About
Taru Rikkonen serves as a Visiting Researcher at the Arctic Centre Global Change Research unit of the University of Lapland. Her work focuses on Arctic environmental systems with particular emphasis on Sámi homeland regions in Finland.
Her research interests span climate change impacts, reindeer herding sustainability, land use conflicts, and cultural continuity in Arctic communities. Key areas include extreme weather adaptation, ecological grief phenomena, and the socio-ecological dimensions of snow landscapes for indigenous populations.
Recent publications reveal consistent focus on boreo-arctic climate dynamics and Sámi perspectives, with increasing attention to interdisciplinary connections between environmental science and cultural anthropology. Her work frequently examines the intersection of traditional knowledge systems with contemporary climate challenges.
Rikkonen actively contributes to major collaborative projects including the ArcticHubs initiative (2020-2024), which investigated global drivers of local Arctic change through co-design methodologies. She maintains strong engagement with both academic and indigenous communities through conference presentations and public outreach.
