Rick Bonnie

Rick Bonnie is a University Lecturer in Museology at the Department of Cultures, University of Helsinki. His academic work focuses on museum ethics, cultural heritage, and provenance research, with a particular emphasis on Middle Eastern collections in Finnish institutions. He is affiliated with the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) and serves as a founding member of the Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (2018–2025).

His research explores object biographies, decolonization in museum practices, and sensory archaeology. Recent projects include "Making Home Abroad" (2020–2022), which utilized 3D scanning for migrant heritage engagement, and "Religious Responses to Climate Change in the Southern Levant" (2019–2022), analyzing ritual purification baths through hydrological modeling.

Bonnie's publications span journals like Journal of Cuneiform Studies and Heritage Science, focusing on ancient Near Eastern material culture, museum ethics, and sustainable heritage practices. He actively participates in international conferences and peer-review processes, advocating for responsible stewardship of unprovenanced artifacts.