The Sustainability Science Days is a conference organized jointly by Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) and Aalto Sustainability Hub (ASH). The focus of the days is on the usefulness of sustainability science for decision making on various arenas – the political sphere, companies, and institutions of higher education.
The thematic focus of the days is on sustainable consumption and production, which is the Sustainable Development Goal # 12 (SDG) where Finland’s performance according to the SDG needs to be considerably improved. The Sustainability Science Days will address the questions of science-based decision-making and the practical uses of insights from sustainability science in consumption and production. The Sustainability Science Days consist of several events.
Thu, May 9 |
Fri, May 10 |
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Morning |
Academic conference |
Sustainability in University Strategies Helsinki city centre campus, Language center |
Afternoon |
Key note session Academic conference |
Panel discussion in Finnish /Suomenkielinen yleisötilaisuus: Lentomatkustamisen vähentäminen ja ilmastokompensaatiot: ostettu omatunto vai suunta kohti hiilineutraaliutta? Keskustakampus, Helsinki, Tiedekulma |
Evening |
Panel discussion Making use of sustainability science in the European Parliament? Helsinki city centre campus, Think Corner |
Meeting of Sustainable Development forum of Finnish Universities Helsinki city centre campus, Think Corner |
| 8.30 | Coffee, registration:
Registration and cloackroom: |
| 9.00 – 9.20 |
Opening of the eventProf. Minna Halme (Director of Aalto Sustainability Hub) |
| 9.30 – 11.45 |
Parallel sessions ISession 1: Sustainability transformations in the large-scale New Global -event (Room Y309b) |
| 11.45–12.45 | Lunch (at your own cost) |
| 12.45–14.00 |
Welcome addressOssi Naukkarinen, Key note presentationsProf. Erika Kramer-Mbula, University of Johannesburg (virtual speech) Aalto hall (Y202, Hall A) 2nd floor |
| 14.00–14.30 | Coffee break |
| 14.30–16.45 |
Parallel sessions IISession 6: Degrowth and postgrowth (Aalto-sali / Aalto-hall) |
| 16.45 | Mingling, snacks |
| 18.00 | Transition by metro from Otaniemi to Kaisaniemi for the evening session |
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18.45 – 20.30 |
MEP panel: Making use of sustainability science
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The Sustainable Science Days 2019 will start at Aalto Campus in Otaniemi, Espoo with scientific parallel sessions and keynote presentations by international guest speakers. The sessions include presentations from researchers, commentaries from extra-academic stakeholder, as representatives of practice. Scholarly debate with the audience is invited. The sessions are convened by pairs of scientific leaders, with one from Aalto University, and one from the University of Helsinki with an invited commentator.
Undergraduate Centre, Aalto University, Otaniemi, Espoo (Otakaari 1)
Read more about the parallel scientific sessions here
More information:
Annukka Jyrämä
annukka.jyrama@aalto.fi
+358 50 373 2238
Undergraduate Centre, Aalto University, Otaniemi, Espoo (Otakaari 1): Aalto hall (Y202, Hall A) 2nd floor
In his keynote, prof. Loorbach will present the framework of sustainability transitions and transition governance. He will explain how researchers can use these approaches to actively engage in systemic change and help guide and accelerate sustainability transitions through experimental, reflexive and collaborative research. He will illustrate how to become a transformative researcher though examples from his work on transition in biodiversity, mobility and energy.
Due to force majeure circumstances, Associate Professor Erika Kraemer-Mbula will be giving her keynote speech virtually.
The global sustainability challenge calls for fundamental changes in the way we organise our social, economic and governance systems. Innovative solutions - new approaches, new instruments and new capabilities appear to be central to this process. However, potential solutions are often looked through the lens of what is happening at the ‘technology frontier’. As a result, innovative solutions from low-income contexts remain largely underestimated and often overlooked. This presentation will discuss innovation for transformative change in the context of emerging economies, with a focus on African countries. It will look at shifts that are starting to take place, such as developments in manufacturing modalities as well as the transformative potential of the informal economy.
