Future Earth Suomi (FES, Future Earth Finland – Future Earth Suomi) hosted a national networking seminar at the ACCC Impact week on 16 April. The idea of the event was to brought together sustainability researchers, experts, and networks from across Finland to discuss the future of sustainable sciences, strengthen collaboration, and promote international engagement among Finnish researchers.
The seminar showcased several ongoing sustainability science activities and active national and international networks (e.g Planetary Health Alliance Europe, European Social Sciences Board , The Finnish Society for Environmental Social Science, Sustainability Transformations Doctoral Education Pilot) while exploring the need for broader coordination and stronger structures for sustainability-related actors in Finland. Networking in Finnish sustainability sciences has long been a challenge. FES wants to support networking while realistically limiting its current resources.
The invited keynote speaker was Paula Schönach, Program Director of the Strategic Research Council’s CLIMATE programme at Aalto University. She presented key findings from the CLIMATE programme and discussed what a climate-wise society of choices could look like. Research showcase presentations highlighted ongoing European Union projects: “Service co-design as boundary object: Bridging atmospheric science and climate policy in ICOS Cities project” by Idil Gaziulusoy and “Strengthening climate adaptation efforts in the European regions” by Maria Dubovik from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.