Intersectional Gender-Responsibility in Arctic Knowledge Production

• In Event: Methods in Studying Data/Natures

Abstract

Gender has a significant impact on improving the epistemic justice i.e. quality of scientific knowledge on three interrelated levels: 1) in composition of research groups, 2) for research questions presented, methods used, data gathered and analyzed and 3) in application of the research results. Additionally, a gender-responsible research management and strengthened societal empowerment as a result of the research needs consideration. For the just and sustainable future in the Arctic it is crucial to ensure the high quality of the academic knowledge production process. Therefore, it is important to make visible, further elaborate and to strengthen an intersectional gender analysis in the Arctic academic knowledge production process.

A Circumpolar Thematic Network (TN) was established to facilitate elaboration of knowledge production practices in and of the Arctic. The multidisciplinary TN gathers in a balanced and representative manner interested researchers together to discuss, map and analyze the socio-material relationalities and ethico-onto-epistemologies in the Arctic knowledge production processes including the definition and inclusion of indigenous knowledges. The TN works on-line by sharing defined institutional digital documents (e.g. GEPs), providing descriptions of formal and informal institutional academic practices (e.g. methods) and presents and debates on them in aim to identify gaps in the Arctic knowledge production processes. The methodological approach could be defined as co-creation.

The paper address intersectional gender-responsibility in Arctic knowledge production and thus critically engages with policies on promoting gender equality and of sex and gender analysis in research and innovation (R&I) to further insights on responsibility and sustainability within STS.

Author

• Mervi Aulikki Heikkinen, University of Oulu