Multidisciplinary Research – Challenges and Good Practices

Welcome to a seminar on April 15, at 12:15–16:00 (Publicum 2)

Are you interested in learning about designing and implementing multidisciplinary research projects, the challenges involved and the ways the challenges can be addressed? Are you planning to apply for funding for your own multidisciplinary project? 

We welcome all researchers across disciplines and faculties to join the discussion on the topic with experts from different fields and institutions.

The seminar 'Multidisciplinary Research – Challenges and Good Practices’ organised by UTU’s multidisciplinary theme Children, young people and learning will be held in lecture hall Publicum 2 on April 15, at 12:15-15:45.

Programme of the seminar:

Lessons learned from multidisciplinary research projects; 12:15–13:45 (Pub2)

Opening words: Professor Elina Kilpi-Jakonen, Leader of UTU’s Multidisciplinary theme of Children, Young People and Learning

Speakers:

• Embedding multidisciplinarity in a research centre
  Professor Kirsi Peltonen, INVEST Research Flagship Centre, UTU
• Multidisciplinarity over time: Experiences from the STEPS follow-up study 
  Docent Hanna Lagström, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, UTU
• Integrating social sciences and humanities in a research project
  Professor Johanna Kallio, Unit of Social Work, UTU 

Joint discussion and questions from the audience

Moderator: Professor Tero Järvinen, Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE)

Coffee and sandwiches; 13:45–14:15

Perspectives on multidisciplinarity from research funders; 14:15–15:45 (Pub2)

Speakers:

• Kone Foundation’s approach to multidisciplinary research
  Director of Funding Kalle Korhonen, Kone Foundation
• The significance of multidisciplinary research from the perspective of City of Turku
  Research Director Hanna Mattila, Turku Urban Research Programme
• Promoting multi-/interdisciplinarity and researchers’ career development
  Director Martin Cloonan, Turku Institute of Advanced Studies (TIAS)

Joint discussion and questions from the audience

Moderator: University lecturer Jenni Tikkanen, Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE)

All the presentations will be held in English, but you can participate in the discussions also in Finnish during the event if you wish.

Register to the event at the latest 10 April 2026.