Transforming Society – How Strategic Research Impacts Thinking and Practices? - Strategic Research sessio at the SRI Congress

We are delighted to extend a heartfelt invitation to you for our session organized as part of the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress held in Helsinki and Espoo in 10-15 June 2024.

The Strategic Research Council (SRC), an independent research funder within the Research Council of Finland, has been dedicated to fostering excellent, responsible, and impactful research. We invite you to join us for a 90-minute open access session that delves into a diverse array of knowledge-based solutions and research results derived from SRC-funded research programmes, driving sustainable transitions. The session showcases also examples of dialogical and transdisciplinary approaches and practices employed within funded research programmes, particularly at the science-policy interfaces.

What: Transforming Society – How Strategic Research Impacts Thinking and Practices?

When: Thursday 13 June 2024, 15:00 - 17:30

Where: University of Helsinki, Main Building, lecture hall Tekla Hultin, Fabianinkatu 33. 

How: This session is accessible both online and in person. No paid Congress registration is required to attend, but participants will need to sign up.
 
Programme:
 
15:00 Opening: 10 years of strategic research – what have we learned about making the change in society?

Anu Kaukovirta, Chair of the Strategic Research Council 

15:15 Examples of knowledge-based solutions (presenting 6 examples from the programmes funded by SRC) 

• Facilitating systemic sustainability transitions through stakeholder interaction on the science-practice boundary
  
  Minna Halme, Professor of Sustainability Management at Aalto University School of Business (FINIX project in the IMPRES programme) and Pami Aalto, Jean Monnet Professor at Tampere University (2IMATCH project in the Just Energy programme)
  
  
• Just transition for whom? Controversies, conflicts and pathways to acceptable solutions
  
  Lasse Peltonen, Professor of Environmental Governance at University of Eastern Finland (CORE project in the CITIZEN programme) and Suvi Huttunen, Leading Researcher at Finnish Environment Institute (JUST-FOOD project in the FOOD programme)
  
  
• Sustainability of AI behind the curtain
  Sanna Vellava, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Helsinki (REPAIR project in the SHIELD programme) and Nina Wessberg, Principal Scientist at VTT (ETAIROS project in the STEER programme)

Session host: Päivi Tikka, Director, Division of Strategic Research

16:00 Examples of transdisciplinary and dialogical practices in strategic research 

• “Knowledge Partnership” model as an example of interdisciplinary and policy collaboration
  
  Jarmo Viteli, Research Director at Tampere University (LITERACY programme director) and Päivi Tikka, Director, Division of Strategic Research

• Interactions of science and the arts in adapting to a sustainable future
  
  Tuulikki Laes, Academy Research Fellow, University of the Arts Helsinki, and Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki, Group Lead, Senior Research Scientist at Finnish Environment Institute SYKE (former CITIZEN and ADAPT programme director)