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
Pasi Moisio, Research Professor, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare / INVEST:
Roles of Research Across the Policy Cycle: From Agenda-Setting to Evaluation
Andre Sourander, Professor, University of Turku / INVEST
Global megatrends and adolescent mental health
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 at Publicum lobby.
9.30 Opening words: Jani Erola, Professor & Director of INVEST Research Flagship Center. PUB1.
9.45–11.00 Keynote: Philip N. Cohen, Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland:
Depopulation, Pronatalism, and Doing Demography in Public. PUB1.
11.00–12.30 Lunch at Restaurant Macciavelli, Educarium
12.30–14.00 Parallel Sessions, schedule
14.00–14.30 Coffee Break at Publicum lobby.
14.30–16.00 Parallel sessions, schedule
16.00–16.15 Coffee and tea available to grab at Publicum lobby.
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 at Publicum lobby.
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. PUB1.
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 at Publicum lobby.
15.15–15.30 Closing remarks at Publicum lobby
All parallel sessions, schedule
