Timetable
<<<<<<< Updated upstream ======= >>>>>>> Stashed changes
Time zone: Europe/Helsinki
Join us for a unique Nordic experience—ice fishing on the Baltic Sea! This four-hour ice-fishing event on the Bothnian Bay, near the iconic Nallikari area, offers participants an opportunity to connect with the local environment, traditions, and community spirit beyond the conference halls. This activity is a hands-on introduction to Finland’s winter lifestyle and the aquatic ecosystems of the northern Baltic Sea. In addition to gaining personal ice-fishing experience and the chance to win memorable prizes, participants will learn about local fish species, safe ice practices, and traditional fishing methods under the guidance of experienced local anglers and scientists. While enjoying the serene beauty of the frozen landscape, you will gain insights into how fishing traditions reflect the close relationship between people and nature in northern Finland.
All necessary equipment will be provided, and no prior experience is required. Warm drinks and light local lunch will be available to keep you comfortable on the ice. Please bring warm, windproof clothing and safe, comfortable footwear.
Come discover how science, culture, and nature come together in one of Oulu’s most memorable winter settings!
Who can join: recommendation of 12 years old and up (maximum 30 participants)
Cost: see sign-up form
When: Monday March 2nd, 9:00-13:00
Duration: 4 hours
Where: Nallikari beach, https://visitoulu.fi/en/product/nallikari-pohjolan-riviera/
What to bring: Very warm and wind-proof clothes: gloves, hat scarf, winter boots, jacket, snow trousers, leggings.
Join us for an unforgettable visit to Poro-Panuma Reindeer Farm, located in the picturesque village of Panuma, just under an hour’s drive from Oulu. This excursion offers a rare chance to experience the traditions of reindeer husbandry and the natural beauty of northern Finland. The trip is accompanied by University of Oulu researcher Mirella Karppinen. Buses will pick participants up from selected hotels in Oulu city centre.
Your adventure begins with meeting and feeding the reindeer in their natural environment, followed by a traditional rikiajallu sleigh ride through the snowy landscape. Afterwards, enjoy homemade pastries, hot drinks, and refreshing wild-berry juice prepared by the herder family. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available upon request. Roughly half of the visit takes place outdoors (about 1 hour) and the other half indoors (about 1 hour).
After meeting a number of the family’s very social reindeer, you’ll hear engaging stories directly from the herder family, accompanied by a slideshow illustrating the reindeer’s year-round life. Learn about reindeer care, seasonal migrations, and the cultural significance of these remarkable animals. Much more than a farm visit, this is an intimate window into a way of life that has thrived for generations. Handicrafts made by the family will also be available for purchase.
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum 60 participants; 2 groups of up to 30 per tour)
Cost: 85€ per person
When: Monday, 2 March — two scheduled tours
• First tour bus departs Oulu city centre at 9:00
• Second tour bus departs at 11:00
Duration: 4 hours per tour (approx. 2 hours at the farm + 1 hour transport each way)
Where: Poro-Panuma Reindeer Farm, Panuma village, Pudasjärvi (poropanuma.com — Laasenraitti 40, 93140 Kipinä)
What to bring: Warm winter clothing and comfortable footwear suitable for snowy conditions.
This tour is now fully booked
This excursion offers a rare opportunity for a small group of conference participants to visit one of Oulu’s most intriguing architectural landmarks: a concrete silo designed by the renowned Finnish architects Alvar and Aino Aalto, located in the Meri-Toppila district. The trip will be accompanied by University of Oulu heritage scholar Marjo Juola. We will meet at the central Rotuaari square at 9:00 in the city centre and travel to the site by private bus. After the visit, the bus will continue onto the University of Oulu, where participants may enjoy a self-paid lunch.
On our visit we will be guided by Valentino Tignanelli, the AaltoSiilo project, who will tell us about the history and the future plans of the silo. This silo is the Aalto’s first industrial site, one of the remaining buildings of the Toppila cellulose factory, commissioned in 1929 and completed in 1931 for the production and storage of cellulose. After closure in 1985 the silo has been a site of some local controversy. The combined effect of designating the silo as a heritage building and the insufficient resources and resourcefulness for finding meaningful use for the building has put it in a liminal state as a derelict building with special status for an extended period of time. In 2020 the silo was purchased from the City of Oulu by Spain-based Factum Foundation, which has new plans for revitalizing the silo as a future landmark of Oulu and as an active cultural center together with local community participation. The silo has already served as venue for a number of interesting cultural events in Oulu.
