Arctic Interactions

 “Arctic architecture and environmental adaptation” research area will strengthen the ArcI research theme “Sustainable systems, resource use and development”. This research covers a broad set of expertise that is needed to provide sustainable solutions for urbanisation, infrastructure, water and environmental protection, human health and good quality of life. The current research also includes a strong focus on sustainable use of Northern natural resources, sustainable winter cities, urban infrastructure (such as intelligent lighting, transport systems) and massive-wood architecture, mineral resources and biomasses utilisation, and participatory action studies and Arctic culture.

Research methods include for example analysis of the past solutions, process and product development with the industry and research by design, which offers possibilities in modelling future solutions of built environment and urban structure.

The research in “Arctic architecture and environmental adaptation” integrates science across disciplines to support land use planning, building and infrastructure design and to consider future risks for environment and the society by linking multidisciplinary environmental and cultural studies, policy-making and design research.

Research groups or units at the University of Oulu

Oulu School of Architecture
Structures and Construction Technology
Geoinformatics

Tenure professor's team

The Research Council of the University of Oulu has appointed Dr.Sc. (Tech.) Anu Soikkeli, Oulu School of Architecture, Faculty of Technology, to the tenure track position as an associate professor level. Postdoctoral Research Fellow Outi Autti and PhD Student Päivi Magga are members of Soikkeli's ArcI research team.

Principal Investigators

Prof. Janne Pihlajaniemi (architecture)
Prof. Rainer Mahlamäki (architecture)
Prof. Antti Niemi (construction technology)

The research encompasses physical geography, hydrology, water resources and ecohydrology, aquatic and terrestrial ecology as well as ecosystem processes. The research includes studies on geodiversity, permafrost thaw feedbacks, seasonal frost traits, snow dynamics in catchments, peatland hydrology, hydrological fluxes and moisture sources, biodiversity effects on ecosystem resilience and health, trace gas feedbacks, and interactions among organisms within and among trophic levels. The research builds on long-term experimental studies, numerical modelling and statistics to analyse past and future climate and land use.

The research in “Biodiversity change and ecosystem health"  determines how biodiversity protection and multiple pressures from climate and land-use change impact aquatic and terrestrial communities, ecosystem services and their resilience considering various spatial and temporal scales. 

Research groups and units at the University of Oulu

Ecology and Genetics Research Unit
Geography Research Unit

Tenure professor's team

The Research Council of the University of Oulu has appointed Dr. Anu Eskelinen  (Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, Faculty of Science) to the tenure track position as an associate professor level. Dr. Noémie Pichon (Ecology and Genetics Research Unit) works as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and MSc. Lena Huovinen as a PhD researcher in Eskelinen's research team. Link to Research Group's homepage.

ArcI Postdoc programme members

Dr. Jussi Jyväsjärvi (Ecology and Genetics Research Unit) and Dr. Julia Kemppinen (Geography Research Unit) are working as Postdoctoral Research Fellows funded by ArcI Postdoc Programme.

Principal Investigators

Prof. Jan Hjort (physical geography)
Prof. Timo Muotka (stream ecology)
Senior Curator Marko Mutanen (ecology and genetics)
Prof. Anna Maria Pirttilä (plant physiology)
Prof. Arja Rautio (Arctic research, toxicology)
Senior Curator Risto Virtanen (plant ecology)
Prof. Jeffrey M Welker (earth sciences, ecology)

The research encompasses physical geography, hydrology, water resources and ecohydrology, aquatic and terrestrial ecology as well as ecosystem processes. The research includes studies on geodiversity, permafrost thaw feedbacks, seasonal frost traits, snow dynamics in catchments, peatland hydrology, hydrological fluxes and moisture sources, biodiversity effects on ecosystem resilience and health, trace gas feedbacks, and interactions among organisms within and among trophic levels. The research builds on long-term experimental studies, numerical modelling and statistics to analyse past and future climate and land use.

We analyse complex interactions between geodiversity-biodiversity-hydrology-ecology responses using novel modelling approaches, observational techniques, and ICT tools to understand complex feedbacks and processes and provide an integrated basis for decision-making and policies.

Research groups or units at the University of Oulu

Water, Energy and Environment Engineering Unit
Ecology and Genetics Research Unit
Oulu Mining School
Geography Research Unit

Tenure professor's team

The Research Council of the University of Oulu has appointed Dr.Sc.(Tech.) Hannu Marttila, WEEE Unit, Faculty of Technology, to the tenure track position as assistant professor level. Postdoctoral Research Fellow Danny Croghan and PhD Student Jari-Pekka Nousu are working in Marttila's ArcI research team.

ArcI Postdoc programme members

 Dr. Hannah Bailey (Ecology and Genetics Research Unit) and Dr. Julia Kemppinen (Geography Research Unit) are working as Postdoctoral Research Fellows funded by ArcI Postdoc Programme.

