Taina Bucher is a Professor at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo, specializing in algorithmic studies, digital infrastructure, and human-machine communication. She leads the Screen Cultures research group and serves as Principal Investigator for HumAIn , a five-year humanities hub reimagining AI (2024-2029). Research Focus: Her work examines Algorithmic power and politics Cultural imaginaries of digital technology Temporalities of algorithmic media Feminist epistemologies in digital contexts Monitorial citizenship in platform societies Publications: Bucher has authored two monographs: Facebook (Polity Press, 2021) and IF…THEN: Algorithmic Power and Politics (Oxford University Press, 2018). Her recent articles explore facial recognition systems, algorithmic temporality, and digital divides. Academic Background: PhD in Media Studies (University of Oslo, 2012), MSc in Culture & Society (London School of Economics, 2007), with visiting scholar appointments at The New School, Ryerson University, and New York University. Teaching: She supervises and teaches topics including Digital infrastructure Algorithm studies Screen cultures Media theory Critical data studies Digitalization of public sectors Editorial Roles: Active on editorial boards for Journal of Communication , New Media & Society , and Information, Communication & Society .
Jan Buts is an Associate Professor at the Sustainable Health Unit within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo, specializing in the intersection of translation theory, medical humanities, and corpus linguistics with a focus on sustainable health and development discourses. His academic background includes: Linguistics and Literature studies at KU Leuven (Belgium) PhD in Translation and Intercultural Studies from the University of Manchester (UK) Postdoctoral research at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) Assistant Professor position at Boğaziçi University (Turkey) Buts' research centers on corpus-assisted discourse analysis applied to translation theory, medical humanities, and sustainable development. He actively develops the Sustainability and Health Corpus to analyze how language shapes public health narratives, gender discourses in development aid, and conceptual frameworks around sustainability. His work bridges linguistic analysis with critical perspectives on social justice and health equity. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward integrating corpus linguistics with medical humanities and sustainable development goals. Key trends include examining gendered vulnerabilities in policy discourse, translation's role in knowledge dissemination for sustainability, and digital media's impact on health communication – all characterized by methodological innovation in corpus construction and conceptual analysis. His scientific recognition includes: Runner-up for the Martha Cheung Award (2023) Buts serves on the executive council of IATIS (International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies) and leads multiple research initiatives including the SHE Corpus project. His grant activities focus on interdisciplinary collaborations between translation studies and medical humanities, particularly through projects like KNOWIT (Knowledge in Translation) and MEDRA (Medicalisation of Democratic Rights in Abortion debates). He directs the Sustainable Health Unit, fostering cross-disciplinary teams that combine linguists, medical researchers, and public health experts to advance data-driven critical analysis of health and sustainability discourses through innovative corpus methodologies.
Veronika Kalmus is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Tartu's Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Social Studies since 2015. She has held various academic positions at the University of Tartu since 1991, including Professor of Media Studies (2009-2013) and Associate Professor in Media Studies (2005-2009). She is an internationally recognized scholar with memberships in Academia Europaea and AcademiaNet, and has received numerous awards including the National Research Award in Social Sciences (2022). Her educational background includes a Doctor's Degree in Sociology from the University of Tartu (2003), a Research Master's Degree in Media Studies from the University of Oslo (1998), and additional graduate studies in Sociology at the University of Tartu. She completed her undergraduate studies in Sociology at the University of Tartu (cum laude, 1995). Kalmus's research focuses on social transformation, mediatization, datafication, and platformization in contemporary society, with particular attention to social acceleration, generational dynamics, and children's and young people's digital media use. Her work examines how digital technologies reshape socialization processes, value orientations, and intergenerational relationships. She investigates the formation of media generations, digital skills development, and the social mediation of children's media use in an increasingly datafied world. Her recent publications analyze surveillance experiences across generations, digital skills among European youth, and the impact of digital tools on mental well-being. Her work demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersection of digital technologies, social change, and generational dynamics, with methodological innovations in cross-cultural and intergenerational research. National Research Award in Social Sciences (2022) Membership of Academia Europaea (2019) Membership of AcademiaNet: Leading European Women Scientists (2020) The Badge of Distinction, University of Tartu (2017) Vitols Prize of the American Association of Baltic Studies (2010) Young Scientist Award of the Cultural Foundation of the President of the Republic of Estonia (2008) Professor Kalmus has supervised multiple doctoral students including Signe Opermann, Marit Napp, and Andra Siibak, with several receiving national recognition. She has led significant research projects including the Estonian Science Foundation grant project 'Children and Young People in the Emerging Information and Consumer Society' (2007-2010) and 'Generations and Inter-generational Relationships in the Emerging Information Society' (2011-2015). Her administrative roles include membership in the University of Tartu Senate (2017-present), Director of the PhD study programme in Sociology (2015-present), and founder of the European Media Salon (2021-2024). She leads the international research network EU Kids Online as Estonian project team leader (2007-present) and is actively involved in developing research methodologies for studying digital family life through the PlatFams project. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications for understanding digital transformations in everyday life across generations.
