Dr Sara Vannini

MA (Bologna, Italy), PhD (Lugano, Switzerland)

School of Information, Journalism and Communication

Lecturer in Information Management and Information Systems

s.vannini@sheffield.ac.uk

Room C222, The Wave

Full contact details

Dr Sara Vannini
School of Information, Journalism and Communication
Room C222
The Wave
2 Whitham Road
Sheffield
S10 2AH

Profile

I hold a MA in Latin American Literatures from the University of Bologna, Italy, with a dissertation on educational practices and indigenous knowledge in Southern Chile, and a PhD in Communication Sciences from the University of Lugano, Switzerland, with a thesis on public access to Information and Communication Technologies in Mozambique.

After graduating from my PhD, I worked initially as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the BeCHANGE Research Group and at the NewMinE Lab at the University of Lugano, on projects related to health communication, environmental security, social marketing, and information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). Then, I was awarded an Early.PostDoc fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation to join the Technology and Social Change - TASCHA group at the University of Washington Information School, Seattle, WA (USA). After my Post-Doc, I started working as a Lecturer at the University of Washington Department of Communications and the Integrated Social Sciences online program. I joined the University of Sheffield as a Lecturer in Information Management and Information Systems in 2020.

Research interests

I am the head of the Information Systems Research Group.

My research interests are at the intersection of critical studies of technology and society, social change, and information ethics. I focus on social appropriation and embodied experiences of technologies by different social groups, information privacy in the context of migration, the role of public access to information in mis/disinformation, and participatory and visual methodologies of inquiry.

I am interested in supervising PhD projects that advance critical, post-colonial, feminist and participatory studies of:

Information and communication technologies for development and social change
Data justice, data privacy and security in the context of underserved, vulnerable, or oppressed populations
Mis/dis-information as connected to information literacy and public access to information
Social construction and embodied experiences of information and communication technologies
Migration and sanctuary studies connected to information and communication technologies

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Zamani ED & Vannini S (2025) Digital policy narratives: addressing grand challenges or exacerbating digital inequalities?. Information Technology for Development. View this article in WRRO
Carney MA, Vannini S, Genovese A, Saguto D, Jammeh M, Deme I & Fantin A (2025) “Il gioco” as collaborative method: feminist and antiracist musings on the power of play. Annals of Anthropological Practice, 49(1). View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Tandon A & Masiero S (2024) Feminist and queer approaches to ICT4D: imagining and enacting liberation. Information Technology for Development, 30(2), 195-208. View this article in WRRO
Bentley C, Muyoya C, Vannini S, Oman S & Jimenez A (2023) Intersectional approaches to data: the importance of an articulation mindset for intersectional data science. Big Data & Society, 10(2). View this article in WRRO
Jimenez A, Vannini S & Cox A (2023) A holistic decolonial lens for library and information studies. Journal of Documentation, 79(1). View this article in WRRO
Newell BC, Vannini S & Gomez R (2020) The information practices and politics of migrant-aid work in the US-Mexico borderlands. The Information Society, 36(4), 199-213.
Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2020) “Mind the five”: Guidelines for data privacy and security in humanitarian work with undocumented migrants and other vulnerable populations. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 71(8), 927-938.
Vannini S, Gomez R, Lopez D, Mora S, Morrison JC, Tanner J, Youkhana L, Vergara G & Mar Moreno Tafurt M (2020) Humanitarian organizations' information practices : procedures and privacy concerns for serving the undocumented. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 86(1).
Bentley CM, Nemer D & Vannini S (2019) “When words become unclear” : unmasking ICT through visual methodologies in participatory ICT4D. AI & Society, 34(3), 477-493.
De Ascaniis S, Vannini S & Cantoni L (2018) Argumentation in participant-driven photo interviews : a case in ICT for development in Mozambique. Semiotica, 2018(220), 173-198.
Gomez R & Vannini S (2017) Notions of home and sense of belonging in the context of migration in a journey through participatory photography. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 78(1), 1-46.
Vannini S, Nemer D, Halabi A, Sabiescu AG & David Cumbula S (2017) Critical incidents analysis : mismatching expectations and reconciling visions in intercultural encounters. The Journal of Community Informatics, 13(2), 13-34. View this article in WRRO
Carney MA, Gomez R, Mitchell K & Vannini S (2017) Sanctuary planet : a global sanctuary movement for the time of Trump. Society & Space. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Rega I, Sala S & Cantoni L (2015) Using photo-elicitation to explore social representations of community multimedia centers in Mozambique. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC), 67(1), 1-23.
Halabi A, Sabiescu AG, David S, Vannini S & Nemer D (2015) From exploration to design : aligning intentionality in community informatics projects. The Journal of Community Informatics, 11(3). View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Rega I & Cantoni L (2015) Information and Communication Flows through Community Multimedia Centers: Perspectives from Mozambican Communities. Information Technology for Development, 21(1), 85-98.
Rega I, Vannini S, Fino E & Cantoni L (2013) Exploring the meanings of community multimedia centers in Mozambique : a social representations perspective. Information Technology and International Development, 9(4), 35-54. View this article in WRRO

