Summer gratitude

So many things have happened in the past few weeks.

We had a wonderful two-day retreat with our AniMate more-than-human research team: talking about small wins, sharing dreams, eating good food, and listening to the sounds of nature.

I also met many inspiring researchers during the SAFIRE Thematic Semester event Bridging Ways of Knowing, where I talked about the interconnected industrial histories of Leppiniemi and Muhos, two small settlements near Oulu.

Later in June, together with my student assistant Julia, I visited Muhos. We chose the venue for our upcoming community workshop and visited the local museum run by volunteers.

There, next to the boat that once carried tar along the Oulujoki river, I learned that I had been awarded a four-year Academy Research Fellowship from the Finnish Research Council.

Yes! Starting in September, I will lead the DATAVOID project, which focuses on data centres in post-industrial Arctic settlements. The project includes planned case studies in Finland and Canada and combines ethnographic research with artistic collaboration. I will also be recruiting a postdoctoral researcher with expertise related to Canada in the autumn.

So many things to process and finalize before the summer break begins.

Academia is a tough game, but I am deeply grateful for the warmth and support of my friends and colleagues during these emotional weeks.

_{(photos by me, Alexandra Middleton and Pauliina Rautio)}