Geomedia

Geomedia is an interdisciplinary research centre that brings together more than 30 researchers and doctoral students. Our vision is to lead geomedia studies by offering a nurturing and transgressive research environment.

At the centre, we conduct research in the broad field of media and communication geography, focusing on the interplay between media, spatiality and mobilities in light of contemporary and historical transformations in technology, society and culture. We place particular emphasis on contemporary societal challenges and critical issues that concern “geomediatization” and its driving forces and consequences in various areas of society, from everyday life and specific places/mobilities to institutional and structural processes.

Examples of research areas include:

  • Digitalized forms of work and relationships (from co-working spaces to dating apps)
  • Changing mobilities in a digital society (e.g., tourism, borders and migration)
  • Questions of identity and power relations in networked spaces (e.g., related to the “smart city”)
  • Changes in local journalism and democracy
  • Digital divides linked to segregation and marginalization (e.g., between urban and rural spaces or related to gentrification)
  • Geopolitical aspects of digitalization (e.g. issues of infrastructure, security and surveillance)

Geomedia was formed in 2013 in connection with the establishment of the Department of Geography, Media and Communication (GMK). Most researchers and doctoral students are active at GMK and do research in cultural geography, tourism and media and communication studies, but the centre is open to collaboration across all academic disciplines. In addition, a large number of national and international researchers collaborate with us in different ways.

Geomedia has developed through three phases:

GEOMEDIA 2013 - 2016

During the first phase, 2013-2016, new interdisciplinary spaces of research collaboration were created, which prompted a range of initiatives and opportunities, such the Geomedia Speaker Series, and the biannual international Geomedia Conference, which was held for the first time in 2015. Geomedia’s ongoing activities were financed, among other things, through grants from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.

GEOMEDIA 2017 - 2021

During the second phase, 2017-2021, Geomedia became one of Karlstad University's strong research groups, which enabled considerable expansion. Geomedia invested most of its resources into the joint research programme In-Between Spaces: Digital Geographies and Social Transformation in Small Towns, which resulted in a number of national and international publications, new externally funded research projects and external collaborations. Geomedia established itself as an internationally renowned research environment and built international networks, primarily on the basis of the Geomedia Conference. Since 2021 the conference rotates internationally starting in Siegen, Germany.

GEOMEDIA 2022 –  

In January 2022, Geomedia was reconstituted as an interdisciplinary research centre at Karlstad University. Under this organization we continue our efforts to lead geomedia studies by offering a nurturing and transgressive research environment.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you want to collaborate with us!

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