Principal Investigators

Prof. Bjørn Kløve (hydrology, water resources engineering)
Prof. Jeffrey M Welker (geochemistry, ecology)
Prof. Jan Hjort (physical geography)
Prof. Timo Muotka (stream ecology)
Prof. Juha-Pekka Lunkka (geosciences)

“Resource management in Arctic environment” will strengthen the ArcI research area “Sustainable systems, resource use and development”. This research area covers a broad set of expertise that is needed to provide sustainable solutions for urbanisation, infrastructure, water and environmental protection, human health and good quality of life. The current research also includes a strong focus on sustainable use of Northern natural resources, sustainable winter cities, urban infrastructure (such as intelligent lighting, transport systems) and massive-wood architecture, mineral resources and biomasses utilisation, and participatory action studies and Arctic culture. Research methods include for example analysis of the past solutions, process and product development with the industry and research by design, which offers possibilities in modelling future solutions of built environment and urban structure.

The research in “Resource management in Arctic environment”  integrate natural resource management to understand complex interactions (across various systems, scales, pressures) and coupled phenomena (climate-land-water-energy Nexus) linked to the assessment of policies of e.g. carbon neutrality, impacts on environment (water, biodiversity).

Reseach groups/units at the University of Oulu

Water, Energy and Environment Engineering Unit
Oulu Mining School
Oulu School of Architecture
Structures and Construction Technology
Arctic Health
Geography Research Unit
Ecology and Genetics Research Unit

Tenure professor's team

The Research Council of the University of Oulu has appointed Dr.Sc.(Tech.) Ali Torabi Haghighi, Faculty of Technology, to the tenure track position as Associate professor level.  Postdoctoral Research Fellow Epari Ritesh Patro and PhD Student Sahand Ghadimi are working in Torabi Haghighi's ArcI research team.

ArcI Postdoc programme members

Dr. Antonio Caló (WEEE Unit) is working in energy nexus research field as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow funded by ArcI Postdoc Programme.

Principal Investigators

Prof. Eva Pongracz (environmental and energy engineering)
Prof. Bjørn Kløve (hydrology, water resources engineering)
Prof. Juha Pekka Lunkka (geosciences)
Prof. Antti Niemi (construction technology)
Prof. Janne Pihlajaniemi (architecture)
Prof. Anna Maria Pirttilä (plant physiology)
Prof. Jan Hjort (physical geography)
Prof. Arja Rautio (Arctic research, toxicology)

 “Cultural histories and traditional knowledge of resource use” research area covers expertise in Sámi culture and language, archaeology, history and human geography. This includes information on long-term changes in the ways people have lived in the Arctic and used the Arctic natural resources. Research on the history and current practices of extraction of natural resources and other industries in the Arctic has pioneered in understanding the cultural implications and ongoing colonial legacy of mining industry in Lapland. The research provides understanding on social and cultural effects of transformations of reindeer herding practices, as well as building sustainable reindeer herding to cope with changing environment and climate. In Sámi cultural studies the main research themes have been recent history of ethnic relations in the Sámi area, indigenous concepts of cultural environment, and modern Sámi identity reflected in politics, media and art. Tourism research perspectives focus on regional development, sustainability and adaptation to changing environment.

“Cultural histories and traditional knowledge of resource use” research area is related to the social sciences and humanities to study sustainable use and management of natural resources in the Circumpolar North for human wellbeing. Research cover cultural histories and traditional environmental knowledge of natural resource uses in various scales to identify key cultural conceptions, values and practices, that are focal for local communities in adapting to changing environmental and societal conditions from past to present and future.

Research groups or units at the University of Oulu

Archaeology
Cultural Anthropology
Giellagas Institute
Human-Animal Interaction Group
Geography Research Unit

Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Tiina Äikäs, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities.

ArcI Postdoc programme members

Dr. Emily Hull (Human-Animal Interaction Research Group) and Dr. Élise Lépy  (Cultural Anthropology Research Group) are working as Postdoctoral Research Fellows funded by the ArcI Postdoc Programme.

Principal Investigators

Prof. Hannu I. Heikkinen (cultural anthropology)
Prof. Vesa-Pekka Herva (archaeology)
Prof. Veli-Pekka Lehtola (Giellagas Institute)
Prof. Anni-Siiri Länsman (Giellagas Institute)
Prof. Anssi Paasi (regional and political geography)
Prof. Anna-Kaisa Salmi (archaeology, human-animal relationships)
Prof. Jarkko Saarinen (tourism geographies)

Chair: Prof. Bjørn Kløve, Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu (bjorn.klove at oulu.fi)

Vice Chair: Prof. Jeffrey Welker, Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu & University of Alaska Anchorage, USA (jmwelker at alaska.edu)

Research Coordinator Jouko Inkeröinen, Kvantum Institute, University of Oulu

Professors: Bjørn Kløve, Jeffrey Welker, Anna-Kaisa Salmi, Anni-Siiri Länsman, Arja Rautio, Anssi Paasi, Eva Pongracz, Jan Hjort, Janne Pihlajaniemi and Timo Muotka.