Sirpa Tani

Sirpa Tani is a Professor at the Department of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, with a docentship in the Department of Geosciences and Geography. She is affiliated with the Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), the Institute for Urban Studies (Urbaria), and Humanities and Social Sciences Education (HuSoEd). Tani serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Program in School, Education, Society and Culture.

Her educational background includes a doctoral dissertation from 1995 on the relationship between people and the city in Finnish fictional films. She has established herself as a leading scholar in geography and environmental education with expertise in cultural geography and urban studies.

Sirpa Tani's research focuses on multisensory and bodily aspects of place attachment, the importance of public space in young people's everyday lives, and environmental education in urban contexts. She examines how meaningful subject knowledge and human capacities for action can promote youth well-being. Her work bridges geography education, youth research, and environmental studies, with particular interest in subject-based integration and the relationships between youth work, cross-curricular school education, and youth geography.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on educational frameworks, geography curriculum development, and urban youth studies. The articles span topics from curricular analysis of powerful knowledge across countries to multisensory observation of everyday environments and the social dynamics guiding young people's movement in urban spaces.

• Ragnar Hult Medal (October 25, 2018)
• Ympäristökasvatuksen Ruusu Award (November 19, 2020)

Professor Tani has supervised 5 doctoral students and been involved in numerous research projects, including the current PowerKnow project (2023-2027) funded by the Academy of Finland, which focuses on knowledge building sustainable futures through subject-based, integrated, and everyday knowledge in geography, history, and social studies education. She has also been active in the InterEarth RESET project and the "Nuorten paikkataju ja huolet" (Youth's Spatial Awareness and Concerns) project.

Her research group and collaborations span multiple institutions, with strong connections to urban studies, sustainability science, and educational research. Tani's work often involves interdisciplinary teams examining the complex relationships between people, places, and educational practices, particularly focusing on youth experiences in urban environments.