Dr. Daniel J. Kruse

As a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Landscape – Society- Economy at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), I currently study how social entrepreneurs deal with different ways of “not knowing” when trying to create solutions for major societal challenges such as climate change, inequality, or poverty. My research focuses on four distinct knowledge problems (uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and equivocality) and is asking how a better understanding of these challenges can influence social entrepreneurs to making better decisions and ultimately addressing social and environmental difficulties more effectively.

The PNB fellowship gives me the opportunity to focus on this research topic and to further develop my work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability. In the near future, I am planning to continue this type of research in academia and expand it through publications, collaborations, and larger projects. I strongly hope my work will contribute to a better understanding of how innovative actors can navigate their unknowingness and still generate meaningful impact in the face of today’s grand challenges.