Athena’s mission is to scientifically study and design interfaces between science and society, with the aim to: - increase academic and societal understanding of key factors in innovation processes - enrich science with increased societal legitimacy and improved research utilization - improve societal awareness of how innovations may benefit the sustainability, equity and fairness of societies. Already at the inception of the department in 1982 we asked ourselves the question: how can science and technology development contribute to the improvement of health and well-being in a sustainable and equitable way? The overall vision of Athena is to realize a highly valued and well-funded research program, which is strongly embedded within the academic community, fully backed and integrated with an advanced educational program that allows for the development of excellent bachelor, master and PhD students fit for academic research, and strongly appreciated and supported by societal organizations. Athena focuses on science and technology developments that are specifically – but not exclusively – related to health and life sciences. Specific domains of our research in the health and life sciences are: neuro sciences, ecogenomics, mental health, maternal health, sustainability sciences, health sciences, global health and biotechnology. Research is done in close interactions with the other departments inside and outside the faculty. We aspire to be a worldwide acknowledged center of excellence in the field of transdisciplinary research on innovation and communication in the health and life sciences with a specific focus on processes of inclusion and diversity.