My Dream

My dream is that indigenous people would themselves become participants in university research and teaching. One of the essential ideas of the new programme beginning at the University of Helsinki is that research occurs in close cooperation with indigenous peoples and indigenous researchers. I also dream that the potential for cultural research to affect well-being would be more widely acknowledged. That is why there should be a long-term approach to its development, rather than simply funding those studies which quickly solve individual problems. I hope that I can also continue and develop inclusive research together with students.

By Written by Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen (Tomas Sjöblom ed.), translated by Matthew Billington

Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen

Born January 5, 1975

PhD 2007 (Latin American research), docent 2013, University of Helsinki
Master of Arts 2000 (religious studies/philosophy) University of Turku

Researcher 2007–15, Academy of Finland, University of Helsinki
Post graduate 2003-07, University of Helsinki
Project trainee 2002, International Organization for Migration, Lisbon
Administrative assistant 2000-02, Brazilian Embassy in Helsinki

Research Themes:
Indigenous peoples, Brazil, the social philosophies and epistemologies of Amazonian indigenous peoples, post-humanism, indigenous people policy and ethno-history.

Publications, research projects and other academic activity

Awards and achievements
Numerous research grants from, inter alia, the Kone Foundation 2008, Bourse Legs Lelong (CNRS/France) 2008, the Sariola Foundation 2006, University of Helsinki’s SYLFF fund 2006, the Finnish Concordia Fund 2004, the Finnish Cultural Foundation 2003

Photo: Mika Federley
Written by Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen (Tomas Sjöblom, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington