Katarina Plank

Katarina Plank is a Senior Lecturer at Karlstad University, specializing in Religious Studies with a focus on Buddhism, mindfulness practices, and the intersection of religion with healthcare, education, and migration. Her research explores the adaptation of Asian religions in Nordic contexts, including issues of religious pluralism, secularization, and the role of meditation in contemporary society.

Key contributions include studies on Buddhist institutions in Sweden, the integration of mindfulness into the Church of Sweden's practices, and the socio-cultural dimensions of religious food practices in schools. She has edited multiple volumes analyzing transnational religious phenomena, such as the translocal nature of Thai Buddhist retreat centers and the political implications of self-immolation protests in Tibet.

Plank has also engaged with public policy debates, including the taxation of Buddhist temples and the ethical challenges of religious literacy in asylum processes. Her work frequently bridges academic analysis with practical pedagogical strategies, emphasizing experiential learning in religious education.

• Recent research trends: Mindfulness in healthcare, religious pluralism in education, and transnational Buddhist networks
• Notable collaborations: Co-editing series on Nordic religious practices and Eastern spirituality