History, Culture and Communication Studies

At the University of Oulu, archaeological research has focused on the following themes and sectors:

• Past, environment and cultural processes in the North
• Bioanthropology and animal osteology
• Historical archaeology

The first archaeological excavation realised by the University of Oulu was conducted in collaboration with the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum at Hangaskangas in Muhos in 1968. The Laboratory of Archaeology was established in 1975. Extensive excavation activities were started in 1973 at dwellings during recorded history in the Kemijoki and Tornionjoki river valleys. The excavations yielded plenty of materials that required further processing. The work at the sites from the Middle Ages and the beginning of the early modern era continued until the late 1980s. However, starting in the early 1980s, archaeologists gradually started to become interested in the study of Iron Age and Bronze Age sites along the coastline of the Bay of Bothnia. The perspective on research into the Neolithic Era (the New Stone Age) changed when the actual scope of Stone Age sites at Kierikki in Yli-Ii was revealed in the 1990s. University of Oulu archaeologists have participated in research of the Neolithic Era in international and Finnish research projects. For as long as the University of Oulu has practiced archaeological research, researchers from Oulu have actively participated in research projects in the Mediterranean – both in Rome and its immediate surroundings, and at Pompeii. Oulu started to strongly develop its bioanthropology and osteology research in the early 2000s. Simultaneously, the University of Oulu partly returned to its roots and started to develop historical archaeology research within the subject of archaeology. At present, the University of Oulu focuses on northern prehistory, antiquities in Lapland, bioarchaeology, and northern historical archaeology, as well as archaeological research projects in the Mediterranean.

The strengths of archaeology at Oulu is its active interaction with the public and other parties. Active field work and cooperation with other parties involved in field work are of utmost importance to archaeological research. The Laboratory of Archaeology arranges field courses for students and provides researchers with the facilities and tools they need for field work.

Laboratory of Archaeology

The Laboratory of Archaeology at the University of Oulu studies, preserves and publishes archaeological and cultural historical artefacts. The laboratory is a place for studying and working for students of archaeology. It is where they prepare their theses and research reports. Furthermore, it is the centre of archaeological field research at the University of Oulu, for which purpose it has its own excavation tools and a conservation laboratory. Researchers and students have access to several computers and the necessary software. The laboratory practices cooperation research and ordered research in the fields of archaeology and conservation.

The Laboratory of Archaeology is located in the Linnanmaa campus by the J-entrance.

Staff

At present, the Laboratory of Archaeology employs three people.

- Janne Ikäheimo, university lecturer (+358 50 350 3173)

- Jari Heinonen, conservator (+358 294 483 235)

- Jari Okkonen, university lecturer (+358 294 483 321

Library/archives

The Laboratory of Archaeology retains documentation from field activities, excavation reports and inventory reports of the University of Oulu. Furthermore, the laboratory has copies of topographic archive materials about Northern Finland from the National Board of Antiquities.

Contact information

Laboratory of Archaeology

PO Box 1000

FI-90014 University of Oulu

Finland

The Cultural Anthropology programme at Oulu specialises in a number a fields pertinent to the study of human society, including Northern cultures, cultural interaction, cultural trends, and environmental, medical, and applied anthropology.

Our researchers have studied, for instance, the transformations and adaptations of traditional economies; human-animal relationships; how technology mediates everyday life; and politics among the Shawnee Indians. We have long-standing interests in political ecology, political economy, human-environment interactions, tourism, conservation and the cognitive analyses of cultural conceptions and worldviews.

We are currently leading and taking part in a variety of research projects. You can learn about the particular research areas of our faculty.

Researchers in our history community have expertise in multiple subjects that help understand and elaborate the relationship of past and present, such as transcultural encounters, history and memory politics, colonial medicine, networks of knowledge and development cooperation, environmental history, health and well-being in the Arctic, Nordic childhood and youth history, and forced migration and immigration policies. We welcome opportunities to enhance international and cross-disciplinary cooperation.

The unit hosts several research projects that target topical issues related to the above mentioned themes. Projects are funded by the Academy of Finland and private foundations and engage senior and post-doctoral scholars as well as doctoral candidates. More information on these projects can be found under the heading Research Groups.

Historians contribute their expertise to Understanding Humans in Change, one of the focus areas of the University of Oulu.