Book chapters

Azhar F, Vannini S, Newell BC & Gomez R (2021) Navigating borders/navigating networks: migration, technology and social capital In McAuliffe M (Ed.), Research Handbook on International Migration and Digital Technology (pp. 92-106). Edward Elgar Publishing View this article in WRRO
Vannini S & Rega I (2020) Mobile information literacy and public access in the era of post-truth: reflections from community curricular experiences in Latin America In Traxler J & Crompton H (Ed.), Critical Mobile Pedagogy Cases of Digital Technologies and Learners at the Margins Routledge

Conference proceedings

Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2024) Drawing a map in the sand: locating an ethics of care in the ICT-related migration practices of older volunteers in the US southwest. 18th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference, ICT4D 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, May 20–22, 2024, Proceedings, Part II, Vol. 709 (pp 205-220). Cape Town, South Africa, 20 May 2024 - 20 May 2024. View this article in WRRO
Wagg S, Vannini S, Zamani E, Klyshbekova M & Aylward B (2024) Digital inclusion network building: a network weaving analysis. Proceedings of the 29th UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS) International Conference. Canterbury, Kent, 25 April 2024 - 25 April 2024. View this article in WRRO
Aylward B, Cox A & Vannini S (2022) The revolution will (not?) be archived: Web archiving needs of activist collections in the North of England. Proceedings 20th Annual Community Informaatics Research Network Conference (CIRN 2022): 20 years of CIRN: Examining the Past, Present, and Future of Communities and Technology (pp 29-45). Prato, Italy, 9 November 2022 - 9 November 2022. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2019) Privacy and security guidelines for humanitarian work with undocumented migrants. Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (pp 1-4)
Vannini S, Nemer D & Rega I (2017) Integrating mobile technologies to achieve community development goals. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Communities and Technologies (pp 115-124)

Reports

Wagg S, Vannini S & Zamani E (2024) Blueprint for digital inclusion: Strategic Recommendations for Effective Service Rollout
Wagg S, Vannini S, Zamani E, Klyshbekova M, Aylward B & Jia X (2024) Digital inclusion network development: a case study in Derbyshire - Full report View this article in WRRO

