Education & research

Is current knowledge brokering impactful?

A seminar as a part of the Helsinki Science Forum 2025.

Date

9.1.2025

Time

10.00 - 15.00

Location

Hanaholmen, Espoo

Event type

Free of charge

Language

English.
Register here

Register per 31.12.2024

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Insights and oversights from science-policy interface

TimeProgramme*

12.00 – 13.00

Lunch
Restaurant PLATS at Hanaholmen

The lunch fee is 10 euros and is paid in advance per credit card or internet bank. Those who have registered will receive an e-mail message about this.

13.00-13.30

Welcome
Programme Manager Janne Wikström, Hanaholmen – Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre

13.30-14.00

Keynote speech on current and future needs of knowledge brokering in the science-policy interface, President Atte Jääskeläinen, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra

14.00-14.45

Panel Discussion: Together or better alone? Collaboration and competition in knowledge brokering from the perspective of cultural and academic Institutes

We invite you to join a panel discussion on how academic and cultural institutes balance collaboration and competition. As we compete for the same resources, funding, and audiences, how can we enhance impactful communication and cooperation and make the most of our networks?

Moderator, Specialist Suvi Lahtonen, The Committee for Public Information

Director Hanna Lämsä, The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes
Director, Clotilde Tachon, The Institute of France in Finland
Director Petra Pakkanen, The Finnish Institute in Athens
Director Ria Berg, The Finnish Institute in Rome

14.45-15.00

Break

15.00-16.00

Workshops

Innovative practices in the age of poly-crisis – How does the science community deal with different types of ongoing crises?

The challenges today’s societies face are vast, complex and rapidly changing. Rapid crises also result in fast knowledge needs, which peer-reviewed research cannot always keep up. Yet, researchers have a lot of expertise that could benefit the societal response to these crises. How can research knowledge be synthesised and communicated to policy-makers and society in such crises? How should researchers’ broader expertise be utilised and communicated?

This workshop dives into different knowledge brokering strategies for responding to knowledge needs in crises. It draws on the lessons from recent major examples, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

The session is organised interactively. Communications Manager Piritta Rautavuori (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, THL) will give a short presentation, followed by a World Café-style discussion.

The workshop is facilitated by knowledge broker Linda Lammensalo, the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters.

Insights and Oversights of Measuring Impact in Science Communication

Are you involved in science communication and want to better understand how to measure its impact? Without proper measurement, it’s hard to know if you’ve met your goals or what the real effect of your efforts is. Join our workshop, “Insights and Oversights of Measuring Impact in Science Communication.”

We’ll explore various tools and frameworks for evaluating success, moving beyond traditional metrics to assess broader impact—such as public engagement, co-design, and policy influence. Through real-world case studies and group discussions, you’ll gain fresh perspectives and actionable strategies to enhance your science communication efforts.

The workshop will include a presentation by Senior Researcher Fellow Sanna Herkama from the INVEST Research Flagship Center from University of Turku and Senior research communication specialist Tomas Sjöblom from Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, that manages the Finnish social security system. In addition, Kela produces research, statistics and open data on social security and social and health care.

The presentations are followed by a facilitated discussion. The discussion will focus on how to make collaboration successful between researchers and science communication professionals to ensure societal impact.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own examples of effective science communication to share and discuss with the group.

The workshop is facilitated by Anna Kotaviita, Head of Communications of the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies (TSV).

16.00-17.00

Cocktail Mingle

* subject to minor changes

The seminar “Is current knowledge brokering impactful? Insights and oversights from the science-policy interface” is part of Finland’s largest science event, Science Forum, taking place from January 8–12, 2025. On Friday, January 10th, there will be many interesting English-language sessions on different science topics. Also, on Thursday, January 9th, Night of Science will have several English-language events across Helsinki. The full program for Science Forum will be published on October 24th. We warmly recommend exploring the program!


Contact details

Janne Wikström

Project Manager (higher education and research)

janne.wikstrom@hanaholmen.fi