History of science explores changes in the understanding of science and how scientific practices have evolved over time. Traditionally, emphasis has been on medicine and natural sciences, but research on the human sciences is equally important. In Oulu, research topics include history of medicine, psychology and psychiatry as well as the physical sciences, evolutionary theories and the scientific revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries. Historians of science are also examining how scientific data has been collected and analysed, what sort of knowledge has been considered “scientific” and how science interlinks with politics, culture and ideologies.

Information Studies at the University of Oulu conducts basic and applied research that focuses on the interaction between humans and information in different settings. The research efforts within Information Studies are multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary by nature. Within the University of Oulu, Information Studies has established strong ties in research collaboration with Educational Sciences, Medical Science, as well as with Information Processing Science and other fields of technical sciences. The unit also collaborates with Energy and Environmental Economics.

The conducted research is nationally and internationally recognized and of excellent international quality according to the research quality assessment exercise of Communication Studies in 2013 (see the Academy of Finland) and of the University of Oulu in 2014 and 2007.

INSPIRES (INStitutions and PractIces of new liteRaciES)

Traditionally literacy research has been conducted in isolation within disciplines such as psycholinguistics, education, and psychology. Moreover, literacies have been investigated as instrumental skills of individuals rather than as practices in a social context, taking into account both historical continuities and discontinuities in cultural forms of life.

INSPIRES aims at generating interdisciplinary knowledge about literacies needed in contemporary information environments through an integrative approach to information studies, science communication, and educational sciences. Interdisciplinary research on literacies is demanded to get a grasp of this complex, multidimensional phenomenon, including both new literacy practices and new ways of understanding the concept of literacies.

The purpose of INSPIRES is to introduce new theoretical knowledge, novel methodologies and elaborated methods by examining the literacies and related practices of institutions of media, schools, homes, the memory functions of society (libraries, archives, museums) and health care, and in the everyday lives of citizens.

INSPIRES has conducted interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical studies, including the Joy of Reading Program (2013–2015) funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Academy of Finland funded project CogAHealth (2016–2020). INSPIRES researchers have published jointly in high-quality peer-reviewed international and domestic scientific forums, and popularized the findings of this research to wider audiences. INSPIRES also responds to changing structures of the contemporary and future society, including the labour markets. It provides doctoral and research-based education for degree students at the University of Oulu and also in-service education to enhance multi-professionalism. It arranges a monthly research seminar where the participants can share and receive feedback on their research.

The following researchers are currently involved in INSPIRES:

Senior Scholars

Maija-Leena Huotari, PhD, Professor

Erkki Karvonen, PhD, Professor

Riitta-Liisa Korkeamäki, PhD, Professor Emerita

Heidi Enwald, PhD, MSc, Adjunct professor

Terttu Kortelainen, PhD, MSc, Adjunct professor

Vesa Suominen, PhD, Adjunct professor, Emeritus

Noora Hirvonen, PhD, Adjunct professor, Associate professor (tenure track)

Post-doctoral Researchers

Anna Suorsa, PhD

Laura Palmgren-Neuvonen, PhD

Helena Känsäkoski, PhD

Doctoral Students

Virve Antinoja, MA

Aira Huttunen, MA

Riitta-Liisa Karjalainen, MEd

Teija Keränen, MA, MSc

Kaisu Koivumäki, MA

Anna-Maija Multas, MA

Tuula Nygård, MEd

Siinamari Tikkinen, MEd

Annette Ukkola, MEd

Ville Jylhä, MA

Moreover, researchers in the Health Information Mastering, HIM-Oulu&Åbo research group are involved in INSPIRES.

Northern Research Group for History of Childhood and Education is a multidisciplinary group gathering together researchers who work with questions related to history of education, childhood and youth at the University of Oulu. The Finnish acronym Lapanen means ‘mitten’ in English. The acronym refers to history of childhood as a research field (lapsuuden ja nuoruuden historia), but at the same time it also refers to our Northern region, and our ways of working together. Like a warm mitten, the research group aims to encourage each other through collegial support and inspiring discussions. As a research field history of childhood and education remains rather fragmented in Finland. Disciplinary divides may also prevent researchers working on similar topics in different disciplines, like education and history, from finding each other. Lapanen seeks to build bridges crossing these divides, and to promote theoretical and methodological dialogue.

The research group brings together projects funded by the Academy of Finland, University of Oulu and several foundations.

