Happened during the last season (2025)
With Professor Marta Larusdóttir, we started our collaboration around walking meetings in urban and nearby nature more than one year ago. In October 2025, I went to Reykjavík University for a 1-week teacher exchange, and we integrated and conducted successful Brainwolk walking meetings in comfortable weather in Marta’s Software Project Management course. We also collected data about the Brainwolks, both in Iceland and in Finland, focusing on the students’ experiences of Brainwolk as a learning method for specific course tasks. The article is now submitted, and the most striking results were that students perceived the following benefits on the Brainwolk method. First, it enhanced communication and encouraged especially shy students to talk and express their ideas. Second, it was experienced as a refreshing moment without screens and technology, with the effects of physical activity for wellbeing. Third, students perceived it to improve their focus on the topic at hand.
The first week of TURNS visit 2026: Walking and networking (netwalking)
Now, during my first week in Reykjavík, we focused on networking around urban nature-based methods for wellbeing, which was one of the main goals of this TURNS mobility grant. I was privileged to get to know amazing people, who work with or are interested in nature-based topics, from vastly different viewpoints. I met two wonderful researchers from the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction, Arts, and Environmental Psychology. They told me about their work in virtual nature experiences and showed their impressive virtual reality simulation about Icelandic landscapes. In the simulation, it was possible to explore around, see how nature looks in different places, and look at nature objects, such as flowers. Most importantly, it was possible to see how upcoming planned construction projects would affect the landscape.
I also met a researcher who is interested in robots, serious games, and has worked with robot dogs. I know, I was not supposed to talk about robots here, but… With her, we found so many shared interests around robot dogs, physical activity, playfulness, outdoors, and wellbeing. I am looking forward to the future collaboration with her around these topics. I promise we will not forget about nature, even though robot dogs will be included in future collaborations!
Then I met a real builder and his awesome office space with all possible materials to build anything one wants. Building own robot is on his task list (yes, I asked if he would like to build one). We talked about drones because he knew almost everything about them, and, for me, drones might be the next interesting platform in my nature-related explorations. My knowledge of drones increased a lot during this short meeting, and he showed me many drones, from a tiny and friendly one to a big and very professional one. He also showed me a drone they had made themselves. It’s very fascinating!
One day we had a walking meeting on Öskjuhlíð area with Elva and Marta. Elva is from University of Iceland and is currently working in Ecological Pilgrimage project. It was nice to walk together and hear about Elva’s project and her walking interventions that she has conducted already for a long time. I was especially interested in hearing about Elva’s walking interventions where she facilitated exercises related to different senses and focusing on the senses. This kind of walk could be nice for my Psychology in Human-Technology Interaction course, for the week where we are learning about senses and modalities. I really hope that we can collaborate with Elva in the future with these nature-based themes and topics. It was lovely to find like-minded people who do things around nature and walking. Ps. You can check the walking weather from the photo below. It’s almost November.
Biking in Reykjavík for refreshing transportation
With Marta, we were very sporty during my whole stay. Biking possibilities have developed very much in the Reykjavík area during the past 20 years. When I was here for the first time 21 years ago, I think I didn’t see any bikes or bikers in Iceland. Well, I saw one German tourist riding a bike on the highlands against the 30m/s wind in horizontal rain (that was year 2005). Now, we biked with Marta from her home to Reykjavík University, and there was a nice cycling path in the middle of meadows and small trees. In general, I was interested in how to bike in Reykjavík, and I explored all possible biking routes along the shores of the town. The routes are very cool and scenic – I recommend a biking day in Reykjavík if you go there. The air is fresh and you can sense the feeling of freedom while biking and seeing the horizon. Especially good in great weather!
Stay tuned for the second post! It will most probably include a story about the Brainwolk walking meetings with Marta’s students. But you never know in Iceland! This visit to Reykjavík University was funded by TURNS mobility funding.
Aino Ahtinen
Aino Ahtinen is a university lecturer at Tampere University in Human-Technology Interaction study program. She has developed Brainwolk walking meeting to support the wellbeing of students and workers 10 years ago, and since that has actively deployed the method at TAU.
