Olga Usachova
About
Olga Usachova is a postdoctoral research fellow in Science & Technology Studies (STS). In her recent project, she examined how energy infrastructures are governed and transformed, with particular attention to the social and institutional dimensions of energy transition. This work was conducted as part of CINELDI: Centre for Intelligent Electricity Distribution. More broadly, her research focuses on how concepts such as societal security, resilience and risk are constructed and operationalised across policy and expert communities.
Academic background
Olga Usachova holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the University of Padua, Italy. Her dissertation focused on the socio-technical encounters of digital technology used by and designed for migrants’ inclusion into the host society.
Her research focuses on the social dimensions of digital technologies and their role in shaping governance, infrastructures, and everyday practices. Situated at the intersection of Science and Technology Studies (STS) and digital transition, she examines how technologies are embedded in broader social, political, and institutional contexts. Her work spans from exploring the agency of users to analysing the practices that sustain and stabilize technological systems over time. From 2022 she is a co-chair of the independent scholarly network STS-MIGTEC.
She has also been a visiting researcher at the Munich Center for Technology in Society, Technical University of Munich and Center for Contemporary and Digital History C²DH, University of Luxembourg.
Research
Publications
- Usachova, O., Schreieck, M., Passoth, J-H., Krcmar, H. 2022. "How digital solutions for the integration of refugees persist long-term: The interplay of a social cause and platform architecture". GlobDev 2022. 6. https://aisel.aisnet.org/globdev2022/6
- Usachova, O. 2021. “Infrastructuring the digital: mobile applications for migrants’ integration”. In: eds. S. Acampa, G. Gargiulo, R. Gatti, R. Mazza, M. Paolillo. Saperi, Conoscenze ed esperienze in formazione: Atti della V conferenza nazionale delle dottorande e dei dottorandi in Scienze Sociali. Libreriauniversitaria.it Edizioni, p. 338-345.
2025
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Usachova, Olga.
(2025)
Navigating between the (non-)use and endurance of information platforms for refugees: a case study of Integreat.
Academic chapter
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Mori, Barbara de;
Mercugliano, Elena;
Cerizza, Adriana;
Biasetti, Pierfrancesco;
Florio, Daniela;
Re, Riccardo Da;
Mazzariol, Sandro;
Usachova, Olga;
Basile, Simone;
Gili, Claudia.
(2025)
An E-Delphi study to facilitate animal welfare assessment in Italian zoos and aquaria.
PLOS ONE
Academic article
2024
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Schreieck, Maximilian;
Wiesche, Manuel;
Usachova, Olga;
Krcmar, Helmut.
(2024)
Digital platforms for social inclusion: The case of an information platform for refugees.
MIS Quarterly
Academic article
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Usachova, Olga.
(2024)
Play for Ukraine: wargaming as a resistance pleasure.
Culture, Theory and Critique
Academic article
2023
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Reschiglian, Rachele;
Usachova, Olga.
(2023)
Understanding apps concerning gender and sex(ualities): A scoping review.
AG - About Gender
Academic article
2021
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Usachova, Olga.
(2021)
Mobile applications as a welcoming guide: between digital mediation and local culture.
Der Donauraum
Academic article
Journal publications
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Reschiglian, Rachele;
Usachova, Olga.
(2023)
Understanding apps concerning gender and sex(ualities): A scoping review.
AG - About Gender
Academic article
-
Usachova, Olga.
(2021)
Mobile applications as a welcoming guide: between digital mediation and local culture.
Der Donauraum
Academic article
-
Schreieck, Maximilian;
Wiesche, Manuel;
Usachova, Olga;
Krcmar, Helmut.
(2024)
Digital platforms for social inclusion: The case of an information platform for refugees.
MIS Quarterly
Academic article
-
Mori, Barbara de;
Mercugliano, Elena;
Cerizza, Adriana;
Biasetti, Pierfrancesco;
Florio, Daniela;
Re, Riccardo Da;
Mazzariol, Sandro;
Usachova, Olga;
Basile, Simone;
Gili, Claudia.
(2025)
An E-Delphi study to facilitate animal welfare assessment in Italian zoos and aquaria.
PLOS ONE
Academic article
-
Usachova, Olga.
(2024)
Play for Ukraine: wargaming as a resistance pleasure.
Culture, Theory and Critique
Academic article
Part of book/report
-
Usachova, Olga.
(2025)
Navigating between the (non-)use and endurance of information platforms for refugees: a case study of Integreat.
Academic chapter
Outreach
2025
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Conference lectureUsachova, Olga. (2025) The evolving cybersecurity landscape: Historical perspectives and policy narratives in Norway’s energy sector. Workshop Societal Security in Times of Crisis: Navigating Uncertainty through Security Narratives
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Conference lectureUsachova, Olga. (2025) Are we prepared for a targetted attack on our energy system? Sociological perspective. NTNU Energy Transition Seminar: Are We Prepared for a Targeted Attack on our Energy System?
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Conference lectureUsachova, Olga. (2025) The Hype of Risk: Unpacking the social construction of cybersecurity in Norway. STS Italia Conference 2025
2024
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Conference lectureUsachova, Olga. (2024) Securing Tomorrow’s Energy: Cybersecurity Expertise and the Resilience of Norway’s Smart Grid Infrastructure. EASST-4S 2024
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Conference lectureUsachova, Olga. (2024) Cybersecurity as a culture? Understanding cybersecurity expertise in Norwegian smart grid development. EU-SPRI Annual Conference 2024
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Conference lectureUsachova, Olga. (2024) Securing electric power grid – negotiating expertise: the case of Norway. 22nd Annual STS Conference Graz 2024