By Gabriele Bammer

How can the interests of a diverse group of researchers and stakeholders tackling a complex societal problem be understood and managed?
Interests arise when a person has a stake in something and stands to gain or lose depending on what happens to that something:
- researchers commonly have a stake in advancing their work and careers,
- stakeholders affected by a societal problem generally have a stake in improving the problem, and
- stakeholders in a position to do something about a problem generally have a stake in improving outcomes for the problem through their sphere of influence.
Interests relate not only to personal conditions or stakes (self-interest), but also to principles such as reducing inequities and promoting justice.