Applications are now open (as of 14 March 2026) for the 2026 cohort of Nordic Nerds: https://forms.gle/XCUnym3Ma82m7xsa9. The deadline for applications is Friday, 10 April 2026.
Nordic Nerds is an interdisciplinary reading and mentorship group for scholars and professionals working across culture, technology, and digital rights. The group was created to offer a thoughtful and supportive space for intellectual exchange, mentorship, and community, especially for those who value serious discussion, interdisciplinary curiosity, and meaningful professional connection.
Academic and professional life can be rewarding, but it can also be isolating. Many PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, early-career scholars, and professionals move through important stages of development without enough opportunities for informal mentorship, generous feedback, or sustained discussion across fields. Nordic Nerds was created in response to that need. It is not a replacement for formal supervision or institutional mentoring, but rather a small and engaged community where participants can exchange ideas, discuss readings, share work, and support one another’s intellectual and professional growth.
The group brings together people with interests in areas such as AI and ethics, digital rights and privacy, internet governance, platform regulation and policy, social media and online communities, games and virtual worlds, and broader questions about the relationship between culture and technology. We welcome applicants from different disciplinary backgrounds, career stages, and professional settings, as long as they are genuinely interested in contributing to the group and engaging seriously with its themes.
Nordic Nerds meets online every second week, typically in the afternoon Central European Time. Meetings are held on Zoom, and ongoing communication takes place through Element. Members are expected to participate regularly, keep up with group communication, and contribute to discussions in a constructive and collegial way. Participants may also help shape readings, present their own work, offer feedback on others’ work, lead discussions, or mentor more junior members where appropriate.
The cohort is intentionally kept small. This is an important part of what makes the group work. A smaller group allows for stronger discussion, greater trust, more continuity, and more meaningful relationships over time. Because places are limited, the application process is selective and focuses on fit, motivation, intellectual interests, and willingness to participate actively in the life of the group.
The application form includes questions about your background, research or professional interests, motivation for joining, availability, and the perspective or experience you would bring to the group. We are looking for thoughtful, engaged applicants who are excited not only by the topics themselves, but also by the idea of helping build a supportive and intellectually serious community.
If Nordic Nerds sounds like a good fit for you, we would be glad to receive your application.
Apply here: https://forms.gle/XCUnym3Ma82m7xsa9
For questions, please contact: me@coryrobinson.se