Natasha Webster

About Natasha Webster

Natasha Webster is Associate Professor (docent) at the Department of Human Geography at Örebro University, Sweden. As a feminist geographer, Natasha is interested in the complexities of social-technical-spatial relations in work(ing)-life practices. Her recent research falls within economic geography by exploring the role of women-led entrepreneurship and platform-work in migration and integration. Her research also explores the importance of the neighbourhood and neighbourly relations as lived experience. She is interested in the role of emotions and affect in everyday activities of work and play.

Natasha is an Associate Editor at the journal, Emotion, Space and Society (Emotion, Space and Society) and is on the editorial board for Digital Geography and Society (Digital Geography and Society) and Gender, Place and Culture.

Natasha holds a PhD in Human Geography (Stockholm University), M.Sc.Pl Specialization in Urban Planning (University of Toronto), BA Honours in Human Geography (Queen’s University, Canada).

When people refer to Natasha, they use the pronouns "she," "her," and "hers."

Current Research Projects:

“Digital Nature: Everyday social-technical relations and practices within Sweden’s rural agriculture and wild harvesting industries” with Qian Zhang, Shengnan Han and Linn Axelsson. Swedish Research Council national research programme "Social Consequences of Digitalization", (2023–2025).

“The Neighbourhood Revisited: Spatial polarization and social cohesion in contemporary Sweden” A research programme led by Professor Bo Malmberg. Kulturgeografiska institutionen, Stockholm University. RJ: Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (2019 - 2024)

Past Research Projects:

"Integration Delivered? Unveiling immigrant experiences in the growing Swedish gig economy" with Qian Zhang. FORMAS: Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (2020–2023). 

"Platforming the rural? A cross-context exploration of digital rural spaces and practice", with Qian Zhang and Shengnan Han. Fund for Strategic Investments at Stockholm University (2021-2022)

"Immigrants, working life and the growing Swedish gig economy" with Qian Zhang, Projektmedal inom Digital Humanvetenskap, Stockholms Universitet (2019-2020)

"Opportunities and Obstacles: Identifying hidden resources and skills to promote entrepreneurship among migrant women in Swedish regions" with Karen Haandrikman, FORMAS: Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (2017–2020).

"When the world goes rural: Are international migration flows changing the Swedish countryside?" with Gunnel Forsberg, Susanne Stenbacka, Ali Najib. FORMAS: Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (2008-2016) 

Teaching:

Natasha is involved in teaching at various levels of education in the geography and planning programs. She serves on Subject Council (programråd) for Human Geography and she is also a member of The Committee for Bachelor's and Master's Education (Kommittén för utbildning på grundnivå och avancerad nivå (KU)) for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science. Natasha also sits on the steering committee for the national program for doctoral courses in human geography.

In autumn 2025, Natasha and colleagues Qian Zhang, Danielle Drozdzewski and Cornelia Brantner will give a national PhD course entitled: Digital Geographies.  For more information on this course please contact Natasha and registeration is due by June 15, 2025.

Natasha was nominated for the 2022 Pedagogical Prize (pedagogiska priset) by students at Örebro University. She was also a mentor for the @GENDER mentoring program for early career researchers.

Current and Past PhD Students

Felix Rietschel (Ongoing from 2024). 

Cherith Pedersen (2023). Bone Flute: Exploring Voices from the Margins of of Entrepreneurship with Expressive Therapies. Lesley University, USA (with Professors Michele Forinash and Rakhshanda Saleem)

Emmeline Laszlo Ambjörnsson (2021). Women's Forest Networks: Seperate Organization and Gender Negotiations in Swedish Forest Governance. Stockholm University, Sweden (with Professors Anna Storm and Gunnel Forsberg)

Community Service:

Mentor (2022-2023) ATGENDER, The European Association for Gender Research, Education and Documentation

Steering Committee Member (2019 - 2020) Stockholm University Young Faculty Organization

Former Chair (2017 - 2019) of Forum för feministisk forskning (Forum for Feminist Research)

Local Planning Committee Member- Nordic Geographer's Meeting June 18-21 2017, Stockholm Sweden.