Dr. Bjorn Wansink

Biography

Bjorn Wansink is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University, Faculty of Social Sciences. His research focuses on themes such as cultural diversity, history, citizenship, critical thinking, and multiperspectivity in dealing with controversial issues. Wansink acknowledges that young people increasingly inhabit separate worlds, which results in a lack of understanding and growing social and cultural gaps. His work investigates the psychological and cognitive processes young people undergo in schools, particularly regarding the formation of facts, opinions, and perspectives. He studies the effect of worldviews and attitudes on behavior and interaction, advocating for methods that enable young people to change perspectives as a crucial step towards closing existing gaps. Wansink is a member of the core team for TerInfo and teaches about terrorism and political violence in schools. Additionally, he frequently acts as an advisor to organizations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe’s Radicalisation Awareness Network. His training sessions often cover the intersection of political transformation and inter-ethnic and inter-religious tensions in various countries, including South Korea, Bosnia, and Lebanon. Wansink has a background in history and holds a PhD in social sciences, previously working as a secondary education teacher in history and social studies.

Research Interests