Circumpolar Health and Wellbeing

The programme entitled Circumpolar Health and Wellbeing studies wellbeing, health and health care, health risks and adaptation to the northern environment. The research programme emphasises the northern point of view: man is considered as a physical, cultural and social actor in the northern environment and society.

The areas of study are: (1) environmental health and adaptation, (2) population health, health care and treatment, (3) societal and individual wellbeing, (4) cultural aspects of wellbeing and health.

Wellbeing is studied from a multidisciplinary perspective, looking e.g. at the special social characteristics of the local population and the traditions of minority peoples in relation to wellbeing. The challenges posed by sparse population are part of the study of northern health care-related problems. Living in the northern environment involves cold, adaptation to cold as well as cold-related risks.

The programme is implemented by the Centre for Arctic Medicine.

Projects in the Health and Wellbeing research programme

Prevention of marginalisation in Northern Finland

Environmental health – from exposure to biomarkers

Energy metabolism and thermal biology of endothermic animals in the North: Genotypic adaptations and phenotypic flexibility

Revitalisation processes for Northern minority languages and cultures

PLACES – Place and Environment in the Stories of Northern people – On the borderline between global and local

Seamless services by eHealth

Contact person

Programme director, Research Professor Arja Rautio