I am an environmental social scientist having background in environmental policy studies. My research topics have ranged from energy, forest biodiversity, wolves and other wildlife to food and waste issues. Currently my work is focused on water and plastics in the society. My research interest encompasses human-nature relations and the politics of environmental knowledge, including epistemic power relations and knowledge controversies. I am also exploring citizen engagement and agency in sustainability transformations. In addition to environmental policy studies I am inspired by science and technology studies, especially posthumanist and pragmatist approaches attending to non-human natures as well as corporeality and materialities in social scientific inquiry. Thereby, I am interested in the role of affects and emotions in environmental governance, human-wildlife cohabitation and care of things. In my work, I have also had a chance to experiment with science-art collaborations.
Ongoing projects:
PlastLIFE SIP (2023-2029)
Sense of Water (2022-2026)
Recent publications:
Peltola T, Saarela S-R, Kotilainen J, Litmanen T, Lukkarinen J, Pölönen I, Ratamäki O, Saarikoski H, Salo M & Vikström S (2023) Researcher roles in collaborative governance interventions. Science and Public Policy, doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scad034
Peltola T & Ratamäki O (2023) Sharing epistemic power: digitally mediated wolf monitoring in Finland. Science as Culture, doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2023.2214148
Peltola T, Arpin I, Leino J, Peltonen L, Salmi P & Ratamäki O (2023) Management plans as resources in conservation conflicts. Environmental Policy and Governance 33(2), 206-218. doi.org/10.1002/eet.2014
I also work at the Finnish Environment Institute, Societal Change Unit
Research groups
-
Human-Animal Studies Network 01.01.2005 -
-
Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy 01.08.2021 -
Projects
Publications
18/18 items-
From the edge to the core: Participatory food environment research in European cities
Czeglédi, Alexandra; Kopczynska, Ewa; Peltola, Taru; Seppälä, Tuija; Pózner, Vanda; Szakál, Diana; Steinwender, David; Karner, Sandra; Kaljonen, Minna; Oinonen, Iikka; Hey, Maya. Teoksessa: Getzinger, Günter; Jahrbacher, Michaela; Häller, Franziska(toim.) , 2023. Conference Proceedings of the STS Conference Graz 2023: Critical Issues in Science, Technology‚ and Society Studies. s. 497-509. Verlag der Technischen Universität Graz Universitätsbibliothek -
Lähentävätkö vai etäännyttävätkö digitaaliset välineet luonnosta?
Santaoja, Minna; Peltola, Taru. 2023. Suomen museo - Finskt museum. 130: 6–26 -
Researcher roles in collaborative governance interventions
Peltola, Taru; Saarela, Sanna-Riikka; Kotilainen, Juha M; Litmanen, Tapio; Lukkarinen, Jani; Pölönen, Ismo; Ratamäki, Outi; Saarikoski, Heli; Salo, Miikka; Vikström, Suvi. 2023. Science and public policy. 50: 871-880 -
Sharing epistemic power: digitally mediated wolf monitoring in Finland
Peltola, Taru; Ratamäki, Outi. 2023. Science as culture. 2024; 33: 342-365 -
Kansalaistiede ja yhteinen tiedon muodostus luontoa koskevissa ristiriidoissa
Peltola, Taru. Teoksessa: Laakso, Senja; Aro, Riikka(toim.) , 2022. Planeetan kokoinen arki: Askelia kestävämpään politiikkaan. s. 231-250. Gaudeamus -
Management plans as resources in conservation conflicts
Peltola, Taru; Arpin, Isabelle; Leino, Johanna; Peltonen, Lasse; Ratamäki, Outi; Salmi, Pekka. 2022. Environmental policy and governance. 2023; 33: 206-218 -
Miten halu hankkia uutta voitaisiin kääntää haluksi huolehtia vanhasta?
Peltola, Taru; Pitkänen, Kati; Schubin, Elli. 2022. Ratkaisuja-blogi. : . -
Epäröinti - muuttavatko ekosysteemipalvelut luontosuhdetta?
Peltola, Taru. Teoksessa: Hiedanpää, Juha(toim.) , 2021. Tiedeneuvo: Ihmistieteen näkökulmia luonnonvarapolitiikan muotoiluun. s. 201-228. Vastapaino -
Ihmistieteellinen neuvo yhteiskunnan häiriötilanteessa
Hiedanpää, Juha; Häyrynen, Simo; Kamppinen, Matti; Kuikka, Sakari; Kumpula, Anne; Naskali, Arto; Oksanen, Markku; Peltola, Taru; Rannikko, Pertti; Setälä, Maija; Uusivuori, Jussi; Opas, Minna; Rönkä, Mia. Teoksessa: Hiedanpää, Juha(toim.) , 2021. Tiedeneuvo: Ihmistieteen näkökulmia luonnonvarapolitiikan muotoiluun. s. 285-304. Vastapaino -
Illegal Killing of Large Carnivores in Finland: A Frame Analysis
Ratamäki, Outi; Peltola, Taru. 2021. Scandinavian studies in law. 67: 255-272