Håkon B. Stokland
Background and activities
I am a researcher at the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture at the Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU). I hold a PhD in interdisciplinary studies of culture and a master’s degree in history. I have also studied biology, chemistry and mathematics over three years as part of my bachelor’s degree in history, and have formerly worked as a marine biologist assistant.
My research focus is on biodiversity governance and the role of management tools and knowledge in biodiversity-related politics. Topics of investigation include forest governance, restoration, climate budgets for ecosystems, nature mapping methodologies, environmental impact assessments, and wolf management. In a broader sense, my research addresses sustainability, biodiversity loss, climate-biodiversity interactions, integrative and informed governance, and transformative change. My research approaches draw on science and technology studies, environmental history and governmentality studies among others. I am involved in much interdisciplinary research and engaged in finding new ways to collaborate across natural and social sciences and humanities in IPBES and beyond.
I am a selected fellow for The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessment of the sustainable use of wild species. (2018-2022)
I am also co-initiator and main organizer of the Social Sciences and Humanities Network (SSH Network) related to IPBES. The Social Sciences and Humanities Network (SSH Network) | Onet (ipbes.net)
Research interests
- Biodiversity governance and the role of knowledge
- Forest governance, restoration, climate budgets for ecosystems, nature mapping methodologies, environmental impact assessments, wolf management
- Transformative change, sustainability, biodiversity loss, climate-biodiversity interactions, integrative and informed governance,
- Science and technology studies
- Interdisciplinary research in IPBES and beyond
Selected current projects
- Realizing landscape restoration: Enabling transformative change of land‐use (RESCAPE), NFR-Arealer under press, 2021-2025.
- Enhancing the contributions of the social sciences and humanities to IPBES – Establishing the IPBES SSH Community of Practice (SSH Network), NFR and the Ministry of Climate and Environment, 2020-2022.
- Enabling transformative change in the case of environmental impact assessments (TRANS-EIA), NFR/NINA, 2020-2023.
- Real-world ecosystem management: Identifying knowledge gaps and overcoming societal barriers (ECOREAL), NFR-MILJØFORSK, 2019-2022.
Awards and commissions of trust
- Co-initiator and main organizer of the Social Sciences and Humanities Network (SSH Network) related to IPBES
- Heading NINA strategy on sustainability and transformative change (2020-2021)
- Selected fellow for The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessment of the sustainable use of wild species (2018-2021)
- Awarded IASNR (International Association for Society and Natural Resources) Student Paper Competition Prize for best PhD paper, USA (2015)
- Awarded PhD fellowship. Faculty of Humanities, the Department of Interdisciplinary studies of Culture, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway (2009)
- Awarded HIFO’s (The Norwegian Historical Association) ‘Free Word scholarship 2008’ for best master thesis in history (2008)
- Awarded NLI’s (The Norwegian Institute of Local History) ‘Master’s degree scholarship 2007’ for best master thesis (2007)
Scientific, academic and artistic work
Displaying a selection of activities. See all publications in the database
Journal publications
- (2016) How Many Wolves Does it Take to Protect the Population? Minimum Viable Population Size as a Technology of Government in Endangered Species Management (Norway, 1970s–2000s). Environment and History.
- (2015) Field studies in absentia: counting and monitoring from a distance as technologies of government in Norwegian wolf management (1960s–2010s). Journal of the History of Biology. vol. 48 (1).
- (2013) Molecularising Nature: How Scandinavian Wolves became Natural. FORUM: University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Journal of Culture and the Arts.
- (2013) Politikkens natur – naturens politikk. Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies. vol. 1 (1).
- (2012) The politics of nature and the nature of politics by Kristin Asdal. Tecnoscienza, Italian Journal of Science & Technology Studies.
- (2012) Wired Wilderness: Technologies of Tracking and the Making of Modern Wildlife by Etienne Benson. ICON.
- (2010) Lystig sang og tunge løft: Kjønnsforskjeller i tilbakeskuende fortellinger om arbeidet på Langaard tobakkfabrikk ca. 1890-1940. Heimen - Lokal og regional historie. vol. 47 (3).
Report/dissertation
- (2016) Evaluering av regional rovviltforvaltning. 2016. ISBN 978-82-426-2925-8. NINA rapport (1268).
- (2015) Towards a new approach for studies of endangered species management - Technologies of government in Norwegian wolf management (1960s-2010s). 2015.
- (2007) Kvinners trivelige og menns tunge arbeid ved Langaard tobakkfabrikk (ca. 1890-1940) - et kulturhistorisk eksperiment innen minneforskning. 2007.