معرفی
Prof. Dr. Jo PIERSON serves as a Full Professor in the Department of Social Sciences within the Faculty of Social Sciences at Hasselt University. Their academic leadership extends to directing the research group 'Onderzoek naar Digitalisering, Diversiteit en Democratie' (Research on Digitalization, Diversity and Democracy) and chairing the bachelor's program council for Social Sciences.
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Department of Social Sciences
- Research Group on Digitalization, Diversity and Democracy
Dr. PIERSON's research spans the political economy of communication, digital media sociology, and the sociotechnical shaping of normative processes in digital environments. Their work critically examines platform governance, data protection practices across sectors (media, finance, smart cities), and the sociopolitical implications of AI systems. Key thematic areas include user empowerment in digital platforms, algorithmic accountability, and the protection of public values in data-driven systems.
Recent publications reveal a strong focus on sociotechnical approaches to digital governance, with particular attention to social media affordances, data protection in transitional contexts, and civic engagement methodologies. The research demonstrates interdisciplinary integration of media studies, science and technology studies, and regulatory frameworks.
Dr. PIERSON actively supervises six doctoral candidates working on topics including social norm processes on social media, historical analysis of digital communication technologies, television strategies in digital eras, smart city data protection, and human agency in algorithmic systems.
- R-EduAI: Socio-technological framework for responsible AI in education (2024-2025)
- City Deal e-Inclusie by design (2023-2024)
- C-EMPOWER: Multi-layer analysis of citizen empowerment for personal health data management (2023-2024)
As an educator, Dr. PIERSON coordinates multiple courses including 'Data, Technology and Innovation', 'Political Economy of Media and Technology', and 'Public Values and Digital Platforms', while developing innovative case-based teaching methodologies for social sciences education.