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum number of participants is 20).
Cost: See sign-up form.
When: Monday March 2nd, 9-13:00, Bus leaves Oulu city center at 9:00
Duration: 4 hour tour
Where: Alvar Aalto Siilo, https://aaltosiilo.com/en/What_is_AALTOSIILO
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing suitable for winter conditions and comfortable shoes.
Join us for an unforgettable visit to Poro-Panuma Reindeer Farm, located in the picturesque village of Panuma, just under an hour’s drive from Oulu. This excursion offers a rare chance to experience the traditions of reindeer husbandry and the natural beauty of northern Finland. The trip is accompanied by University of Oulu researcher Mirella Karppinen. Buses will pick participants up from selected hotels in Oulu city centre.
Your adventure begins with meeting and feeding the reindeer in their natural environment, followed by a traditional rikiajallu sleigh ride through the snowy landscape. Afterwards, enjoy homemade pastries, hot drinks, and refreshing wild-berry juice prepared by the herder family. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available upon request. Roughly half of the visit takes place outdoors (about 1 hour) and the other half indoors (about 1 hour).
After meeting a number of the family’s very social reindeer, you’ll hear engaging stories directly from the herder family, accompanied by a slideshow illustrating the reindeer’s year-round life. Learn about reindeer care, seasonal migrations, and the cultural significance of these remarkable animals. Much more than a farm visit, this is an intimate window into a way of life that has thrived for generations. Handicrafts made by the family will also be available for purchase.
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum 60 participants; 2 groups of up to 30 per tour)
Cost: 85€ per person
When: Monday, 2 March — two scheduled tours
• First tour bus departs Oulu city centre at 9:00
• Second tour bus departs at 11:00
Duration: 4 hours per tour (approx. 2 hours at the farm + 1 hour transport each way)
Where: Poro-Panuma Reindeer Farm, Panuma village, Pudasjärvi (poropanuma.com — Laasenraitti 40, 93140 Kipinä)
What to bring: Warm winter clothing and comfortable footwear suitable for snowy conditions.
This tour is now fully booked
Trailer Directed by François-Xavier Drouet
Once symbols of wild nature, forests are undergoing an unprecedented phase of industrialization. The loss of traditional know-how, the imprudent use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as monoculture, which follow the contemporary agricultural model, have led to a dreadful reality.
Screening will be followed by discussion
Location: LO124
The Opening Keynote address will be delivered by Camilla Brattland and Bente Sundsvold.
Camilla BrattlandCamilla Brattland is a coastal Sámi person focusing her research on the documentation and mediation of Sámi traditional use and knowledge of sea and waterscapes. She is an associate professor in Sámi cultural studies at UiT the Norwegian Arctic University Museum where she works with Sámi heritage and archives. Her current research focuses on the impacts of climate changes on marine areas and watersheds and their implications for coastal and river Sámi cultures.
Bente Sundsvold
Bente Sundsvold is associated professor in visual anthropology at UiT the Arctic University of Norway. She teaches at the MA programme visual and multimodal anthropology. Her research focuses on more-than-human & multi-species approaches, and collaborative and experimental methodologies, needed in times of climate changes, cultural- and biodiversity losses.
Get to know your fellow ECSA conference delegates better than you ever wanted to, all while experiencing Finland’s most renowned pastime: a waterside, wood-fired sauna. Koivuranta Sauna is a traditional Finnish lakeside sauna located right on the banks of the Oulujoki River, a short distance from Oulu’s city centre. Koivuranta puts a cosy wood sauna right onto a floating, pontoon, and lets visitors enjoy both steaming and swimming year-round. This is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike—both for the sauna-ing and the swimming, as guests can cool off after the heat with a refreshing dip through a hole cut right into the ice (“avanto” in Finnish).
