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Borders, Mobilities and Cultural Encounters BOMOCULT

BOMOCULT research community stems from the strategic objective of the University of Eastern Finland to provide answers to global challenges through research and it forms the core of the university’s profile area Cultural Encounters, Mobilities, and Borders. BOMOCULT is an abbreviation for these key terms in our research. We bring together research teams and scholars especially from the Karelian Institute, the Department of Social Sciences and the School of Historical and Geographical Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, as well as from the School of Humanities and the School of Theology at the Philosophical Faculty. Our research community performs top-level interdisciplinary and internationally networked scientific research as evidenced in numerous peer-reviewed publications, externally-funded research, interaction with policy stakeholders and civil society organizations, seminars, and the annual BOMOCULT conference.

BOMOCULT logo.

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Research

Through its research on borders and different encounters, BOMOCULT provides in-depth knowledge concerning the transformation of socio-cultural phenomena given increasing complexity and accelerating globalization. The RC has developed research expertise on borders and diverse encounters. In our work, the traditional focus on political and geographical borders is complemented by studies of cultural, linguistic and social borders. In other words, our added value and greatest asset is to address diverse border phenomena in ways that take into account social, political and cultural aspects.

Bomocult research has linked the transformation of contemporary societies with socio-cultural processes of border-making and border-crossing by addressing the three key issues. These key issues are European borders and Russia, mobilities and migration, and cultural and linguistic encounters in their diverse contexts. Our recent research has devised novel ways of understanding the emergence and role of transnational and transcultural phenomena at various levels, extending from the (nation-)state to the everyday, to show the role(s) of borders and crossings in contemporary life.

BOMOCULT research offers an interdisciplinary understanding of frictions and flows between cultural and political values, language, community, colonial and imperial legacies. We investigate these different bordering processes as they impact on intercultural relations and significant political challenges and opportunities in global and local contexts.

 

The leading group of the RC consists of members representing participating UEF units and key research teams. Together with the director of the RC, the leading group is responsible for RC’s strategic development and action plan, and it also plans and confirms the use of RC’s funding, and the format and arrangment of special funding calls. The leading groups meets approximately once every month.

  • Professor Jopi Nyman, English Language and Culture, School of Humanities, Philosophical Faculty, Director
  • Professor James Scott, Karelian Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, Vice-Director
  • Associate Professor Tiina Sotkasiira, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, Vice-Director
  • Professor Tuulikki Kurki, Finnish Language and Cultural Research, School of Humanities, Philosophical Faculty
  • Professor Pekka Metso, Orthodox Theology, School of Theology, Philosophical Faculty
  • University lecturer Paul Fryer, Department of Geographical and Historical Studies Historia- ja maantieteiden laitos, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
  • Research Manager Joni Virkkunen, Karelian Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
  • Coordinator of BOMOCULT RC, Research Manager. Minna Piipponen is the draftsman of the Leading group.

