Events For grantees Active Academic Training Day Date 13.05.2026 Time 9:30 - 15:30 Location Lauttasaari Manor Address Otavantie 10, 00200 Helsinki Sign up for the event How can you make a difference in society as a researcher? What kind of research-based knowledge do decision-makers need? How can you use social media to make an impact? The Active Acedemic training day, organised every year by Kone Foundation and the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, will take place on 13 May from 9:30 to 15:30 at Lauttasaari Manor. This year, the training will be held in English. During the training, you will network, discuss with stakeholders who use research findings in their work, and learn how to communicate your research topic effectively. 25 spots are reserved for grantees of Kone Foundation, and 15 for grantees of the Nessling Foundation. We will provide a light breakfast, lunch, and afternoon coffee during the day. The training is free of charge. Training day program 9.30–9.50 Breakfast 9.50–10.00 Opening words 10.00–11.30 Keynotes: Saara-Sofia Sirén, long-time Member of the Finnish Parliament, Managing Director of the Finnish Pension Alliance (Tela): A Decision-Maker’s Perspective on Influencing Through Research-Based Knowledge Timo R. Stewart, Researcher, Non-Fiction Author: Participating in Polarized Debates as a Researcher Suvi Auvinen, Author, Journalist: Not Just One Way to Make an Impact – Finding Your Own Voice 11.30–12.45 Lunch 12.45–15.30 Workshops You can participate in two workshops during the day. Please select your workshops when registering. Get Covered in the Press!Expanding the societal impact of your research can be challenging. Learn how to write a media pitch that attracts journalists’ attention and communicates the relevance of your work to a broader audience. The workshop is facilitated by science journalist Mikko Pelttari. The Strategic Researcher: Hands-on Tools for Social Media Do you hate social media? Or love it? Either way, this workshop gives you hands-on tools for the easiest and most impactful ways of using current platforms. After the workshop, you’ll have one post ready to be published and ideas for the next ones. The workshop is facilitated by author, journalist Suvi Auvinen. Between Knowledge and Impact: The Role of the Societally Active Academic In this session, we will reflect together on the evolving role of researchers in contributing to societal impact. Through guided peer discussions and interactive exercises, we will share experiences of engaging with society beyond academic outputs and explore the opportunities, challenges, personal motivations, and support needs behind societally active scholarship. The workshop is facilitated by design leader Zeynep Falay von Flittner. 15.30 Wrapping up the day with some bubbly Participants are also warmly welcome to stay afterwards for the Vuoden Tiedekynä Academic Writing Award ceremony starting at 16:00 at Lauttasaari Manor. Kone Foundation’s Vuoden Tiedekynä is an annual award for an academic article that demonstrates exemplary use of the Finnish language. The aim of the award is to support and increase the appreciation of academic writing in Finnish. The award ceremony brings together professionals working in the field of academic publishing. Our events are discrimination-free spaces where racism, sexism, ableism (discrimination based on disability or health status), transphobia, homophobia, class discrimination, and body shaming in its broadest sense are not tolerated. Please familiarise yourself with our more comprehensive safer space principles.