Satu Teerikangas is professor of management at the School of Economics, University of Turku and Honorary Professor at University College London, where she worked 2010-15. Satu bears a cosmopolitan background, cutting across several countries and continents. Prior to an academic career, Satu worked for Shell in the Hague and Aberdeen. In her research, she has shifted from a focus on post-M&A integration management & cultural change to appreciating how leadership can help address grand challenges. She is editor of the Handbook of M&A (Oxford University Press) and Research Handbook of Sustainability Agency (Edward Elgar). Presently, she is co-director of the transdisciplinary biodiversity-respectful leadership consortium (BIODIFUL) funded by the Strategic Research Council of Finland. Satu’s research has appeared on BBC, Financial Times and Forbes. She is passionate to understand how to unleash our potential in building sustainable futures.
Saara Vauramo is the Head of Nature unit at Ramboll Finland and serves as a professor of practice at the Department of biological and environmental science at the University of Jyväskylä. Saara has a long history with the city of Lahti, where she worked as the environmental director and development manager. During her tenure, the city of Lahti was selected as the European Green Capital for 2021. Saara's current passion is assessing the environmental impacts of land-use projects that are complex and potentially have conflicting objectives, to find solutions that really matter. Saara aims to enhance collaboration among various stakeholders and to promote the development of better solutions for nature.
Auditorium | Seminar session
Chairs: Prof. Ville Uusitalo, LUT University and Maija Lumme, doctoral researcher, LUT University
| Presentations | |
| Social capital shapes the relationship between well-being and spending | Fengyu Wu, STATEC Research, National Institute of statistics and Economic Studies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg |
| Biodiversity-respectful diet recommendation for Finland | Natasha Järviö, LUT University |
| Transforming cigarette waste into resources: A case study of Code Effort’s circular economy model in India | Sajal Kabiraj, LAB University of Applied Sciences |
| From illbeing to wellbeing: Exploring sufficiency in food consumption | Kaisa Kurki, LUT University |
| Navigating exposure and health in an increasingly complex consumption landscape | Hannu Tikkanen, Laurea University of Applied Sciences |
Ars&Cultura | Seminar session
Chair: MD Mikaela Grotenfelt-Enegren, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
| Presentations | |
| Transcending dichotomies with a dialectical framework | Leena Helenius, University of Helsinki |
| Transprofessional development towards arts-based learning in landscape design - An autoethnographic exploration | Anne Pässilä, LUT university |
| Approaches to operationalizing nature positivity in agriculture and forestry | Anna Repo, Natural Resources Institute Finland |
| Pluriverses and indigenous worldviews in planetary health research; arts-based and collaborative approaches from Turtle Island and Abya Yala | Matilde Cervantes Navarrete, University of Victoria, and Rebecca Hass, Pacific Opera Victoria |
| Roots of resilience: How nature nurtures climate adaptation | Martine Veenman, Maastricht University |
Akvaario | Seminar session
Chair: Professor of Practice Minna Veistilä, Well-being County of Päijät-Häme and Päivi Sieppi, City of Lahti
| Presentations | |
| Enabling communities of practice for green transition in health and care organisations by using participatory staff engagement processes | Helinä Melkas, LUT University |
| Use of health forests in social and health services – a survey among employees in the wellbeing services counties of Kainuu and Päijät-Häme | Maija Lipponen, Natural Resources Institute Finland |
| More Life – Towards Nature-Positive Vocational Education - development project | Elina Hinkkanen, SYKLI Environmental College |
| Voluntary nature restoration work as environmental adult education in a city’s climate action | Elias Pielikko, University of Jyväskylä |
| Walking together for health, resilience and nature: Evidence from a regional workplace challenge | Harri Kuusela, Regional Council of Päijät-Häme |
Basement Studio | Roundtable discussion
Speakers:
The discussion will be facilitated by doctoral researcher Noora-Helena Korpelainen (University of Helsinki).
Community Lobby | World café discussion
Organized by Minna Havukainen, LUT University
Panel discussion: Nature-Positive Lahti: Balancing biodiversity and vitality
Networking, food & drinks
City Reception is organized by the Nature Positive Life project
More information will be available soon!
In her keynote, Natalie will explore how innovative urban and transport interventions, including greening initiatives, can transform city life and promote better health. She will highlight strategies that reduce urban pollution, increase public space and accessibility, expand green areas, and encourage active lifestyles, showing how these measures contribute to healthier, more sustainable, and climate-resilient cities for all residents.
Auditorium | Seminar session
Chair: PhD Jenni Simkin, Natural Resources Institute Finland
| Presentations | |
| The potential of natural environments in mental health promotion and prevention | Liisa Tyrväinen, Natural Resources Institute Finland |
| Residential area characteristics are associated with asthma burden in children | Tuomas Jartti, University of Turku |
| Advancing urban microbiomes for planetary health | Marja Roslund, Natural Resources Institute Finland |
| Tailoring green prescriptions: What nature activity is most beneficial for anxiety? | Natalie Batsch, University College Dublin |
| Exploring the effects of virtual nature and bright light on the wellbeing of knowledge workers during winter | Ann Ojala, Natural Resources Institute Finland |
Auditorium | Panel discussion
Organized by Erja Rappe, Age Institute
Ars&Cultura | Workshop
Organized by Kristiina Patja, University of Helsinki
Community Lobby | Fishbowl discussion
Organized by Nora Fagerholm, University of Turku
Akvaario | Workshop
Organized by Jorien Bonnema, Planetary Health Consult
Restaurant Corner Lounge | World café discussion
Organized by Zuzana Fialová, Climate Coalition
During this poster session, you will have the opportunity to meet the poster authors and learn more about their work. The posters will be on display throughout the entire conference.
