Xplorer 2026 Oulu - Redesign Mining

Tiedepäivät 10.-11.6.2026

Tapahtuma on suunnattu alan asiantuntijoille ja muille kestävästä kehityksestä kiinnostuneille. Tiedepäivien aikana paneudutaan syvällisemmin yleisöpäivän teemoihin. Kestävää kaivosteollisuutta tarkastellaan kokonaisvaltaisesti.

Tausta

Nopeasti etenevä digitalisaatio ja automatisaatio muuttavat monien teollisuudenalojen toimintatapoja. Ihanteellisessa tilanteessa uusia teknologisia saavutuksia voidaan hyödyntää kaivosteollisuuden kehittämisessä, jolloin ei tuoteta jätteitä tai aiheuteta haittaa ympäristölle ja eliöstölle.

Huippuluokan kansainväliset tutkijat ja asiantuntijat esittelevät kestävän kaivostoiminnan uusimpia edistysaskeleita konferenssin kahdeksassa temaattisessa sessiossa kestävän kehityksen, uusien menetelmien ja prosessien, ympäristön, kiertotalouden, liiketoiminnan, politiikan ja ihmisten näkökulmista.

Sessioiden teemat

1. Kaivosten uudelleen suunnittelu
2. Arktinen vesi ja biodiversiteeetti
3. Vihreän siirtymän ja energian uudet teknologiat
4. Kiertotalous, primääriset ja sekundääriset raaka-aineet
5. Digitalisaatio ja metallien kierrättämisen liiketoiminta
6. Kestävä siirtymä ja CRM
7. Koulutus - tiedon jakaminen mineraaleista ja metalleista
8. Kaivannaisalan globaali politiikka ja lainsäädäntö

Yksityiskohtainen ohjelma löytyy sivun alaosassa. Konferenssin pääkielenä on englanti. Tapahtumaan on etukäteisilmoittautuminen, joka päättyy 5.6.2026.

Preliminary program

EEST

Wednesday 10.6.2026
8.30–9.00		Registration
9.00–9.10		Opening words
Chairperson		Sami Virolainen, LUT University
Session 1		Redesign mining	Speaker
9.10–9.25	Speech 1.1	One shot to get it right - turning deposits into mineral product ecosystems	Research Prof. Tommi Kauppila, Geological Survey of Finland - GTK
9.25–9.40	Speech 1.2	Mine-mill integration and resource efficiency	Prof. Saija Luukkanen, Head of Oulu Mining School University of Oulu
9.40–9.55	Speech 1.3	"What, where, why and how" of space mining	Dr. Kathryn Hadler, Director of ESRIC Luxemburg
9.55–10.10	Speech 1.4	Optimistic realism – Towards zero waste mining	Sonja Lavikko, Researcher, Geological Survey of Finland - GTK
10.10–10.45	Coffee & networking
Chairperson		Tatiana Samarina, KAMK University of Applied Sciences
Session 2		Arctic waters and biodiversity	Speaker
10.45–11.00	Speech 2.1	Water management compensation as a tool to safeguard and improve the ecological status of freshwater ecosystems	Heikki Mykrä, Senior researcher, Finnish Environment Institute - SYKE
11.00–11.15	Speech 2.2	The win-win-win inbedded in ecological compensation as an instrument in managing long term water quality risks	Casper Herler, Partner, LL.D. Borenius
11.15–11.30	Speech 2.3	Digital Waters flagship	Assoc. Prof. Pertti Ala-aho University of Oulu
11.30–11.45	Speech 2.4	How water and environmental knowledge steers mining EIA statements and research?	Tatu Lahtinen, Research Scientist, Geological Survey of Finland - GTK
11.45–12.00	Speech 2.5	Kuopio Water Cluster	Tiina Haatainen, Project researcher, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
12.00–12.45	Lunch
Chairperson		Jukka Joutsenvaara, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Session 3		Energy and new technologies of green transition	Speaker
12.45–13.00	Speech 3.1	Hydrogen / green energy related research in Lapland UAS	Sirpa Kokko, Project manager, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
13.00–13.15	Speech 3.2	Low-carbon graphite production as a strategic critical raw material in Europe - case Hycamite	Laura Rahikka, CEO, Hycamite Ltd
13.15–13.30	Speech 3.3	Electrolysis-Based Hydrogen Production for Green Steel	Assoc. Prof. Vesa Ruuskanen, LUT University
13.30–13.45	Speech 3.4	Hydrogen - projects and education in Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit	Doc Satu Pitkäaho, University lecturer, Environmental Engineering Study Programme Director University of Oulu
13.45–14.00	Speech 3.5	Ion exchange in battery metals recycling	Assoc. Prof. Sami Virolainen, LUT University
14.00–14.30	Coffee & networking
Chairperson		Miia John, LUT University
Session 4		Circular economy, primary and secondary raw materials	Speaker
14.30–14.45	Speech 4.1	Sponsor speech: Turning industrial side streams into strategic raw materials	Business Director Veli-Matti Marttala, Tapojärvi Ltd
14.45–15.00	Speech 4.2	Byproduct Recovery Case Studies and Validation from Mine Wastes in Montana, USA	Dr. Robin Bullock, Montana Technological University
15.00–15.15	Speech 4.3	Final piece of the puzzle: Redefining mining residues as secondary products	Assoc. Prof. Priya Perushimal, University of Oulu
15.15–15.30	Speech 4.4	Maximizing recovery of water and minerals in mineral processing	Riina Salmimies, CEO, Sofi Filtration Ltd
15.30–15.45	Speech 4.5	Sponsor speech: MINEARC project	MINEARC project
15.45–16.00	Speech 4.6	Challenges using Traditional Concentration Techniques for Rare Earth Mineral Separations	Assoc. Prof. Richard LaDouceur, Montana Technological University
16.00–18.00	Networking	Mocktails and matchmaking with globally operating mining partners	In collaboration with BusinessOulu, BusinessJoensuu
18.30–22.00	Nallikari	Evening programme in Nallikari

