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