim is to look for future instruments to identify feelings within societies early and simultaneously and then to be able to react to them socio-politically.
The question is: Does Germany need an Anxiety Index?
(programme on request)
20/21
OCTOBER 2022
ACP Autmn Workshop
Discussion Research Training Group
Topics – Third-party funding applications – Research strategy
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The members of the Anxiety Culture Project at CAU – Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel – are now meeting again at the university after stops at CAU Kiel, Columbia University New York, CAU Kiel and Gut Siggen. In the regular meetings, the research priorities are discussed and applications for third-party funding are reflected. This year, the main focus is on a final consultation on the planned application for an ACP Research Training Group at the German Research Foundation. Interested MA and PhD students are cordially invited.
27
OCTOBER 2022
Interdisciplinary Lecture Series
more info to follow
Climate, Crises, Wars and Concepts
Scientific contributions to options and opportunities for the future
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Cooperation of the Political and Social Sciences with the Anxiety Culture Project of the CAU – Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel in the winter semester 2022/23
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The lecture series offers an opportunity to look into the laboratories of science. The insights generated there to better (1) classify the facts, (2) explain the connections and (3) describe possible options and opportunities to solve the challenges will be shared in the winter semester event series.
(programme to follow)
| Research
Anxiety Culture Project
Heart of the endeavour is the interdisciplinary and international scientific work. This is organized in four fields of research activities which are intersectionally supported by theory & methodology and technological observations.
Climate & Environment
Earth warming and ecology, environmental protection, sustainability, agriculture, climate justice, etc.
Migration, Language, Culture & Discourse
Projects in this cluster cover a wide range of topics, including social integration, national isolationism, cultural identity, xenophobia, racism, etc.
Theory & Methodology
In a mutual approach of (Social / Natural) Sciences and Humanities, research on the different aspects of Anxiety Culture has to be carried out in a combination of methodological traditions and innovations, referring to data-sets and empirical findings in each area of investigation.
Technology
The four research clusters and their scientific teams propose the topics for investigation individually but they investigate always the (possible) impact of „New Technologies“ and „Automation / Artificial Intelligence“ which are defined by each area.
Education & Outreach
Strong belief in an implementation of research findings in educational curriculums. This engagement covers a wide research communication approach as well. Digital tools will be combined with classical formats like conferences and one on one meetings. Science Diplomacy and political consultation is part of this aim.
Future of Politics, Work and Society / Digitalization
Research and projects in this cluster are focused on the labor market and job prospects, communication and free speech, data protection, etc., in an environment of automation and digitalization.
Population Health
Public health care, mental illness, drug-abuse, violence, chronic diseases, pandemics, etc.
| Governance
Anxiety Culture Center
The organisational body is represended by a Center of Kiel University, Germany. This formal structure offers by December 2022 the legal background for the partnershiph with Columbia University, funding effors and collaborations.
The Anxiety Culture Center is the organisational body of the research project. Here all decision-making processes converge, ensuring the structure for successful research (from December 2022 onwards).
Our aim is to develop a contemporary science management. This means: offering as much freedom as possible for research while at the same time strategically reflecting of research programmes is also required.
In addition to funding opportunities and assistance with campaigns in research communication and scientific policy advice, the centre also seeks to ensure that young researchers are optimally supported. A further training programme offers therefor the opportunity to develop the potential and talents of junior staff. Senior Scientists also benefit from this.
| Outreach
Anxiety Culture Art / Blog
Outreach by artistic work is essential to the ACP. Creating new tools and instruments to deliver results and insights into public education, economic networks, society and the political arena is an essential aim.
Good research deserves to be communicated to the world. We want to ensure that science communication conveys the results to the appropriate target groups.
It is also important that decision-makers are specifically addressed. This can be supported by scientific policy advice. The curricula of the education systems should include the results of research on Anxiety Culture.
Art has – as a particular form of social interaction – a high priority in the project. On the one hand, art is used to accompany the interdisciplinary results of anxiety research. On the other hand, new forms of social exchange are created.