Wasa Future Festival 2025

Wasa Future Festival is returning this year bigger and better than ever before. Wasa Future Festival, which has had a close partnership with the University of Vaasa for years, is a week-long international event featuring lectures, panels, opening ceremonies, exhibitions, and participatory performances for a wide range of audiences, ranging from experts and politicians to schoolchildren.

The main themes of the festival for 2025 are environment, innovative solutions and energy. The event will host internationally renowned speakers and artists. Alongside the festival, there will be a unique interactive art exhibition called Butterfly, which combines art, science, and technology.

Preliminary Program of the University of Vaasa at Wasa Future Festival

The program will be updated over the summer and is subject to change. The full schedule, exact locations, and speaker information can be found on the Wasa Future Festival website.

Monday 11.8 – Forest / Sustainability / Butterfly

• Critical examination of overconsumption culture. Discussions about climate, nature, and solutions.
• Opening of the Butterfly Exhibition: Observing the butterfly effect in global interaction between people, technology, and the environment.

Tuesday 12.8 – University / Research / Skills

• Opening of the Day and Energy Transition Valley: Speakers include Rector Minna Martikainen, Chair of the University Board Mari Kiviniemi, Vice Rectors Mika Grundström, Martin Meyer, and Tanja Risikko. Also, with experts Jan Segerstam and Kimmo Kauhaniemi.
• Butterfly Symposium and Workshop – Butterfly: Glocal Effects of Data, Energy and Industry. A multidisciplinary art and science symposium and workshop focusing on sustainability in digitalization, energy, and business. Speakers include architects Juhani Risku and Anne Stenros.
• AI2Business: Shaping the Future with AI
• Regional Needs, Opportunities, and Challenges related to future regional energy systems.
• Tackling Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Live Newsroom: A participatory newsroom generating topics and discussing perspectives. Come share your ideas, feedback, and talk with journalists about editorial decisions!
• Resilient Society
• Thought Leaders Roundtable: The purpose of this session is to develop a shared agenda of how universities and specifically schools of business, engineering and governance can advance energy transition for climate action. 
  
  Participants include Professor Eileen McAuliffe, Executive Vice President, Chief Thought Leadership Officer, AACSB International, Professor Minna Martikainen, Rector, University of Vaasa, Professor Eeva Leinonen, President, NUI Maynooth, Professor Hanna-Leena Pesonen, Dean School of Business and Economics, Jyväskylä University, Co-Chair of Energy Steering Panel at the European Academies Science Advisory Council, Member of the AACSB European Advisory Council, and Board Member of GRLI (Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative), Professor Tooraj Jamasb, Copenhagen Business School, CBS Endowed Professor of Energy Economics and Director for Copenhagen School of Energy Infrastructure (CSEI), Professor James Smith, Edwin L. Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University, Professor in Energy Economics. Moderator: Professor Martin Meyer, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, University of Vaasa.
• Panel Discussion on Strong Leaders and the Appeal of Populism: With Esa Hyyryläinen (University of Vaasa), Mari Kiviniemi, and Olli Seuri (Uusi Juttu).

Wednesday 13.8 – Energy / Technology

• Space Day – European Space Agency Business Incubation Center: Includes ESA PhiLab and Riccardo Notarangelo.
• Butterfly Immersive Learning Experience: A participatory workshop event for young people led by Associate Professor and Butterfly curator Rebekah Rousi (University of Vaasa).
• Workshops – Energy Transition Valley
• Lights-Off Experience: Performances and artworks without electric lighting. Includes Italian-Australian artist Domenico De Clario and others.
• Side Event on Campus: Alumni Energy event for University of Vaasa alumni.

Thursday 14.8 – New Nordic / Innovation

• How Do We Make Finland a Leading Global Investment Hub?: Panel organized by Borenius and the University of Vaasa. Speakers include Minister Joakim Strand, Casper Herler (Borenius), and Minna Martikainen (University of Vaasa).
• Opening of Australian Artist Katey O’Sullivan’s Art Exhibition – Location: Tritonia, University of Vaasa.

Friday 15.8 – New Nordic / Culture

• Occupational health games and classes in a virtual environment with VR glasses
   

All events are free of charge.

For the full program and registration, visit the Wasa Future Festival website.