More on our keynote speakers
More information:
Annukka Jyrämä
annukka.jyrama@aalto.fi
+358 50 373 2238
ThinkCorner stage (Yliopistonkatu 4)
In anticipation of the elections for the European Parliament (May 26th, 2019) and of the Finnish chairmanship of the European Union starting in summer 2019, the Sustainability Science Days will address the questions of science-based decision making and the practical uses of insights from sustainability science in consumption and production especially in the European contexts on Thursday evening of the conference. In this session, candidates for the European Parliament´s elections will be challenged by Aalto and UH students with burning urgency to see change happening. How is scientific knowledge taken into use within political spheres? How can we facilitate the dialogue between different sectors of the society? Considering the poor performance of European countries in regard to SDG # 12, how will the next EP speed up the transition towards more sustainable patterns of consumption?
Participants of the MEP panel:
The list of participants of the panel will be completed during spring 2019
More information:
Maria McPartlin
maria.mcpartlin@helsinki.fi
+358 50 345 84 73
| 8.30-12.00 |
Doctoral student meetup(ThinkCorner Lounge (Yliopistonkatu 4, 2nd floor)) |
| 8.30 – 12.00 |
Sustainability in university strategies - Towards a new era(Festive Hall of the Language Center (Fabianinkatu 26, 3rd floor, hall 301)) |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch (at own cost) |
| 13.00–16.00 |
Discussion event (in Finnish): Lentomatkustamisen vähentäminen ja ilmastokompensaatiot: |
| 16.00-17.30 |
Meeting of Sustainable Development forum of Finnish Universities(ThinkCorner Lounge (Yliopistonkatu 4, 2nd floor)) |
ThinkCorner, 2nd floor (Yliopistonkatu 4)
Sustainability Science Days 2019 supports the making use of sustainability science. As the event has a strong focus on researcher-meets-practice dialogues, we are matching doctoral students with the best possible practitioners. If your work has any links to sustainability, when defined through all of its dimensions: ecological, economic, social and cultural (covering fields from environmental science to economics, philosophy, politics, arts etc.), this event is for you!
Doctoral students from both Aalto and University of Helsinki are welcome to participate in this stakeholder mingling on Friday, 10 May in the morning. This event introduces you to your key stakeholders – you will get a unique possibility to discuss your work and get new kind of instruction for your work. Last year this event created several mentoring relationships and on-going collaboration.
You are invited to apply by sending a one-page motivation letter, providing 1) an overview of how your research links to sustainable development, and 2) your expectations and needs for support from practical actors. How the event could support you in building your expertise and understanding in your research, and how could you engage with practitioners? You can apply even if you participated the session last year, as the participants and the concept are different this year.
Please submit your motivation letter no later than on 6 March to maija.taka@aalto.fi (Aalto students) or inari.helle@helsinki.fi (Uni Helsinki students). Title your email as “Science Days doctoral presentation”. The session organizing committee will go through the letters, and those selected will be informed by 16 March. Maximum 30 participants will be selected.
More information:
Annukka Jyrämä, annukka.jyrama@aalto.fi
Maija Taka, maija.taka@aalto.fi
Inari Helle, inari.helle@helsinki.fi
Festive Hall of the Language Center (Fabianinkatu 26, 3rd floor, hall 301)
The event is fully booked! We recommed coming early, and also following the event through a high-quality live stream (find link below).
An additional room has been booked for following the stream in Language centre: room 115 (1st floor).
Due to force majeure circumstances, Ms. Tucker will be giving her keynote speech virtually.
| 8.30-9.00 | Coffee |
|---|---|
| 9.00 | Opening by Vice President Tom Böhling, UH, chair of the session 9.00-11.00 |
| 9.10 | Research and Higher Education in implementing Agenda 2030 – The Finnish way Senior advisor Riina Vuorento, Ministry of Education and Culture |
| 9.30 | Sustainability strategy of the University of Helsinki President Jari Niemelä, UH |
| 9.50 | Aalto Living Strategy towards 2030 – how sustainability can deliver impact Vice President Ossi Naukkarinen, Aalto University |
| 10.10 | Times Higher Education Impact Ranking – SDG´s in Universities as basis for ranking CEO Laura Tucker, Vertigo Ventures (virtual speech) |
| 11.00 |
The presentations will be followed by a panel Also Dean, Professor in Corporate Environmental Management, |
| 12.00 | End of session |
Higher education is among the most influential sectors when we are to face the contemporary grand challenges. Mankind has already entered into the anthropocene, and climate change, population growth and inequalities are elevating the pressure to find societal and technological solutions. Universities need to be powerful change agents towards this new era. This is indicated by the fact that sustainability is becoming a criteria for global university rankings. In Finland, higher education sector has taken some soft steps to steer the focus and hence to aid the society towards sustainability. While institutions like the Ministry of Education and Culture has been responding to these challenges, further action is needed.
