Simon Westergaard Lex

Simon Westergaard Lex is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Social Sciences. His research centers on sustainable economies, green transition, organizational change, and innovation, with regional focus on Scandinavia and Latin America. He is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects bridging public, private, and civil sectors.

Education:

• Industrial Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, 2013
• MSc in Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Aarhus University, 2008
• BSc in Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Aarhus University, 2006

His research interests include green transition, sustainable communities, organizational change, design and innovation, collaboration, and knowledge economy. He investigates how economic, social, and green values are negotiated in urban development and renewable energy systems, particularly in the context of citizen engagement and regenerative communities.

The recent publications reflect a strong focus on the socio-political dimensions of the green transition, community resistance to renewable energy projects, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the design of sustainable and life-enhancing economies. His work combines ethnographic fieldwork with transdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing co-production of knowledge.

Scientific Awards and Grants:

• Principal Investigator, 'Engaging Communities in the Green Fuels Transition' (Innovation Fund Denmark, DKK 1.5M)
• Co-PI, 'SAMSKAB' (Velux, DKK 6.4M)
• Co-PI, 'RE-ANIMATE' (Independent Research Fund Denmark, DKK 6.2M)
• Co-PI, 'COMPASS' (Velux, DKK 6.2M)
• Co-PI, 'Smart Cities Accelerator' (EU, DKK 24.3M)
• Nominated for University of Copenhagen Innovation Prize 2019
• Selected as international profile in Saint Gobain's Building Science Bulletin 2018

Lex supervises students in business and organizational anthropology and teaches courses such as 'Applied Anthropology' and 'Innovation & Co-creation'. He is a co-editor of the Journal of Business Anthropology and coordinates the 'Nature, Environment and Climate' research group. He is also involved in policy-relevant research through committees on sustainability and energy storage.

Labs and Research Groups:

• CoNeXT (www.conext.ku.dk)
• Business and Organisational research group
• Research coordinator, 'Nature, Environment and Climate' group
• Member, Danish Center for Energy Storage (DaCES) steering committee