Hilkka Kemppi: – Part of my identity is Arctic Photo: NordForsk/Linn Hoff Jensen
Student Hilkka Kemppi is a 25-year-old student working on her master’s thesis in art, education and political science at the University of Lapland, Faculty of Art and Design. Her special field of interest is the indigenous populations of Finland. – During a student exchange in Mexico I was reminded that part of my identity belongs to the North and the Arctic, and I developed an interest in this area. So I started looking at what is happening to the people in the Arctic. Today there is a major focus on oil and mining, but what about the people living there? That’s why I’m focusing on how to communicate the importance of the
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North, in particular to young adults, as a way to increase people’s interest in the social sustainability of the North. – Currently I’m studying at the University of Lapland and at the same time I’m involved with the University of the Arctic. Here I have the opportunity to conduct multidisciplinary research that utilises my previous degree in tourism as well.