Dr. Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti is Professor of Social Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Helsinki (Finland). Her main research interests include intergroup relations with a focus on the social identities and inequalities, prejudice, racism, and discrimination as well as immigrant integration. Inga is a leader of the ESSO research group that focuses on the social psychology of intergroup relations. Currently, she is involved in three large projects, two of which focus on intergroup relations in virtual reality. In the PREVENT consortium (Research Council of Finland), her team is exploring the ways to reduce prejudice and discrimination in virtual reality. ERA-VR project (Kone Foundation) is, in turn, designed to further investigate identity processes and change during virtual interactions. In addition, she is a leader of a social psychological WP2 of the SRC funded DECA-project, which focuses on collective epistemic rights and capacities among cultural majority and minority groups in Finland.
Matilde is a doctoral researcher in social psychology at the University of Helsinki, where her dissertation focuses on prejudice reduction through intergroup contact in Virtual Reality. Her research explores how immersive VR environments can facilitate meaningful interactions between different social groups, contributing to the broader understanding of how to reduce prejudice and promote social harmony. Matilde is an active member of the Academy of Finland-funded PREVENT Consortium, where she collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to develop strategies for preventing discrimination towards disadvantaged minorities.
Wesa Aapro (MA) has been working in the intersection of art and technology for over 25 years. He has occupied most roles in cutting edge media production, in productions ranging from transmedia storytelling to XR journalism. Currently working as Metaverse Lead for Yle Finnish Broadcasting Company, his next frontier is the land of the virtual and the strange avatars inhabiting it.
Tanja Is (1984) is a multidisciplinary artist who creates art jewellery and soft sculptures that explore the delicate interplay between nature and the strange and the unknown. Her work is deeply inspired by the ever-changing dynamics of the natural world, drawing on the organic forms, textures, and patterns found in nature. Through a process of stitching, layering, and assembling textiles, Is creates sculptures that are both tactile and thought-provoking. Her work reflects an ongoing fascination with change—whether it be the subtle shifts in a landscape, the metamorphosis of a creature, or the cycles of growth and decay. This focus on transformation is central to her practice, as she seeks to capture the fleeting moments when the familiar becomes unfamiliar, and the known gives way to the mysterious.
With a background in fine arts and a passion for experimental techniques, her art invites contemplation on the beauty and strangeness of the world around us, encouraging viewers to embrace the unknown and appreciate the constant evolution of life.
Miina Elina Pukari is a visual arts teacher (MA) and photographer who considers performance art to be one of the most powerful forms of visual art due to its interdisciplinary nature. As an art teacher with over fifteen years of experience teaching upper secondary and upper comprehensive school students, Pukari has been inspiring young people to explore their imaginations and discover their own voices. She thrives in collaborative environments where creativity knows no bounds and artistic activities can be fully immersive and holistic.
The foundation of Miina Elina's teaching and artistic work, which often appears playfully cheerful, lies in the theory of "serious playfulness”. With this theoretical framework deeply ingrained, Pukari imaginatively explores, synthesizes, and collides ideas – integrating the latest technologies to transform fragments of reality into surreal artworks and innovative exercises for students amidst their everyday lives.
Elina Vartiainen is an XR designer and digital artist thriving at the intersection of art, games, and emerging technology. With a strong background in motion design for broadcast and social media, she is particularly fascinated by the UGC creator economy and how people choose to visually represent themselves through avatars on social gaming platforms. Her work explores creative possibilities with tools like Unreal Engine and Stable Diffusion, where she enjoys experimenting with the latest technologies to push the boundaries of digital art and interactive experiences.
Antti Martikainen is a long-term entrepreneur who has made one exit from HR business and has been helming Virtual Dawn community driven creation system since 2020. As a renaissance man Antti has taken part in multiple projects as art, voice and music creator and designer. Antti is a wanted speaker and advisor in the field of XR, AI and democratization of content creation and how the meaning of art and creation is being re defined as technology is moving forwards. Formal education Antti gained from FHD Düsseldorf and Jyväskylän Ammattikorkeakoulu (BBA).