معرفی
Mari Pienimäki is a Researcher affiliated with Tampere University's Research Faculty of Social Sciences, specifically within the Unit of Social Research. She holds a Docent title in Contemporary Culture from the University of Jyväskylä (2022) and a PhD in the same field from the University of Jyväskylä (2013). Her work bridges youth studies, media studies, educational science, and environmental sociology, focusing on themes such as media literacy, sustainable development, youth environmental citizenship, and participatory methodologies.
Education: PhD in Contemporary Culture (2013, University of Jyväskylä); Docent of Contemporary Culture (2022, University of Jyväskylä). Postdoctoral research at Tampere University since 2013.
Research Interests: She explores young people's relationships with nature, media education for marginalized youth (e.g., the 'Inclusive Media Education' model), participatory photography, and the intersection of creativity with resilience and well-being. Her approach emphasizes qualitative methods like ethnography and co-researching.
Notable Achievements: Her 2013 dissertation on photographic interpretation is a seminal work in Finnish media literacy research. The IME model (2021) has been recognized by the European Commission for fostering youth mental health. Recent work includes the 'NOW!' project on youth environmental agency and the EU-funded ICME project (2023–2024).
Grants & Leadership: Led Kone Foundation-funded projects (e.g., 'Young People in the Limelight', 'NOW!') with teams of ~10 researchers. Served as Research Manager at COMET (2020–2021). Keynote speaker at conferences like the 2023 EOE conference.
Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary teams at Tampere University, collaborating with institutions like KAVI and Cupore. Co-directs the IME and ICME initiatives.
