Led by Principal Investigator Christopher Bavitz (previously Urs Gasser and John Palfrey) and Youth and Media Director Sandra Cortesi.
Leadership
Christopher Bavitz
Christopher T. Bavitz is the Wilmer Hale Clinical Professor of Law and Vice Dean for Experiential and Clinical Education at Harvard Law School. He is also Managing Director of HLS’s Cyberlaw Clinic, based at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. And, he is a Faculty Co-Director of the Berkman Klein Center. Chris has taught courses including the Counseling and Legal Strategy in the Digital Age and Music & Digital Media seminars, and he concentrates his practice activities on intellectual property and media law (particularly in the areas of music, entertainment, and technology). BKC Page // LinkedIn
Sandra Cortesi
Dr. Sandra Cortesi is a Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, a Senior Research and Teaching Associate at the IKMZ at the University of Zurich, and an Adjunct Researcher in Communication at the Department of Communication and Culture at BI Norwegian Business School. At Youth and Media she collaborates closely with talented young people (ages 12-18) and engages with researchers in the field who share an interest in exploring innovative ways to understand, evaluate, and shape current and future social challenges emerging in the digital world. BKC Page // Website // LinkedIn
Madeline McGee
Madeline McGee is a Project Coordinator for Research at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. She supports the Center’s Youth and Media (YaM) project, as well as contributing to the development and implementation of a wide range of research and education projects. BKC Page // LinkedIn
Leah Plunkett
Leah Plunkett is the inaugural Assistant Dean for Learning Experience & Technology (LXT) and the Meyer Research Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. LXT is an interdisciplinary, creative team that serves as the resource hub for creating excellent, engaged online classrooms, academic content, and community spaces at HLS. BKC Page // LinkedIn
Elisabeth Sylvan
Dr. Elisabeth (“Lis") Sylvan is the Interim Executive Director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Dr. Sylvan’s lifelong interest is in sociotechnical systems that support creativity, shared knowledge, and learning. At BKC she has launched new educational initiatives such as the Summer Institute and BKC Research Sprints, which include Digital Identity in Times of Crisis, Digital Ethics in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 & Access to Education Learning Spaces, Digital Self Determination, and AI Policy Research Clinic. She co-leads the Policy Practice and also co-organizes the Tech through Spec working group. BKC Page // LinkedIn
Research Assistants
Annabel Jones
Annabel Jones is a masters student at the University of Zurich in Internet & Society and was previously at the University of Virginia. She grew up in Switzerland and the United States. Her interests include digital privacy, generative AI, and journalism, with seven years as a student-journalist. She wants to make the Internet more of the utopic space that everyone hoped it would be. Outside of academia, you can find her running, bouldering, playing chess, or volunteering for Amnesty International and Sportegration in Zurich. LinkedIn
Kirsten Mueller-Daubermann
Kirsten Mueller-Daubermann is a Master's Candidate at the University of Zürich studying Internet & Society in the school of Media & Communications. She works as a research assistant with the University and Sandra Cortesi of Berkman Klein, conducting research in the areas of youth, mental health and wellbeing and digital technologies. Her interests are in the intersection of how developing technologies effect youth well-being, differing cultural contexts, and how policymakers and international organizations can protect but also enhance opportunities for young people in the digital realm. She completed her Bachelor's degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in Political Science. Outside of academia, Kirsten works as a digital media and communications consultant for clients in the mental healthcare field and non-profit sector, and also formerly worked as a political analyst and journalist in television and radio in New York City. Website // LinkedIn
Artists in Residence
The Global Network
The Youth and Media network consists of close friends, collaborators, and trusted voices that bring insight from vantage points in law, communication, journalism, youth development, and social justice work, among other areas, to critically inform the direction of Youth and Media. The diversity of the members’ perspectives suits the style of Youth and Media – eclecticism is a key feature of our intellectual and programmatic agenda. We strive to complete a feedback loop between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, all while empowering youth to direct our research and teaching efforts. As such, diverse voices and insights shed much insight on how to integrate and realize our goals. The global network currently includes:
