You can reach Eeva at eeva_latosuo@sfu.ca.

Originally from Finland, Eeva has a Master’s degree is in Environmental Science from the University of Helsinki. Her outdoor career started as a climbing instructor for NOLS and a professional ski patroller in Colorado. For 18 years, Eeva has been a professor of Outdoor Studies at Alaska Pacific University, an active member of the SAR community, and continues to teach avalanche courses. She enjoys being in the wilderness in all seasons, especially in the winter on her skis. That is one of her motivators to engage in this research – for her, her backcountry partners and all others in the community who deserve to “start and end at home” every day they go out in the mountains. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to study at SFU, something that not everyone who is interested or capable is afforded. Similarly, the majority of outdoor recreation is upper middle class & white activity. As a researcher, Eeva wants to advocate for more inclusive participation in the mountain sports as well as continue to democratize the professional world of avalanche practitioners and academic research. 

Eeva is working with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecasters and the folks who interact with the bulletin. Using a transdisciplinary approach and applying social science frameworks, she focuses on learning from the user’s perspective on what works and what doesn’t in avalanche risk communication. One of the challenges will be to find the less experienced backcountry travelers who do not fit the profile of the stereotypical backcountry traveler. In her research, she will develop more specific research questions over this first academic year in the program.  

• Jump to Eeva’s publications at SARP