We are hosting three separate sauna tours, for which we have booked out the whole place exclusively for ECSA. Price includes use of towels and shampoo, and full access to the sauna, jacuzzi and ice hole. Wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks (such as waffles) are available for purchase, with vegan and veg options available. Note that as this is a public sauna suitable for collegial conference-goers, bathing suits are mandatory.
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum 20 participants per 1.5-hour session)
Cost: 30 € per person
When:
Tuesday 20:30-22:00 (9 spaces left)
Wednesday 19:00-20:30 & 20:30-22:00 (both sessions full, currently wait list)
Duration: 1.5 hour sauna turn
Where: Koivurannan sauna boat, https://koivurannansaunalautta.fi/
What to bring: Swimsuit, towel, water bottle, and a payment method for snacks and drinks (should hunger or thirst beckon)
Recharge your energy, breathe in the crisp Arctic air, and start your day inspired by the harmony of science and nature. Join us for a unique Arctic wellness experience with Snow Yoga: Sun Salutation in the Snow, taking place just in the middle of a busy schedule of the conference. As the northern sun begins to return after the long winter, we’ll greet the morning with mindful movements and deep breaths surrounded by the beauty of Finnish nature. It’s an invigorating yet grounding way to connect body, mind, and environment - a perfect balance to days filled with scientific sessions and discussions.
*If the weather conditions do not allow to do the activity outside, the activity may be moved indoors.
Who can join: All conference participants – no prior yoga experience needed (space ulimited)
Cost: free
When: Tuesday March 3rd, Wednesday March 4th, and Thursday March 5th, 8:15-8:35
Duration: 20 minutes
Where: Botanical Garden of University of Oulu, just steps from the conference venue, https://www.oulu.fi/en/university/botanical-garden/visit-garden
What to bring: Warm layered clothing, gloves, and a smile
Join us for an inspiring afternoon in the snow-covered boreal forest! This guided nature walk, led by University of Oulu biologist Clément Massé, offers a unique chance to experience the wonders of winter ecology while contributing to citizen science. A bus will pick up participants from the University of Oulu on 4 March at 13:00 and return to the university afterward.
Our two-hour walk will take us through the scenic Sanginjoki Nature Reserve, a protected forest rich with wildlife and crossed by winding rivers. Along the way, we will learn to identify animal tracks in the snow, observe wintering birds, and explore the remarkable adaptations that help plants, animals, and fungi survive the frozen season. All observations will be recorded in iNaturalist as part of the Winter Bioblitz, contributing to a valuable snapshot of winter biodiversity.
After the walk, we will gather around a warm fire for light snacks and time to explore the area freely. Binoculars, magnifying lenses, and identification guides will be provided—simply dress warmly and bring a smartphone for recording your findings. No prior experience is required.
The route is approximately 5 km on an easy, accessible trail. Places are limited to 30 participants, so be sure to register early!
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum number of participants is 30).
Cost: See sign-up form.
When: Wednesday March 4th, 13:00–17:00 (departure from the University)
Where: Sanginjoki Nature Reserve (30 min drive)
Duration: 2 hour walk plus transport time by bus
Where: Sanginjoki Nature area
What to bring: Warm outdoor clothing suitable for winter conditions and comfortable shoes.
This event is now fully booked
Trailer
Directed by Jasmina Metwaly and Philip Rizk
Nine men gather for a workshop on a rooftop. There they perform confrontations of everyday life, with the police and at the workplace. In the process, the actors engage a space between the theatrical and the real. This is not a film about workers. The factory is a microcosm, a miniature Egypt.
Screening followed by Q&A discussion with director Philip Rizk
Director’s bio: Philip Rizk is a film-maker & writer from Cairo currently living in Berlin. In his films he experiments with methods of “making the habitual strange.” In Out on the Street (2015) he uses performance, in his found footage films Mapping Lessons (2020) and Terror Tales (2024) he experiments with the technique of montage. He is editor of the upcoming book entitled “Neocolonialism and its Dismantling,” which puts Frantz Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth in conversation with the revolutions of the Arabic-speaking region in the past 15 years. You can follow his work @ filfilfilm.com
Location: LO124
Get to know your fellow ECSA conference delegates better than you ever wanted to, all while experiencing Finland’s most renowned pastime: a waterside, wood-fired sauna. Koivuranta Sauna is a traditional Finnish lakeside sauna located right on the banks of the Oulujoki River, a short distance from Oulu’s city centre. Koivuranta puts a cosy wood sauna right onto a floating, pontoon, and lets visitors enjoy both steaming and swimming year-round. This is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike—both for the sauna-ing and the swimming, as guests can cool off after the heat with a refreshing dip through a hole cut right into the ice (“avanto” in Finnish).
We are hosting three separate sauna tours, for which we have booked out the whole place exclusively for ECSA. Price includes use of towels and shampoo, and full access to the sauna, jacuzzi and ice hole. Wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks (such as waffles) are available for purchase, with vegan and veg options available. Note that as this is a public sauna suitable for collegial conference-goers, bathing suits are mandatory.
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum 20 participants per 1.5-hour session)
Cost: 30 € per person
When:
Tuesday 20:30-22:00 (9 spaces left)
Wednesday 19:00-20:30 & 20:30-22:00 (both sessions full, currently wait list)
Duration: 1.5 hour sauna turn
Where: Koivurannan sauna boat, https://koivurannansaunalautta.fi/
What to bring: Swimsuit, towel, water bottle, and a payment method for snacks and drinks (should hunger or thirst beckon)
This special dinner will be prepared by Oulu foodie startup Zestii using Arctic Food Lab suppliers to provide ingredients for a meal celebrating the abundance of local and seasonal Nordic ingredients. The dinner will be held in the intimate city venue, Cafe Konstantiina.
The dinner menu:
Welcome canapé
Shaved Reindeer on Rye Crisp
Lightly cured shaved reindeer on a sourdough crisp with crème fraîche, lingonberries, and a touch of spruce salt.
Starter
Option 1: Pan-fried ahven gently pan-seared ahven served with roasted fennel, mild horseradish cream, and a sprinkle of spruce salt.
Option 2: Garlic and herb mushrooms with white bean purée on saaristolaisleipä
Main
Option 1: Juniper roasted chicken thighs
Chicken thighs roasted with juniper and spruce salt, served with swede purée, glazed beetroot, roasted new potatoes, and a rich lingonberry-red wine sauce
Option 2: Roasted root vegetable terrine
Layered beetroot, swede, and potato terrine with juniper-infused butter, salted crispy roots, mushroom jus, and a lingonberry vinaigrette.
Dessert
Chocolate mousse
Rich chocolate mousse served with lingonberry compote, chantilly cream and sugared spruce with an almond biscuit
To finish
Truffles, teas and coffees
Hand made chocolate truffles with a selection of teas or coffee.
Sign ups are now closed
Recharge your energy, breathe in the crisp Arctic air, and start your day inspired by the harmony of science and nature. Join us for a unique Arctic wellness experience with Snow Yoga: Sun Salutation in the Snow, taking place just in the middle of a busy schedule of the conference. As the northern sun begins to return after the long winter, we’ll greet the morning with mindful movements and deep breaths surrounded by the beauty of Finnish nature. It’s an invigorating yet grounding way to connect body, mind, and environment - a perfect balance to days filled with scientific sessions and discussions.
*If the weather conditions do not allow to do the activity outside, the activity may be moved indoors.
Who can join: All conference participants – no prior yoga experience needed (space ulimited)
Cost: free
When: Tuesday March 3rd, Wednesday March 4th, and Thursday March 5th, 8:15-8:35
Duration: 20 minutes
Where: Botanical Garden of University of Oulu, just steps from the conference venue, https://www.oulu.fi/en/university/botanical-garden/visit-garden
What to bring: Warm layered clothing, gloves, and a smile
Recharge your energy, breathe in the crisp Arctic air, and start your day inspired by the harmony of science and nature. Join us for a unique Arctic wellness experience with Snow Yoga: Sun Salutation in the Snow, taking place just in the middle of a busy schedule of the conference. As the northern sun begins to return after the long winter, we’ll greet the morning with mindful movements and deep breaths surrounded by the beauty of Finnish nature. It’s an invigorating yet grounding way to connect body, mind, and environment - a perfect balance to days filled with scientific sessions and discussions.