Jopi Nyman

Professor

School of Humanities, Philosophical Faculty

+358504423199

Profile picture: James Scott

James Scott

Professor

Karelian Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

+358503660653

Profile picture: Tiina Sotkasiira

Tiina Sotkasiira

Associate Professor

Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

+358504423770

Profile picture: Teo Tuulikki Kurki

Teo Tuulikki Kurki

Professor

School of Humanities, Philosophical Faculty

BOMOCULT Researchers

Janet Anand
International Social Work

Laura Assmuth
Social and Public Policy

Olga Davydova-Minguet
Russian and Border Studies

Eerika Finell
Social Psychology

Ilkka Huhta
Church History

Heta Hurskainen
Systematic Theology, Ecumenics

Helmi Järviluoma-Mäkelä
Cultural Studies

Timo Kallinen
Comparative Religion

Kimmo Katajala
History of Finland

Jaana Kolu
Swedish Language and Culture

Maarit Koponen
Translation Studies

Tuulikki Kurki
Cultural Studies

Marja Laasonen
Finnish Language and Cultural Research

Jussi Laine
Multidisciplinary Border Studies

Mikko Laitinen
English Language, Digital Humanities

Hanna Lappalainen
Finnish Language and Cultural Research

Kati Launis
Literary Culture

Larisa Leisiö
Russian Language and Culture

Ilkka Liikanen
Border and Russian Studies

Aija Lulle
Human Geography

Teemu Makkonen
Regional Studies

Jari Martikainen
Social Psychology

Pekka Metso
Orthodox Theology

Simo Mikkonen
Sociocultural Remembering

Irmeli Mustalahti
Natural Resources Governance

Sanna Mustasaari
Family Law

Jopi Nyman
English Language and Culture

Marjatta Palander
Finnish Language

Esa Penttilä
English Language and Translation

Michael Rießler
General Linguistics

Helka Riionheimo
Finnish Language

Suvi-Maria Saarelainen
Practical Theology

Tuija Saresma
Cultural Studies

James Scott 
Regional and Border Studies

Jeremy Smith
Border and Russian Studies

Marja Sorvari
Russian Language and Culture

Tiina Sotkasiira
Social and Public Policy
Blog

Pekka Suutari
Cultural Studies

Lauri Thurén
Biblical Studies

Martin Ubani
Religious Education

Heikki Uimonen
Cultural Studies

Juhana Venäläinen
Cultural Studies

Jaana Vuori
Gender Studies

Päivi Armila
Sociology

Ismo Björn
History

Lena Englund
Literary Studies

Matti Fritsch
Human Geography

Paul Fryer
Human Geography

Outi Hakola
Media Studies

Eeva Houtbeckers
Environmental Social Sciences

Elina Hytönen-Ng
Ethnomusicology

Arja Jolkkonen
Working Life Studies

Tuomas Järvenpää
Cultural Studies

Petri Kahila
Regional Studies

Saija Kaskinen
Cultural Studies

Pekka Kilpeläinen
English Language and Culture

Saara Koikkalainen
Cultural Encounters, Mobilities and Borders

Maria Kok
Finnish Language

Jukka Kokkonen
History

Kari Korolainen
Cultural Studies

Helena Kupari
Theology

Arja Kurvinen
Working Life Studies

Hanna Laako
Conservation Politics

Teuvo Laitila
Religious Studies (Comparative Religion) and Orthodox Church History

Kirsi Laurén
Cultural Studies

Lea Meriläinen
English Language

Marja Nenonen
Finnish Language

Kati Parppei
History

Heli Paulasto
English Language

Minna Piipponen
Human Geography

Pirjo Pöllänen
Social and Public Policy

Anni Rannikko
Sociology

Paula Rautionaho
English Language

Tatjana Rynkänen
Russian Language and Culture

Tiina Seppä
Cultural Studies

Elina Siltanen
English Language and Culture

Alexandra Simon
German Language and Culture

Maarit Sireni
Regional and Rural Studies

Maria Takala-Roszczenko
Church Music (Orthodox)

Anna-Leena Toivanen
Literary Studies

Elina Turjanmaa
Social Psychology

Pasi Tuunainen
History

Milla Uusitupa
Finnish Language

Kaisa Viinikka
Theology

Joni Virkkunen  
Human Geography

Fredrik Westerlund
French Language and Culture

Dmitry Zimin
Regional Development, Russia

Tuomo Alhojärvi
Geography

Evgenia Amey
Cultural Studies, Media Studies

Blaz Bajic
Cultural Studies

Enkhjargal Batbaatar
International Social Work

Olga Cielemecka
Gender Studies

Juha Halme
Human Geography

Samuli Kaislaniemi
English Language

Laura Kallatsa
Practical Theology

Alina Kuusisto
History

Annukka Lahti
Gender Studies

Niilo Lahti
Biblical Studies

Marjukka Laiho
Theology

Tiia Liuski
Theology

Pauliina Lukinmaa
Cultural Studies

Laura Mankki
Social and Public Policy, Social Sciences

Henna Massinen
Finnish Language

Ilia Moshnikov
Finnish Language

Jenni Mölkänen
Social and Cultural Anthropology

Ágnes Németh
Human Geography

Teemu Oivo
Russian and Border Studies

Aleksandr Osipov
History

Vadim Romashov
Social Sciences

Sandi Abram
Cultural Studies

Tuuli Ahonen
Russian Language and Translation Studies

Judith Brenner, email: jbrenner(at)student.uef.fi
Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. Machine translation and communication across cultures

Anni Calcara
English Language and Culture

Richard Croft
Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. Practical Theology

Henrik Dorf Nielsen
Human Geography

Hadi Farahani
Social Work

Masoud Fatemi
Machine Learning, Computer Science

Idaliia Fedotova, email: idal.fedotova(at)gmail.com
Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. Linguistic contacts of indigenous minority populations in Western Siberia.
 

Aimee Ghanem, aimeeghanem(at)gmail.com
Social Work. Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Strengthening resilience for a sustainable post-disaster community development: Case of Beirut.

Katherine Hall
Environmental Policy

Ville-Samuli Haverinen
Sociology

Antti Härkönen
History

Omotomilola Ikotun, omotomilola.ikotun(at)uef.fi
Environmental Policy. Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Transhumance in West Africa, borders, migration between Africa and Europe.

Hilla Inkilä
Theology

Falguny Islam, falgis(at)student.uef.fi
Social Work and Public Policy. Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. The transgressive practices of everyday lives of South Asian interfaith families living in Finland

Chao Jiang
Border Studies

Natalie Joubert
Social Work

Teele Jänes
Social and Public Policy

Inga Kontkanen, ingako(at)student.uef.fi
Russian Language and Culture. Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. The representation of gender and sexuality in Russian women´s poetry

Yusuf Koşar, ykosar(at)student.uef.fi
Human Geography. Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. The Finnish Influence on International Peacebuilding: A Comparative Study of the Ukrainian War and Palestinian Crisis.

