HELSUS Sustainability Discussion Group

The HELSUS Sustainability Discussion Group (SDG) is a monthly meeting for bringing together HELSUS members and ECGS students (as well as others working in sustainability fields).

You are welcome to our next meeting that will take place on Tuesday 3.12. at 17-18:30 pm in the HELSUS Hub Lounge (Porthania, Yliopistonkatu 3). Please let us know via this form if you are planning to attend – as it gives us an idea of how many people to expect. 

We are happy to have doctoral researcher Sonja Pietiläinen leading us to the discussion with a presentation titled “Why is climate obstruction mainstreaming? The role of far-right in mainstreaming of climate obstruction in Finland and Europe” (in Finnish: Miksi ilmastoestäminen valtavirtaistuu? Radikaalioikeiston rooli ilmastoestämisen valtavirtaistajana Suomessa ja Euroopassa) 

Here is Sonja’s bio: Sonja Pietiläinen is a doctoral researcher in political geography at the University of Oulu, Finland. She is working on the far right in Europe with a particular focus on the far right's role in the climate crisis and the connections between racism and climate obstruction. Currently, Pietiläinen is finalising her doctoral dissertation on the far right’s climate politics in Finland. She has also co-authored White Skin, Black Fuel: On the dangers of fossil fascism (Verso, 2021). 

If you want to familiarize yourself with the topic beforehand, you can check these two optional materials.

We hope that the discussion group will function as a space where we can together explore new ways of learning that are not based on academic competition and performance. In other words, the event is open for everyone, with an interest in sustainability and we hope to enable learning from and with each other in a supportive and relaxed atmosphere.

This discussion group will very likely be continuing next year in February, more info will be sent out next year. If you have anything in mind, questions, feedback etc. please mail sini.holopainen@helsinki.fi

Events

3.12: Why is climate obstruction mainstreaming? The role of far-right in mainstreaming of climate obstruction in Finland and Europe

Welcome on Tuesday 3.12. at 17-18:30 pm to the HELSUS Hub Lounge (Porthania, Yliopistonkatu 3). Please let us know via this form if you are planning to attend – as it gives us an idea of how many people to expect. 

Sonja Pietiläinen leads us to the discussion with a presentation titled “Why is climate obstruction mainstreaming? The role of far-right in mainstreaming of climate obstruction in Finland and Europe” (in Finnish: Miksi ilmastoestäminen valtavirtaistuu? Radikaalioikeiston rooli ilmastoestämisen valtavirtaistajana Suomessa ja Euroopassa) 

Here is Sonja’s bio: Sonja Pietiläinen is a doctoral researcher in political geography at the University of Oulu, Finland. She is working on the far right in Europe with a particular focus on the far right's role in the climate crisis and the connections between racism and climate obstruction. Currently, Pietiläinen is finalising her doctoral dissertation on the far right’s climate politics in Finland. She has also co-authored White Skin, Black Fuel: On the dangers of fossil fascism (Verso, 2021). 

If you want to familiarize yourself with the topic beforehand, you can check these two optional materials.

 

 

11.11: The end of sustainability as the end of technological optimism? - And what it means for philosophy of education

We are happy to have philosopher Pasi Takkinen introducing us to the topic of “The end of sustainability as the end of technological optimism? - And what it means for philosophy of education” 

Here is Pasi’s bio: "I'm a philosopher working on finishing my PhD thesis on educational philosophy, post-sustainability and technology. I suggest that if the hopes of sustainability are behind us, one reason might be unjustified technological optimism. However, in educational thought, questioning sustainability and technology are both huge challenges. I am located at Tampere University and Puistokatu4, Helsinki." 

If you want to familiarize yourself with the topic beforehand, you can check these two optional articles.  

  • Takkinen, P., Pulkki, J., & Vadén, T. (2024). From the Archimedean point to circles in the sand—Post-sustainable curriculum and the critical subject. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 56(8), 772-783. 
  • Takkinen, P., & Pulkki, J. (2023). Discovering earth and the missing masses—technologically informed education for a post-sustainable future. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55(10), 1148-1158

The theme for Autumn 2022 is Sensing, Observing, Measuring, and Experimenting with/in Sustainability

Welcome back to the HELSUS Sustainability Discussion Group (SDGs) for Autumn 2022! The SDGs are a monthly informal discussion held for HELSUS members to connect on broad topics related to sustainability science and share collective knowledge. There is no preparation required, come with your knowledge and readiness to dive into engaging discussions and new topics in sustainability. This year, the events will be more casual, afterwork meet ups; feel free to bring  a snack or beverage to share or come as you are!

The SDGs will be held on the last Thursday of each month from 16:00-17:00 in the HELSUS Hub, Library room 228; they will be initially hybrid to increase accessibility (find Zoom link below). We have an overarching theme for the Autumn SDGs; the topic of each discussion will flow from the previous one at the direction of the members present. 

