Unsecurities Lab is an interdisciplinary research initiative within Security Lancaster that advances cultural innovation as a vital dimension of security thinking. Combining adversarial methods that challenge entrenched systems with reparative approaches emphasizing care and co-creation, the lab develops new ways of addressing how societies can secure themselves against -- and with -- the challenges of the Anthropocene. Artistic practices are central to the lab’s work, serving as tools for inquiry rather than mere outcomes. The lab’s participatory, performative and distributed formats will connect expertise across government, academia, industry, and culture, enabling collaborative exploration of security’s multifaceted nature in an interconnected world. By bridging cultural and technical perspectives, the Unsecurities Lab generates insights that inform policy, education, and community engagement, driving innovative responses to contemporary security challenges.

The Unsecurities Lab is part of Lancaster University’s Cultivate initiative, which establishes the university as a hub for cultural innovation addressing global challenges. It integrates artistic research into research priorities such as Environmental Futures, Health Innovation, and Digital Tranformation. The distinctive potential of culture in this instance is its capacity to connect global challenges to local contexts, foster interdisciplinary innovation, and cultivate new ways of thinking and collaborating that address complex security issues with creativity and care.