Established in 2001, the Collegium has been an active part of Finnish academia for a quarter of a century. It was founded to strengthen the humanities and social sciences at the University of Helsinki, and it continues to support curiosity-driven research that has proven to have both academic and societal impact. With a truly international profile, a multidisciplinary environment that cherishes academic freedom, and a constantly renewing cohort of researchers, the Collegium has served as a connecting hub for generations of scholars.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Collegium concludes the academic year with a rich diverse program. In addition to the main celebration in the University’s Small Festive Hall, the program (see below) includes an anniversary symposium on the theme of artificiality and events organized with our Honorary Fellows, Martha C. Nussbaum and James H. Mittelman. The festivities culminate in a documentary screening and a panel discussion on the future of global health.
As the world grows increasingly complex and the future remains open, basic research in the humanities and social sciences continues to play a crucial role. Building on its 25-year legacy, HCAS will continue to provide opportunities both for seeking solutions to emerging problems and for pursuing basic research whose value may lie beyond immediate practical use.
Events of the celebration weeks
The following events organized by HCAS are open to interested participants. Please note that registration in advance is required.
June 3, 2:00–4:00 pm
In recent years, the value of the humanities has come under increasing scrutiny. At a time when economic efficiency, security, and technological innovation dominate public discourse, the humanities are often seen as secondary – or even dispensable. Across Europe and elsewhere, this shift has led to funding cuts and the closure of programs central to our cultural and intellectual traditions. In this public discussion, Professor Martha C. Nussbaum – one of the world’s leading philosophers and a prominent defender of humanistic education – reflects on the enduring significance of the humanities.
June 4–5
This two-day workshop, inspired by the work of HCAS Honorary Fellow Martha C. Nussbaum and featuring her keynote lecture, brings together scholars across philosophy, history, religious studies, anthropology, and literary studies. The event examines the concept of tragedy in both artistic, philosophical, and lived contexts, providing a stimulating forum for considering how tragic narratives continue to shape conceptions of human vulnerability and moral agency.
June 9–10
Organized by HCAS Alumni Andrew Graan and Tim Stuart-Buttle
This symposium interrogates “artifice,” the agency of human invention, and the anxieties that it provokes. Across social and historical contexts, claims to artificiality often breed mistrust. To be “natural” is almost always a virtue, while things deemed “artificial,” from the sweeteners and dyes in processed foods to cryptocurrencies, more commonly provoke suspicion. Through its panels and presentations, this symposium asks: What is it about artifice that sparks such concern and ambivalence? And, if artifice produces a unique set of insecurities, by what techniques have social actors sought to shore up the authority of decidedly “artificial” constructions?
June 15, 4:15 pm
HCAS Honorary Fellow and Distinguished Research Professor at American University, James H. Mittelman, will host a panel discussion for his recent publication, Runaway Capitalism. The book offers a novel interpretation of capitalism’s new, rapidly globalizing forms that are intensifying precarity and prompting counter-movements. Mittelman’s presentation will be followed by comments and discussion with Tero Erkkilä, Anja Nygren, Heikki Patomäki, and Ann Phoenix.
June 16, 4:15 pm
The final event of the celebratory weeks will be a documentary screening organized by HCAS alum Nicole Hassoun. The documentary, Creative Resolve: The Future of Global Health, takes viewers behind the scenes with activists and experts who transformed global health through their creative resolve. From the front lines of Rwanda’s HIV fight to the historic eradication of smallpox, the documentary offers a blueprint for a future where health is a right, not a privilege. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Nicole Hassoun, Säde Hormio, Simo Kyllönen, and Milla Rantala, focusing on the documentary and its broader implications, with time reserved for audience Q&A.