*If the weather conditions do not allow to do the activity outside, the activity may be moved indoors.
Who can join: All conference participants – no prior yoga experience needed (space ulimited)
Cost: free
When: Tuesday March 3rd, Wednesday March 4th, and Thursday March 5th, 8:15-8:35
Duration: 20 minutes
Where: Botanical Garden of University of Oulu, just steps from the conference venue, https://www.oulu.fi/en/university/botanical-garden/visit-garden
What to bring: Warm layered clothing, gloves, and a smile
Eliza Reid is a bestselling author, advocate for gender equality and inclusion, co-founder of the acclaimed Iceland Writers Retreat and former First Lady of Iceland (from 2016-2024). Her bestselling book Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World highlights how diverse voices and community-driven action can transform societies. Her first novel was published in 2025: an Iceland-set mystery called Death of a Diplomat (Death on the Island in North America); it was an instant bestseller. And next spring a memoir, The First Lady Next Door: A Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Opportunity will be published. As a conference keynote, Eliza will bring a perspective shaped by storytelling, policy, and lived experience. Her keynote address will explore the power of community action, and narrative in bridging periphery and center. Her voice encourages reflection on how contributions by those outside traditional scientific and academic institutions can reshape practices, promote equity, and foster innovation.Fish out of vatn: An outsider’s unexpected journey and the power of stepping forward
Writer Eliza Reid grew up in small-town Canada and met her Icelandic husband, Guðni Jóhannesson, in graduate school in England. When she gave fate a push one evening by contriving to win a date with him in a raffle, she never imagined that spontaneous decision would lead her to becoming First Lady of Iceland some two decades later, following a whirlwind seven-week campaign on her husband’s first foray into public office. This talk examines how Eliza, an ordinary individual who found herself in an extraordinary position, navigated her very public but very unspecified role. Drawing on the spirit of citizen science, it is about inspiring people to recognize and make the most of unexpected opportunities, to be forces for positive change in the world. Elize explores how meaningful influence does not require formal authority or title. Instead, it grows from participation, from curiosity, and from a willingness to act. Her talk invites the audience to see themselves as agents of change: to bridge divides, elevate marginalized voices, and challenge assumptions. It offers a reminder central to citizen science and to civic life in general: that impact begins not with being in charge, but with choosing to engage.
Join us for an unforgettable visit to Poro-Panuma Reindeer Farm, located in the picturesque village of Panuma, just under an hour’s drive from Oulu. This excursion offers a rare chance to experience the traditions of reindeer husbandry and the natural beauty of northern Finland. The trip is accompanied by University of Oulu researcher Mirella Karppinen. Buses will pick participants up from selected hotels in Oulu city centre.
Your adventure begins with meeting and feeding the reindeer in their natural environment, followed by a traditional rikiajallu sleigh ride through the snowy landscape. Afterwards, enjoy homemade pastries, hot drinks, and refreshing wild-berry juice prepared by the herder family. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available upon request. Roughly half of the visit takes place outdoors (about 1 hour) and the other half indoors (about 1 hour).
After meeting a number of the family’s very social reindeer, you’ll hear engaging stories directly from the herder family, accompanied by a slideshow illustrating the reindeer’s year-round life. Learn about reindeer care, seasonal migrations, and the cultural significance of these remarkable animals. Much more than a farm visit, this is an intimate window into a way of life that has thrived for generations. Handicrafts made by the family will also be available for purchase.
Who can join: All ages welcome (maximum 60 participants; 2 groups of up to 30 per tour)
Cost: 85€ per person
When: Saturday 7th of March
Duration: 4 hours per tour (approx. 2 hours at the farm + 1 hour transport each way)
Where: Poro-Panuma Reindeer Farm, Panuma village, Pudasjärvi (poropanuma.com — Laasenraitti 40, 93140 Kipinä)
What to bring: Warm winter clothing and comfortable footwear suitable for snowy conditions.
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