Heidi Konttinen, MA, Doctoral Student

With my PhD dissertation, I study how global and local (indigenous and non-indigenous) sustainability discourses are formed, how they differ and how power is distributed between them. These discourses are studied through the Arctic seal hunt, crafts and trade with the aim in understanding how the sustainability discourses could complement—instead of conflicting with—each other. Indigenous perspective is conducted with Kalaallit in Greenland, local perspective with Finnish sealing community (Himanka) in the Gulf of Bothnia and the global perspective is formed from the statements and agreements by international actors, such as the EU, UN and animal welfare organizations. 

Research assistant
Speed up towards sustainable mobility, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki. 4/2019-11/2019
• Participating in planning and conducting research on sustainable mobility, including half-structured interviews in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Environmental educator
Ilmari climate education program. Fall 2017
• Visiting primary schools (grades 8-9) to discuss about climate change.

Communications
Creative Sustainability, Aalto-yliopisto 2/2016-6/2018
• Content production to Master's programme's home page and social media.
• Event coordination, alumni relations and marketing.

Event coordinator: Finland Youth Climate Summit 2015
Nuorten Akatemia / Ilmari, 9/2015-11/2015
• Coordinator of Youth Climate Summit, that was arranged in cooperation with Ilmari, WWF, Heureka Science Center and Schneider Electric

Intern
Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Sami Homeland, Arctic Centre, 10/2014 - 11/2014

Developing Sustainability at UAF
Office of Sustainability, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 6/2014 - 8/2014
• Planning and participating in campus sustainability projects.
• Visual communication.

Design intern, Researching and designing rural Alaskan sanitary system
Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, 5/2013 - 8/2013
• Research on existing sanitary systems in rural Alaska.
• Semistructured interviews of experts.
• Prototyping and testing dry toilet ventilation system.

Design intern
Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Fairbanks, Alaska, 9/2011 to 12/2011
• Studying sustainable architectural solutions in the Arctic regions, and compiling these into a booklet.
• Graphic design.

Developing Sustainability at UAF
Office of Sustainability, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 5/2011 - 9/2011
• Report on sustainability at UAF by using AASHE STARS Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System.
• Gardening at UAF’s organic garden providing vegetables and greens for University’s dining service.