معرفی
Anna Rastas is a Doctor of Social Sciences currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Social Anthropology at Tampere University and Adjunct Professor of European Ethnology at the University of Helsinki. She has been affiliated with Tampere University since 2001, holding various positions including Professor of Social Anthropology (2012-2014), Senior Research Fellow (2014-2015), and Academy Research Fellow (2015-2020). Her work bridges sociology and social anthropology through multidisciplinary and intersectional approaches.
Her primary research interests encompass racism and anti-racism, racialized and ethnic relations, knowledge production concerning minorities and marginalized communities, diaspora studies, transnationalism, childhood and youth studies, cultural production, and critical heritage studies. She has conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork across Europe, the U.S., and Africa, with a particular focus on African diaspora communities and their representations in museums and exhibitions.
Rastas has led significant research projects including the Academy of Finland-funded project 'Rethinking diasporas, redefining nations. Representations of African diaspora formations in museums and exhibitions' (2015-2020). Her scholarly work reveals patterns in how African diaspora communities navigate identity, belonging, and representation in predominantly white European societies, with particular attention to intersectional approaches to museum work and decolonial practices.
- Academy Research Fellow (Academy of Finland, 2015-2020)
- Visiting Scholar at University of Amsterdam (2017)
- Visiting Scholar at University of California, Davis (2018)
As an educator and activist, Rastas has trained authorities, professionals, and NGOs in Finland and internationally on anti-racism and diversity issues. She considers herself an anti-racism activist and has previous work experience with asylum seekers, refugees, and NGOs, complementing her academic work with practical engagement in social justice issues.