Researchers:

• Academy of Finland research fellow in history, PhD Kaisa Vehkalahti (PI)
• Post-doctoral researcher, PhD Essi Jouhki
• Doctoral student of education, MA Anne Koskela
• Post-doctoral researcher, PhD Tiina Kuokkanen
• Academy of Finland research fellow in archaelogy, PhD Sanna Lipkin
• Doctoral student of history, MA Helena Pennanen
• Post-doctoral researcher, PhD Johanna Sitomaniemi-San
• Post-doctoral researcher, PhD Tiina Väre

Professors

Thora Herrmann
thora.herrmann(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3242

Vesa-Pekka Herva
vesa-pekka.herva(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 483230

Milton Nuñez (emeritus)
milton.nunez(at)oulu.fi

Anna-Kaisa Salmi
anna-kaisa.salmi(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3272

University Lecturers

Janne Ikäheimo
janne.ikaheimo(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 350 3173 / +358 294 48 3345

Heli Maijanen
heli.maijanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +385 294 48 3238

Jari Okkonen
jari.okkonen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3321

Timo Ylimaunu
timo.ylimaunu(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 350 7785 / +385 294 48 3361

Senior Research Fellows

Juho-Antti Junno
juho-antti.junno(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3460

Ferhat Kaya (Academy Research Fellow)
kaya.ferhat(at)oulu.fi

Sanna Lipkin
sanna.lipkin(at)oulu.fi

Markku Niskanen
markku.niskanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3288

Tiina Äikäs
tiina.aikas(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 588 7131

Postdoctoral Researchers

Marja Ahola
marja.ahola(at)oulu.fi

Dmitry Arzyutov
dmitry.arzyutov(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 1607

Markus Fjellström
markus.fjellström(at)oulu.fi

Marika Hyttinen
marika.hyttinen(at)oulu.fi

Tiina Kuokkanen
tiina.kuokkanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3362

Sanna-Mari Kynkäänniemi
sanna-mari.kynkaanniemi(at)oulu.fi

Olga Lisitsyna
olga.lisitsyna(at)oulu.fi

Tuuli Matila
tuuli.matila(at)oulu.fi

Mirette Modarress Julin
mirette.modarress(at)oulu.fi

Sirpa Niinimäki
sirpa.niinimaki(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 44 289 5120

Risto Nurmi
risto.nurmi(at)oulu.fi

Jani Oravisjärvi (Project Researcher)
jani.oravisjarvi(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3234

Maxime Pelletier
maxime.pelletier(at)oulu.fi

Oula Seitsonen
oula.seitsonen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3214

Eline Tabak
eline.tabak(at)oulu.fi

Alix Varnajot
alix.varnajot(at)oulu.fi

Tiina Väre
tiina.vare(at)oulu.fi

Doctoral Researchers

Mathilde van den Berg
mathilde.vandenberg(at)oulu.fi

Silja Heikkinen
silja.heikkinen(at)oulu.fi

Noora Hemminki
noora.hemminki(at)oulu.fi

Marjo Juola
marjo.juola(at)oulu.fi

Emilia Jääskeläinen
emilia.jaaskelainen(at)oulu.fi

Ilja Koivisto
ilja.koivisto(at)oulu.fi

Niina Korpinen
niina.korpinen(at)oulu.fi

Markku Kuorilehto
markku.kuorilehto(at)oulu.fi

Taru Mäkinen
taru.makinen(at)oulu.fi

Hanna-Leena Puolakka
hanna-leena.puolakka(at)oulu.fi

Jonas Rapakko
jonas.rapakko(at)oulu.fi

Saara Tuovinen
saara.tuovinen(at)oulu.fi

Katariina Vuori
katariina.vuori(at)oulu.fi

Sema Yilmaz
sema.yilmaz(at)oulu.fi

Assisting Personnel in Research and Education

Jari Heinonen (Research Engineer)
jari.heinonen(at)oulu.fi

Professors

Hannu I. Heikkinen
hannu.i.heikkinen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 184 2176

Associate Professor

Anna Krzywoszynska
anna.krzywoszynska(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3318

University Lecturers

Taina Kinnunen
taina.kinnunen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3371

Sami Lakomäki
sami.lakomaki(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3357

Anneli Meriläinen-Hyvärinen
anneli.merilainen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3340 / +358 40 592 5380

Roger Norum (leave of absence, Academy Research Fellow)
roger.norum(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 7854

Tiina Suopajärvi
tiina.suopajarvi(at)oulu.fi

Senior Research Fellows

Eeva Berglund
eeva.berglund(at)oulu.fi

Bruno Lefort (Academy Research Fellow)

