Nordic Nerds class of 2025 – 1 July 2025 – By Micol Mieli
The second iteration of the Nordic Nerds reading group kicked off on May 30th and the group is excited to begin this collaboration across disciplines and countries. Nordic Nerds is a reading group and for learning, networking, and mentorship focused on the discussion around technology and society.
The initiative is led by Cory Robinson, and it was born out of a desire to connect academics and professionals who would like to discuss ideas, build connections, and engage in meaningful conversations around technology. Cory Robinson is currently working as an advisor for corporations about data governance and privacy. He has been an Associate Professor in Communication Design and (Docent) Information Systems at Linköping University (Sweden) (2015–2025). In 2020 he founded the Nordic Privacy Center (2020–2023) and the Nordic Nerds reading group.
The Nordic Nerds network includes members from universities and industry who meet regularly to read, discuss, and support each other’s work. The goals of the group include exploring cutting-edge topics in digital ethics and tech policy, giving and receiving mentorship and exchanging ideas with international peers, growing academic or professional networks within the group.
This year’s group brings together 11 members from eight different countries and ten institutions, with backgrounds in fields such as sociology, communication, political science, law, urban studies, and human-computer interaction. Members come from both academia and applied research, bringing a range of perspectives and professional experience. Among the participants are PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, academic faculty and professionals working on the front lines of data policy and digital innovation. Some are collaborating directly with public institutions on AI development, while others are exploring smart cities, citizen participation, and the social dynamics of platform governance.
Many of the members have already published work on topics such as influencer cultures, public opinion analysis, and the mediation of trust in digital environments. Ongoing projects include research on artificial intelligence in public institutions, the politics of Green AI, trust and distrust in the digital society, digital participation in urban environments, and the evolving dynamics of social media platforms. Some members are focused on public opinion and algorithmic governance, while others are exploring questions of influence, visibility, and power in digital culture. Several are working across disciplines, drawing from theory and practice to better understand how technology is reshaping social life.
Members were drawn to the Nordic Nerds network by the prospect of finding an open, reflective space to share ideas and challenges. Many highlighted the appeal of regular discussion with peers from different backgrounds and the opportunity to think through questions that don’t always fit neatly into disciplinary boxes. The group will meet biweekly, with sessions organised around shared readings and ongoing conversations.
As the 2025 cohort gets underway, the group is already showing signs of what makes the Nordic Nerds network valuable: a mix of curiosity, critical thinking, and commitment to understanding how technology and society are entangled in practice.