Hi! My name is Simon Columbus. These days, I am an undergraduate student of psychology—as well as economics, information, and biology—at Amsterdam University College. More specifically, my interests focus on the foundations of human cooperative behaviour. At the moment, I am conducting experimental research towards my bachelor’s thesis on leadership in altruistic punishment and reward. #

I have previously done work on social media, digital activism, and mobile telephony. Over the course of several years, I have written a book chapter and several peer-reviewed papers on these topics. As an intern, I have researched Internet censorship with the OpenNet Initiative at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. #

As a journalist, my focus has mostly been on German and international Internet policy, including issues such as censorship, privacy, and intellectual property. I have interned with two of Germany’s most prestigious blogs writing about these issues, netzpolitik.org and Spreeblick. There is also a full list of my writings on this website. #

Other things I enjoy include (in no particular order) cooking, cycling, literature, and meditation (ok, I lied, that was alphabetical). #

A full Curriculum Vitae is available as a PDF. #