About

Salla (MSocS /Political Science, MA/French lingusitics) is a Doctoral Researcher in the Future Ethics research group of the University of Turku, Finland. Her research focuses on ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). Research interests cover topics from applied ethics to AI governance, democratic theory and participatory digitalisation. Westerstrand's mission is to bring the research into practice to steer the course of technology development towards an ethically and societally sustainable direction. To work towards this end, as AI Designer at a Nordic IT consultancy, Solita, she advices organisations from public to private sector on AI ethics and governance. She also works pro-bono to advance participatory digitalisation in the Finnish public sector, and is part of the organising committee of the International Conference on Technology Ethics, Tethics (Communications chair). Westerstrand is also the Founder of Harmless, an ethical tech consultancy, and the AI Ethics lead of Women in AI Finland.

Research Interests

Democracy, European Politics, Governance, Political Economy, Political Participation, Political Theory, Social Justice, Critical Theory, Communication, Ethics, Mixed Methods, Political Ideology, Technology, Big Data, Policy-Making

Current/Upcoming Events

Standing Groups and Research Networks

Salla has not yet joined any established ECPR Standing Groups or Research Networks.