Lisa Engström, Lund University

Under the Sun: Youth’s Perspectives on UV Index, Sun Behaviors, and Tanning Culture

The UV Index has an interesting trajectory; from an unknown and seldom used tool developed in the 1990’s to prevent harmful sun exposure, to a widely known and highly used tool in many countries today. However, now the use of the index today is considered to be a misuse, since it is employed to optimize, and not minimize, sun exposure. The purpose of my research is to deepen the knowledge on how numerical standards, such as the UV Index, influence youths’ conceptions of, and practices in, the sun.  At the seminar, I present my research project Under the sun and preliminary findings.