The University of Eastern Finland will host the International Conference for Sustainable Resource Society (ICS26) on 5–6 November 2026. The themes of the conference are restoration futures, sustainability transitions, natural resource governance and transformative innovations. Held on the Joensuu Campus, the conference is jointly organised by RESOURCE, WATER, FOBI, CLEHE, PHOTONICS and COMMIT research communities, bringing together departments across the university’s campuses. Around 200 researchers from Finland and abroad will attend the two-day conference.
ICS26 provides a platform for researchers from different disciplines to share their findings and discuss global and local sustainability challenges. The conference will explore complex questions surrounding the ecological crisis, focusing on human-nature relationships and the role of technology in solutions for sustainable development.
Keynote speakers: foresight and river and stream restoration
The keynote speakers at the 2026 conference are Vadim Kononenko, an expert in EU affairs and strategic foresight, and Professor Timo Muotka.
Vadim Kononenko leads strategic foresight at the European Environment Agency. His work examines emerging trends, risks and opportunities shaping European climate and environmental policy. Through futures thinking, horizon scanning and scenario work, Kononenko supports decision-makers in navigating uncertainty to promote environmental, social and economic sustainability and long-term resilience. He previously worked at the European Parliamentary Research Service and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and has held visiting research positions at institutions including the Royal Institute for International Relations, Egmont, in Brussels.
Timo Muotka is Professor of Aquatic Ecology at the University of Oulu. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Jyväskylä in 1994 and worked there as a senior assistant until 2002. He then worked as a senior researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) before taking up his professorship in aquatic ecology at the University of Oulu in 2004. Muotka has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and supervised 29 doctoral theses in freshwater biodiversity research. His current research focuses on the effects of land-use intensification on river and stream biodiversity and on the restoration of rivers, streams and their catchments. These topics are directly linked to the conference’s main theme.
A multidisciplinary programme supports the sustainability transition
The plenary and parallel sessions at ICS26 will cover a broad range of topics relating to sustainable development, natural resource use, climate and environmental change and the circular economy. Topics include the sustainable forest bioeconomy, societal, social and business perspectives on sustainability, the circular economy, sustainable energy transitions, water systems, the ecological sustainability of freshwater environments and ecosystem restoration. Restoration futures will be explored from both ecological and governance perspectives, with several presentations highlighting the role of technology in solutions for restoration and nature management.
Multidisciplinary sustainability research at the University of Eastern Finland
The University of Eastern Finland invests in multidisciplinary research on a responsible sustainability transition and the sustainable use of natural resources. The university has several strong research areas addressing the sustainability transition. This research draws on perspectives from the social sciences, law, business studies, forest sciences, environmental sciences, biology and aquatic research. Topics include the bioeconomy and forests, water bodies, mines and critical materials, energy and climate.
For further information, please contact:
Research Manager Nina Tokola, tel. +358 50 303 1909, nina.tokola(at)uef.fi
Websites of the research communities:
Sustainable Resource Society: Circular Economy, Energy and Raw Materials (RESOURCE)
Sustainable Co-management of Water Resources and Aquatic Environments (WATER)
