It’s always a joy to see our lab grow. We’re pleased to welcome Jaanika Jaanits, our newest PhD candidate, to the Mobility Lab. We asked her a few questions so you can get to know her, too.
What is your background?
I have studied ethnology and cultural anthropology and hold a MA degree from the University of Tartu. Later, as a big fan of learning, I went to study andragogy at Tallinn University to better understand how people learn and how to support them in this process. Looking back, I realize that I’ve always been interested in people. Many of the topics I’ve studied or worked with have, in one way or another, been connected to change and transition, understanding people’s perspectives, and creating human-centered positive change. My research and projects have taken me from studying Komi students in Russia to exploring how museums can act as spaces of co-creation and learning, and how organizations adapt when faced with transformation. Before joining Mobility Lab, I worked as the CEO and anthropologist in the Center of Anthropology, where I designed and led research and consulting projects across sectors – from cultural policy and education to urban development and business. My focus has always been on understanding people’s perspectives and ensuring that their voices are included in processes of decision-making and design.
Now, as a PhD candidate at Mobility Lab, I’m excited to turn my anthropological lens towards sustainable mobility. My research looks at how people’s everyday mobility habits are influlenced by social networks and how they can be understood and influenced through group-based interventions. For me, mobility is never only about transport systems – it’s about culture, routines, and the subtle ways change becomes part of daily life.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family – playing board games, having interesting conversations, going for picnics etc. But I also like walking – especially taking long walks with my dog. It’s my way of slowing down, listening to music or podcasts, and often also diving into books. For many years, I played volleyball, but somehow, over time, I ended up on the other side of the game – as a volleyball scorer. I’ve been doing it for over 20 years now, and it has turned into a wonderful way to stay part of the community and follow the game from a different perspective. My “secret” hobby is crocheting animals and knitting, often while watching a spy or crime series. I find it very relaxing, and it also turns out to be practical: I’m always ready for winter and children’s birthdays.
What is your favourite book?
Books have always been important to me, both as a way of escaping into long stories and of opening new ways of seeing. So it is very difficult to pick only one. First one that comes to mind and that left a deep impression was Väinö Linna’s Siin Põhjatähe all. I loved the storytelling and how it let me really get to know the characters. It also helped me understand Finnish society and why it has developed the way it has. I also enjoy non-fiction. David Epstein’s Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World resonated with me, because I’ve always been curious about many things and involved in different fields. For a long time, I felt this meant I didn’t truly excel at any one thing, but the book reminded me that being a generalist can actually be a strength in today’s world.
Finally, Adam Grant’s Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know connects strongly with my anthropological outlook. It’s a reminder that there’s always more we don’t yet know, and that staying open and curious is essential.
And since we are talking about books, let me also use this opportunity for a small advertisement: if you’re curious about how anthropological perspective has been used in Estonia to understand different challenges, I recommend Antropoloogiline: inimestega koos lahendusteni. It’s a collection of articles that brings together 10 years of projects and experiences from the Center of Anthropology – a book that grew out of the team’s work, which I was lucky to contribute to before joining Mobility Lab.
The Mobility Lab of the University of Tartu is an interdisciplinary research group that studies human mobility and its associations with society and the environment using mobile (big) data.