Congratulations to ACM Fellow Susanne Bødker!
We are thrilled to celebrate Professor Susanne Bødker, who has recently been named an ACM Fellow, an honour given to outstanding computing professionals who have made significant contributions to the field. She is a Professor of Computer Science at Aarhus University, where she has played a formative role in shaping the European HCI community and influencing generations of researchers worldwide. Susanne was also the 2024 recipient of the ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award, in recognition for being a pioneering voice in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), through her work in bringing together activity theory, participatory design, and a deep sensitivity to context and practice. We caught up with Susanne to discuss her career journey, her inspirations, and advice for the next generation.
Your work has shaped the very foundations of Human-Computer Interaction, especially through your pioneering contributions to activity theory and participatory design. Looking back, what initially drew you to these approaches, and how have they evolved alongside your career and the field itself?
I grew up with Participatory Design, and when I became involved with the Utopia project and (at the same time) desk-top interfaces and What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get technologies came on the market, I realized that we needed methods and theories to articulate how real people would interact with real technologies in real work situations. Methodologically, this led to a focus on prototyping and hands-on experience. Theoretically, we were a larger group that explored various related theories (from Marx to Heidegger) and also learned from the books by Dreyfuss and Dreyfuss, and Winograd and Flores. Coincidentally, we discussed these books with some of the psychology folks at AU. They were, at the time, well-versed in activity theory, and I realized that there was good stuff to be had from there.
You’ve often worked at the intersection of research, theory, and real-world applications—something not all computing disciplines manage to bridge so well. What has motivated you to keep that connection alive, and what role does context play in shaping good design and good research?
First of all, I see academic research as having an important role in pointing out technological alternatives, rather than providing solutions (we have commercial companies to do that). Secondly, I have seen again and again that such alternatives also push the boundaries of more basic research. Thirdly, to keep an eye out for real users doing real activities (also possible future activities), instead of (only) abstract models.
Being named an ACM Fellow and receiving the SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award in close succession is an extraordinary recognition. What do these honours mean to you personally, and how do you see them reflecting the broader contributions of European HCI to the global community?
There is a lot that could be said about the current global situation as regards research at large, and I don’t think I want to go there. However, I think that European HCI is stronger than ever, and we have made good use of the large career grants offered by the EU/ERC.
As regards what the honours mean to me personally, it is simply just lovely to have your work recognized by your peers. For someone who was very alone as a woman in a Computer Science Department for many years, I also don’t think we should underestimate the importance of the visibility of role models, and I believe the ACM fellow is very important for visibility.
In your conversation with Geraldine Fitzpatrick on her “Changing Academic Life” podcast, you spoke powerfully about navigating academic structures while staying true to collaborative and critical values. How have you managed to sustain those values over time, especially in a changing research environment?
I encourage all to listen to this conversation and also watch the video of my SIGCHI Lifetime talk. I think and hope I have sustained those values, but it is really up to others to judge.
Many of our readers are early-career researchers or students who look up to leaders like yourself. What advice would you give to women entering computing today, especially those trying to balance the demands of a career in computing as a single parent?
I’m not sure I can answer that generally. I’ve been fortunate to be in a place where I have a good network of family and friends, and they have been important to me over the years. Also, it is probably important to recognize that you cannot be good at everything, and hence, prioritizing is important. And honestly, I’m old enough that the requirements for early-career researchers were perhaps fewer, or at least more malleable than they are today.
As a newly named ACM Fellow, we will look up to you and others like you who continue to trailblaze the future of computing. What’s next for us, would you say? Any other words of wisdom for our readership?
I’m old enough to remember the coming and going of AI. I think the lessons have been the same every time: If we continue to take an interest in actual human users engaging in actual human activities, we will better understand where AI (and other technologies) have a real role and where they don’t.
Heartfelt congratulations to Professor Bødker on her latest achievements. Her thoughtful reflections in this interview remind us that computing is, at its core, a human endeavour enriched by context, collaboration, and care. We thank her for sharing her journey and insights and look forward to seeing how her work will continue to shape the future of HCI and beyond. Learn more about Susanne’s work at cs.au.dk , https://www.acm.org/articles/people-of-acm/2025/susanne-bodker and listen to her reflections in the Changing Academic Life podcast: Episode with Susanne Bødker.