Maija Toivanen
PhD (geography), MA (science communication)
Postdoctoral Researcher
Physical geography, geodiversity, GIS, science communication
I work as a postdoctoral researcher in the Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience research programme within the Geography Research Unit. My research focuses especially on geodiversity, the diversity of abiotic nature, and its role in nature and ecosystems. I am particularly interested in the connections between geodiversity and biodiversity, and in how geodiversity can be utilized in biodiversity research and nature conservation.
In my doctoral research, I developed GIS methods and data for the quantitative assessment of geodiversity. I also apply my expertise in geographic information systems (GIS) in the JUSTGREEN project, which investigates land-use justice in the context of the green transition.
In addition to my research, I teach GIS methods and have extensive experience in applying spatial data in interdisciplinary projects. From 2020 to 2021, I worked on the GlobalFood project funded by the Kone Foundation, where we analyzed global food accessibility using spatial analysis techniques.
In 2023, I completed a Master of Arts degree in science communication. My thesis explored how researchers communicate their own science to wider audiences and the strategies they use to popularize scientific knowledge in written texts.
Research interests
- geodiversity
- biodiversity
- geographic information systems
- freshwater ecology
- socio-environmental resilience
Researcher information
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Contact information
Visiting address
Linnanmaa
90014 Oulu
Postal address
FI-90014 University of Oulu
Finland