Julia Velkova

Associate Professor, Docent

I am an associate professor (docent) of media and communication studies. My research explores the cultural practices and socio-material relations that emerge when media infrastructures are being built, maintained, bundled, or dismantled.

Presentation

I am interested in questions that concern the materialities of digital media and related to them socio-political and cultural practices. I study the politics of emergence and dismantling of media infrastructures such as data centers, software or larger communication networks; as well as how these entities intersect with and relate to other infrastructures such as energy grids, military shelters and others.

For an overview of my publications and current research see www.juliavelkova.org

Research

My research revolves around digital infrastructures, and questions of temporality and politics of value. I have explored these major themes with empirical objects ranging from computer-graphics software, search algorithms and social media, to data centres. In my most recent work I have focused on the converging relations between data and energy infrastructures, but I have done detours to think and write about agency in relation to algorithms, metric cultures in the digital everyday life, as well as infrastructural work in data centres. I have a growing interested in digital ruins, and practices of infrastructural dismantling.

Research Projects

From Earth Stations to Data Centers: Network buildings as transnational infrastructures and logistical media.
(Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, 2019 - 2022)
Hushåll som infrastrukturknutpunkter
(VR / Energimyndigheten, 2018 - 2022)
Resistans och Effekt: Smarta Elnät
(Kamprad Stiftelsen, 2019 - 2023)
Kommuner i med- och motvind – Lärdomar om möjligheter och utmaningar från kommuners planering för vindkraftsetableringar sedan 2009
(2022-2024)

Publications

2023

2022

CV

CV in short

2021
Docent (associate professor) of media and communication studies, Linköping University
2018
PhD in Media and Communication Studies, Södertörn University, Sweden
2011
MA in Communication for Development, Malmö University, Sweden
2007
MPhil in Eastern Philosophy and Culture, University of Sofia, Bulgaria
2005
BSc in Communication Technology and Engineering, Technical University of Sofia, Bulgaria

Teaching

Planning for a Sustainable Information Society
Special Readings in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning
Research skills in environmental science
Bachelor's programme in Urban and Regional Planning
Master in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning
Strategic Urban and Regional Planning, Master's Programme

Network

Research affiliate of the Global Media Technologies and Cultures Lab led by Prof. Lisa Parks, at the University of California Santa Barbara

Member of the network Re-Humanizing Automated Decision Making (RJ Research initiation grant)

Organisation

Bilden visar byggnadsarbetare. The picture shows workers.

Technology and Social Change (TEMAT)

So much of our lives depend on technology. The development and use of technology creates possibilities as well as social, ethical and political dilemmas. That’s what we study at Tema T – Technology and Social Change.

Department of Thematic Studies (TEMA)

In an increasingly complicated world, there is a need for researchers that can handle both breadth and depth, and can collaborate across disciplinary borders. Major societal questions are studied from an interdisciplinary perspective at TEMA.

Studenthuset on Campus Valla in Linköping

About LiU

Linköping University, LiU, offers innovative education and boundary-crossing research. The students are among the most desirable in the labour market and international rankings consistently place LiU as a leading global university.

News

LiU researcher admitted to cutting-edge humanities research programme

It has now been announced who has been admitted to the “Pro Futura Scientia Fellowships” – a five-year research programme in the humanities and social sciences. One of them is Julia Velkova, assistant professor at LiU.