Kristjan Vassil is the Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Tartu and an Associate Professor in Technology Studies. Kristjan has a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute, and his research group focuses on qualitative assessment of the impact of IT, analysis of Big Data in e-Government and prototyping of predictive digital services. He has studied the relationship between voting advice application and political behavior, particularly voting preferences, and went on to write a book on behavioral effects of internet voting.

Kristjan holds the role of Director of the Board of Tartu University Clinic (a teaching hospital), and is also Chief Scientist of CDL-Estonia.

In this episode, we learn about Kristjan’s research on internet voting, and how Estonia has built and sustained a digital society since 2002. Kristjan brings warmth, curiosity and his passion for Estonia to our conversation.