Minela Kvakic is Associate Professor specializing in digitalization impacts on child welfare systems. Her research analyzes how digital tools and social media reshape professional practices, ethical boundaries, and decision-making in child protection services. Kvakic investigates discretion, trust, and power dynamics in digitally-mediated welfare contexts. Research focus areas: Social media in child welfare investigations Digital discretion in frontline work Policy implementation of welfare technology Ethical frameworks for digital practice Her mixed-methods research combines policy analysis with interviews of caseworkers, managers, and service users to understand digitalization's consequences for vulnerable families. Recent publications examine algorithmic decision-making and professional boundary management in digital environments.
Mads Andenæs is a Professor at the Department of Private Law, University of Oslo, and holds a Chair in the Faculty of Law. He is also an honorary Queen’s Counsel and has held visiting professorships at institutions like the University of Paris I and the University of Rome. His roles include serving as Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (2009–2015) and as UN Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary Detention. He has been a key figure in international and comparative law, with senior academic appointments in the UK and abroad. Education: Cand. jur (Oslo), PhD (Cambridge), MA/DPhil (Oxford by incorporation), and a Fulbright Fellowship at Columbia University (1990–91). Awards include the Don Pino Puglisi Prize, Chevalier/Officier de la Légion d'honneur, and Italian merit distinctions. Research focuses on international law, EU law, comparative law, human rights, and climate litigation. He emphasizes courts addressing climate challenges through standing rights and remedies, and advocates for legal systems to align with international agreements like the Paris Accord. Key professional roles include Directorships at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, King’s College London, and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He contributes to law journals as editor and has advised international bodies like the World Bank and IMF. His legal practice includes representing NGOs in human rights cases, such as migration detention violations and Julian Assange’s advocacy. Awards and honors highlight his contributions to human rights and legal scholarship. His academic supervision includes Eirik Bjørge, recipient of the King’s Gold Medal. He collaborates globally, sitting on editorial boards and international committees.
Pankaj Pandey is a Senior Research Scientist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), affiliated with the Department of Information Security and Communication Technology under the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. He holds an LLM in International Law from the University of Sunderland, UK, and dual PhDs in Information Security (NTNU) and Applied Economics (University of Antwerp). He is certified in ISO standards including ISO 42001 (Lead Implementer), ISO 31000 (Lead Risk Manager), and ISO 27001 (Lead Auditor). He leads the European Commission-funded ENFIELD project (€11M), focusing on Trustworthy and Green AI. His research spans cybersecurity, blockchain applications, AI governance, cyber-physical systems, and financial instruments for risk management. Key projects include CYBERUNITY (cyber range federation), DELTA (smart grid security), and GHOST (IoT risk control). He has published extensively in journals like Frontiers in Energy Research and Lecture Notes in Computer Science , with a focus on AI, blockchain, and energy systems. His work integrates technical and legal frameworks, emphasizing digital sovereignty and ethical AI. Pandey collaborates internationally on standards development and advises EU projects like TRIANGLE (5G benchmarking) through HSbooster.eu. His expertise bridges technical innovation with regulatory compliance, driving societal impact in digital governance and resilient infrastructure.
Stina Torjesen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Management and Innovation, School of Business and Law, University of Agder (UiA), Norway. She holds a BA in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MPhil and DPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford. Currently on partial leave from UiA, she serves as Sustainability Director at Morrow Batteries, a leading Norwegian battery initiative. Her academic and professional work bridges sustainability, international relations, and energy policy. BA, Social and Political Sciences – University of Cambridge MPhil, International Relations – University of Oxford DPhil, International Relations – University of Oxford Stina Torjesen's research centers on economic and political developments in post-conflict societies, with a focus on Tajikistan and Afghanistan, regional dynamics in Central and South Asia, and the shift toward sustainability and circular economy principles in southern Norwegian industries. She has conducted extensive interdisciplinary research, particularly in the energy and battery sectors, including the major research project BATMAN (2019–2022) on sustainable lithium-ion battery management. Her publications span topics such as post-conflict reintegration, energy governance, and ethical dimensions of emerging technologies. Her recent scholarly output reflects a strong trend toward sustainability and energy transition, especially in the context of global battery value chains, EV materials, and EU regulatory frameworks. Articles from 2022 to 2024 highlight her focus on lithium supply, carbon footprint reduction, and policy innovation in battery regulation, alongside continued engagement with geopolitical and ethical issues in global development. Stina has held significant academic leadership roles, including coordinating the AACSB accreditation for UiA’s School of Business and Law (awarded in 2019) and serving as Senior Editor for the International Journal of Emerging Markets (2014–2017). She has also contributed to public discourse through policy reports, media articles, and public service, including membership in the Labour Party’s national international committee and participation in Arendalsuka’s program committee (2020–2022). She has been actively involved in research groups such as RIST (Research Centre for Studies of Innovation for Sustainable Transition) and has collaborated with institutions like the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the United Nations. Her teaching includes Sustainable Capitalism, International Political Economy, and International Politics.
