DIAS welcomes Professor of Motivation Science Nikos Ntoumanis as new Chair of Health Science

Nikos Ntoumanis, Professor of Motivation Science at SDU’s Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, is a leading figure in researching the personal and contextual factors that promote sustained behavior change and psychological well-being.

Professor Ntoumanis focuses on contemporary motivation theories and their applications in workplaces, classrooms, and sports. He is also dedicated to promoting physical activity in community settings and advocating for healthy behaviors that support climate change action.

As co-director of the Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (DRIVEN), Professor Ntoumanis excels in interdisciplinary collaboration. DRIVEN employs interdisciplinary approaches to help individuals and communities make lasting behavioral changes, enabling them to achieve valued goals across diverse life domains. The center aims to advance evidence-based research on high-value challenges for scientific communities, various sectors, and the public.

My research has a strong interdisciplinary focus, says Nikos Ntoumanis and continues:

• DRIVEN was created in 2022 to provide an intellectual hub for researchers who are interested in behavioural science across the university. Being a DIAS Chair will help me to strengthen the mission of DRIVEN and identify new opportunities and resources for collaboration with esteemed colleagues within DIAS and across SDU.

As a scholar in the field, Nikos Ntoumanis understands what drives motivation. Fortunately for DIAS, he is highly motivated to join and contribute to the DIAS community:

• I’m delighted to be appointed as a DIAS Chair of Health Sciences. DIAS epitomizes interdisciplinary work at its highest levels, spanning all SDU Faculties and Departments. DIAS is a natural home for me and for DRIVEN, the research center I co-direct.

At DIAS, we are thrilled to welcome Professor Ntoumanis to our community and look forward to the innovative collaborations and insights that will emerge from his presence.