About Us

Possibility Studies is an emerging, transdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how individuals and societies perceive, explore, and realise new possibilities across psychological, social, material, technological, cultural, ethical, and political domains. It seeks to uncover how we engage with the potential for change and transformation in all areas of life.

The field brings together diverse expertise, with a strong foundation in the social and human sciences and education – particularly psychological and behavioural sciences – and key connections in the natural sciences and the arts. This holistic approach allows for a rich exploration of how we become aware of, explore, choose between, and enact possibilities.

Our Purpose

The DCU Centre for Possibility Studies is driven by two key aims:

1. Advancing Scientific Knowledge:

Possibility Studies addresses crucial questions about how new possibilities are generated and enacted. Existing research on topics like agency, creativity, innovation, imagination, serendipity, play, counterfactual thinking, awe, curiosity, wonder, anticipation, and futures thinking is often fragmented across disciplinary boundaries. The Centre seeks to overcome these silos, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance our scientific understanding of possibility-enabling phenomena.

2. Responding to Contemporary Challenges

We are living in an era of unprecedented complexity, defined by what some describe as VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. This environment, often characterised by a "crisis of the future" and the "death of imagination," calls for renewed efforts to revitalise our capacity to envision and enact the possible. The Centre aims to empower individuals and societies to navigate and thrive in this challenging landscape by re-engaging with the concept of possibility.

Our Global Network

Today, Possibility Studies has grown into an established field with its own international network, dedicated journals, an encyclopaedia, and a Cambridge University Press book series. The DCU Centre for Possibility Studies is at the heart of these global developments, contributing to and shaping the future of the field.

Our Mission

The mission of the DCU Centre for Possibility Studies is to lead cutting-edge research that enhances our understanding of how individuals and societies engage with possibilities. 

We aim to:

• Advance Transdisciplinary Knowledge: Foster cross-pollination between disciplines to deepen our understanding of possibility-enabling processes such as imagination, creativity, and futures thinking.

• Empower Practical Applications: Enable the translation of this knowledge into real-world solutions, helping individuals and organisations engage with possibilities in practical, applied fields.