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Tampere Urban Research Network for Sustainability - TURNS

TURNS Spring 2026 letter

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Here are the latest TURNS news, our spring calendar, some interesting events organized by our friends and partners, as well as the most recent Tampere Urban Research Perspectives blog posts.

TURNS NEWS

TURNS seed and mobility funding 2026 decisions have been made, and you can find the list of funded initiatives on our website: TURNS seed and mobility funding decisions 2026. In the 2026 call, we received 51 applications and were able to fund 12 initiatives (23 % of all applications).

TURNS research enrichment funding call 2026 opens on 1 April. Funding is granted, for example, for the production and dissemination of materials that popularize research; stakeholder cooperation; and/or the organization of community events. We also support art-science collaboration and the use of creative methods. The enrichment project should build upon existing urban research activities carried out at Tampere University, and the main applicant must be from Tampere University. Read more here: TURNS Research Enrichment Funding Call 2026

Remember also the continuous call for Societal or Community Impact projects by our fellow research platform Digisus!

The TURNS strategy has now been published. You can read it here: TURNS Strategy [pdf]. The strategy is a vehicle to reflect on ideas and guide our actions, and it can be updated when needed.

Membership news: Tampere University has become a New European Bauhaus NEB partner and a member of Urban Europe Research Alliance UERA. We have also renewed our institutional membership in European Urban Research Association EURA.

TURNS ACTIVITIES

TURNS spring calendar has been published and will be updated as needed: https://research.tuni.fi/turns/spring-2026/

Here are some TURNS activities taking place in Tampere this spring. We will send separate information about the events via our mailing list, but here are already some Save the Date announcements and links to the event websites (changes possible).

23.4. TURNS Thursday: Film Screening – the Battle for Lapinlahti / Taistelu Lapinlahdesta (Arthouse Cinema Niagara) TURNS has reserved 40 free tickets for the TURNS mailing list members. The free tickets can be booked on the event website between the 9th – 16th of April.

6.5. Pre-party of the Finnish Urban Studies Conference / Kaupunkitutkimuksen päivien etkot (Kaleva Hall, starting at 16.30)

7.-8.5. Finnish Urban Studies Conference 2026 / Kaupunkitutkimuksen päivät 2026

26.5. TURNS Tuesday: New European Bauhaus (NEB) funding info & networking afternoon (Lyhty Pavillion)

5.6. Guest talk by Marcus Foth: Digital Civics for Sustainable Transitions

FROM OUR FRIENDS

Urban Prosumers kickoff event

  • 16 April 2026 at 17-19, Nekalab, Tampere
  • Sign up for the event by 13 April here: Kickoff -tilaisuus
  • The event is in Finnish

URBAN PROSUMERS project develops participatory models, tools, and resources that the City of Tampere can use to engage residents in creating climate‑sustainable solutions in the fields of energy, mobility and food. Read more: Urban Prosumers

Finnish Urban Studies Conference / Kaupunkitutkimuksen päivät (KTP) 2026

Tampere urban research community organizes several side events during KTP 2026:

Seminaari: Keitä varten, keiden kanssa? Kaupunkitila, digitaalisuus ja arvonluonti suunnittelussa

  • Ke 20.5.2026 klo 13.00–16.30
  • Paidia, Nokia-areena, Tampere
  • Seminaarin kieli: suomi (Finnish)
  • Tapahtuman lisätiedot: KEITÄ VARTEN, KEIDEN KANSSA?

BRIDPOL-hankkeen (Policy Value Amidst Hybridity) iltapäiväseminaari kutsuu tutkijat ja käytännön toimijat pohtimaan osallistumista, monitoimijaisuutta ja hybridimuotoisia alustoja kaupunkien suunnittelussa. Ilmoittautuminen avautuu pääsiäisen jälkeen.

CO-CARBON research project’s final seminar: Where is urban green in climate action?

  • Wednesday 20 May 20 at 13:00-15:00
  • Think Corner, University of Helsinki, Helsinki

The seminar will present the results of the CO-CARBON research project, publish Carbon-Smart Urban Green Handbook, and discuss the role of urban green as part of cities’ climate work. The seminar is part of the CO-CARBON Festival 2026. Read more on the festival website and register for the seminar by May 10! https://cocarbon.fi/tutkimus/co-carbon-festivaali-2026/

STUE celebration lunch for urban sustainability graduates at Tampere University

  • 22 May 2026 at 11.00–13.30 in Finlayson Palace
  • Sign up by 8 May on the event website: STUE celebration lunch

Sustainable Transformation of Urban Environments (STUE) organizes a celebration lunch for those Tampere University students who have graduated / are about to graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the academic year 2025-2026, with thesis addressing the themes related to social, environmental or economic sustainability in cities. Teachers at TAU, please feel free to share this invitation with your students!

Webinar: From Nature Connection to Action: Findings from the Act with Nature study

In this webinar, researchers from Finland and the UK will share key findings from the Act with Nature project, exploring the roles of favourite nature places, environmental emotions, and nature-based interventions in promoting well-being and sustainable behaviour. /// An additional hybrid seminar will be held in Tampere, Finland, on 20 August 2026, and it will be conducted in Finnish.

FutureECOS webinar

FutureECOS is an Interreg-funded project that develops a Future-proof Living Solution tailored to the needs of regions along European growth corridors. The project builds on three core themes – smart, inclusive, and sustainable – as foundations for resilient future living. The speakers of the webinar speakers are İdil Gaziulusoy (Aalto), Damiano Cerrone (TAU), and Elisa Lähde (Aalto).

LATEST Tampere Urban Research Perspectives BLOG POSTS

 

Hopefully see you at the events and wishing everyone a lovely spring!

Best regards,

TURNS team