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Janne S. Kotiaho is a professor of ecology at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, the director of the JYU.WISDOM research community and the chair of the Finnish national IPBES panel, i.e. the Nature Panel. His fields of research include ecology and the measurement, evaluation and forecasting of habitats.
RE SEARCH: PUTTING THE RE SEARCHE R FIRST
Towards planetary wellbeing Planetary wellbeing refers to the equal wellbeing of humanity and non-human nature. Non-human nature and its functioning are vital for humanity, because it provides our nourishment and most of our resources. Humans dominate the competition for resources between species, but, at the same time, we are destroying non-human nature at an unprecedented rate. This activity already threatens our wellbeing.
We gather regularly for lunch colloquiums and
Words and language affect our thinking, and we
planetary wellbeing breakfasts and have environ-
cannot afford to just talk about promoting human
mental debates. People from all faculties participate
wellbeing anymore. The time of gazing at your
in the activity of the Wisdom community, which
navel is over – we must think bigger than before.
guarantees multidisciplinary perspectives.
The School of Resource Wisdom is an open commu-
In addition to non-biased interdisciplinary research
nity for the students and staff of JYU and partly
and education that does not get hung up on traditions,
for external participants. It contemplates solutions
we boldly focus on societal interaction. The Wisdom
for planetary wellbeing, sustainability, the circular
community is a proactive advocate of knowledge,
economy, and wise and reasonable use of resources
creating a better world by increasing the understanding
in general.
of the academic community and society as a whole.