Jenni Rinne
jenni.rinne(at)oulu.fi

Postdoctoral Researchers

Jonathan Carruthers-Jones
jonathan.carruthers-jones(at)oulu.fi

Veera Kinnunen
veera.kinnunen(at)oulu.fi

Teresa Komu
teresa.komu(at)oulu.fi

Élise Lépy
elise.lepy(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3254

Jelena Salmi
jelena.salmi(at)oulu.fi

Simo Sarkki
simo.sarkki(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 510 4149

Anatolijs Venovcevs
anatolijs.venovcevs(at)oulu.fi

Anna-Maria Walter
anna-maria.walter(at)oulu.fi

Doctoral Researchers

Johanna Aromaa
johanna.aromaa(at)oulu.fi

Erich Berger
erich.berger(at)oulu.fi

Jasmiini Fransala
jasmiini.fransala(at)oulu.fi

Olli Haanpää
olli.haanpaa(at)oulu.fi

Anna Heumann-Kaya (Project Researcher)
anna.heumann-kaya(at)oulu.fi

Luisa Lollio
luisa.lollio(at)oulu.fi

Tiina Mattila
tiina.j.mattila(at)oulu.fi

Paula Palanco Lopez
paula.palancolopez(at)oulu.fi

Anna Ruohonen
anna.ruohonen(at)oulu.fi

Anna Vladimirova
anna.vladimirova(at)oulu.fi

Professors

Kari Alenius (Head of the History, Culture and Communications Research Unit)
kari.alenius(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3301

Olavi K. Fält (emeritus)
olavi.falt(at)oulu.fi

Tiina Kinnunen
tiina.s.kinnunen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 384 6655

University Lecturers

Matti Enbuske (Dean of Education)
matti.enbuske(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3302

Markku Hokkanen
markku.hokkanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3239

Seija Jalagin
seija.jalagin(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3363 / +358 40 778 9021

Ritva Kylli
ritva.kylli(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3307

Kirsi Laurén (Cultural Heritage)
kirsi.lauren(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3337

Henry Oinas-Kukkonen
henry.oinas-kukkonen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3319

Matti Salo
matti.salo(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3339

Timo Sironen (Ancient Languages and Culture, emeritus)
timo.sironen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3310

Senior Research Fellow

Esa Ruuskanen
esa.ruuskanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 483229 / +358 50 5997085

Postdoctoral Researchers

Riikka Isoaho-Nousiainen
riikka.isoaho-nousiainen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 7044 860

Wiivi-Maria Jouttijärvi
wiivi-maria.jouttijarvi(at)oulu.fi

Maria Julku
maria.julku(at)oulu.fi

Outi Kähäri
outi.kahari(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 340 1679

Matti Leiviskä
matti.leiviska(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 754 4670

Doctoral Researchers

Saara Intonen
saara.intonen(at)oulu.fi

Venla Koivuluhta
venla.koivuluhta(at)oulu.fi

Outi Korhonen
outi.korhonen(at)oulu.fi

Pauliina Lahtinen
pauliina.lahtinen(at)oulu.fi

Henna Lammi
henna.lammi(at)oulu.fi

Tiina Lempinen
tiina.lempinen(at)oulu.fi

Nita Mäenpää
nita.maenpaa(at)oulu.fi

Tanja Riekkinen
tanja.riekkinen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 44 983 2820

Eetu Riskumäki
eetu.riskumaki(at)oulu.fi

Roosa Tyni
roosa.tyni(at)oulu.fi

Researchers

Marianne Junila
marianne.junila(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3470

Matti Mäntylä
matti.mantyla(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3457

Tuula Okkonen
tuula.okkonen(at)oulu.fi

Marika Rauhala
marika.rauhala(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 1516

Juha Sahi
juha.sahi(at)oulu.fi

Professors

Jouni-Matti Kuukkanen (Philosophy)
jouni-matti.kuukkanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3202

Petteri Pietikäinen
petteri.pietikainen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3303

University Lecturers

Maija Kallinen
maija.kallinen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3304

Kalle Kananoja
kalle.kananoja(at)oulu.fi

Vili Lähteenmäki (Philosophy)
vili.lahteenmaki(at)oulu.fi

Matias Slavov
matias.slavov(at)oulu.fi

Senior Research Fellows

Heini Hakosalo
heini.hakosalo(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 44 536 0631

Jan Kuhanen
jan.kuhanen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3312

Peter Myrdal
peter.myrdal(at)oulu.fi

Postdoctoral Researchers

Julia Dahlberg
julia-marie.dahlberg(at)oulu.fi

Georg Gangl (Philosophy)
georg.gangl(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3356

