CERLI, Centre for Research on Learning and Instruction, and CELE, Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education, present one researcher each month. In February University Research Fellow Anna-Maija Niemi from CELE takes the spotlight.
I am currently studying the everyday life and life course of young adults through ethnography based longitudinal research. I have had the opportunity to examine the formation of the agency, wellbeing and belonging of my interviewees in various life contexts and social relationships, as well as the meanings of special needs education in their educational paths. In addition, I lead the ÖVERSAM-research project, which studies the transitions of Swedish-speaking young people with learning disabilities and belonging in a local community after upper secondary education. We are currently producing research data with young people, their guardians and service system experts. Our project is funded by Svenska kulturfonden and Stiftelsen Brita Maria Renlunds minne.
Studying these topics is important because longitudinal research provides an opportunity to examine young people's everyday life, life course and their different dimensions together with the interviewees, reflecting on the changes and stabilities in their narration. On the other hand, there is very little previous research on the lives of Swedish-speaking young people with learning disabilities. For that reason, it is important to take a closer look at the challenges and opportunities that arise when negotiating between the linguistic rights of this minority, educational aspirations and the realisation of belonging in a local community.
In the researcher's everyday life, depending on the time, my working days include a bit different tasks, but at the moment the days include mainly leading a research project, writing articles, reading and editorial work, preparing presentations, as well as a lot of teaching and supervising and various responsibilities in our department. I usually always have a joint writing project going on with colleagues, and I feel that writing together is one of the best parts of this work.
I co-operate on a daily basis, and this is why it is actually difficult to separate my own work from co-work. I work together with domestic and international researchers, for example through research projects and research networks, and with many colleagues here at CELE. For me, important communities include the Nordic CRITPEN and NoRNet networks, the Ethnography- seminar, and the editors of Youth Research (Nuorisotutkimus), which have made it a pleasure to get to know many great colleagues.
When I don't do research and other work, I like to wander in the peace of nature, in the woods and at sea. A good coffee and a novel is a great combination. Close people, animals, singing and cultural events bring joy to me. These days, I also move myself into the discomfort zone with a ball game every week.
My greetings to those involved in educational sociological and educational policy research are as follows. These are not easy times for critical research. The constant rush and competition could also be put on hold a little bit. I encourage everyone to work at a gentler pace, (and especially more senior researchers) to help others and to foster a sense of community; This can also lead to better research.
Researcher of the Month is a joint publication series of the Faculty of Education's Centres for Research CERLI and CELE, presenting one researcher once a month. The previously published presentations have been compiled on the series' website.