Murtaza Mohiqi serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law at the University of Agder, Norway, affiliated with the Comparative and Public Law and Education Law research groups. His scholarship centers on human rights law in conflict zones, with specialized focus on Afghanistan, and examines technology's role in advancing rights for marginalized communities including women, girls, and persons with disabilities. His research interests span digital human rights, women's educational rights under Taliban rule, disability inclusion through technology, and climate change impacts on vulnerable populations. He investigates systemic injustices in healthcare access, intellectual property barriers to online education, and deepfake threats to human rights documentation, advocating for interdisciplinary human rights-centric solutions that merge legal frameworks with technological innovation. Analysis of his 2022-2024 publications reveals a cohesive interdisciplinary trajectory where law, technology, and social justice converge. Key trends include leveraging AI for educational equity in conflict zones, using digital archives for human rights advocacy, and developing rights-based strategies against health disparities. His Afghanistan-focused work consistently addresses urgent challenges like Taliban restrictions on girls' education, climate vulnerability of women, and digital empowerment amid academic isolation.
Tegg Westbrook is an Associate Professor in Urban Planning at the Department of Security, Economics, and Planning, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Stavanger. He holds a BSc in Human Geography, an MA in International Relations, and a PhD in Globalization Studies. Previously, he served as the study program coordinator for City and Regional Planning and Urban Planning and Community Security from 2021 to 2025. His research centers on the societal impacts of security and safety technologies, particularly focusing on radio-frequency interference (RFI), GNSS jamming and spoofing, and the implications of 'hostile architectures' in urban environments. He investigates how ICT and geospatial services affect emergency response efficiency, urban resilience, and individual freedoms. His current projects explore coercive digital planning, electromagnetic spectrum governance, and the geopolitical ramifications of GNSS disruptions in the Nordic-Baltic region. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward analyzing technological threats to critical infrastructure across aviation, maritime, and urban transport systems. He also investigates pedagogical challenges in teaching sensitive security topics. His work is published in journals such as Security and Defence Quarterly , Journal of Strategic Security , and Urban, Planning and Transport Research , with a commitment to open access. Westbrook has collaborated with scholars internationally, including during his tenure as a Visiting Scholar at the University of St. Andrews’ Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (2019–2020). He has also worked with the Omega Research Foundation on security technologies. His teaching spans bachelor’s and master’s programs in urban planning, societal safety, risk management, and media studies. Research focuses on RFI, GNSS disruption, smart cities, and security proportionality. Active in public engagement, policy discussion, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Supervises and co-publishes with emerging researchers in security and urban studies.
Hilja Lisa Huru is a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her research focuses on culturally responsive mathematics education, particularly examining how Kven language and culture can be integrated into mathematics teaching and learning. She actively contributes to the academic community through numerous publications and participation in research collaborations addressing diversity in mathematics education. Professor of Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway Member of Cultural Diversity in Mathematics Education (CuDiME) research group Member of the research network for Kven topics (Faglig nettverk for forskning og kunnskapsutvikling om kvenske tema) Member of Geometry and Mathematical Physics research group Huru's research primarily centers on culturally responsive mathematics education, with special attention to Kven language and culture integration in mathematics classrooms. Her work explores mathematical abstraction in relation to cultural identity and place-based learning, examining how traditional knowledge systems can inform mathematics pedagogy. She investigates multilingual mathematics classrooms and develops frameworks for culturally based mathematics tasks that draw from Kven traditional artifacts and knowledge. Her research examines narrative storylines in media about mathematics education and minoritized students, highlighting how these narratives shape educational practices and policies. Analysis of Huru's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of mathematics education and cultural diversity, particularly regarding minoritized students from Kven backgrounds. Her work demonstrates how mathematical concepts can be connected to students' cultural contexts through land-based pedagogies and traditional knowledge systems. She develops strength-based assessment approaches that recognize students' cultural assets rather than focusing on deficits. Her research shows how mathematical abstraction can create detachment from cultural and environmental contexts, and how reconnecting mathematics to place and culture can enhance learning for minoritized students. Huru collaborates extensively with researchers across Norway, Canada, and the United States through the MIM (Mathematics education responsive to diversity) research collaboration. Her classroom-based research in northern Norway, particularly in Lakselv, demonstrates practical applications of her theoretical work, showing how Kven immersion in mathematics education can support both language revitalization and mathematical learning. She has developed specific teaching resources and frameworks that connect traditional Kven knowledge with mathematical concepts, creating innovative pathways for culturally responsive mathematics instruction.
