Mari Mäkiranta is a researcher-artist and visual culture scholar with a background in feminist studies, socially engaged art and art activism. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Lapland and a Docent at the University of Jyväskylä. Mari’s work explores visual culture, gender and peoples’ living environments and it involves collaboration with communities, scientists, and activists. She has received several research grants, including organisations such as the Academy of Finland and Finnish Cultural Foundation. Currently she is a Principal Investigator in Artivism on Edges – Art, Activism and gendered violence project granted by the Kone Foundation (2022–2026). She is an editorial board member of Ruukku – Studies in Artistic Research, a member of the Association of Photographic Artists, and an advisory board member in Northern Photography Center. As a member of the art collective, she is taking ‘artivist’ actions considering gendered violence and large-scale destruction of the ecosystems in Arctic contexts. Most of her free time she spends on resting and wandering in forests and hills.