The John Morton Center hosts "Current Issues" lectures, seminars, conferences, and workshops on the histories, societies, politics and cultures of North American nations.
The JMC strives to engage in dialogue with multiple academic, cultural, political, and ideological viewpoints. We welcome speakers from a range of different backgrounds and persuasions. The views of our guests do not represent those of the Center.
2026 Events
Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Time: 11:00-19:00
Venue: University of Turku, Pub 3
Program
11:00–11:15 Opening Remarks: Dr. Pekka M. Kolehmainen
11:15–12:15 Dr. Milla Unkila: “After the End: A Collapsologist View to Sustainability Studies”
Chair: Dr. Niko Heikkilä
12:15–13:15 Lunch Break
13:15–14:00 Dr. Sami Torssonen: “The Power of the Fossil-Ideological: Re-theorizing the ‘Climate-Denialism Machine’”
Chair: Dr. Mila Seppälä
14:00–14:45 Roundtable by the COLLAPSE Research Team on Exit Movements
Panelists: Dr. Pekka M. Kolehmainen, Dr. Niko Heikkilä, Dr. Mila Seppälä, and Ph.D. Cand. Jaakko Dickman
Moderator: Dr. Suvi Salmenniemi
14:45–15:00 Break
15:00–16:00 Keynote Address by Dr. Émile P. Torres: “Will Humanity Survive? Silicon Valley Wants to Replace Humanity with AI”
Chair: Dr. Pekka M. Kolehmainen
16:00–16:15 Break
16:15–18:45 Documentary Screening & Discussion: Spaceship Earth
Moderator: Ph.D. Cand. Jaakko Dickman
18:45–19:00 Final Remarks: Ph.D. Cand. Toni Saarinen
Päivä: Pe 10.4.2026
Aika: 9:30-13:45
Paikka: Turun yliopisto, Pub 4
Ohjelma
9:30-9:45 Seminaarin avaus
Louis Clerc (Poliittinen historia) & Benita Heiskanen (JMC)
9:45–11:15 Ulkopolitiikan historiallisia kulmakiviä
Pj. Louis Clerc
Alustajat:
Benita Heiskanen (JMC): ”Monroe-opista Donroe-oppiin”
Bradley Reynolds (Poliittinen historia): “US Foreign Policy in the 1990s – Unipolar Moment or Myth?”
Pekka M. Kolehmainen (JMC): ”USA:n ulkopolitiikka MAGA:n silmin”
11:15–12:15 Lounastauko
12:30–13:45 USA:n turvallisuusstrategia ja geopolitiikka
Pj. Benita Heiskanen
Panelistit:
Nadia Nava-Contreras (JMC): Amerikat
Anna Kronlund (Valtio-oppi): USA ja Eurooppa
Lauri Paltemaa (Itä-Aasian tutkimus): Aasia
Date: January 23, 2026
Time: 14:00-18:00
Venue: Educarium 441
Program
14:00 Benita Heiskanen, “Thinking about the Long Game”
14:15–14:45 Olli Saukko, "Tikkun, Commentary, and American Jewish Perspectives on the Obama-era Culture Wars in 2012–2016,” University of Helsinki
14:45–15:15 Nadia Nava Contreras, “The Making of Finnish-Mexican Relations in the Twentieth Century: Mutual Gazes, Diplomacy, and Cooperation,” University of Helsinki
15:15–15:30 Break
15:30–16:00 Marco Ghisetti, “The United States as a ‘Continental Island’ and its Arctic Posture,” University of Lapland
16:00–16:30 Mila Seppälä, “Notes from the Field: An American Studies Approach to Researching Gun Violence Prevention,” University of Turku
16:30-16:45 Break
16:45–17:15 Oskari Ropponen, “‘Here we were born, and here we will die’ – Black Abolitionists against Colonization Plans in Antebellum America,” University of Eastern Finland
17:15–18:00 Discussion