Save the date: Xplorer 2026 Oulu - Redesign Mining

The Xplorer 2026 conference combines everyday life, art and science to raise awareness of the necessity of sustainable development, circular economy and sustainable mining.

The demand for metals is forever increasing along the transition towards green and carbon-neutral society. Electrification of vehicles, production of clean energy, and utilization of industrial side streams are based on technology that uses minerals and metals as raw materials. Without critical elements, no modern mobility, energy production or consumer electronics would exist.

In the long term, the everyday selections consumers make in commuting, traveling, purchasing and recycling products influence on the need to extract raw materials from the earth. On the other hand, scientists strive to find new ways to mine, enrich minerals into metals and process them into new recyclable products in environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

The program is divided into a Public Day and Science Days sections.

This event is part of the University of Oulu’s 2026 culture program.

Xplorer Oulu 2026 Redesign Mining - Public Day 9.6.2026

The Public Day welcomes people of all ages interested in sustainability and circular economy to take part in various activities of the day. Universities´ research is presented in practical way to facilitate communication and create understanding on the need of sustainable mining that affects all of us.

In the long run, everyday decisions people make regarding mobility, use of energy, purchases and recycling influence on the need to establish new mines. The mission of the day is to provide an open dialogue platform for visitors and specialists to discuss on the trends of sustainable development and circular economy.

Many interesting activities are available during the day. Researchers and other specialists present their work on the circular economy at demonstration points, which provide an excellent opportunity for public to make questions or research samples with available equipment. Guided tours arranged in Linnanmaa campus area offer possibility to learn more about the world of rocks, the purposes for which rocks are used, the evolution and birth history. Cultural performances illustrate sustainability in the artistic way. For example, we can admire the journey of ore from the earth's crust to everyday products. In workshops people can create their own vision on sustainability, how the past time or future would look like with or without mines.

The program is published in the spring 2026.

Xplorer 2026 Oulu Redesign Mining - Scientific conference 10.-11.6.2026

The sustainable themes are explored more deeply during the Science Days where holistic perspective is taken to the sustainable mining industry. In presentations given by leading experts of the field, mining industry is viewed through sustainability, new methods and processes, the environment, business and people.

Rapidly proceeding digitalization and automation change the way industry sectors operate. In ideal circumstances, new technological achievements can be utilized to develop a mining industry that does not produce any waste or cause a negative impact on the environment. Top class international researchers and experts present latest advances in sustainable mining via eight thematic sessions of the conference.

Thematic sessions:

1. Redesign mining
2. Biodiversity and Arctic waters
3. Energy and new technologies of green transition
4. Primary and secondary raw materials
5. Digitalisation and business of recycling metals
6. Sustainability transition and CRM
7. Knowledge of value chain of minerals and metals
8. National minerals strategy and battery value chain

The main language of the event is English.

More detailed program of the conference is published in the beginning part of 2026.



ORGANIZERS

University of Oulu
Prof. Saija Luukkanen
Director of Oulu Mining School
saija.luukkanen(at)oulu.fi

Anu Sirviö, Account Manager
Faculty of Technology
anu.sirvio(at)oulu.fi

The Xplorer network
LUT University
University of Oulu
University of Eastern Finland
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Sofi Filtration Oy