Anniken Førde

Anniken Førde is a Professor in Community Planning and Cultural Understanding at the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Teacher Education at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. She also serves as Doctoral Coordinator ISV, overseeing doctoral education within her department. Based in Tromsø, Professor Førde actively contributes to both teaching and research at Norway's northernmost university, with a particular focus on Arctic and sub-Arctic contexts.

Professor Førde's research spans several interconnected areas focused on sustainable and inclusive place development. Her work centers on local transformation processes, place-sensitive planning approaches, and the development of diverse cities that accommodate both human and non-human inhabitants. She has pioneered research on multispecies place development, examining how humans coexist with other species in urban environments, particularly focusing on seabirds like kittiwakes in northern Norwegian cities. Her research on tourism examines changing landscapes and the pressures of the tourism age on place qualities. Additionally, she explores innovation and improvisation in planning, investigating how urban spaces can accommodate unforeseen encounters and spontaneous social interactions.

Professor Førde's publication record reveals a strong trajectory toward multispecies perspectives and environmental crisis response. Her recent work increasingly focuses on how planning and place development must account for non-human actors, particularly in times of planetary emergency. She has made significant contributions to understanding sharing economies as mechanisms for sustainable consumption, particularly through equipment lending systems. Her research shows a clear evolution from traditional urban planning concerns toward more holistic, ecologically grounded approaches that recognize the agency of non-human elements in shaping places. The geographical focus remains strongly rooted in Northern Norway, with particular attention to Tromsø and other Arctic communities.

As Doctoral Coordinator ISV, Professor Førde plays a key role in guiding the next generation of researchers. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary research collaborations, serving as a member of the research group Sted, Makt og Mobilitet (Place, Power and Mobility), as well as participating in the Changing Arctic and Center for Arctic Humanities initiatives. Her current project FUGLAN VEIT focuses on mobilizing place, nature, and community through local food practices, representing her commitment to transdisciplinary approaches that combine research, art, traditional knowledge, and dialogue.

Professor Førde is deeply engaged with community-based research and knowledge co-production. Her work with the UPSCALE project (2020-2024) demonstrates her commitment to practical applications of research, particularly in developing library-based initiatives to promote more sustainable consumption. She frequently collaborates with local communities, artists, and knowledge holders to develop innovative approaches to place development that respect both human and non-human inhabitants of urban spaces.