Hallvard Moe is a Professor in Media Studies at the Department of Information and Media Studies , University of Bergen (UiB) , Norway. He is a leading researcher in media and democracy, public service media, and digital media use, leading the Media Use Group and the ERC-funded PREPARE project. He actively teaches and supervises students in media-related fields. His research focuses on the democratic role of media, particularly how public service media adapt to digital platforms, the impact of algorithms and datafication, and citizens’ news use during crises like the pandemic and climate change. He has extensively studied Nordic media systems, social media in political campaigns, and media policy across Europe. The 15 most recent publications highlight a consistent research trajectory centered on public connection, media trust, and digital transformation. Key themes include crisis news consumption, algorithmic perception, media welfare state critique, and evolving citizen roles in datafied societies. Methodologically, he employs qualitative and mixed methods, including diaries and cross-national comparisons. ERC Consolidator Grant (2022) for the PREPARE project Member of the Norwegian Broadcasting Council Member of the Media Diversity Committee (2015–2017) He supervises master’s and PhD students and leads multiple research projects funded by the Research Council of Norway and the European Research Council. He is a frequent contributor to public discourse through lectures, reports, and media appearances, including the Reuters Institute Digital News Report. He is affiliated with research groups such as the Bergen Media Use Research Group and MediaFutures: Research Center for Responsible Media Technology & Innovation , where he contributes to interdisciplinary work on responsible media innovation.
Anja Salzmann is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the SLATE: Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology, affiliated with the Department of Information Science and Media Studies at the University of Bergen. Her work focuses on responsible innovation in digital technologies, particularly in education and journalism. She holds a PhD from the University of Bergen, exploring mobile journalism and its societal implications. Her research interests include digital ethics, AI in education, surveillance capitalism, and sociotechnical systems. Education: Bachelor in Applied Media Sciences (Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany) Studies in Art History, German Linguistics, and Pedagogy (University of Bergen and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) Her research critically examines the adoption of complex technologies by societal groups and advocates for ethical, human-centered approaches to AI and digitalization. Key themes include data privacy, algorithmic fairness, and the impact of digital technologies on democracy and journalism. Salzmann has participated in numerous panels and lectures, addressing topics such as AI in education, surveillance capitalism, and the future of journalism. She actively engages with policy frameworks like Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) to promote socially just technological practices. Her work highlights risks associated with surveillance capitalism and advocates for democratic oversight of technological development. She collaborates with institutions like the Norwegian Data Protection Commission and contributes to national debates on digitalization in schools and universities.
