Conference Programme

Wednesday 6 May 2026

Venue: University of Turku Main Building, University Hill, Tauno Nurmela lecture hall & Main Lobby

13.00–18.00 Registration

13.15–14.45 Social Programme: Guided walking tour (meeting point: in front of the Main Building)

15.00–17.45 Pre-conference: Research published – social impact achieved? How research-based knowledge finds its way to the decision making and to the public

Opening words of the Pre-conference: Maija S. Peltola, Vice Rector, University of Turku

 

Keynote speakers

Andre Sourander, Professor, University of Turku / INVEST

Pasi Moisio, Research Professor, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare / INVEST:
Roles of Research Across the Policy Cycle: From Agenda-Setting to Evaluation

Pigga Keskitalo, Professor, University of Lapland, Member of the Strategic Research Council:
Strategic research as a driver for societal impact

Facilitator: Sanna Herkama, Senior Researcher, University of Turku / INVEST

Pigga Keskitalo, Pasi Moisio, André Sourander, and Sanna Herkama

 18.00 Welcome reception

 Main Building Lobby (sparkling wine and small snacks served)

Thursday 7 May 2026

Venue: University of Turku, Publicum, Assistentinkatu 7

9.00 Registration, coffee available

9.30 Opening words: Jani Erola, Professor & Director of INVEST Research Flagship Center

9.45–11.00 Keynote: Philip N. Cohen, Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland:

Depopulation, Pronatalism, and Doing Demography in Public

 

11.00–12.30 Lunch at Restaurant Macciavelli, Educarium

12.30–14.00 Parallel Sessions, schedule

14.00–14.30 Coffee Break

14.30–16.00 Parallel sessions, schedule

16.00–16.15 Coffee and tea available to grab

16.15–17.45 Parallel sessions, schedule

19.00 Conference Dinner, Scandic Hamburger Börs (Kauppiaskatu 6, Turku) Read more

Friday 8 May 2026

Venue: University of Turku, Publicum, Assistentinkatu 7

9.00–9.30 Registration (open throughout the day), coffee available

9.30–10.45 Keynote: Kathryn Paige Harden, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, Director of the Developmental Behavior Genetics lab and co-director of the Texas Twin Project:

Molecular Measures for Social Research: Leveraging the Genomics Revolution for Social Transformation

 

11.00–12.30 Parallel sessions, schedule

12.30–13.30 Lunch at Restaurant Macciavelli, Educarium

13.30–15.00 Parallel sessions, schedule

15.00–15.15 Coffee and tea available to grab

15.15–15.30 Closing remarks, Publicum Lobby

All parallel sessions, schedule