Auditorium | Seminar session
Chair: PhD Topi Tanskanen, Helsinki One Health / University of Helsinki
| Presentations | |
| Microbial extract as a nature exposure material reduces the need for atopic dermatitis medication ‒ randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | Johanna Kalmari, Tampere University |
| Nature activities’ potential to change human microbiota and benefit human well-being | Mira Grönroos, University of Helsinki / Finnish Environment Institute |
| Natural sounds may be intrinsically restorative regardless of its source labeling | Yasushi Suko, Tampere University |
| Tree biomass near home affects human microbiota | Mika Saarenpää, University of Helsinki |
Ars&Cultura | Seminar session
Chair: Riikka Puhakka, Docent, PhD, Chief Specialist, LAB University of Applied Sciences
| Presentations | |
| Nature visits among Finnish children: Longitudinal changes and connection to nature | Henna Launistola, Folkhälsan Research Center |
| Integrating human and ecological values for urban green infrastructure connectivity | Nora Fagerholm, University of Turku |
| Stakeholder perceptions of urban pond biodiversity: Preliminary insights | Wenfei Liao, University of Helsinki |
| Health and well-being effects of street greenery on active mobility: Results from a Virtual Reality randomized controlled trial | Silviya Korpilo, University of Helsinki / Finnish Environment Institute |
Akvaario | Seminar session
Chair: Kati Vierikko, senior researcher, Finnish Environment Institute
| Presentations | |
| Nature stewardship under demographic transitions: Two stories from Japan | Marcin Pawel Jarzebski, the University of Tokyo |
| Relational approaches to planetary health: How convening spaces foster connection, empowerment, and regional vitality | Angel Kennedy, Simon Fraser University / Earth Hug Collective |
| It starts at home: Designing communities that nurture people, places, and the planet | Steve Nygren, Serenbe |
| Common Dartmoor | Gaia Bedini, University of Gloucestershire |
Natura | Panel discussion
Organized by Samuel Sandboge, University of Helsinki
Community Lobby | Workshop
Organized by Kudelma – co-op for comprehensive and sustainable systemic change
In these participatory workshops you can experience the Finnish way of living as well as the well-being benefits of nature yourself! You can choose from two options:
The workshops are free of charge, but note that the number of participants is limited. Participants will complete a survey on nature-based services after the activities. The registration for these activities will begin later.
The workshops are organized by the EU co-founded Local nature as business booster project.
Conference dinner at Restaurant Voitto on Wednesday, March 25.
Restaurant Voitto has a beautiful view to ski jumping hills. Illuminated at night, the ski jumps are an impressive sight and create a unique atmosphere for the dinner. Tentative price: 56 €/person + VAT 25.5% (in total, 70 €).
Christopher Raymond is a Human Geographer and Professor of Sustainability Science based at the Ecosystems and Environment Program, University of Helsinki. He is co-affiliated with the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) and the Department of Economics and Management, University of Helsinki. He leads the Human-Nature Transformations Research Group. He is currently the Executive Director of the International Association of Society and Natural Resources and Director of the Enabling Multispecies Transitions of Cities and Regions (MUST) Strategic Research Council Project. He graduated with his PhD in 2012 at the University of South Australia. Before starting his PhD he was an environmental policy officer in the South Australian Government and manager of the award winning Laratinga Wetlands in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.
His research focuses on conceptualising and assessing the diverse values of nature, and finding new ways of embedding them into sustainability transformations. His research commonly examines new ways to represent and engage diverse communities (including other species) in nature-based solutions planning in urban areas. He has written a number of seminal works on senses of place, socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services, and most recently was the Coordinating Lead Author of the IPBES Values Assessment where his team co-created an inclusive typology of values for navigating transformations towards a just and sustainable future. His work contributes to urban and regional planning, biodiversity conservation and restoration planning, sustainability science and human geography.
Auditorium | seminar session
Chair: Sirkku Hildén, Former Chair of Lahti City Board
| Presentations | |
| The environment or the economy?: A policy analysis of how well Australian Public Policy anticipated and prepared for the 2025 South Australian Algal Bloom Crisis | Fran Baum, Stretton Health Equity, University Of Adelaide |
| Health impact assessment and extractive economy – Document analysis from a European perspective | Elsi Haverinen-Mottaghi, Tampere University / Laurea University of Applied Sciences |
| From instrumental to regenerative: Dialogue for inclusive and life-sustaining decision-making | Eeva Nummi, University of Turku |
| Multispecies city futures | Satu Aavanranta, University of Helsinki |
| Evaluating the suitability of biodiversity impact calculation methods for SMEs | Laura Vartiainen, LUT University |
Dr. Susan Prescott presents planetary health as the independent totality of our shared environment – ecological, social, cultural, and spiritual – showing how today’s challenges are inseparable and interconnected.
She weaves science, spirituality, systems thinking, creativity, and community practice to advance, integrated, cross sector, whole-of-society approaches that centers well-being and relational healing in everything we do. She explores why genuine solutions must address root causes by transforming the attitudes and world views that created our interconnected crises. Her work calls for spiritual and cultural renewal, grounded in inner development and emotional intelligence, to realign our values, relationships, and actions with the flourishing of all life.