Ekologos

The Ekologos project, formally titled Global Environmental Humanities: Indigenous Knowledge about Environmental Change in the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalayas, and South Asia, is a multidisciplinary research initiative led by Michael Timothy Heneise at the Institute of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies, and Theology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Funded by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) with a total budget of NOK 2,995,500, the project spans from November 2022 to December 2026.

Objectives

Ekologos explores indigenous knowledge systems to address environmental change, emphasizing cultural perspectives and traditional practices in four critical ecological regions: the Arctic, the Amazon, the Himalayas, and South Asia. The project integrates methodologies from anthropology, religious studies, and environmental humanities to foster critical pedagogy and cross-cultural exchange.

Key Themes

• Environmental Humanities: Investigating the intersection of culture, environment, and human values.
• Indigenous Knowledge: Documenting and analyzing traditional ecological knowledge for climate adaptation.
• Critical Pedagogy: Developing innovative educational practices to promote global awareness and sustainability.
• International Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships through interdisciplinary and cross-regional exchanges.

Team and Partners

The project is a collaborative effort involving researchers and institutions across continents, including:

• Dr Michael T. Heneise, Project Leader, UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
• Prof. Thomas Bøhn, Research Partner, Institute for Marine Research, Norway.
• Prof. Piyush Roy, Research Partner, RV University, India.
• Ms. Catriona Child, Research Partner, The Highland Institute, India.
• Mr. Sunny Borgohain, Research Partner, Doctors For You, India.
• Prof. Omar R. Thomaz, Research Partner, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.

Activities and Outcomes

Ekologos focuses on field data collection, fostering internationalization in research, and engaging with indigenous communities. The project aims to contribute to academic discourse through publications, conferences, and knowledge dissemination platforms while promoting sustainable solutions to global environmental challenges.

Contact and Information

• Project Website: https://en.uit.no/project/ekologos
• Email: michael.t.heneise@uit.no

This project is an ongoing effort to bridge indigenous wisdom and academic inquiry, addressing some of the most pressing issues in environmental sustainability today.