Research Council of Finland awards over two million euros to University of Oulu for research on Arctic resilience, security and mental well-being
The University of Oulu is involved in three six-year research projects:
- Planetary Mind – Environmental Agency as a Source of Mental Well-being?(PlanetM)
- Doing Resilient Security: Arctic Civil Society in Polycrisis(OADJEBAS)
- Building Antifragile Arctic Systems through a Nexus Approach(NAFAS)
The NAFAS project develops new approaches to governance in the Finnish Arctic. Rather than focusing only on adapting to change or recovering from disruptions, the project investigates how Arctic communities, authorities and resource users can learn from change and use that knowledge to make better decisions in the future.
The project focuses on Lake Inari and the Kemijoki River Basin, where water resources, energy production, land use, ecosystems and local livelihoods are closely interconnected. Researchers will combine environmental monitoring, Earth observation, modelling and strategic foresight with Sámi and local knowledge.
"Climate change affects water resources, reindeer herding, fisheries, tourism and local communities simultaneously across the Arctic. We want researchers, decision-makers and local residents to work together to identify future risks and strengthen communities' capacity to deal with change before problems escalate," says Professor Ali Torabi Haghighi.
The OADJEBAS project examines Arctic security as a phenomenon shaped through the interaction of public institutions, civil society, local communities and Indigenous peoples. The research is set against a backdrop of rapid climate change, growing geopolitical tensions and changing levels of public trust.
Named after the North Sámi word oadjebas, meaning trustful safety, the project combines sociology, international relations, geoinformatics, social work and Sámi studies. Its goal is to generate knowledge that supports the development of Finland's comprehensive security model while recognising local communities and nature as essential contributors to security. The project is led at the University of Oulu by Associate Professor Tapio Nykänen.
Environmental agency as a resource for mental well-being
The PlanetM project investigates how environmental agency, the ability to make sustainable everyday choices and influence environmental issues, affects mental health across different age groups.
The project explores environmental agency as a psychosocial resource that can support participation, well-being and a sense of empowerment. Researchers will also develop and evaluate participatory and digitally supported approaches that help strengthen both environmental agency and mental well-being in everyday life.
"Climate change causes anxiety for many people, but research also suggests that acting for the environment can support mental well-being. We want to understand how people can be given more opportunities to participate and make a difference," says Professor Simo Hosio. The project is coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä.