In short
Kjartan Ólafsson is associated with the Children and Media research effort at the Department of Media and Communication. He is employed as Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law at the University of Akureyri in Iceland where he teaches research methods and quantitative data analysis.
Ólafsson played a key role in the design and implementation of the 2010 EU Kids Online study which has become the reference point for many later research projects within media and communications focusing on children. He is currently a member of the management committee of the EU Kids Online thematic network and on the steering group of the Global Kids Online project.
Academic interests
My research has for many years focused on various issues related to children's use of the internet and digital technologies. I have participated in several research projects which have sought to enhance knowledge of children's online opportunities, risks and safety, including the EU Kids Online study which has become the reference point for many later research projects within media and communications focusing on children. I am currently a member of the management committee of the EU Kids Online thematic network and on the steering group of the Global Kids Online project. I have been a visiting academic at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, Masaryk University in Brno, The Czech Republic, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy, Universitetet i Oslo in Oslo, Norway and UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti in Florence, Italy.
Academic positions
2006 - presently. Assistant Professor, University of Akureyri, Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
2011 - 2014. Lecturer (part time). Masaryk University, Faculty of social studies
2010 - 2011. Survey research officer (part time). London School of Economics and Political Science
2000 - 2006. Lecturer (part time). University of Akureyri, Faculty of humanities and social sciences
2000 - 2006. Researcher. RHA: The University of Akureyri Research- and Development Centre
1999 - 2000. Researcher. Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis
Administrative duties
2014 - 2017 Head of faculty University of Akureyri, Faculty of social sciences and law