Shenja van der Graaf

Shenja van der Graaf is an Associate Professor in Communication Science affiliated with the Digital Society Institute. Her research spans digital inclusion, smart cities, and human-AI interaction, with a focus on societal implications of technology.

• PhD from London School of Economics (2009) on user creativity in digital platforms
• Key collaborator in EU projects like m-RESIST and Families-Share
• Recognized as an Artificial Intelligence Expert by UN Sustainable Development Goals

Research Themes: Digital equity for impoverished households, algorithmic governance of public spaces, energy transition using blockchain/DLT, and psychological effects of climate doomscrolling. She combines qualitative methods with technical analysis of platforms.

Recent Trends: 15 most recent publications (2023-2025) examine digital inclusion barriers, urban commons governance, smart city co-creation, and mental health impacts of social media. Her work bridges technical systems with human behavior.

Scientific Contributions: Systematic reviews on poverty-related ICT appropriation, plus pioneering studies on prosumer business models in electricity markets. Awards include recognition as a UN Sustainable Development Goals expert in AI's societal context.