Over the next three years, Christian Dindler, Associate Professor at the Department of Digital Design and Information Studies, will work strategically to strengthen innovation at Aarhus University. As one of seven researchers at Aarhus University, he has just been appointed as a Distinguished Senior Innovator (DSI), marking the first position of its kind in Denmark.

In his role as DSI, Christian Dindler will serve as an ambassador for scientific innovation, demonstrating how excellence in research and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand. This will be accomplished through an ambitious innovation project in which he will work on creating new platforms to connect students and companies with the aim of making humanities competencies more visible to the business world.

Why do you want to be a DSI?

I am deeply invested in working at the intersection of research, teaching, and business, and in the opportunities this brings to our research, our teaching, and for creating impact in the world. In my own research, where I explore ethical dilemmas in the development of digital technology, I often work closely with the business sector, and it is clear that humanities skills are essential for solving major challenges related to, for example, sustainability, digitalization, and security. Our students at Arts can play a key role in the business sector, but we need to create better exchanges between business stakeholders and our students.

What do you hope to contribute in this role?

I would like to establish frameworks that make humanities competencies more visible to the business sector and equip our students with tools to better develop and showcase their skills to the world. At Arts, we have significant potential to contribute to solving some of society’s greatest challenges, but we must also become better at demonstrating this. I want to bring together business stakeholders and colleagues from Arts' academic environments to collaboratively build platforms that foster exchanges between Arts students and the business sector.

What do you hope to gain from your role as a DSI and your position at The Kitchen?

I am looking forward to drawing on—and contributing to—the experience and expertise at The Kitchen. In an evolving educational landscape, I hope this project and its link to The Kitchen can bring together colleagues across Arts to strengthen our own culture of innovation, where humanities competencies and their value are central.

Facts about AU Distinguished Senior Innovator

AU Distinguished Senior Innovator (DSI) is a brand-new position created by the Aarhus University Board to strengthen innovation culture across Aarhus University. Each faculty has appointed one DSI, who will have the opportunity to dedicate their time to a combination of research and innovation for a period of three years.                                                                                                                                                                                        

As an AU Distinguished Senior Innovator, you must:

• advising and supporting projects that can create a positive change in relation to promoting the innovation and entrepreneurship agenda at the faculty.
• be an ambassador for academic entrepreneurship, where you conduct research at your department and at the same time conduct academic entrepreneurship based on The Kitchen.
• be involved in developing a number of different business ideas or innovative solutions in collaboration with colleagues in the field with the aim of strengthening the innovation culture broadly

Contact: 
Christian Dindler, Associate Professor
Department of Digital Design and Information Studies
School of Communication and Culture
Aarhus University
Email: dindler@cavi.au.dk
Mobile: +4587162016