What are your research interests?
I am a cultural geographer interested in human–nature relations and how a shift in worldview—from seeing humans as rulers of the Earth to recognising them as interdependent actors within the web of life—can help address climate change and ecological crises. My current research focuses on the foodscapes of Danish ecovillages as intentional communities, exploring how post-anthropocentric worldviews are expressed through everyday food practices and meanings of food. A central aspect of my work is capacity building and collective identity within communities. Drawing on participatory and intersectional methodologies, I examine how gender, culture, and geography shape human–nature relations and foster alternative understandings of well-being—beyond GDP measures—through engagement with local and community-based knowledge.
How did you become interested in your field of research?
My interest in sustainability and cultural geography grew from a combination of practical engagement and academic curiosity, particularly through my placement as a visiting researcher at the United Nations University as part of my PhD. This experience deepened my understanding of the importance of creating cross-sectoral spaces for collaboration among community-based initiatives, researchers, policymakers, and transdisciplinary teams in driving just, practical, and inclusive transitions toward sustainability and more harmonious human–nature relations. As a project coordinator for capacity-building and participatory research with marginalized communities across Sweden, Iran, Madagascar, and New Zealand, I became committed to co-creating knowledge and developing strategies that strengthen local resilience and adaptation to social and ecological change—an approach that
What research question would you above all like to find the answer to? And why is that?
My research revolves around understanding how people’s perceptions and conceptualisations of the human–nature relationship shape everyday interactions with the human and more-than-human world — with soil, animals, plants, and other living systems — and how these interactions can foster adaptation to climate change and strengthen ecological resilience through food systems. At the same time, I explore how gender, culture, and intersectional identities inform these relationships — how different life experiences, roles, and ways of belonging influence the ways people care for, depend on, and imagine their connection with nature. I do not, however, believe in a single or final question. Research, to me, is a living and ever-evolving process — a dialogue that unfolds through curiosity, encounter, and reflection. With each story and landscape, new questions emerge, and through this ongoing exchange, knowledge, care, and imagination take root in and shape the futures we hope to create.
Which impact do you expect the Talent Track will have on your career and on your research field in general?
The Talent Track provides essential support for advancing both my career trajectory and research agenda. The program offers valuable opportunities and practical knowledge for advanced methodological training, teaching development, research assistance, and international collaboration — including support for national and EU proposal development. Equally important, it connects me with experienced mentors and a broader network of scholars across disciplines and institutions, strengthening my capacity to pursue impactful, interdisciplinary, and globally relevant sustainability research.
Which impact do you expect your research to have on the surrounding society?
My research aims to strengthen the connection between academia and civil society by engaging directly with Danish ecovillages as living examples of sustainability and social transformation. By co-creating knowledge with residents, local organisations, and policy actors, the project generates applied insights that can inform local sustainability strategies, food policies, and educational initiatives. Within the SCC Elite Centre PACA, I contribute to advancing ethnographic and participatory methods that bridge academic research with everyday community practices. Ultimately, my work seeks to make visible and amplify grassroots models of sustainable food systems that integrate ecological care, relational ethics, local knowledge, and inclusive ways of living well with the more-than-human world.