All publications

Journal articles

Zamani ED & Vannini S (2025) Digital policy narratives: addressing grand challenges or exacerbating digital inequalities?. Information Technology for Development. View this article in WRRO
Carney MA, Vannini S, Genovese A, Saguto D, Jammeh M, Deme I & Fantin A (2025) “Il gioco” as collaborative method: feminist and antiracist musings on the power of play. Annals of Anthropological Practice, 49(1). View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Tandon A & Masiero S (2024) Feminist and queer approaches to ICT4D: imagining and enacting liberation. Information Technology for Development, 30(2), 195-208. View this article in WRRO
Bentley C, Muyoya C, Vannini S, Oman S & Jimenez A (2023) Intersectional approaches to data: the importance of an articulation mindset for intersectional data science. Big Data & Society, 10(2). View this article in WRRO
Jimenez A, Vannini S & Cox A (2023) A holistic decolonial lens for library and information studies. Journal of Documentation, 79(1). View this article in WRRO
Newell BC, Vannini S & Gomez R (2020) The information practices and politics of migrant-aid work in the US-Mexico borderlands. The Information Society, 36(4), 199-213.
Gomez R, Newell BC & Vannini S (2020) Mind the five card game: Participatory games to strengthen information practices and privacy protections of migrants. The International Journal of Information, Diversity, & Inclusion (IJIDI), 4(2), 116-122.
Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2020) “Mind the five”: Guidelines for data privacy and security in humanitarian work with undocumented migrants and other vulnerable populations. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 71(8), 927-938.
Gomez R, Newell BC & Vannini S (2020) Empathic humanitarianism: Understanding the motivations behind humanitarian work with migrants at the US–Mexico border. Journal on Migration and Human Security, 8(1), 1-13.
Vannini S, Gomez R, Lopez D, Mora S, Morrison JC, Tanner J, Youkhana L, Vergara G & Mar Moreno Tafurt M (2020) Humanitarian organizations' information practices : procedures and privacy concerns for serving the undocumented. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 86(1).
Bentley CM, Nemer D & Vannini S (2019) “When words become unclear” : unmasking ICT through visual methodologies in participatory ICT4D. AI & Society, 34(3), 477-493.
Vannini S, Gomez R, Carney M & Mitchell K (2018) Interdisciplinary approaches to refugee and migration studies : lessons from collaborative research on sanctuary in the changing times of Trump. Migration and Society, 1(1), 164-174.
Vannini S, Gomez R, Carney M & Mitchell K (2018) Interdisciplinary approaches to refugee and migration studies: lessons from collaborative research on sanctuary in the changing times of Trump. Migration and Society, 1(1), 164-174. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Rega I & Cantoni L (2018) Editorial. Semiotica, 2018(223), 173-175.
Rega I & Vannini S (2018) Public access venues and community empowerment in Mozambique : a social representation study. Semiotica, 2018(223), 199-217.
Pucciarelli M & Vannini S (2018) Douala as a “hybrid space” : comparing online and offline representations of a sub-Saharan city. Semiotica, 2018(223), 219-250.
De Ascaniis S, Vannini S & Cantoni L (2018) Argumentation in participant-driven photo interviews : a case in ICT for development in Mozambique. Semiotica, 2018(220), 173-198.
Gomez R & Vannini S (2017) Notions of home and sense of belonging in the context of migration in a journey through participatory photography. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 78(1), 1-46.
Vannini S, Nemer D, Halabi A, Sabiescu AG & David Cumbula S (2017) Critical incidents analysis : mismatching expectations and reconciling visions in intercultural encounters. The Journal of Community Informatics, 13(2), 13-34. View this article in WRRO
Carney MA, Gomez R, Mitchell K & Vannini S (2017) Sanctuary planet : a global sanctuary movement for the time of Trump. Society & Space. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Rega I, Sala S & Cantoni L (2015) Using photo-elicitation to explore social representations of community multimedia centers in Mozambique. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC), 67(1), 1-23.
Halabi A, Sabiescu AG, David S, Vannini S & Nemer D (2015) From exploration to design : aligning intentionality in community informatics projects. The Journal of Community Informatics, 11(3). View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Rega I & Cantoni L (2015) Information and Communication Flows through Community Multimedia Centers: Perspectives from Mozambican Communities. Information Technology for Development, 21(1), 85-98.
Rega I, Vannini S, Fino E & Cantoni L (2013) Exploring the meanings of community multimedia centers in Mozambique : a social representations perspective. Information Technology and International Development, 9(4), 35-54. View this article in WRRO
Rapetti E, Picco A & Vannini S (2011) Is mobile learning a resource in higher education? Data evidence from an empirical research in Ticino (Switzerland). Journal of E Learning and Knowledge Society, 7(2), 47-57.

