Amir H. Payberah new Research theme leader for digitalisation

Amir H. Payberah’s research aligns with WaterCentre's mission by examining how AI systems interact with environmental and social inequalities, particularly in water use.

“Using an ecofeminist lens, I try to examine the often-invisible environmental impacts of AI, including the water required to cool data centres, the extraction of minerals for hardware, and the uneven ecological burdens placed on different regions, communities, and Indigenous groups.

My current research focuses on tracing these impacts, identifying who and what is affected, and creating ways to make the environmental footprint of AI more visible and accountable. Through this approach, my work contributes to WaterCentre's efforts around responsible digitalization and sustainable water governance,” says Amir H. Payberah

He hopes to contribute by shaping a vision where research on digitalisation and water systems is grounded in the needs and experiences of the communities most affected.

"My mission is to help build a research culture that does not start with predefined technical solutions, but instead begins by listening to people and communities, understanding their real demands, and involving them throughout the whole process. I see it as an important direction to bridge technical expertise with community knowledge, so that our outcomes are not only scientifically strong but also meaningful, just, and responsive to real-world challenges."

Amir H Payberah appreciates the collaborative spirit of WaterCentre and looks forward to learning from the diverse expertise within the team.

“I also want to highlight the importance of approaches that centre community voices and lived experiences, and I hope to support that direction meaningfully. I see this as a shared effort, and I'm grateful for the chance to be part of it,” he says.

Text: Åsa Karsberg

Amir H. Payberah is an Associate Professor of Computer Science whose research centres on equity, justice, and intersectional ecofeminist interventions in AI. He leads the Co-Liberative Computing research group, which views computing not as a neutral technical field but as one deeply shaped by power, oppression, and social structures. Through this work, Amir advances a justice-oriented approach to AI that emphasizes developing critical consciousness within computer science research and education.

Read more about Amir H. Payberah and his research