Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research
My research centers on the relationship between digital platforms and democracy. I take an interdisciplinary and relational approach, combining qualitative methods with computational analysis. I study social media in connection with related domains—particularly news media and politics—and examine democracy in practice, as it unfolds through concrete public issues and infrastructures.
Teaching
My teaching includes topics such as digital methods, controversy mapping, social theory, and ethnographic methods.
Management and Cooperation
I am currently Director of the Digital Media Lab here at Roskilde University. Prior to joining Roskilde University, I was a co-founding member of the Techno-Anthropology Lab (TANTlab) at Aalborg University.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Science & Technology Studies (STS), PhD, Aalborg Universitet, Sydhavnen
2013 → 2016
Sociology, MSc, University of Copenhagen
2010 → 2012
Social Science of the Internet, MSc, University of Oxford
2010 → 2011
Sociology, BSc, University of Copenhagen
2006 → 2009
Keywords
- Communication, Journalism, Media
- Digital technologies
- Digital publics
- Social media
- Theory of science, History and sociology of science, knowledge and technology, Research policy
- Actor-network theory
- STS - Science and technology studies
- Technology
- Digital Methods
- AI
- Algorithms and democracy
- Economics, Politics
- Democracy
- public participation
- democratic technologies
Publication network
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Research output
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Actor-network theory and how to ‘do ANT’ with qualitative or digital methods
Birkbak, A., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Research Handbook on the Sociology of Science and Technology. Stephens, N., Riesch, H. & González-Santos, S. P. (eds.). Edward Elgar PublishingResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Open Access61 Downloads (Pure) -
AI systems fail by never really failing: How experimental postponement negates necessary hesitation in AI development
Hansen, A. S. & Birkbak, A., 2026, (Submitted) In: Science, Technology & Human Values.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Nørdernes Twitter-krig: Januar 2025
Larsen, N. K. & Birkbak, A., Jan 2025, Zenodo. 20 p. (Digital Media Lab Reports; No. 1, Vol. 2).Research output: Book/Report › Report › Communication
Open AccessFile172 Downloads (Pure) -
Store data i socialvidenskab, potentialer og faldgruber
Birkbak, A. & Munk, A. K., 2025, Forskningsstilarter: i sociologi og andre socialvidenskaber. Blok, A. & Gimmler, A. (eds.). København: Hans Reitzels Forlag, p. 253-270Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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EP-valgkamp på Facebook: Marts 2024
Birkbak, A., Blach-Ørsten, M. & Mahnke, M. S., 2024, Roskilde: Roskilde Universitet. 8 p. (Digital Media Lab Reports; No. 3, Vol. 1).Research output: Book/Report › Report › Research
Open AccessFile112 Downloads (Pure)
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AUTOPUBLICS: Automated Publics: Personalized News Media - Collective Concerns?
Hartley, J. M. (Project participant) & Birkbak, A. (Project participant)
01/01/2026 → 31/12/2030
Project: Research
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Evaluation Optics of the Nation State: The Past, Present and Future of Public Documentation (EvaluNation)
Birkbak, A. (Project participant)
01/11/2020 → 30/04/2025
Project: Research
Activities
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Critical Proximity - Revisiting 10 Key TANTlab Papers
Birkbak, A. (Speaker)
1 Oct 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Lecture and oral contribution
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Thinking through things - From gatherings to happenings
Birkbak, A. (Speaker)
8 Aug 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Lecture and oral contribution
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How do mediated publics shape environmental state making?
Birkbak, A. (Speaker)
10 Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Lecture and oral contribution
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Democratic situations: Thinking through democracy as it is practiced
Birkbak, A. (Lecturer)
29 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Lecture and oral contribution
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EvaluNation Datasprint
Birkbak, A. (Organizer)
12 Feb 2025 → 14 Feb 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Nyt forskningsprojekt: Påvirker algoritmerne borgernes adgang til lokale demokratiske fællesskaber?
22/05/2025
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Algoritmernes konsekvenser for demokratiet skal under lup i nyt forskningsprojekt
07/05/2025
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Modstand mod at lægge Region Sjælland og Region Hovedstaden sammen
20/09/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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RUC- og ITU-forsker vinder international publikationspris
30/08/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Prizes
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Freeman Award
Birkbak, A. (Recipient) & Papazu, I. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
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Roskilde Universitets Undervisningspris 2025
Birkbak, A. (Recipient), Kristensen, J. B. (Recipient) & Henriksen, F. M. (Recipient), 2025
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
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Videnskabsministeriets EliteForsk-rejsestipendium
Birkbak, A. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prizes, scholarships, distinctions
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