AIS2025: Educating Future Leaders on the Interdisciplinary Nature of Obesity as a Pandemic

The University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences are hosting the 47th Association for Interdisciplinary Studies Conference (AIS2025) at the Linnanmaa campus from June 4th to 6th, 2025. This marks the second time the AIS organization has held its conference in Europe, following the 2019 event at the University of Amsterdam.

The conference will focus on the theme "Shaping the Future in the Era of Polycrisis". The event is intended for all those interested in multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research and teaching. People from all stages of their research careers and all staff groups are welcome!

You can find more info on the AIS2025-webpage.

Fibrobesity Research Programme hosts a workshop on the AIS2025: Educating Future Leaders on the Interdisciplinary Nature of Obesity as a Pandemic

Join our interactive workshop to explore how co-creation in interdisciplinary teams can enhance learning around complex global challenges - using obesity as a case study. Together, we’ll develop new ways to educate students, early-career researchers, and professionals to think holistically and work across disciplines. The session also highlights the connection between science, education, and policymaking - and how we can better prepare future experts and leaders.

When: Wednesday 4 June from 14.30-17.00

Where: Agora (AT128), Linnanmaa Campus

Maximum number of participants: 30

Registration: Only for registered AIS2025 on-site participants. Instructions on how to register are at the end of the page.

Programme

Keynote Talks:

1. The first keynote will be given by Professor Juha Kere, Karolinska Institutet & University of Helsinki, who will address the global health and socioeconomic challenges related to the obesity pandemic.

2. The second keynote will be given by Professor Hanni Muukkonen, University of Oulu, and she will focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative learning in an academic context.

3. The third keynote speech will be given by Dr. Johanna Matilainen, University of Eastern Finland on a more specialized view on obesity from a basic researcher’s point of view.

Round table Discussions

After the thought-provoking keynote speeches, the participants will engage in round table discussions in small groups (4-5 persons), exploring various aspects of obesity and interdisciplinary learning. Pre-assigned teaser items and table hosts will guide the discussions.

Groups will switch tables and get a new point of view to approach the same problem. At the end of the Round table Discussions, each group will present their findings and ideas by the lead of the table host.

The session will end with a Joint Discussion to integrate the insights from the group presentations.

Current table hosts include:

Eve Hyrkäs (cultural and historical aspects of obesity)

Juha Kere (general perspective on global health problems)

Johanna Matilainen (field-specific perspective on obesity)

Hanni Muukkonen-van der Meer (interdisciplinary learning in higher education)

Renata Prunskaite-Hyyryläinen (TBA)

Tuire Salonurmi (TBA)

Registration

The session is available only for registered AIS2025 on-site participants. However, no separate pre-registration for this session is required of the AIS2025 participants.

Register for the 47th AIS Conference until May 1, 2025.

The early-bird registration will close on March 31, 2025!