Zoom Link: https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/67063258027?pwd=QXhQeEZnQy9UR1NzNkRKVlJZMDdBZz09

Passcode: 055649

29 September: Getting a sense for where we are and where we want to go? A listening session for member input

27 October: Getting a sense of sufficiency: How to measure when enough is enough

24 November: The role of science and technology studies (STS) and post-humanist research approaches in sustainability science: A critical discussion

The discussion will be based on this short and easy article (Pickering 2005) that clarifies the differences in critical STS/post-humanist approaches compared to the social sciences and natural/life sciences that comprise the field of sustainability science. The discussion will consider the advantages of post-human approaches compared with others, the paradigm shift that's required for their implementation, and the challenges posed to natural and social sciences in doing so. Fresh baked cookies will be served for in-person attendees.

This autumn we will focus on a series of discussions with experts and HELSUS members, engaging in critical questions of how justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion fit within sustainability practice, research, and philosophy.

What: HELSUS Sustainability Discussion Group (SDG)

When: Tuesday, October 26th, 10:30-12:00

Where: HELSUS Hub Lounge (2nd floor of Porthania) & Zoom (Finally a hybrid event!)

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 670 6325 8027

Passcode: 055649

This time we are finally having an opportunity to meet up physically at HELSUS Hub Lounge! The event is a hybrid event, which means that here is a possibility to join via Zoom, too.

We will continue with the topic of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion from partners outside of academia. Zestii Oy is joining us bringing a perspective of a newly starting food service company.

Zestii Oy a food service with sustainability, social inclusion and inspiration for future of work at our core value. Zestii Oy tries to design their operation as environmentally sustainable as possible. What makes Zestii Oy unique is that they do not have a central kitchen, and instead they engage with individuals at home, who are good at cooking, and help then turn their cooking skills into micro food entrepreneurship. Zestii Oy provides training and guidance to enable workers to safely, legally and hygienically operate from home. They also create sales opportunities and do marketing.

Besides contributing the discussion, Zestii Oy will serve some food in the event!

 

PRE­VI­OUS SDGS:

Tuesday, September 28th, 10:30-12:00

In autumn’s first SDG meeting, Nira Johri who is working at global food company as Director of Global Diversity & Sustainability, will introduce us her work and the topics she is working on. Here are some questions that you can think of in advance.

  1. Where do you see the great opportunities for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in sustainability?
  2. Where are the greatest tension points / what will be harder to find convergence on?
  3. What gives you hope / what do you fear as you look to 2030 sustainability goals? 

Nira Johri is the Director, Global Diversity & Sustainability for Rich Products Corporation, a $4B global food business, where she leads the enterprise strategy for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Sustainability. During her time at Rich’s, she created and met time-bound goals for both DEI and Sustainability and established senior-level governance mechanisms to ensure integration of both topics into business strategy. Prior to Rich’s, Nira spent five years building the cocoa industry’s collective sustainability strategy, CocoaAction. Nira previously worked for Unilever and served in the Obama administration.

Throughout her career, she has been a passionate supporter of the development of women leaders.  She is the founder of ‘Women in Policy,’ an affinity group focused on fostering professional development among women at the Pentagon.  Nira established the first-ever gender conference on cocoa, bringing together over 100 stakeholders across Africa. She is also a Board Member of the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable and an Impact Fellow with the Sustainable Food Lab.  She holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and a BS in Marketing & BA in Government & Politics from the University of Maryland.  

For the too-long-don't-read-folks

What: Sustainability Discussion Group for bringing together HELSUS PhDs and Postdocs to get to know each other, discuss big and emerging ideas in sustainability science and work toward better research outcomes and community. 

When: Last Tuesday of each month from 10-11

Where: Due to the COVID-19 situation the discussion group will be via Zoom.

Join the meeting via this Zoom link (passcode: 055649)

Top­ics dur­ing the spring 2021

Each topic set by interested parties at previous meetings.

June 2nd: Us­ing your priv­ilege as a way to sup­port sustainability and not per­petu­ate sys­temic in­equit­ies 

April 27th: Cli-fi: cre­at­ive cli­mate fic­tions to com­bat fu­ture cli­mate dysto­pias and reas­ons to stay hope­ful

If you have some ideas of types of climate-fiction (both dystopic and/or utopic) please share them in HELSUS-members discussion group on Teams. We would love to curate a list of books, films, poems, short stories, etc. that we can all turn to for some much-needed hope! 

 

March 30th: What are the most im­port­ant top­ics in sustainability science right now? 

What is needed of you: Just show up with an open mind and interest in engaging discussions. We will rely on our collective, previous knowledge and critical minds to ground our discussion.

Rolling collection of the links shared and discussion topics