Bjørnar Blaalid

Bjørnar Blaalid serves as an Associate Professor in Social Work within the Department of Welfare and Participation at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), with active roles in the "Law, Democracy and Welfare" research group and as associated member of "Childhood, substance use and social marginalization". His academic work bridges sociology and social work practice through ethnographic engagement with marginalized populations.

His educational qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Sociology from University of Bergen (UiB)
• Bachelor's degree in Sports Science from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• Master's degree in Sociology from University of Bergen
• PhD in Sociology

Research interests center on drug addiction dynamics, welfare program efficacy, NGO operations, and life course transitions within contexts of social inequality. He specializes in rehabilitation frameworks examining user participation in drug communities through labelling theory, with emphasis on ethnographic methods to document how street-football initiatives facilitate social reintegration for substance users. Core themes include stigma negotiation and non-clinical pathways to recovery.

His 2023-2024 publications demonstrate a cohesive focus on ethnographic studies of rehabilitation, particularly analyzing street-football communities as catalysts for life change among drug misusers. The works integrate life course perspectives with critical examinations of welfare systems, highlighting user agency in overcoming marginalization through participatory social structures.

No scientific awards or honors were documented in the provided materials.

Blaalid supervises Master's and Bachelor's theses (MASO591, SAB390) and teaches foundational courses including Social Work as a Discipline and Profession (SAB120), Applied Social Work in Welfare Services (SAB220), and Community Work (SAB310). He serves as subject responsible for Practical Training (SABP1), though specific student names and grant funding details remain unlisted.

His laboratory work operates through the "Law, Democracy and Welfare" research group, where he investigates substance use rehabilitation within Norwegian welfare contexts. As associated member of the "Childhood, substance use and social marginalization" team, he contributes to interdisciplinary projects analyzing community-based interventions for long-term social inclusion.