Wisdom Days brought researchers and experts together for a more sustainable world
The three-day event received glowing feedback from participants for both its carefully designed programme and warm, welcoming atmosphere. More than 140 scientific presentations, three inspiring keynote speeches, and 12 interactive workshops sparked lively discussions and new ideas throughout the conference.
Encounters were not limited to the official programme. Conversations continued in corridors and over coffee, and the main building transformed into a vibrant, multidisciplinary hub for three days.
- There is now an exceptional need for international and interdisciplinary encounters like this. Wisdom Days demonstrated that through collaboration and open dialogue, solutions can emerge that no single actor could achieve alone, emphasized Professor of Ecology Janne Kotiaho from the University of Jyväskylä, who is also the Director of the JYU.Wisdom community.
Sustainability transformation challenges thinking
Research Professor Rauna Kuokkanen (University of Lapland) opened the conference by encouraging the audience to reconsider the position and role of Indigenous peoples from a new perspective. Kuokkanen reminded that the energy transition cannot be considered truly sustainable if Indigenous peoples are not fully included.
The second keynote speaker, Professor Christian A. Klöckner (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), addressed transformations in mindsets both in word and in action. Music accompanied science, as the Klimatkvartetten ensemble joined on the stage. The combination received special praise and offered a fresh perspective on the connection between science and art.
Professor Klöckner stressed in his talk that the challenges of our time require bold renewal of thinking – the ability to focus on common ground instead of differences, and the courage to engage in dialogue, to question, and to experiment with new approaches.
The conference concluded with Professor Jörn Fischer (Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany), who summarized the core message of the event: by identifying and strengthening positive, transformative developments both at the system level and in our everyday lives, we can build a more sustainable future together.
Community carries forward
Wisdom Days offered exactly what the keynote speakers called for – a space for meaningful encounters to advance sustainability and planetary well-being. This was also reflected in the feedback.
- Great progress has been made in sustainability transformation research, and I am not alone, one conference participant insightfully summarized.
The Wisdom Days: Science for Sustainability Transformations conference was organized by the University of Jyväskylä, the JYU.Wisdom community, and the Sustainability Transformations Doctoral Pilot (SusTra).