Susanne Bauer is a Professor at the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture (Tik) at the University of Oslo. Her academic career spans multiple disciplines including Science and Technology Studies (STS), sociology, history and anthropology of science. She has maintained longstanding research collaborations with scientists working on nuclear exposure aftermaths in post-Soviet countries. Her research interests encompass a wide range of topics including: Health data infrastructures and epidemiology Politics of categories, algorithms, and infrastructures Feminist technoscience studies Postcolonial science studies Human-animal relations and multispecies monitoring Nuclear legacies in Russia and Central Asia Bauer's recent publications reveal a strong focus on data infrastructures, box practices, environmental health, and post-Soviet nuclear legacies. Her work often combines archival and ethnographic approaches to examine epistemic infrastructures and sociomaterial orderings in scientific practices. She has made significant contributions to STS scholarship on algorithms, biopolitics, and technoscience east of the former Iron Curtain. Bauer teaches courses including TIK4011 - Science and Technology in Politics and Society and TIK4001 Lectures in STS Module at the University of Oslo. Prior to joining Tik, she taught STS and sociology at Goethe University Frankfurt, Humboldt University Berlin, and Indiana University Bloomington.
Christin Thea Wathne is a Researcher at the Institute of Work Research (AFI), part of Oslo Metropolitan University's Centre for Welfare and Work Life Research. Employed since 2001, she holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Oslo (2015) and focuses on sociology, management, and leadership within public sector contexts. Education: PhD in Criminology, University of Oslo, 2015 Her research examines policing, workplace democracy, digital transformation, and labor relations through lenses of New Public Management, public service motivation, and organizational learning. Recent work investigates algorithmic governance in policing, platformization of police work, and gender dynamics in leadership. She analyzes how digital tools reshape workplace democracy in Nordic models and impact vulnerable groups like the 55+ workforce. Current publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong focus on data-driven policing, resistance to technological change in public institutions, and cross-national comparisons of algorithmic management. Her work emphasizes critical perspectives on digital traces, epistemic power, and the tension between innovation and democratic values in security sectors. Scientific Awards: No awards documented in source materials. Dr. Wathne leads major funded projects including DigiWork (digital transformation's impact on workplace democracy) and GNok (alternative career paths for 55+ workers). She has directed completed projects like AGOPOL (comparative study of algorithmic policing in Norway, India, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa), IA hospital program interventions, and research on atypical employment forms. Her grant portfolio spans labor relations, security sector contributions, and organizational change. She collaborates with the 'Work, Democracy and Governance' research group and international teams across five countries, with recent presentations at Politiets IT enhet and Nordic STS conferences focusing on datafication and visibility in policing.
Gunhild Tøndel is an Associate Professor in general sociology at the Department of Sociology and Political Science, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her academic journey at NTNU includes earning her PhD from the Department of Sociology and Political Science in 2014, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies from 2014 to 2017. Until summer 2025, she has held several leadership positions including subject group leader for sociology, study program leader for ÅSOS/BSOS/MSOS, and coordinator for the department's specialization within MORG (Organization, society, and change). Her educational background includes: PhD in Sociology and Political Science from NTNU (2014) Master's degree in Sociology (implied from her master's thesis "Diagnoser og forhandling. DRG-systemets interaksjon med den medisinske diagnosesettingen" from 2006) Tøndel's research moves at the intersection of welfare, technology, and knowledge production, with particular focus on digitalization, governance, aging, and life within health and care services. She has maintained a longitudinal research interest in governance technologies and their relationship to knowledge formation within public services, primarily examining the welfare state-citizen relationship. Her work frequently employs qualitative research methods to explore how datafication, metrics, and technological solutions transform public service delivery, particularly in healthcare contexts. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on how digital technologies reshape care practices, governance mechanisms, and professional work in welfare services. Her research increasingly examines the implementation challenges of welfare technology, particularly social robots for elderly care, while critically analyzing how quality measurement systems transform healthcare work. A recurring theme across her work is the examination of how quantitative metrics and datafication processes alter professional practices and citizen experiences within the welfare state. Professor Tøndel has been actively involved in several major research projects funded by the Research Council of Norway: CRIMKNOW - Digitalization and privatized knowledge regimes in criminal policy (2023-2027) AUTOWORK - Workers in transition through automation, digitalization and robotization (2020-2026) MASQ - Measuring quality: Exceeding the limitations of quality management in municipal health and care services (2020-2024) She has extensive teaching experience across all study levels, covering qualitative methods, project design, sociological theory, health sociology, and microsociology. Her educational contributions include co-authoring textbooks on bachelor thesis writing and research methods, reflecting her commitment to student development and academic supervision. Tøndel's research takes place at the intersection of several important societal developments, particularly examining how digital transformation affects welfare state institutions and citizen experiences. Her work provides critical insights into the implementation challenges of technological solutions in care contexts, with particular attention to how measurement systems and datafication processes reshape professional work and service delivery.
