Climate University Annual Meeting 2023 was held in Helsinki 6.-7.11.2023 with more than 100 changemakers listening, discussing, sharing, experiencing and planning education collaboration in the times of the climate crisis. Theme of the meeting was art and science collaboration, and the event was co-organized by the University of Helsinki, the University of the Arts Helsinki and the Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center. Event was also a 5-year anniversary of the Climate University, as the network hosted our very first workshop in the same place in November 2018.
Event started with a panel discussion on the Think Corner Stage, where professor of meteorology Timo Vesala and art curator Ulla Taipale from the University of Helsinki, art curator Yvonne Billimore from BioArt Society as well as artist Josefina Nelimarkka shared their views of the need of art-science collaboration. Panel discussion was moderated by Saara Hannula from the UniArts. Piece or art ‘Supersaturation’ by Josefina Nelimarkka was shown on the stage.
One of the new outcomes of the Climate University collaboration is the Specialisation Programme in Climate Expertise, which is a 2-year (60 ECTS) specialisation education for those who need climate expertise in their working life. Also new Climate University for Virtual Exchanges programme (CLUVEX) was advertised, as well as new Biodiversity.now MOOC.
According to Climate University vision and strategy 2023-2027, six action groups were established and they met for the first time on Monday afternoon. Registration to the action groups is still open to everyone interested in higher education collaboration on climate and sustainability education (see link above).
Evening reception was hosted by the Helsinki Observatory. In 2021, Climate.now students of the University of Helsinki designed a climate change exhibition there, that has already been seen by 20 000 visitors!
Tuesday morning, Climate University network topics were workshopped in Helsinki EduHub. Action groups presented their future plans and next steps were discussed.
Next Climate University Annual Meeting will be held in Oulu 6.-7.11.2024.
Action groups will also meet in 8.4. in Vuosaari, Helsinki (hybrid), attached to ACCC Impact Week.
Text: Laura Riuttanen
Photos: Laura Riuttanen, Reetta Matilainen, Janina Taurinen