Riikka Puhakka has been particularly interested in the experiences of young people: what nature means to them, and how it affects their well-being. The young people’s answers have touched and sometimes even moved the researcher.
– Some adolescents have described their experience by saying that you can breathe, sing or shout freely in nature – that you can be yourself in nature, and no one judges unlike other people may sometimes judge, Puhakka says.
– Some young people have also described that they feel small in the forest. There you can notice that the world doesn’t revolve around you, and your own problems no longer seem so big. Nature can bring inner peace, comfort and a sense of security, Puhakka describes.
The connection with nature is adopted at young age
Riikka Puhakka herself grew up in the countryside and lived her entire youth in the middle of nature.
-Nowadays hiking and spending time at the summer cottage bring nature experiences into my everyday life. Even on holidays, our family prefers to travel to nature destinations rather than to city holidays, says Puhakka.
Puhakka praises Lahti’s nearby forests and shorelines, which can be found around the city.
– In Lahti, nature is easily accessible to everyone, even in the city center.
Puhakka enjoys Lahti’s nature even in winter. One of her favorites is Tapanila’s 5 km ski trail.
– A peaceful and nice trail in the middle of the forest near the city center.
Riikka Puhakka, who works at the University of Helsinki at the Lahti University Campus, was awarded the Academy of Finland Award in June 2023 for her outstanding research on the interactions between the environment and health.
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Academy of Finland Award 2022: Riikka Puhakka
Research and projects related to nature’s impact on health and wellbeing in the Lahti region