Opportunities to engage in cross-border initiative

The University of Akureyri (UNAK) has joined a major European research network under the COST Action “Values in Turbulent Times: Navigating Social Changes and Challenges (VISTA)”. Researchers from over 30 countries are collaborating to explore how social, political, and economic turbulence influences human values, trust, and social cohesion.

Professor Mehmet Harma from UNAK’s Faculty of Psychology represents Iceland on the project’s Management Committee. The first meeting of the Committee was held at the COST Association headquarters in Brussels last October, marking the formal launch of the four-year initiative.

Connecting Icelandic Research to a European Network

Mehmet explaines that his involvement began through coordination with Rannís – The Icelandic Centre for Research, which nominated him as one of two Icelandic representatives.

“My research focuses on values, trust, social change, and threat perception, all overlap with the theme of the Action,” Harma said. “I saw this as a good opportunity to connect the University of Akureyri with a broader European network and to incorporate Nordic and Icelandic viewpoints into the discussion about how values evolve during periods of social unrest.”

Funding and Opportunities for Collaboration

“The network brings together experts to create an interdisciplinary platform,” says Mehmet. The VISTA Management Committee includes representatives from roughly 30 European countries, each allowed to nominate up to two members. The project unites experts from psychology, sociology, political science, and communication, fostering a strong interdisciplinary approach.

COST — the European Cooperation in Science and Technology — provides the financial framework that enables the network’s activities. “This funding covers research meetings, workshops, short scientific visits, and dissemination activities,” Mehmet notes. “The grant does not provide funding for individual research projects but it fosters collaboration, facilitates data sharing, and supports training across participating nations.”

Understanding Values in a Changing World

The VISTA Action aims to advance knowledge of how trust and values shift amid global challenges such as migration, inequality, and political polarization.

“This action is intended to deepen our understanding of how people's values and trust are affected by significant societal challenges,” Mehmet says. “For UNAK, this action provides opportunities for international collaboration, visibility, and future joint projects.” He also participates actively in the project’s working groups, which focus on developing new ways to measure and communicate complex ideas about values and social change.

A Step for UNAK in European Research

UNAK’s participation in VISTA highlights the university’s growing role in European social and behavioral science collaboration. The project is expected to strengthen research capacity, enhance exchange opportunities for faculty and students, and place Icelandic perspectives at the center of an important European conversation.

For more information about COST Actions and the VISTA network, contact Adam Fishwick, Research Director at the University of Akureyri.