Professor Dr. Katarina Gustafson

Biography

Katarina Gustafson is a Professor in Child Youth Studies and an Associate Professor in Education at Uppsala University. Her research focuses on children's agency, socialization, and the diverse living conditions children experience within their spatial environments, including childhood education care and urban settings. She investigates the everyday lives, identities, and experiences of children in various contexts such as families, schools, and neighborhoods. Her methodological approach includes traditional ethnographic methods, involving participatory observations and interviews, as well as children's own documentation and narratives. Gustafson leads several research projects addressing themes like mobile preschools, urban childhoods, and special education support. She also teaches courses in Child Youth Studies at both the basic and advanced levels, emphasizing preschool teacher training. Gustafson collaborates with colleagues and participates in networks focused on preschool education and public space, highlighting the significance of mobility and informal learning in urban education.

Research Interests

Experience