News

Photo by Mikko Raskinen

News

Read about news and events, and blog texts from Material Democracy. 

Material Democracy seminar

Materializing democracy: Participation in environmental and energy transitions in times of crisis and polarization

A two half-days event organized by the Material Democracy SRC project together with the Finnish Society for Science and Technology Studies. The first day will focus on material engagements with energy. The second day will address participation and coproduction of knowledge.

– Materializing democracy: Participation in environmental and energy transitions in times of crisis and polarization
See all
Ihmisiä puutarhassa
Blog Published:

Researcher Interview #4: Kaisa Schmidt-Thomé explains how our Democracy Workshop creates new space for dialogue

The Democracy Workshop of the Material Democracy project is an action-oriented forum where data collection, joint sensemaking, and experimentation with new modes of action run side by side. In the fourth part of our researcher interview series, Demos Helsinki’s Lead Researcher Kaisa Schmidt-Thomé explains the idea behind the Democracy Workshop.
Palaveri
Blog Published:

Researcher interview #3: Antti Silvast and long-term planning — who does it and why should we care?

In the third part of our blog series interviewing the project's researchers, Antti Silvast, Associate Professor at LUT University and Deputy Director of the Material Democracy project, reflects on participation practices and knowledge production in long-term energy and infrastructure planning.
Kuva
Blog Published:

How should climate action be communicated in rural areas?

Kia Karhunen and Jenna Kuivalainen, Master's students in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability at the University of Helsinki, worked as research assistants for the Material Democracy project in the summer of 2025. In this article, they discuss climate communication as a means of increasing participation and reducing polarization in rural areas.
Osallistumistyöpajoja
Blog Published:

What is the materiality of participation and why is it important?

The Material Democracy project explores the materiality of participation. This may sound strange and difficult to understand, and the significance of the materiality of participation can be hard to grasp. In this blog post, project leader Sampsa Hyysalo sheds light on the materiality of participation and its significance through three practical examples from the energy sector.
See all
  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!