Geography Days 2026 brought leading experts to Vaasa
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The University of Vaasa and Suomen maantieteellinen seura ry jointly hosted Geography Days 2026 on 29-30 October. The event is Finland’s most significant international conference in the field of geography, and it brought together researchers, doctoral researchers, and experts to discuss current research themes and future research needs. In addition, doctoral researchers gathered on 28 October for a doctoral school organised as part of Geography Days. The aim of the doctoral school was to strengthen participants’ capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration and to explore the strengths of geographical thinking in addressing the complex challenges of today’s world.
The theme of this year’s event was The Power of Place 2.0, continuing the discussion initiated at the conference held in Vaasa in 2019. The theme invited participants to reflect on the role of geography in an era shaped by multiple, overlapping crises.
– Through this theme, we wanted to encourage participants to consider how place-based knowledge, supporting policies, and participation could foster dialogue and help address societal challenges. At the same time, new kinds of bridges should be built between knowledge producers and users, says Ilkka Luoto, Chair of the Organising Committee and University Lecturer at the University of Vaasa..
Conference examined regional transformations
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The first keynote speaker of the two-day conference, Professor Louise Kempton from Newcastle University, emphasised that universities should not only generate research and expertise but also engage actively with the wider society. According to Kempton, the most impactful outcomes emerge from long-term partnerships that bring together universities, the public sector, companies, and local communities.
In the following keynote, Professor Charlotta Hedberg from Umeå University discussed how major industrial investments are reshaping entire regions by creating new labour market demands and migration patterns. The presentation also emphasised that the green transition is not only a technological transformation but also a social and regional one, affecting local communities, public services and labour markets. The keynote was followed by a commentary from Associate Professor Eija Meriläinen of the University of Vaasa.
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On Friday, the programme featured a panel discussion titled Critical Minerals, Critical Times. The panel included Hanna Smith, Professor of Practice at the University of Vaasa, Professor Sami Moisio from the University of Helsinki, and Project Researcher Johanna Leino from the University of Eastern Finland. The discussion was moderated by Assistant Professor Antti Mäenpää from the University of Vaasa. The panel explored the growing importance of critical minerals in the context of the green transition and geopolitical tensions, while also addressing the question of who ultimately benefits from the extraction and use of critical minerals.
A meeting place for new research initiatives
The annual Geography Days conference aims to showcase current geographical research, strengthen networking among researchers, and foster new research initiatives. The event provides an important forum for academic discussion and collaboration. Geographers will next gather in Vaasa in 2032.
– There is a need for the diverse insights provided by geographical research in today’s crisis-ridden world. It has been a privilege to coordinate the event and to see so many leading researchers gather at the University of Vaasa to exchange ideas and address the challenges of our time, says Tiina Pitkänen, Coordinator of the event