Ekologos
Ekologos
Ekologos is a global interdisciplinary initiative that brings together environmental sciences, humanities, and Indigenous and local knowledge systems to address ecological challenges through collaborative research, education, and public engagement. Working across regions including the Arctic, Amazon, South Asia, and the Himalayas, the project develops inclusive and ethically grounded approaches to environmental knowledge production and climate futures.
The initiative serves as a collaborative platform for students, researchers, institutions, and communities to engage in research, teaching, artistic practice, and public dialogue on environmental change and ecological resilience. Through international partnerships and intercultural exchange, Ekologos seeks to bridge academic knowledge with lived experience and community-based environmental stewardship.
Ekologos integrates scientific and humanistic approaches to environmental challenges while foregrounding Indigenous and local knowledge systems. It promotes collaborative learning through summer and winter schools, workshops, public lectures, multimedia production, and transnational educational programmes.
| Type | Global Interdisciplinary Initiative |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2022–2026 |
| Focus | Environmental Humanities and Ecological Futures |
| Regions | Arctic, Amazon, South Asia, Himalayas |
| Funding | UTFORSK Programme (HK-dir, Norway) |
| Status | Active |
| Project Coordinator | Michael Heneise |
| Regional Coordinator | Lanuakum Aier |
Objectives
- Foster interdisciplinary environmental humanities research
- Integrate Indigenous and local knowledge systems into environmental discourse
- Promote ethical and community-based environmental engagement
- Facilitate international educational exchange and collaborative learning
- Develop inclusive approaches to climate and ecological futures
Partner Institutions
- UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
- RV University (India)
- The Highland Institute (India)
- State University of Campinas (Brazil)
- Institute of Marine Research (Norway)
Activities
- Summer and winter schools
- International workshops and conferences
- Collaborative teaching programmes
- Public lectures and community engagement
- Documentary and multimedia production
- Knowledge-sharing platforms and digital archives
Educational Programmes
Ekologos has facilitated international student and faculty mobility through field exchanges, collaborative schools, and joint teaching programmes. The initiative has supported interdisciplinary learning environments that connect academic institutions, local communities, artists, and practitioners.
Knowledge Platforms
The project has developed knowledge-sharing initiatives including the Ekologos Wiki and open-access academic resources aimed at supporting collaborative environmental humanities research and public dissemination.
Public Engagement
Ekologos regularly organises workshops, lectures, screenings, and conferences that encourage dialogue between academia, Indigenous communities, environmental practitioners, and creative sectors. Events emphasise ethical collaboration, ecological responsibility, and culturally grounded approaches to environmental change.