Panu Pihkala

Panu Pihkala, Post-doctoral researcher
Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Environmental Issues

Dr. Panu Pihkala (b. 1979) is a postdoctoral researcher in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki. He is currently working on the psychological and spiritual dimensions related to environmental issues and especially climate change. Pihkala’s book on “eco-anxiety” was published in Finnish in October 2017 (“Päin helvettiä? Ympäristöahdistus ja toivo”).

Pihkala’s interdisciplinary studies on the environment deal also with theories of recognition. Before joining the Center of Excellence, he worked in the Academy of Finland project on “Ecumenical Recognition and Toleration of Otherness” between 2012 and 2016. Pihkala is the author of 10 peer-reviewed articles and a monograph (Early Ecotheology and Joseph Sittler, 2017) in environment-related studies. He has participated actively in practical environmental work, especially environmental education, and has served as an expert in various positions of trust.