I am a postdoctoral researcher at University of Oulu in the Interact research group. My background is in information security, and I have always been fascinated by all things Internet. I completed my PhD (2017) at the University of Oulu, focusing on adolescent online safety. I feel that this is an important area of research because, even though digital spaces offer youth wonderful opportunities to learn, engage with others, and express themselves, they also have a potentially darker side. The vulnerability of young users to risks such as cyberbullying, exploitation, and exposure to harmful content can have long-lasting psychological and social consequences. Research is essential in order to develop strategies that promote safe online behavior and foster supportive digital spaces for youth.

After my PhD, I continued to deepen my understanding of participatory design, especially how to meaningfully include young users in the development of technologies they use or that affect their lives. During this time, I also jumped into the awesomeness that is FabAcademy, an intensive six-month course where I learned to make almost anything using digital fabrication processes such as 2D design and cutting, 3D design and printing, and electronics design and production. I also participated in a summer school exploring critical making and designing for activism, which was highly influential for me.

These experiences sparked and strengthened my interest in constructionism, the idea that people learn best when they are actively creating tangible artifacts that reflect their ideas. FabAcademy and the summer school not only expanded my technical skills but also provided me with powerful tools and methods to engage youth in envisioning, prototyping, and materializing future technologies. Through making, young participants are able to express their perspectives, challenge assumptions, and explore their agency in relation to the technologies shaping their lives.

The central focus of my research during and after my PhD has consistently been the safety and well-being of youth, emphasizing their protection and advocacy both when interacting with technologies and when understanding how those technologies are created. Nowadays, I am particularly interested in exploring how empowerment and activism can be cultivated through thoughtful technology design, alongside investigating the roles of design activism, critical making, and constructionist approaches as tools for fostering resilient and proactive youth engagement. I hope to contribute to shaping digital environments that not only safeguard young users but also enable them to participate meaningfully and advocate for their rights and interests.