Janos Nieminen

Photo by Olli Nieminen

In residence: September 2026

Janos Nieminen is a data scientist with a background in mathematics and theoretical philosophy, currently pursuing a PhD in philosophy with a focus on counterfactual reasoning. With 15 years of experience as a software developer, Nieminen bridges technical expertise with a deep philosophical inquiry into the political and symbolic dimensions of state presence in fragile environments. He is also working on a non-fiction book about Svalbard, which examines how countries like Russia and China maintain influence in the Arctic through architecture, infrastructure, and everyday routines. This project is grounded in fieldwork and observational research in places like Barentsburg and Longyearbyen, where Nieminen explores how small details—such as signs, buildings, and routes—reflect larger geopolitical strategies.

During his residency at Artica Svalbard, Nieminen will further investigate how states like Russia and China assert soft presence in the Arctic, subtle ways of making their presence known without relying on formal claims or military power. His research will focus on how architecture, infrastructure, and daily routines in Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and possibly Pyramiden reveal political or symbolic aims. In particular, Nieminen aims to document traces of the Soviet era in Barentsburg and contrast them with the international, Norwegian-governed environment in Longyearbyen. By analysing these spaces, he will explore how different approaches to state presence are reflected in the built environment.

Nieminen’s findings will be compiled into a series of essays that will form the basis of his nonfiction book, which examines the political dimensions of state engagement with fragile Arctic environments in the context of climate change and legal constraints. His work aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how geopolitical strategies shape and are shaped by the Arctic’s changing landscape.