Presented by Kirsi Laurén, Chair of the Commission Peatlands and Society
11 December 2024, 15:00 – 16:00 hrs EET
The link will be provided to IPS members via Peatland Snippets, mark the date!
The presentation will explore how peatlands can be studied from the perspective of the human sciences with a focus on cultures and communities. So far, their study has typically focused on the natural sciences, but since the late 20th century and beyond, interest has also grown in the fields of humanities and social sciences.
In human-centered studies of peatlands, the research questions typically address the human-mire relationship from a variety of perspectives. These relationships are processes that are shaped by changes in culture and society, as well as by the experiences of individuals. They include various activities reflecting the emotions, attitudes, knowledge and values of individuals and communities.
To shed some light on the cultural study of peatlands, the presentation gives examples of two research projects that explore the relationship between people and mires in contemporary Finland. Both studies focus in particular on their different users, such as hikers, bog athletes, mire artists, and peatland specialists. The studies are mainly based on qualitative ethnographic research methods, where participant observation and interviews are central.
For more information on the topic, visit:
Mire Trend research project: https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/mire-trend-research-project
Digital Aestheticization of Fragile Environments (DigiFREN) project: https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/digital-aestheticization-of-fragile-environments-digifren