Sofie Elise Quist serves as a Research Fellow at the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS) within the Aurora Centre of UiT The Arctic University of Norway's Faculty of Law. Her doctoral project Encountering Blue Transformation: a legal ethnography of salmon farming and resistance in Norway and Chile critically examines the intersection of international legal frameworks and coastal community impacts through critical legal ethnography. Her research spans international law, political ecology, and environmental humanities with specialized focus on ocean/coastal governance, human rights, indigenous studies, and sustainable food systems. Quist investigates how salmon farming expansion—driven by UN FAO's blue transformation agenda—reconfigures local power dynamics, producing environmental injustices while documenting Indigenous and small-scale fishers' resistance strategies. Her work emphasizes participatory scholarship, analyzing normative conflicts between global aquaculture intensification and coastal community rights. Recent publications reveal three thematic clusters: (1) ocean literacy frameworks integrating indigenous knowledge with policy development; (2) human rights approaches to blue food systems emphasizing multispecies justice; and (3) critical analyses of climate litigation connecting environmental harm to human rights violations. Her scholarship consistently bridges theoretical critique with actionable governance solutions. Quist actively contributes to the Sami and Indigenous Peoples Law research group and the Ocean Incubator Network project, developing legal pathways for sustainable aquaculture through interdisciplinary workshops and living laboratory methodologies. Her work engages policymakers via the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea's policy-oriented research initiatives focused on Arctic and global ocean governance challenges.
Tereza Østbø Kuldova is a Research Professor and Research Director at the Work Research Institute, Centre for Welfare and Labour Research, Oslo Metropolitan University. Her interdisciplinary work bridges social anthropology, criminology, and cultural studies with a focus on power structures in contemporary society. Her research interests include: Algorithmic governance and workplace democracy Corruption, luxury, and ethics in global contexts Material culture, fashion, and consumption Crime, subcultures, and policing practices Digitalization and its societal impacts Kuldova's scholarly contributions reveal how seemingly disparate domains like luxury fashion, organized crime, and digital governance interconnect through shared cultural logics. She pioneered the concept of the 'compliance-industrial complex' and critically examines ethical frameworks in elite contexts. Her current research projects include DigiWork (digital transformation's impact on Nordic workplace democracy) and INSIDER (national security through private sector regulation). As founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Extreme Anthropology and the Algorithmic Governance Research Network, Kuldova has established important platforms for critical scholarship. She leads the project 'Luxury, Corruption and Global Ethics' funded by The Research Council of Norway (FRIPRO Young Talents 313004), which investigates why corruption persists globally despite universal anti-corruption efforts. Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with theoretical innovation and empirical research across diverse cultural contexts from India to Scandinavia, with particular attention to how power operates through cultural practices and technological systems.
Jan-Oddvar Sørnes is a Professor at Nord University's Bodø Graduate School of Business, Department of Management, holding a PhD in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from NTNU (2004). With continuous affiliation since 1992, he has served in multiple administrative capacities including pro-vice dean for research and program director for master's programs. His research centers on organizational communication , with empirical focus on ICT usage in organizations, energy management, Arctic storytelling, and spillover studies. Teaching specialties include qualitative methods at PhD/master levels, crisis leadership, international business, organizational communication, and media handling. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals evolving research trajectories: early work on ICT adoption (2008-2015) shifted toward crisis communication (2020-2023), with recent emphasis on whistleblowing systems (2025) and epistemic uncertainty in megaprojects. Key thematic threads include organizational storytelling frameworks, Arctic resource narratives, and psychological safety in emergency contexts. 2025: Whistleblower anonymity systems in national lottery context 2025: Epistemic uncertainty modeling in megaprojects 2023: Emergency medical call center communication dynamics 2023: Business mindset development in project front-ends 2022: Psychological safety in crisis training contexts Sørnes maintains strong international research collaborations, particularly with US institutions, evidenced by co-authored works on organizational communication and technology. His field research in Arctic regions involves narrative analysis of petroleum industry transitions and indigenous cooperation models.
