UniOulu Science Day 2026

UniOulu Science Day is University of Oulu’s biggest interdisciplinary science event of the year open for the whole university community. It is organised by the Centres for Multidisciplinary Research, the profiling themes and the Thule Institute together with researchers from all over our university. The event is designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and networking among all researchers and students at the University of Oulu. This internal conference offers a broad range of interdisciplinary workshops and inspiring speeches to spark novel ideas and insightful discussions. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with colleagues across disciplines and build meaningful collaborations!

Event information

Time

Wed 15.04.2026 08:30 - 17:00

Venue location

Linnanmaa campus

Location

Linnanmaa

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Registration for UniOulu Science Day 2026 has closed.

We expect a record 430 participants to the day! Warm welcome to all registered participants! To celebrate the Oulu 2026 Culture Capital year, we also welcome participation from citizens of Oulu.

The language of the event is English. The event will be held at Linnanmaa Campus.

Programme

8-9: Interactive demo: Kuurankukat ja laulavat kvantit: virtuaalimatkoja ajassa ja paikassa, Assistant Professor Ella Peltonen & team, AIC Lounge

8.30: Morning coffee served in front of Lecture Hall L1 with a sneak peek to the university's foresight on weak signals. You can also explore the weak signals independently in Howspace.

9-10.15: Opening plenary, Lecture Hall L1

Welcome words
Rector Arto Maaninen, University of Oulu

Keynote speech – Light in the Darkness: astrophotography under the northern sky
J-P Metsävainio, Astronomical nature photographer and visual artist

Keynote speech – Hybrid Knowledges
Associate Professor Laura Beloff, Vice Dean for artistic and creative practices in the School of Art, Design and Architecture, Aalto University

10.30-11.45 Concurrent workshops, part 1 

You can choose one of the following 17 workshops to attend. You will participate in the same workshop for part 1 and part 2. You must register for the workshop of your choice to secure your place – some of the workshops only accept a limited number of participants.

  • AI in Pathology Workflow: Driving New Clinical Predictors (Tellus Brisk + YL124)
  • Any Science is Neuroscience: Intersections of Mind, Body, and Society (YT116)
  • Boost Your Research Proposal with AI (Tellus Stage)
  • Data-Driven Futures in Health: Interdisciplinary Insights from the Data4Healthcare Programme (Garden Timjami)
  • Decoding Deepfakes and Public Trust in the Age of AI (Frost Club)
  • Digitalization, AI & Data at the Service of Humanity – Securing effective services in the rural North through digitalization (LeaF)
  • Expanding the toolbox for solving global environmental problems (Garden Meirami)
  • Foresight Workshop on Mini-scenarios for Human-Centric Digitalization (Olohuone)
  • Green Hydrogen Transition: From Molecules to Mindsets – Bridging Technology and Society (Agora)
  • How does culture shape our capacity to adapt? (HR144)
  • Precision medicine for rare diseases – From discovery to society ( Tellus Aspire)
  • Resilient science – breaking barriers in interdisciplinary communication (Garden Rakuuna)
  • Species Work (Tellus Backstage)
  • Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Radical Ideas for Resilience in a Changing Arctic (Garden Kumina)
  • Co-creating City Futures: Unlocking Innovation through Engaged Research (Tellus Galaxy)
  • WhatWorks Practices – Designing a Well-functioning Multidisciplinary Research Programme for nature positivity (Science Garden)

11.45-12.45 Lunch break

11.45-12.45: Interactive demo: Kuurankukat ja laulavat kvantit: virtuaalimatkoja ajassa ja paikassa, Assistant Professor Ella Peltonen & team, AIC Lounge

12.45-14 Concurrent workshops, part 2 

The workshops continue in the same spaces.

14.00 Afternoon coffee in front of Lecture Hall L3

14.30-15.45 Afternoon plenary, Lecture hall L3

Comments and closing words
Vice Rector for Research Matti Latva-aho, University of Oulu

Keynote speech – Who Gets to Choose? On the future(s) of universities and researchers
Docent Veli Virmajoki, Senior Researcher, Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), Turku School of Economics

Imagining Academic Futures – A facilitated foresight exercise
Facilitators: Senior Researcher Veli Virmajoki from Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), Turku School of Economics, and from University of Oulu Head of Planning Juha Mönkkönen, Specialist Anu Rytivaara, Head of Development Minna ‘t Lam, and Specialist Heidi Peuraniemi.

15.45 Poster session with cocktail hour, restaurant Mustikka

University of Oulu’s early-career researchers will present their interdisciplinary research posters. The session will host 27 posters with topics ranging from AI‑guided agroforestry, genetic and population‑health research, and sustainable materials engineering to cultural anthropology, climate resilience, wireless edge intelligence, and cutting‑edge biomedical innovations, highlighting the diversity of research across the University of Oulu. Explore the poster selection in more detail here.

Attendees will vote for the "Best Poster" which will get an award of 200 €. The voting will be open from 3.45 pm until 4.50 pm, and the Best Poster will be announced at 5 pm.

Drinks and cocktail snacks will be served until 5.30 pm.

Created 5.12.2025 | Updated 14.4.2026