Berit Karseth is a Professor at the Department of Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo, where she currently serves as Vice-Rector for Education (2025-). She previously held the position of Dean at the Faculty of Educational Sciences from 2013 to 2016 and has served as Deputy Head of the Department of Education during two periods (1999-2002 and 2005-2009). Her leadership extends to various boards including the Institute Board (2021-2024), the board of the Cultural History Museum at UIO (2020-2025), and the board of Khrono (2019-2023). Dr. Karseth holds a Cand. Paed. (Advanced Master Degree in Education with specialization within Leadership, Organizational Theory and Didactics) from the Institute for Educational Research, University of Oslo (1988) and a PhD. from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo (1995). Professor Karseth's research focuses on reform and change processes across all levels of the educational system, with three central themes: curriculum studies and educational reforms in higher education, curriculum studies, management and didactics in primary education, and the knowledge work of professions. Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on how curricula are developed, implemented, and transformed within educational systems, particularly examining Norwegian and Nordic contexts. The most recent articles (2023-2025) increasingly address temporal dimensions, datafication in educational governance, and the role of international organizations like the OECD in shaping national curriculum policies. Her work bridges theoretical and practical aspects of education, connecting academic research with policy development. Professor Karseth has secured significant research funding, including projects from The Norwegian Research Council and the Directorate of Education and Training. Her leadership in major research initiatives has established her as a key figure in Nordic educational research. She supervises master's and PhD students and has been instrumental in developing research training programs. Her extensive publication record spans over 100 works including books, book chapters, and articles in leading international journals focused on education, curriculum studies, and policy analysis. As leader of the Curriculum Studies, Leadership and Educational Governance (CLEG) research group, Professor Karseth fosters collaborative research on educational policy implementation, curriculum development, and leadership in educational reform processes.
Ana Milojevic is a Research Fellow at the Department of Information Science and Media Studies, University of Bergen, leading the Marie Skłodowska-Curie funded project Datafication, Media and Democracy: Transformation of news work in datafied society (DataMeDe). Her research examines audience datafication's dual impact on journalism: its potential to prioritize audience-attracting content over civic value versus its capacity to strengthen journalist-audience connections and media sustainability. DataMeDe employs a multilayered mixed-methods approach across four analytical levels—individual journalists, newsroom structures, inter-organizational dynamics, and audience reception—to address conceptual gaps in existing scholarship. Scientific recognition: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship As principal investigator of DataMeDe, Milojevic investigates disconnections between journalistic practice, executive decisions, and audience preferences through ethnographic observation, interviews, and audience surveys. The project aims to inform policy debates on data privacy, digital literacy, media industry practices, and journalism education while advocating for public-interest tools in datafied news ecosystems.
Ove Skarpenes is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Agder, Norway. He co-leads two research groups: Social studies didactics and educational research and Sociological theory and analysis . His office is located at Universitetsveien 53, Kristiansand. His research examines sociological theory, educational policy, and class dynamics, with specific focus on: Tensions between individualization and standardization in education systems Working-class culture and moral foundations of the Nordic welfare model Quantification and classification impacts in educational settings Curriculum analysis in social studies education Social responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic Skarpene's publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary engagement across sociology, education policy, and cultural studies, with recurring analysis of Norwegian class structures, educational reforms, and institutional trust dynamics. His methodological approaches blend theoretical sociology with empirical case studies. He maintains active participation in public discourse through opinion pieces in Norwegian media ( Klassekampen , Fædrelandsvennen , forskning.no ) addressing educational policy, class inequality, and societal responses to current challenges.
