Skip to content
Digital and Sustainability Transitions in Society

Research platform for cross-disciplinary and cross-organisational collaboration

Symposium: Community engagement for urban resilience through AI and other emerging technologies, 12 August

Symposium: Community engagement for urban resilience through AI and other emerging technologies. Paidia, Nokia Arena, 12 August 2025. Organized by DigiSus, TURNS and city of Tampere.

Tampere University will be hosting a half-day symposium focused on how AI and emerging interactive technologies can support communities in building urban resilience.

  • Time: Tuesday 12 August 2025 at 11–15:45
  • Venue: Paidia*, Nokia Arena (Kansikatu 3, Tampere)
  • Sign up by 7 August: https://forms.office.com/e/3Vvdm4ChsR
  • The event is free of charge. The event is mainly in person, but it is possible to follow the Part 1 presentations online. The link will be sent to the registered online participants before the event.

Urban resilience refers to the capacity of cities and their communities to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to disruptions such as climate-related events, infrastructure failures, and social challenges.

This symposium is an open event intended for city authorities and planners, researchers in urban sustainability, human-centered AI and related topics, and industrial actors in this area of interest. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and local government representatives to share strategies and approaches for addressing the complex challenges facing cities today. Welcome!

Program

11–12 Lunch

12:00–13:45 Part 1: Presentations (in person / online)

  • 12:00 Welcome words and introduction by Kaisa Väänänen (Tampere University)
  • 12:15 Keynote by Joel Fredericks (University of Sydney): AI-supported tools for community engagement before, during, and after crisis events
  • 12:45 SURE project and related topics by Anniina Autero (City of Tampere)
  • 13:15 Company presentations
    • Salla Eckhardt (SEE Bright): Digital Building Lifecycle – A paradigm shift in the built environment
    • Jenna-Riia Oldenburg (Sitowise): Co-creation of the future of cities through immersive citizen engagement

13:45–14:00 Coffee

14:00–15:45 Part 2: Workshop (in person)

  • 14:00 Presenting the workshop research topics
  • 14:10 Working groups
    1. Multispecies resilience (Chair: Joel Fredericks, University of Sydney)
    2. Community engagement (Chair: Eeva Puumala, Tampere University)
    3. Sustainable built environment (Chairs: Antti Kurvinen and Mika Lehtimäki, Tampere University)
  • 15:15 Wrap up & Commentary panel
  • 15:45 Goodbye

The symposium is organised by Tampere University research platforms DigiSus and TURNS in collaboration with the City of Tampere. The event will feature a keynote by Dr Joel Fredericks from University of Sydney, focusing on the role of community engagement, AI-supported tools, and immersive technologies in fostering inclusive, multispecies approaches to crisis resilience. 

More information: Riina Lundman / TURNS (riina.lundman@tuni.fi) & Kirsikka Kaipainen / DigiSus (kirsikka.kaipainen@tuni.fi)

* How to get to Paidia: You can find access to Paidia via Nokia Arena main A-doors, then go through the gates on your left and take the stairs to the 3rd floor. Paidia is also accessible by elevators found next to the Nokia Arena entrance A. More information on how to get to Nokia Arena.