Researchers Tanja Joona and Juho Kähkönen from the University of Lapland are selected as Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV grantees.

The Fulbright Finland Foundation promotes a wider
exchange of knowledge and professional talents through educational contacts between
Finland and the United States. The Foundation collaborates with a range of partners
on both sides of the Atlantic to design and manage study and research scholarships,
leadership development programs and internationalization services.

The Fulbright Arctic Initiative brings together a network of
researchers and practitioners from Arctic Council member countries to address key
research and policy issues. The program will run for 18 months and will include
regular webinars and meetings of researchers in Norway, Greenland and Washington. In
addition, researchers will undertake a 1.5–3 month research visit to the United
States.  

The research themes raised in Tanja
Joona’s Fulbright application, the just green transition, energy transition and
the rights of local people and indigenous peoples in a changing geopolitical
situation, support the strategic choices of the University of Lapland and the
research program on Just Green Transition led by Joona at the Arctic Centre. During
the program, Joona will visit the University of Delaware and the Northern Arizona
University.

“I am delighted to have this unique opportunity to
continue and develop the long-term work around these themes. We have many
fundamental and historical challenges related to land use in Lapland, so broadening
our perspectives can bring solutions to these issues,” Joona states.

Juho Kähkönen will focus on the security and governance situation in the
Arctic, especially science diplomacy around climate change. This is a new opening at
the intersection of Arctic science diplomacy, climate law and logistics research.
During the program, he will undertake a research visit to the Institute of Arctic
Studies at the Dartmouth College.

“In an unstable
global environment, the importance of science diplomacy is underlined. As the
climate crisis continues to escalate, it is crucial to identify how to solve wicked
problems. I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Fulbright
Arctic Initiative. Dartmouth College is a leading university in the study of Arctic
science diplomacy. I want to bring together the diverse expertise of our
universities,” Kähkönen notes.

More information:

Fulbright Arctic Initiative: https://www.fulbright.fi/grants-research-postdoc-and-scholar/fulbright-arctic-initiative 
Fulbright Finland Foundation: https://www.fulbright.fi/fi 

Tanja Joona
University researcher, Arctic Centre at the
University of Lapland
tanja.joona@ulapland.fi
040 484
4283

Juho Kähkönen
Researcher, Faculty of Law,
University of Lapland
juho.kahkonen@ulapland.fi 
040 195 4765