Reidun Heggem

Reidun Heggem is an Associate Professor at the Department of Teacher Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where she has been employed since 2016. She holds a PhD in sociology, with her dissertation titled 'The new "farmer" - between change and continuity'. Prior to NTNU, she worked as a researcher at the Norwegian Centre for Rural Research (Ruralis) and the Norwegian Institute for Consumer Research (Sifo). Her expertise spans qualitative and quantitative methods, public health, and tourism.

Heggem's research focuses on rural sociology, emphasizing socio-cultural conditions, social inequality, rural upbringing/education, health disparities in rural communities, and rural-based business development/tourism. Her work critically examines cultural determinants of health, gender dynamics in agriculture, and sustainable tourism models in Norwegian contexts.

Her publications consistently explore themes of rural life, with recent emphasis on childhood obesity in rural Norway, cultural influences on health, and challenges in rural healthcare delivery. Earlier work analyzed gender inclusion in agriculture and consumer attitudes toward biotechnology.

Heggem teaches courses including Introduction to Social Studies Education, Critical Perspectives on Social Studies Teaching, and Regional Studies. She frequently presents at conferences on topics like rural food culture and interdisciplinary health approaches.