Imagine blending the peaceful vibes of nature with a sprinkle of psychology, a dash of networking, and a whole lot of research brainstorming. That’s what we got in the recent Paluu Urbaaniluontoon (Back to Urban Nature) workshop – a gathering of like-minded brains from Tampere University, Ahlman Edu, City of Tampere, YTHS and beyond, all thinking big about future research projects, funding, and ways we can team up to make some research and innovation magic happen. The workshop was made possible by the TURNS Research Platform seed funding.
After initial introductions, the workshop started off with ecopsychologist Kirsi Salonen introducing us to one of the exercises of LuoVi (Luonnosta Virtaa, Flow with Nature) concept, which was one of those “Why didn’t I think of this?” moments. The idea of the exercise was to process the experiences of work through nature elements. For instance, a handful of pinecones can represent the small number of students a teacher truly gets to know amidst the sea of faces they meet every year. Or how about a four-leaf clover? 🍀 That lucky find can symbolize those rare, surprising research breakthroughs we all dream of after digging through endless piles of data. (Looking at you, all those regular three-leaf clovers that didn’t make the cut!)
Then there was robopsychologist Aino Ahtinen’s Brainwolk concept. Ever feel stuck in a meeting? Or in your own thoughts? Aino’s solution is simple – walk it off. The idea is that taking a stroll (preferably in nature) helps clear your mind, boost oxygen, and get those creative juices flowing again. It can be a solo meeting or the whole team can join. Now, let’s be honest, doesn’t this sound a lot better than sitting in a conference room staring at the same PowerPoint for the 100th time (hehehe).
The best part of the workshop, besides being surrounded by nature? The participants! It was refreshing to connect with people who share the same enthusiasm for mixing things up and exploring new ideas. There was an energy in the room (or should I say forest?) as we tossed around potential research projects, new collaborations, and future funding ideas.
If nothing else, this workshop proofed that sometimes all we need is a little bit of nature, a lot of imagination, and some great company to spark something brilliant. 🌿
So, here’s to finding more four-leaf clovers, walking off creative blocks, and turning these ideas into something real. Stay tuned, because the future’s looking pretty green and full of exciting possibilities! 🌱
Psst, btw, if you still don’t follow us on Instagram, give us a follow: robostudio.tampere and watch our journey!
Veronika Žigraiová, is a Czech-born researcher based in Finland. In her work she aims to weave her fascination with psychology, technology, and the human condition into every story. When Veronika is not writing, she is immersed in her PhD research on human-robot teamwork, creating art, baking cakes, or hanging out with her pets.
Aino Ahtinen, PhD, University Lecturer at Human-Technology Interaction study program. Aino teaches psychology, cross-cultural design and social robotics. She is the founder of Robostudio, a co-learning space around social robotics. Aino has also developed Brainwolk, a walking meeting concept for work and studying.
Kirsi Salonen, PhD, is a researcher at the Tampere University and she works also as a psychotherapist. Her research and professional interests focuses on comprehensive nature experience and nature-based interventions for supporting well-being, treating depression, and promoting pro-environmental behavior.
