{"id":104,"date":"2026-03-04T14:32:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T12:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/vera-conference-2026\/?page_id=104"},"modified":"2026-03-18T15:45:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:45:08","slug":"conference-programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/vera-conference-2026\/conference-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"Conference Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

25 May 2026, Pre-conference, doctoral workshop<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12.15-16.00 \u00a0Opening of the pre-Conference, Dr., Title of Docent, Joni Virkkunen<\/strong>, Director of the VERA Centre for Russian and Border Studies (UEF)

Keynote by Professor Sanna Turoma<\/strong>, Tampere University: title tba
Papers <\/strong>by doctoral students with expert & peer comments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19.00-21.00  Evening programme<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

—————————–<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

26 May 2026, Conference Day 1<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9.15-9.30  Opening of the Conference <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9.30-10.30 Keynote talk I <\/strong>
Chair & Discussant: Professor Simo Mikkonen (UEF)

<\/strong>Unfinished Pasts, Contested Presents: Decolonisation or Recolonisation? A Georgian Perspective on Culture and Power <\/em>by Associate Professor Nana Sharikadze<\/strong> (Caucasus University, Georgia) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.30-12.00 Panel discussion 1: Culture as Civic activism in the ex-Soviet area, and beyond<\/strong>

Chair: <\/strong>Professor Marja Sorvari (UEF); Panellists: <\/strong>Dr. Connor Doak (University of Birmingham, UK), Associate Professor Nana Sharikadze (Caucasus University, Georgia), Professor Pekka Suutari (UEF)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12.00-13.00  Lunch break<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13.00-16.30  Paper sessions 1-2 (incl. coffee break)   <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

19.00   Dinner and Get-together (for registered participants), <\/strong>Winter Swimming Centre Joensuu Polar Bears <\/em> <\/strong><\/a>Club, M\u00e4ntyniementie 1.

<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

27 May 2026, Conference Day 2<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9.30-10.30 <\/strong>  Keynote talk II <\/strong>
Chair & Discussant: Dr Pauliina Lukinmaa (UEF)

Choking on Words: Russophone Anti-War Poetry on the Invasion of Ukraine<\/em>
by Dr Connor Doak<\/strong> (University of Bristol, UK)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.30-12.00 <\/strong> Panel discussion 2: State uses of culture as power in the contemporary world<\/strong>

Chair: <\/strong>Professor Olga Davydova-Minguet (UEF); Panellists: <\/strong>Dr. Julia Bethwaite (Tampere University), Professor Katharina Kunter (University of Helsinki), Dr. Jussi M\u00e4kel\u00e4 (UEF), Professor Sanna Turoma (Tampere University)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12.00-13.00  Lunch break <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13.00-16.30  Paper sessions 3-4 (incl. coffee break)  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16.30   End of the Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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