Eve-Riina Hyrkäs
eve-riina.hyrkas(at)oulu.fi

Suvi Kuokkanen
suvi.kuokkanen(at)oulu.fi

Antti Lepistö
antti.lepisto(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 544 9098

Dejan Lukic
dejan.lukic(at)oulu.fi

Oberto Marrama (Philosophy)
oberto.marrama(at)oulu.fi

Mikko Myllykangas
mikko.myllykangas(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3308

Annukka Sailo
annukka.sailo(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 360 9907

Samu Sarviaho
samu.sarviaho(at)oulu.fi

Jani Sinokki (Philosophy)
jani.sinokki(at)oulu.fi

Doctoral Researchers

Kaisa Harju
kaisa.harju(at)oulu.fi

Misha Hyttinen
misha.hyttinen(at)oulu.fi

Lauri Moilanen
lauri.moilanen(at)oulu.fi

Merja Pyykkönen
merja.pyykkonen(at)oulu.fi

Ilari Virtanen
ilari.virtanen(at)oulu.fi

Professors

Noora Hirvonen
noora.hirvonen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 322 7851

Maija-Leena Huotari (emerita)
maija-leena.huotari(at)oulu.fi

Erkki Karvonen (Communication Studies; Master's Degree Programme in Science Communication, TIEMA)
erkki.karvonen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3352

University Lecturers

Heidi Enwald
heidi.enwald(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3426

Aira Huttunen
aira.huttunen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 477 4831

Teija Keränen
teija.keranen(at)oulu.fi

Terttu Kortelainen (emerita)
terttu.kortelainen(at)oulu.fi

Anna Suorsa
anna.suorsa(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 432 9211

Postdoctoral Researchers

Tuulikki Alamettälä
tuulikki.alamettala(at)oulu.fi

Anna-Maija Multas
anna-maija.multas(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 428 5175

Tuula Nygård
tuula.nygard(at)oulu.fi

Doctoral Researchers

Ville Jylhä
ville.jylha(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 1869

Yucong Lao
yucong.lao(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3259

Sabrina Nwonye
sabrina.nwonye(at)oulu.fi

University Teacher

Mirkka Oja-Leikas
mirkka.oja-leikas(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3411

Solution Designer

Linja Pyykkönen
linda.pyykkonen(at)oulu.fi

Professor

Erkki Karvonen
erkki.karvonen(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3352

University Teacher

Mirkka Oja-Leikas
mirkka.oja-leikas(at)oulu.fi, tel. +358 294 48 3411

Andre Costopoulos

Mark W. Hauser

Janne Ikäheimo

Eero Jarva

Jari-Matti Kuusela

Minna Lönnqvist

Laura McAtackney

Paul R. Mullins

Ulla Rajala

Anna-Kaisa Salmi

James Symonds

Tapani Tuovinen

LouAnn Wurst

Timo Ylimaunu

Juha Hiltunen

Taina Kinnunen

Kirsi Laurén

Simo Sarkki

Laura Siragusa

Hanna Snellman

Sirpa Aalto

Kari Alenius

Michel S. Beaulieu

Martti Eirola

Matti Enbuske

Roman Hautala

Svetlana Hautala

Antti Häkkinen

Tytti Isohookana-Asunmaa

Jussi Jalonen

Veera Kinnunen

Mikko Kohvakka

Juhani Kostet

Heidi Kurvinen

Ritva Kylli

Matti Lackman

Seppo Lohi

Hannu Mustakallio

Henry Oinas-Kukkonen

Ilona Pikkanen

Heikki Roiko-Jokela

Aapo Roselius

Matti Salo

Timo Soikkanen

Jouko Talonen

Ilkka Teerijoki

Pasi Tuunainen

Jutta Ahlbeck

Jonas Ahlskog

Kaarlo Arffman

Adam Bricker

Juhani Ihanus

Jouko Jokisalo

Maija Kallinen

Terhi Kiiskinen

Janne Kivivuori

Simo Knuuttila

Heikki Kovalainen

Martin Kusch

Jyrki Käkönen

Olli Lagerspetz

Tuomas Laine-Frigren

Anto Leikola

Jaakko Lounela

Jarmo Pulkkinen

Juhani Sarsila

Maria Suutala

Kaisa Vehkalahti

Kari Väyrynen

Maija-Leena Huotari

Kirsti Kasila

Sinikka Torkkola