Kjetil Rommetveit is a tenured Professor at the University of Bergen 's Faculty of Humanities , specializing in the governance of technoscience through interdisciplinary lenses. His work bridges Science, Technology and Society (STS) with Theory of Science , analyzing digitalization's impact on energy systems, biometric surveillance, and climate policy. PhD in Biotechnology and Bioethics Coordinated EU/Norwegian projects: CoPol, MAGIC, CANDID Developed Norway's first interdisciplinary sustainability master's program His research focuses on epistemic networks connecting politics, expertise, and everyday life, particularly in smart electricity transitions and post-truth dynamics . Key contributions include techno-regulatory imaginary frameworks and analyses of digital sovereignty . Recent publications examine AI's role in political discourse , energy transition ethics , and activism in scientific practice . He actively engages in public debates through op-eds in Klassekampen , Aftenposten , and University World News . As a PI for projects like CoPol: Digital Contact Tracing Policy and SUPER MoRRI , he integrates responsible research methodologies across European collaborations. Teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary sustainability education involving four university faculties.
Martin Engebretsen is a Professor at the Department of Nordic and Media Studies, University of Agder. He leads the research group for Communication and Media Studies and teaches across all levels, primarily in the Master's program in Social Communication. Doctorate in Scandinavian Studies (1987) Journalist experience (1988-1992) Academic career progression: Lecturer (1992-2001), Associate Professor (2001-2009), Professor (2009-present) His research focuses on: Digitalization and genre evolution Multimodal communication analysis Data visualization in journalism and health communication Semiotic and social practices of visual communication Health communication through social media Digital museum experiences Recent publications highlight: Health expert roles on YouTube/Instagram Data visualization in Scandinavian journalism Visual-narrative construction in public health Discourse analysis in competing media platforms Scientific Contributions: PI in EU's UPSCALE project (2024-2027) Leader of NFR-funded data visualization research (2016-2020) Steering group member - Center for e-Health Teaching Areas: Language and text theory/analysis Media and communication studies Multimodal rhetoric Digital communication practices
Niamh Ni Bhroin is an Associate Professor at the Department of Nordic and Media Studies, University of Agder. Her research focuses on the digitalization of society's impact on children and young people's everyday lives, including media harm, screen time, and sharenting practices. PhD in Media Studies (University of Oslo, 2015) Member of the EU Kids Online network Founding member of the Center for Media Innovations (University of Oslo) Her research explores digital media effects on youth, indigenous media production , and minority language activism . She investigates how digital technologies shape education, family life, and children's digital rights through national and international projects. Recent publications address ethical research inclusion of children, socio-digital divides , and critical robotics . She has supervised 7 MA theses and teaches courses like Media and Society and Strategic Communication . Her work appears in journals such as New Media & Society and Media and Communication , with 15 recent articles analyzing digital education, indigenous media formats, and ethical dilemmas in child research.
Helle Sjøvaag is a Professor of Journalism at the University of Stavanger, working within the Department of Media and Social Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences. Her extensive research portfolio examines journalism through multiple lenses including media economics, digital transformation, and the evolving relationship between journalism, technology, and society. Her research interests span journalism, media studies, digital transformation, AI in journalism, datafication, media policy, news markets, digital infrastructure, media diversity, and journalistic ideology. Over her prolific career, she has examined the structural conditions shaping journalism practice, the impact of digital technologies on news production and distribution, and the economic models sustaining journalism in the digital age. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of contemporary media developments. Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong focus on AI's impact on journalism, datafication processes in media, digital infrastructure dependencies, and the transformation of news markets. She employs diverse methodological approaches including content analysis, comparative studies, and theoretical analysis to examine how journalism is adapting to technological and economic pressures. Her work demonstrates particular attention to Scandinavian and Nordic media contexts while addressing globally relevant issues in digital journalism. Sjøvaag's scholarly contributions have appeared in leading journals including Journal of Media Business Studies , Digital Journalism , Nordicom Review , and Journalism Studies , reflecting her interdisciplinary approach that combines media studies, communication science, and technology studies. Her research trajectory shows a clear evolution from examining journalistic ideology and professional boundaries toward investigating the material and infrastructural conditions shaping contemporary journalism.
