CNESS Lecture Series
The Energy Transition Beyond Technical Change to Socio-technical Transformation [POL.KV.351]
Late registration is possible until October 20, 2025!
CNESS Lecture Series 2025 | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
Curriculum and
Sisu
Curriculum and
The energy transition represents a fundamental shift from fossil fuel-based systems to renewable and sustainable energy sources, driven by the urgent need to address climate change and environmental degradation. However, this transformation extends far beyond simply replacing one technology with another—it requires a comprehensive reimagining of our entire energy ecosystem as an interconnected sociotechnical system.
Despite the critical importance of energy transition, public awareness and understanding remain surprisingly narrow and limited. Many citizens focus solely on the technological aspects while overlooking the social, economic, and behavioural dimensions and challenges. Moreover, while people may express support for renewable energy in principle, this does not necessarily translate into support for specific policies, projects, or the lifestyle changes required for successful implementation.
The energy system must be understood and approached as a complex sociotechnical system that integrates technical infrastructure with social structures, institutions, and human behaviour. This perspective recognises that a successful energy transition requires more than technological innovation—it demands coordinated changes across multiple dimensions, including policy frameworks, market structure and social practices. This systemic transformation demands coordinated efforts across multiple stakeholder groups, including governments, businesses, communities, and individuals, all working toward shared objectives of decarbonization while maintaining energy security, affordability, and social equity.
About the Lecture Series
This interdisciplinary lecture series brings together distinguished speakers from diverse energy-related fields to provide comprehensive insights into the multifaceted nature of energy transition and its various challenges. Our expert panel comprises professionals and researchers from various fields, including politics, engineering, construction, business, economics, environmental science, social policy, and urban planning, each covering the most prominent energy-related topics. The series addresses key areas, including:
- renewable energy technologies and infrastructure
- energy policy
- sustainable construction
- green business models
- social dimensions of energy transition and the intersection of energy systems with transportation, heating, and industrial sectors.
This comprehensive approach provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities within each respective domain, ensuring participants gain a well-rounded understanding of the complex energy transition landscape.
Aims and targets
The lecture series aims to support the development of students’ competencies in topics related to energy and climate neutrality through a comprehensive multidisciplinary program. Participants will engage with cutting-edge research, real-world case studies, and practical applications that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and implementation challenges. By the end of the course, participants will have gained:
- Systems Thinking: A holistic understanding of energy systems in their full complexity across multiple disciplines
- Interdisciplinary Perspective: Knowledge of how technical, social, economic, and political factors interconnect within energy transitions
- Critical Analysis Skills: The ability to evaluate current energy and just transition-related challenges, including policy implications, social costs, and energy security considerations
- Practical Awareness: Understanding of implementation challenges across various sectors, from residential heating to industrial transformation
- Future-Ready Competencies: Skills to navigate the evolving landscape of energy transition and contribute meaningfully to sustainable energy solutions
The series emphasises the just transition framework, ensuring that participants understand how energy transformation can be achieved while maintaining social equity, economic stability, and community well-being. Through exposure to diverse expert perspectives, students will develop the multidisciplinary literacy essential for addressing the complex challenges of our energy future.
Course Requirements and ECTS Credits
Students can earn 5 ECTS credits upon successful completion of the course requirements. To qualify for these credits, participants must attend a minimum of six lectures from the series and submit four essays (1,000-1,500 words each). The essays should discuss a key point or core statement from the attended lectures and demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills by engaging with the theoretical concepts, practical applications, and interdisciplinary perspectives presented during the lectures. Students are encouraged to select diverse topics across different energy-related fields to showcase their comprehensive understanding of the sociotechnical dimensions of energy transition.
Schedule and format
Each lecture focuses on one aspect of the energy transition, understandable for a broader audience (BA & MA students from different disciplines), using real-world case studies. The lectures are in English and no longer than 45-60 minutes, followed by a moderated discussion.
September 30, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Päätalo D13 (City Centre Campus)
Introduction to Climate Neutral Energy Systems and Society AND Just Heat
PhD Sarah Kilpeläinen (CNESS lead PI), POL/ARC
October 7, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Päätalo D13 (City Centre Campus)
Energy transition from the viewpoint of emissions mitigation: politics of knowledge in black carbon mitigation
PhD candidate Anna Claydon, POL
October 21, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Päätalo D13 (City Centre Campus)
Critical Raw Materials for the Energy Transition
PhD candidate Carl Johannes Muth (CNESS coordinator), POL
October 28, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Rakennustalo RH201 (Hervanta)
System of Systems: Sector integration as part of the Energy Transition
Prof. Sami Repo, EE
November 4, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Rakennustalo RH201 (Hervanta)
Results from the Adopt-an-AI-researcher program: AI use cases in the energy sector – Case Pori Energia
Prof. Pekka Abrahamsson, CS
OR
Systems integration and data architectures in emerging smart energy systems
Assoc. Prof. David Hästbacka, CS
November 11, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Rakennustalo RH201 (Hervanta)
Socio-technical transition towards local energy systems: positive energy districts, energy communities and smart buildings
PhD Jussi Valta, IEM
November 18, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Päätalo D13 (City Centre Campus)
EVs and Social Change
Prof. Emeritus Pertti Alasuutari, SOC
November 25, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Rakennustalo RH201 (Hervanta)
Sustainable battery business ecosystem development
Assoc. Prof. Ulla Saari, IEM
December 2, 2025 – 16:00-18:00 Päätalo D13 (City Centre Campus)
“Concluding session“
Prof. Pami Aalto (former CNESS lead-PI, PI Energy Politics), POL
Where to find the course
POL.KV.351 Thematic Studies in International Relations (The politics department is hosting the lecture, hence the identifier).
If you have any questions, please contact Carl Johannes Muth – carl.muth(at)tuni.fi