Eva Theunissen

RESEARCH THEMES

  • Qualitative and Participatory Research
  • Science & Technology Studies (STS)
  • Science Communication
  • Visual and Digital Culture
  • Critical Theory

RESPONSIBILITIES

As a social scientist, I evaluate co-creation processes with stakeholders for the BioDiversa+ funded GINAMO (Genetic Indicators for Nature Monitoring) project. Through surveys, interviews, participant observation and focus groups, I evaluate how transdisciplinary collaboration and co-creation workshops between scientists, policy makers and other stakeholders function. My research focuses on understanding these collaborative processes and how they contribute to the implementation of genetic biodiversity indicators in policy and management across Europe. I additionally contribute to science communication through the co-development of GINAMO’s project blog and by reviewing posts for accessibility to non-specialist audiences.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

  • Member of the Conservation Social Science (ConSoSci) Partnership
  • Member of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA), European Network for Queer Anthropology (ENQA) and The Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests center on the intersections between science, society and policy, with a particular focus on transdisciplinary collaboration and participatory processes. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies (STS) and qualitative methods, I am interested in how knowledge is produced and negotiated across disciplinary and institutional boundaries, including “boundary spanning” between scientific, policy and societal domains. My current work in GINAMO situates these interests in genetic biodiversity conservation, examining how co-creation processes contribute to the implementation of biodiversity indicators in policy and management across Europe. Alongside this, I have an interest in visual and digital culture and qualitative research methods.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

After completing my PhD in Social Sciences at the University of Antwerp, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Masaryk University in Czechia, conducting qualitative research on human-technology interactions. Previously, I obtained a Master's in Film Studies & Visual Culture (University of Antwerp) and a Bachelor's in Philosophy (University of Ghent). Throughout my career, I have developed expertise in ethnographic fieldwork, focus groups and participatory research methods. In my current role at the Centre for Research and Conservation, I apply these skills to evaluate the effectiveness of co-creation methods in genetic biodiversity conservation.

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Vejlgaard, C. R., Leus, K., Theunissen, E., Mergeay, J., Galbusera, P., Raeymaekers, J. A. M., & Hvilsom, C. (2025). GINAMO workshop on genetic diversity indicators in Belgium (projectrapport). GINAMO: Genetic Indicators for Nature Monitoring

Theunissen, E. & Favero, P. (2022). Between Self and Other. Propositions for Non-Dualistic Research on VR. In: K.M. Ryan & D. Staton (eds.), Interactive Documentary. Decolonizing Practice-Based Research (pp. 147–161). New York: Routledge

Theunissen, E. & Favero, P. (2021). Veiling the Image/Framing the Body. The Labour of Enduring Ephemerals in the Context of Trans Male Adult Camming Practices on Chaturbate.* New Media & Society, 23(4), 780–795

Theunissen, E. & Favero, P. (2020). Between automation and agency: curatorial challenges in new terrains of digital/visual research. In: R. Sansi (ed.), The Anthropologist as Curator (pp. 195–210). London: Bloomsbury Academic

Favero, P. & Theunissen, E. (2018). With the Smartphone as Field Assistant: Designing, making and testing of EthnoAlly, a multimodal tool for conducting serendipitous audio-visual ethnography in a multisensory world. American Anthropologist, 120(1), 153–171

Lees meer op: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4232-0526