Ecosystem services—the benefits that nature provides—are essential for human well-being and climate resilience.
At the University of Eastern Finland, the UEF//ECOSERV Research Group explores how ecosystem structures, functions, and services respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances under changing climatic conditions. Our work connects ecological research with practical solutions, addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges.
Core Research Themes
- Ecosystem Structure
Species composition, biomass dynamics, and the structural integrity of ecosystems. - Ecological Disturbances
Effects of fire, windthrow, and human-induced stressors on ecosystem resilience and restoration. - Carbon Sequestration
Soil carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sink functions in forests and wetlands. - Water Quality
Impacts of land use and disturbances on nutrient runoff and aquatic ecosystems. - Biodiversity and Microbiomes
Biodiversity responses to disturbance, emphasising soil microbial communities and ecosystem functioning. - Cultural and Social Dimensions
Recreational, traditional, and cultural values of ecosystems, and community involvement in restoration efforts.
The main objective of my doctoral research is to examine the mechanized planting of tree seedlings from the perspective of productivity, cost and the quality of work.
Since 2021, Kalle Kärhä has been a Professor of Forest Technology, especially Digitalization of Forest Operations and Logistics at the University of Eastern Finland. Currently, he also holds a Docent professorship in Forest Technology at the University of Helsinki and a Docent professorship in Forest Technology, especially Forest Energy Supply Systems at the University of Eastern Finland. Previously, he worked in several operational and RDI roles at Stora Enso Wood Supply Finland in 2011–2021.
The total number of his publications is more than 400 consisting of the peer-reviewed scientific articles, non-refereed scientific articles and books, as well as publications intended for professional communities and the general public. His research interests include driver and operator assistant systems, studies on the utilization of novel sensor technologies in forest machines and timber trucks, and energy efficiency and GHG emissions in the value chain of forest industry.
Research emphasis on Accounting and Finance in SMEs. Current research interests and topics include application of artificial intelligence (e.g. neural network) in the area of accounting & finance, circular economy, the role of ethics to firm performance etc.
How do traditions – cultural continuities within immaterial and material folklore and customs – relate to geographical and other, more symbolic borders as well the plurality of mobilities? And what kinds of perspectives open up, when these issues are addressed from the viewpoint of material and visual culture, and aesthetic matters? How do we visualize, especially by means of sketching, things like immaterial folklore, beauty, or borders? What viewpoints research and arts, separately and together, provide for these questions?
Folklore and culture studies researcher Kari Korolainen is specialized in cultural traditions and mundane aesthetic issues, as well in visual and material culture, not only in the research but also from the practical stance. In the project the Lost Mitten and Other Stories (Jan 1, 2018-July 31, 2020), Korolainen combined research and visual arts. Accordingly, “Marjatta & Ilman Kinna” comic book was published (by Kirjokansi) in February 2020 In the earlier studies, Korolainen dealt with issues as the borderlands of (visual) arts, home decoration and cultural customs from the viewpoint of artification. Korolainen possess multidimensional expertise also in the issues relating to the collecting and the archives of the folklore materials. He used to work in the Finnish Literature Society Archive and in the North Karelian Museum. Formerly, he worked as a visual artist.
Science education I am in charge of primary teacher education, where I teach the pedagogy of science in multidisciplinary studies, and I supervise bachelor’s and master’s theses. I am also the responsible person in the pedagogical studies of a subject teacher; there I teach the pedagogy of science mainly to physics, chemistry, and mathematics teacher students. I have participated in several European teacher education projects and spent autumn 2016 as a visiting Fulbright scholar at Stanford University, CA. My research interests are in inclusive science education and multidisciplinary STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) education. I also follow the NoS (Nature of Science) research.
As a member of the three-person InBorder research team, Storm(-Närväinen) is interested in dissecting practices of border- and borderlander governance in democratic, semi-democratic, and authoritarian regimes. The InBorder research team, made up of P.I. Prof. Christofer Berglund (Malmö University, Sweden), Prof. Ketevan Bolkvadze (Lund University, Sweden), and Storm-Närväinen (UEF, KTL), and is charged with investigating official and unofficial practices of borderland governance across three paradigmatic cases–among Russians in Estonia’s Ida-Viru region, Armenians in Georgia’s Javakheti region, and among Talysh in Azerbaijan’s Lenkaran region. Storm-Närväinen is primarily occupied with the Georgian and Azerbaijani aspects of the study, although she is involved in aspects of the desk research phase of the Estonian case as well. Storm(-Närväinen)’s prior research focused upon the politics of memory and identity among members of ethnic/national minority groups in Georgia, namely among the Georgian Azeri-Turks of the Kvemo Kartli border region. Her geographic area of expertise is the South Caucasus and its constituent states (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), although her research interests have led her to undertake inquiries touching upon peoples and states in Russia and Central Asia as well. Storm-Närväinen is a native speaker of English and possesses varying levels of proficiency in the Azerbaijani, Finnish, Georgian, Kazakh, and Russian languages as well.
Currently, I work as a medical doctor (psychiatry resident) at Oulu University Hospital and as Adj. Professor / Senior researcher in the University of Eastern Finland, Department of Neurology, FinFTD network. My research interests focus especially on new blood based biomarkers in frontotemporal dementia and other neurodegenerative / psychiatric disorders. I also supervise several PhD thesis projects focusing on different aspects of frontotemporal dementia.
In my PhD research, I explore young adults’ experiences of home in different situations in life. I am particularly interested in how emotions and feelings become intertwined with (re)making the sense of home. The theoretical framework of my research leans onto the cultural geography of home and the research of emotions and affects. In my Master’s thesis, I explored home and gender. As a project researcher, I have worked in projects focused on the rural areas: everyday safety, care and concern in rural areas, materialities of rural villages, and young people’s experiences of everyday life and expectations of future in rural Finland.
University Teacher and Doctoral Researcher in the International Business and Sales Management Research Group Research Areas The role of the sales function in organizational innovation. The role of B2B sales in organizational innovation processes and in developing innovation potential, sales innovativeness, innovation culture, and the management of innovation activities in sales teams. Sales management and knowledge sharing in sales teams. Opportunities and challenges in sales management when developing innovation activities, barriers and enablers of knowledge sharing, and the use of technology and artificial intelligence in innovation and knowledge sharing in sales teams. Workplace and organizational culture. Leadership and development of workplace culture, changing workplace cultures, and research on Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). Teaching and Supervision Sales and Buyer Behavior in Retailing; International Sales; Introduction to Business Studies; Supervision of theses.
