Akzhunis Atabay
Journalist, researcher, and multimedia storyteller
What I Do
I investigate social and cultural issues through reporting, research, and multimedia storytelling.
Alongside journalism, I conduct interdisciplinary research on technology, media, and society. My completed study on artificial intelligence and mental health is currently under peer review at Frontiers in Digital Health. I am also researching how religion and spirituality in Kazakhstan are represented and perceived through social media.
Why Zootopia 2 is an Emotional Mirror for Adults, Its Biggest Audience
An independently researched and written student journalism project completed at Northwestern University in Qatar.
Navigating the Gap: Accessibility in Qatar’s Education City, One Door at a Time
An independently researched and written student journalism project completed at Northwestern University in Qatar.
Research: A Socratic Prompt Protocol for Safer AI Responses
I developed and tested a simple protocol designed to help AI respond more safely and thoughtfully when users express suicidal distress. Supported by a $5,000 AIM Lab University Grant, the experiment found that the protocol encouraged more reflective questions, reduced direct advice, and helped the model avoid reinforcing harmful beliefs. It also showed that reflective dialogue must always be paired with clear crisis-support guidance.