Katariina Kotila
Human Geography

Anna Laakkonen
History

Katja Laakkonen
Social Sciences

Mairéad Lordan
Border Studies

Katja Lötjönen
Social Psychology

Shahidul Mallick, smallick(at)student.uef.fi
Enviromental Policy. Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Culture, climate change and water conservation.

Jenni Merovuo
History

Temitayo Oluwayemisi Olatoye
English Language and Culture

Lauri Partanen
History

Tamara Polyakova
History

Eeva Pärjälä
Cultural Studies

Sonja Pöllänen
Cultural Studies

Tuulia Reponen
Human Geography

Helena Rovamo
Human Geography

Ari Räisänen
English Language and Culture

Iiris Salminen
Sociolinguistics, iiris.salminen(at)uef.fi. Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. Migrants' linguistic variation and change.

Pasi Schultz
Theology  

Anupam Kamal Sen
English Language and Culture

Sofia Silfvast, ssilfvas(at)student.uef.fi
Study of Religions. Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty

Juho Suokas
English Language and Translation Studies

Taufiqurrohman, tauftauf(at)uef.fi
English Language and Culture. Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. Mysticism in English literatures. ORCID

Susanna Tavi
Finnish Language

Heidi Toivanen
Theology

Dirk van Rens 
English Language and Culture

Erja Vottonen
Translation Studies

Gleb Yarovoy
Human Geography

Aytaç Yürükçü
History

 

Stanislaw Domaniewski
Border Studies

Alicja Fajfer
Linguistics, Border Studies

Olga Filippova
Sociology

Yasemin Kontkanen
Social Sciences

Juuso Loikkanen
Systematic Theology

Tarja Tanttu
Communication

 

Dawid Bunikowski
Philosophy of Law

Andrew Copus
Rural Studies

Mathias Ebot
Sociology

Md Azmeary Ferdoush
Human Geography

Dominique van de Klundert
Media Studies

Karin Sandell
Cultural Studies

Karli Storm-Närväinen
Human Geography

 

BOMOCULT research related groups and projects

BOMOCULT research related education

Cooperation

The graph of the Scientific and Stakeholder cooperations of the BOMOCULT Research Community; Scientific cooperation: Research organisations, Higher education organisations, Research infrastructure partners, Other scientific partners; Stakeholder cooperation: European union organisations, National authorities, International and national ngos, Regional and local authorities, Media, Private sector, Local ngos and their networks, Citizens, and Think tanks.
Researchers and research groups of the BOMOCULT Research Community cooperate with diverse international and national partners and networks. You can find examples of our cooperation below.

Research is based on cooperation with international and national research partners and networks in research projects, education, and developing our research fields.

Research Organizations
Aleksanteri Institute, Institute for the Languages of Finland, Migration Institute of Finland, Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Institute of International Affairs…

Comparative Research Network, Akademie für Islam in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft (AIWG), Centre for Independent Social Research (CISR), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Jožef Stefan Institute, Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development (ILS), Nordregio…

Higher Education Organizations
University of Helsinki, University of Turku, University of Tampere, University of Oulu, University of Jyväskylä, Finnish Border and Coast Guard Academy...

Vrije Universiteit Brussels, V.N. Karazin National University, University of Tartu, Carleton University, University of Vienna, University of Frankfurt, Linnaeus University, University of Gdańsk, Higher School of Economics St. Petersburg, State University of Tver, Binghamton University State University of New York, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, European University at St. Petersburg, YUFE (Young European Universities for the Future)…

Research Infrastructure Partners
FIN-CLARIAH Research Infrastructure Network, National Library, National Archives, Finnish Literature Society, Finnish Social Science Data Archive…

Other Scientific Partners
Researchers contribute actively to the work of national and international scientific societies in their respective research areas.

Cooperation with an extensive variety of stakeholders develops the impact of our research.

European Union Organizations
European Commission, European Union Regional and Urban Programmes (ESPON, URBACT), Erasmus+, European Cooperation Networks in Science and Technology (COST)…

National Authorities
Finnish Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare…

International and National NGOs
Finnish Refugee Council, Finnish Red Cross, The National Forum for Cooperation of Religions in Finland (CORE Forum), congregations, Teosto, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Association of European Journalists (AEJ), Caritas Bulgaria, Support to Life…

Think Tanks
European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH), EUTROPIAN Research & Action, People’s Voice Media…

Media
Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, Radio television Slovenia (RTV SLO), European Data Journalism Network…

Regional and Local Authorities
Many research projects cooperate with regional authorities and development organisations, cities, municipalities, and their organisations in Finland and abroad.

Private Sector
RadioTeatar Bajsic (Croatia), Bazaart (Serbia), Twixtlab (Greece), Companhia de Música Teatral (Portugal)…

Local NGOs and Citizens
JoMoni – multicultural association in the region of Joensuu, okay.zusammen leben, Tür an Tür (TaT)…

Further information