AIS2025: Educating Future Leaders on the Interdisciplinary Nature of Obesity as a Pandemic

Fibrobesity Research Programme hosts a workshop on the AIS2025: Educating Future Leaders on the Interdisciplinary Nature of Obesity as a Pandemic

Join our interactive workshop to discover how co-creation within interdisciplinary teams can help to solve complex global challenges, using the global obesity pandemic as a case study!

This session emphasizes the link between science, education, and policymaking, aiming to equip future experts and leaders better. We will collaboratively devise innovative methods to train students, early-career researchers, and professionals to adopt a holistic mindset and collaborate across various disciplines.

When: Wednesday 4 June from 14.30-17.00

Where: Agora (AT128), Linnanmaa Campus

Maximum number of participants: 30-40

Registration: Only for registered AIS2025 on-site participants.

Programme

Speakers and their topics:

1. First, Professor Hanni Muukkonen, University of Oulu, will focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative learning in an academic context: “The ecologies of interdisciplinary learning in higher education”

2. Professor Juha Kere, Karolinska Institutet & University of Helsinki, will give the second keynote: "Epigenetic inheritance, or rather epigenetic programming?"

3. Dr. Johanna Matilainen, University of Eastern Finland, will deliver the third keynote: "More comprehensive approach: Obesity defined as a disease"

Round Table Discussions

Following the inspiring keynote speeches, participants will take part in roundtable discussions in small groups of 4 to 5 people, examining different facets of obesity and interdisciplinary learning. Pre-assigned teaser items and table hosts will facilitate the discussions. After the first discussion, groups will rotate to different tables to gain fresh perspectives on the same issue. Finally, each group will share their findings and ideas, with guidance from the table host.

The session will wrap up with a Joint Discussion to synthesize insights from the group presentations. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with peers and gain fresh perspectives!

Table hosts and themes:

1. Hanni Muukkonen: The ecologies of interdisciplinary learning in higher education (Interdisciplinary learning in higher education, educating for leadership in higher education on interdisciplinary challenges)

2. Juha Kere: Epigenetic inheritance, or rather epigenetic programming? (General perspective on obesity as a global health problem)

3. Johanna Matilainen: More comprehensive approach: Obesity defined as a disease (General perspective on obesity as a global health problem)

4. Eve Hyrkäs: Obesity in the historical perspective: Lessons to decision-makers? (Human sciences, information sciences, cultural/historical aspect)

5. Tuire Salonurmi: Digital Health Solutions: Tool for Prevention and Intervention (Digital healthcare solutions, health data management, personalized medicine)

Optional pre-readings:

This material is intended for those with a particular interest in the subject. Participation in the workshop does not require familiarity with the provided materials.

Each speaker and host was asked to provide materials that would allow participants to familiarise themselves with the workshop topics in advance if they would like to do so. These materials may also be useful after the workshop if you would like to go into further detail on any aspect of the workshop.

Hanni Muukkonen:

Markauskaite, L., Schwarz, B., Damşa, C., & Muukkonen, H. (2024). Beyond disciplinary engagement: Researching the ecologies of interdisciplinary learning. Special Issue editorial. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 33(2), 213-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508406.2024.2354151

Muukkonen, H. & Kajamaa, A. (2024). Knowledge objects and practices in interdisciplinary learning: Example of an organization simulation in higher education. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 33(2), 365-404. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508406.2024.2344794

Juha Kere:

Waldrop, S. W., Niemiec, S., Wood, C., Gyllenhammer, L. E., Jansson, T., Friedman, J. E., Tryggestad, J. B., Borengasser, S. J., Davidson, E. J., Yang, I. V., Kechris, K., Dabelea, D., & Boyle, K. E. (2024). Cord blood DNA methylation of immune and lipid metabolism genes is associated with maternal triglycerides and child adiposity. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 32(1), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23915

Lister, R., Mukamel, E. A., Nery, J. R., Urich, M., Puddifoot, C. A., Johnson, N. D., Lucero, J., Huang, Y., Dwork, A. J., Schultz, M. D., Yu, M., Tonti-Filippini, J., Heyn, H., Hu, S., Wu, J. C., Rao, A., Esteller, M., He, C., Haghighi, F. G., Sejnowski, T. J., … Ecker, J. R. (2013). Global epigenomic reconfiguration during mammalian brain development. Science (New York, N.Y.), 341(6146), 1237905. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237905

Johanna Matilainen:

Gómez-Ambrosi, J., Catalán, V. & Frühbeck, G. The evolution of the understanding of obesity over the last 100 years. Int J Obes 49, 168–176 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-024-01668-3

Busebee, B., Ghusn, W., Cifuentes, L., & Acosta, A. Obesity: A Review of Pathophysiology and Classification. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 98(12) 1842-1857 (2023). 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.05.02

Eve Hyrkäs:

These books are available to the Uni Oulu staff via the University of Oulu library (oula.finna.fi). Previews, including introductions, can be viewed in Google Books.

Stearns, Peter: Fat History: Bodies and Beauty in the Modern West. New York: NYU Press, 2002.

Forth, Christopher E. Fat: A Cultural History of the Stuff of Life. London: Reaktion Books, 2019.

Further reading, limited availability: Shaw, Amy J., & V. Lynn Kennedy. Fat and the Body in the Long Nineteenth Century: Meanings, Measures, and Representations. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2025.

Registration

The session is available only for registered AIS2025 on-site participants. However, no separate pre-registration for this session is required of the AIS2025 participants.

Registration for the AIS2025 Conference is closed.

The AIS2025 Conference

The University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences are hosting the 47th Association for Interdisciplinary Studies Conference (AIS2025) at the Linnanmaa campus from June 4th to 6th, 2025. This marks the second time the AIS organization has held its conference in Europe, following the 2019 event at the University of Amsterdam.

The conference will focus on the theme "Shaping the Future in the Era of Polycrisis". The event is intended for all those interested in multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research and teaching. People from all stages of their research careers and all staff groups are welcome!

You can find more info on the AIS2025-webpage.