Book chapters

Azhar F, Vannini S, Newell BC & Gomez R (2021) Navigating borders/navigating networks: migration, technology and social capital In McAuliffe M (Ed.), Research Handbook on International Migration and Digital Technology (pp. 92-106). Edward Elgar Publishing View this article in WRRO
Vannini S & Rega I (2020) Mobile information literacy and public access in the era of post-truth: reflections from community curricular experiences in Latin America In Traxler J & Crompton H (Ed.), Critical Mobile Pedagogy Cases of Digital Technologies and Learners at the Margins Routledge
Vannini S & Rega I (2020) Mobile information literacy and public access in the era of post-truth In Traxler J & Crompton H (Ed.), Critical Mobile Pedagogy: Cases of Digital Technologies and Learners at the Margins (pp. 110-122). Routledge View this article in WRRO

Conference proceedings

Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2024) Drawing a map in the sand: locating an ethics of care in the ICT-related migration practices of older volunteers in the US southwest. 18th IFIP WG 9.4 International Conference, ICT4D 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, May 20–22, 2024, Proceedings, Part II, Vol. 709 (pp 205-220). Cape Town, South Africa, 20 May 2024 - 20 May 2024. View this article in WRRO
Wagg S, Vannini S, Zamani E, Klyshbekova M & Aylward B (2024) Digital inclusion network building: a network weaving analysis. Proceedings of the 29th UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS) International Conference. Canterbury, Kent, 25 April 2024 - 25 April 2024. View this article in WRRO
Aylward B, Cox A & Vannini S (2022) The revolution will (not?) be archived: Web archiving needs of activist collections in the North of England. Proceedings 20th Annual Community Informaatics Research Network Conference (CIRN 2022): 20 years of CIRN: Examining the Past, Present, and Future of Communities and Technology (pp 29-45). Prato, Italy, 9 November 2022 - 9 November 2022. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S & Ahmed SI (2022) Introduction to the ACM Digital Library Proceedings of ICTD 2022. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series (pp xi-xii)
Marais MA & Vannini S (2021) Network weaving to foster resilience and sustainability in ICT4D. First Virtual Conference on Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development, 2021 (pp 43-43), 25 May 2021 - 28 May 2021.
Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2019) Documenting the undocumented: privacy and security guidelines for humanitarian work with irregular migrants. Information in Contemporary Society, Vol. 11420 (pp 236-244). Washington, DC, USA, 31 March 2019 - 31 March 2019. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S, Gomez R & Newell BC (2019) Privacy and security guidelines for humanitarian work with undocumented migrants. Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (pp 1-4)
Vannini S, Nemer D & Rega I (2017) Integrating mobile technologies to achieve community development goals. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Communities and Technologies (pp 115-124)
Gomez L, Gomez R & Vannini S (2017) The power of participatory photography in ICTD programs: freedom to explore beyond images. Proceedings of the 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (2017) (pp 2600-2609). Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, 4 January 2017 - 4 January 2017. View this article in WRRO
Vannini S () Security and Activism: Using participatory photography to elicit perceptions of Information and Authority among Hispanic migrants in the U.S.. iConference 2016 Proceedings

Reports

Wagg S, Vannini S & Zamani E (2024) Blueprint for digital inclusion: Strategic Recommendations for Effective Service Rollout
Wagg S, Vannini S, Zamani E, Klyshbekova M, Aylward B & Jia X (2024) Digital inclusion network development: a case study in Derbyshire - Full report View this article in WRRO
Wagg S, Vannini S, Zamani E, Klyshbekova M, Aylward B & Jia X (2024) Digital inclusion network development: a case study in Derbyshire - Executive Summary View this article in WRRO

Teaching activities

I am currently contributing to the modules:

INF6400: Information Systems and the Information Society
INF6180 Library and Information Society
INF6580 Library and Information Society
INF109 Digital Media and Society