Researcher in the Spotlight: Aleksi Heinilä

Name: Aleksi Heinilä
Position in the Faculty of Law: Assistant professor in environmental law
Degrees: Doctor of Laws, 2017, University of Eastern Finland
Fields of interest: Land use planning law has been, or perhaps ended up being, my primary interest for a long time. It is, however, interlinked with practically all environmental legislation and the environmental issues we face at present. Thus, the field lends itself to very different perspectives. Planning instruments are key in addressing the complex, interconnected environmental crises, as fragmented, project-based instruments fail to address, e.g., climate and biodiversity considerations effectively.

Describe your career path. What led you to where you are today? 

What led me to where I am is mostly chance. After master’s degree, I worked a couple of years at the university (of Joensuu), mainly as a doctoral researcher. I however felt the need to gain some practical experience, ultimately ending up working in the environmental administration for more than a decade. From the point of view of pursuing an academic career, that was, of course, a waste of time, but it has helped me in many ways as a researcher and, perhaps even more, as a teacher. After finishing my doctoral thesis, I swiftly returned to academia, working mostly as a university lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland until starting at my current position in the beginning of 2024.

What projects are you currently working on? 

Planning is closely connected to democracy, too. I have, for a while, been interested in the relations between (the rule of) law and democracy, both in the planning context and in general. These are very interesting, topical and pressing questions, also in the context of the so-called sustainability transition or transformation that ought to be taking place.

Have your interests evolved since finishing your studies? 

I have always had a certain interest in theoretical questions, and I often tend to end up pondering such questions even if I set out to do something else. The focus of interests changes somewhat as time goes by, but I cannot say that I would have moved from one thing to another, really.

What would you be, if you were not a researcher? 

I haven’t really thought, let alone planned, of having a ‘career’ until perhaps the last couple of years. Thus, most likely, I would still be a civil servant (and an unhappy one). This is, of course, a boring answer. I do have a lot of hobbies (that I do not have time for), but none of them are such that one could make a living out of them, at least with my skills. I love being outdoors and in the nature with all possible means, and especially with my dog. If money was not an issue, I could probably manage just doing that.

What inspires you? 

What drives me as a researcher is mainly just the aspiration to understand things. I also wish my work could perhaps in some way help in dealing with the crises we are facing.

If you'd like, feel free to share how you've adapted to life in Finland and/or Turku, and/or the Calonia community. 

I like Calonia and its people, both the staff and students, very much. There has not really been a need to adapt to anything, I feel like I’ve just slid in.