Christoph Lutz is a Professor in the Department of Communication and Culture at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo. He serves as co-director of the Nordic Center for Internet and Society, positioning him at the forefront of digital society research in the Nordic region. His academic career spans interdisciplinary investigations into the social, ethical, and practical implications of digital technologies. Lutz holds a Dr. oec. degree from the University of St. Gallen, establishing his foundation in economic sciences with a focus on digital transformations. His educational background bridges traditional economic scholarship with contemporary digital society studies. Professor Lutz's research centers on digital technologies with specific expertise in social media, digital inequalities, privacy frameworks, platform economy dynamics, and the societal implications of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and social robots. His work examines how these technologies reshape human interactions, social structures, and power dynamics, with particular attention to issues of fairness, agency, and ethical design. He investigates how users navigate privacy concerns in increasingly automated environments and how digital inequalities manifest across different demographic groups. His extensive publication record reveals a clear research trajectory examining the intersection of technology, society, and individual agency. Lutz's work consistently addresses both theoretical frameworks and empirical investigations, with a growing emphasis on comparative approaches to privacy research, digital nomadism, and the social implications of AI systems. His recent publications demonstrate increasing focus on hybrid intelligence models that combine human and artificial capabilities while maintaining human oversight. Lutz actively contributes to academic discourse through editorial roles, including special issues on privacy cynicism and comparative privacy research. His collaborative work spans multiple continents and disciplinary perspectives, reflecting the inherently interdisciplinary nature of digital society research. At BI Norwegian Business School, Lutz teaches courses on social media, digital business, social network analysis, theoretical frameworks, and human-technology interaction. His pedagogical approach connects theoretical concepts with practical applications in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. As co-director of the Nordic Center for Internet and Society, he helps shape research agendas addressing critical questions about technology's role in society. His work engages with various research communities through platforms including LinkedIn, Twitter, ResearchGate, and Mastodon, demonstrating commitment to knowledge sharing beyond traditional academic channels. Lutz's research has practical implications for policymakers, technology designers, and civil society organizations working to create more equitable and human-centered digital environments.
Ragnhild Fugletveit serves as Associate Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University's Faculty of Social Sciences within the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. Her research focuses on critical examinations of digital welfare systems, substance abuse treatment in child welfare contexts, and work inclusion strategies for vulnerable populations. Her research interests center on digital welfare systems and their impact on citizen-state interactions, particularly examining power dynamics in Norway's NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration). She investigates how digitalization creates new forms of exclusion while analyzing resistance strategies employed by users. Her work on substance abuse in child welfare explores institutional responses to drug addiction among youth, including controversial practices like single-child placements. Additionally, she studies work inclusion as a recovery strategy for individuals with substance abuse and mental health challenges, emphasizing meaningful activity in rehabilitation processes. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward critical digital welfare studies, with increasing focus on assemblage theory applications to understand complex welfare state transformations. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical case studies from Norwegian institutions, highlighting tensions between policy intentions and on-the-ground implementation. Her research portfolio includes significant projects on substance abuse mapping in Oslo's child welfare department and investigations into specialized institutions for youth with drug addiction. She actively contributes to understanding digital resistance practices and develops alternative frameworks for welfare service delivery that prioritize human agency over system efficiency.
Associate Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University's Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. Holds a doctorate in sociology with specialization in social policy. Permanent invited lecturer at ELTE University (Budapest) and Institute of Social Work (Dar es Salaam). Actively engaged in international collaboration between Global North and South institutions. Research focuses on social inclusion of marginalized groups , particularly through supported employment (SE) and individual placement and support (IPS) frameworks. Additional expertise in gender policy, women's leadership, organizational culture, and digital transformation of welfare services. Current leadership in WORKINC project examining work inclusion across urban contexts. Recent publications reveal strong emphasis on digitalization challenges in social work practice, analyzing impacts on professional decision-making, service accessibility, and organizational culture. Research combines critical analysis of welfare state sustainability with practical implementation studies across European and African contexts. Key projects include SOLIDEM (examining trust in welfare states) and UKRINT (labor market integration of Ukrainian refugees). International engagement spans East and South African academic institutions with focus on comparative welfare models. Research methodology integrates mixed-methods approaches including discourse analysis, qualitative fieldwork, and cross-national comparisons to address contemporary welfare challenges.
