WPSC PhD Workshop Program
26-29 June 2026, Tampere
Changes possible. Latest update on 20 April 2026. Venues and other details will be added to the program later*.
Thursday 25 June (pre-program)
- 14.30 Doors open, getting together (Tampere University Main Building)
- 15.00 Presenting Tampere city, history & future – Markus Laine & Helena Leino, Tampere University
- 15.30-17.30 Guided walking tour in Tampere City Centre
- Free time (dinner at one’s own cost)
- 18.45 Gathering at the evening meeting point (Old City Hall, Keskustori 10)
- 19.00-20.30 City of Tampere evening reception** (Old City Hall)
Friday 26 June
- 9.00 Doors open (Tampere University Main Building)
- 9.15 Official opening of the PhD workshop
- 9.30 Introduction to the PhD workshop
- 10.00 Keynote 1: PERIPHERAL – Hanna Mattila, University of Turku
- 11.00 Division into small groups
- 11.15 Lunch + coffee (YO Restaurant)
- 12.15 Citizen kitchen table presentations
- 15.00 Parallel PhD Seminars 1
- 16.00-17.00 Small group mentoring meetings
- Evening program: TBC, free time
Saturday 27 June
- 9.00 Doors open (Tampere University Main Building)
- 9.15 Keynote 2: VISIONS – Peter Ache, Radboud University
- 10.15 CASE: Hydrogen imaginaries as saviours of an ordinary city, case Pori region – Aleksi Neuvonen, Demos Helsinki
- 11.15 Lunch + coffee (YO Restaurant)
- 12.15 Parallel PhD Seminars 2
- 13.30 Parallel PhD Seminars 3
- 14.45 Small group mentoring meetings
- 16.30 Tram excursion
- 18.30 Evening program: Free time in Hiedanranta
Sunday 28 June
- 9.45 Doors open (Tampere University Main Building)
- 10.00 Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER) session***
- 12.30 Lunch + coffee (YO restaurant)
- 13.15 Parallel PhD Seminars 4
- 14.20 Parallel PhD Seminars 5
- 15.30 Keynote 3: RETHINKING – Eik Hermann, Estonian Academy of Arts
- 16.30-17.30 Small group mentoring meetings
- 19.00 Evening program: Dinner (Restaurant Plevna)
Monday 29 June
- 9.00 Doors open (Tampere University Main Building)
- 9.15 Closing session of the PhD workshop
- 11.00 Certificates of participation
- 11.15-12.15 Lunch & coffee (YO restaurant)
- 12.30 Transfer to Aalto University, Espoo
- 16.00 Espoo WPSC program starts
- Keynote 4: PLANNING – Ali Madanipour, Newcastle University
- Presenting the PhD workshop
(*) The academic program is held in the Main Building of Tampere University (Kalevantie 4) unless otherwise stated. The lecture rooms will be announced in May when the final program is published.
(**) The City of Tampere evening reception is held at the Old City Hall (Keskustori 10) on Thursday 25 June 2026 at 19:00-20.30. It is a cocktail event where some sparkling wine and small cocktail bites are served. Please wear your event name tag when entering the reception.
(***) Journal of Planning Education & Research (JPER) Session (Sun 28 June)
The session offers PhD students a chance to meet journal editors and learn about the academic publishing process, along with intensive small-group discussions centered on participants’ own manuscripts.