University of Helsinki and Aalto University are in the midst of renewing their strategies for the next decade. The aim of this session is to take a holistic approach to universities´ strategies, explore financial and other steering mechanisms and management systems to support the transition towards more sustainable and impactful operations. Focus of the session is on strengthening universities’ role as drivers of sustainability. In addition to addresses by the leaders of the respective Finnish Universities, in the session, UN´s Sustainable Development Goals will be further explored by Times Higher Education (THE) explaining their recently launched THE Impact, a ranking measuring universities delivering SDGs. Also various examples will further spark the discussion on universities’ responsibility to take action.
More information:
Meri Löyttyniemi
meri.loyttyniemi@aalto.fi
+358 50 313 7549
ThinkCorner stage (Yliopistonkatu 4)
Seuraa tapahtumaa striimin kautta
Globaaleista kasvihuonekaasupäästöistä yli 2 % muodostuu lentoliikenteestä, joka on kasvanut rajusti maailmantalouden kriisivuotta 2009 lukuun ottamatta yhtämittaisesti jo vuosikymmeniä. IAET:n tilastojen mukaan vuonna 2017 lennettiin maailmanlaajuisesti yli 35 miljoonaa lentoa tuottaen 859 miljoonaa tonnia CO2-päästöjä. Kasvihuonekaasujen valtavan määrän lisäksi lentoliikenteen päästöt ovat erityisen ongelmallisia, koska yläilmakehässä ne vaikuttavat maanläheisiä päästöjä voimakkaammin. Lentomatkustamisen ilmastovaikutusten aiempaa laajemman tiedostamisen seurauksena henkilökohtaista ilmastopolitiikkaansa pohtivien yksittäisten ihmisten lisäksi kestävyysstrategioitaan hiovat organisaatiot, ml. yliopistot, joutuvat enenevässä määrin tarkastelemaan lentomatkustamisen käytäntöjään kriittisesti. Lentopäästöt ovat erittäin merkittävä osa yliopistojen hiilijalanjälkeä, ja sen pienentämiseksi halutaan tarkastella keinovalikoimaa liikkumistapojen kehittämiseksi.
Helsingin yliopiston Kestävyystieteen instituutti ja Aalto-yliopiston Sustainability Hub järjestävät yleisötilaisuuden, jossa tarkastellaan lentomatkustamista, keinoja vähentää sen negatiivisia ympäristövaikutuksia ja etenkin jäljellejäävän ilmastovaikutuksen kompensaatiota. Asiantuntijoiden ja lentomatkustamisen toimijoiden paneelikeskustelun lisäksi tilaisuudessa yleisöllä on mahdollisuus osallistua keskusteluun lentokompensaatioiden etiikasta, taloudesta ja ekologisesta vaikuttavuudesta.
Tilaisuus järjestetään Helsingin yliopiston Tiedekulmassa osana kaksipäiväistä Sustainability Science Days -konferenssia.
| 13.00 |
Tilaisuuden avaus |
| 13.20 | Paneelikeskustelu: Yksilöt ja vapaa-ajan matkustaminen |
| 14.00 | Paneelikeskustelu: Työmatkustaminen ja organisaatiot |
| 15.00 | Paneelikeskustelu: Lentokompensaatiot |
Lisätietoja:
Paula Schönach
paula.schonach@helsinki.fi
+358 294 157 827
ThinkCorner, 2nd floor (Yliopistonkatu 4)
Finnish SD-forum in higher education (“yliopistojen Keke-foorumi”) connects Finnish universities´ sustainability managers and persons responsible for advancing sustainable development in higher education. The meeting is open to stakeholder representatives and staff and faculty members of Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences interested in SD.
http://www.bup.fi/new/keke/
More information:
Meri Löyttyniemi
meri.loyttyniemi@aalto.fi
puh. +358 50 313 7549