Thursday 11.6.2026
8.30–9.00		Registration
9.00–9.10		Opening words
Chairperson		Riina Salmimies, Sofifiltration Ltd
Session 5		Digitalisation and business of recycling metals	Speaker
9.10–9.25	Speech 5.1	Integration of secondary material flows as a part of national battery value chain	Prof. Ulla Lassi University of Oulu
9.25–9.40	Speech 5.2	Innovative and efficient technologies for the minerals sector through cross-border cooperation	Mervi Kontturi, Key Account Manager, Business Joensuu
9.40–9.55	Speech 5.3	EIT RawMaterials fostering innovation	Toni Rönnberg, Baltic Sea and North Regional Director, EIT RawMaterials
9.55–10.10	Speech 5.4	The Afterlife of Mines: Creating Value Beyond Extraction	Jari Joutsenvaara, Development manager, Kerttu Saalasti institute
10.10–10.30	Coffee & networking
Chairperson		America Quinteros Condoretty, LUT University
Session 6		Sustainability transition and CRMA	Speaker
10.30–11.00	Speech 6.1	CRMA targets - domestic mining, processsing and recycling, - fireside chat	Dr. Peter Tom Jones KU Leuven Belgium
11.00–11.15	Speech 6.2	Overview of the Swedish Mining Innovation system	Erik Hagerund, Business Developer LTU Business
11.15–11.30	Speech 6.3	Sustainable circularity of minerals and metals: Potential and limitations	Laura Kainiemi, Post-Doc Researcher, LUT University
11.30–11.45	Speech 6.4	"Urgence as challenge for battery industry and critical minerals governance"	Prof. Rauno Sairinen, University of Eastern Finland - UEF
11.45–12.00	Speech 6.5	Global collaboration towards data and methods to support transparent, robust mineral supply chain sustainability advances	Prof. Jennifer Dunn, Northwestern University
12.00–13.00	Lunch
Chairperson		Riina Salmimies, Sofifiltration Ltd.
Session 7		Education in mining field - knowledge sharing of minerals and metals	Speaker
13.00–13.15	Speech 7.1	Mining, Society and Sustainability MOOC course (UEF)	Olga Sydd, Researcher, University of Eastern Finland - UEF
13.15–13.30	Speech 7.2	Sustainable Mining Education Alliance (Lapin AMK, Centria and KAMK)	Harri Kosonen, Senior Lecturer Centria
13.30–13.45	Speech 7.3	Mining related education at the University of Oulu	Prof. Jukka Majava, Dean of Education, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu
13.45–14.00	Speech 7.4	Transdisciplinary learning in circular mining education	Miia John, Researcher, LUT University
14.00–14.15	Speech 7.5	How to make mining more attractive for young professionals?	Veera Viitanen, Technical Sales Support Specialist, Sofi Filtration Ltd
14.15–14.45	Coffee & networking
Chairperson		Saija Luukkanen, University of Oulu
Session 8		Wrap up: Essential policies and acts in the world	Speaker
14.45–15.00	Speech 8.1	Mission of InLisa, Chile (tbc.)	Dr. Hernán Cáceres, Director Ejecutivo, Instituto Nacional de Litio y Salares - INLiSa
15.00–15.15	Speech 8.2	Minerals strategy in Finland (tbc.)	Jarkko Vesa, Chief Specialist, Minerals policy, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland
15.15–15.30	Speech 8.3	Minerals strategy in Europe (tbc.)	Daniel Cios, Policy Officer, European Commission
15.30–15.45	Speech 8.4	Chilean mining and the Nordics: challenges and opportunities	Patrizio Sazo Arellano, CEO, LatNord Ltd.
15.45–16.00	Speech 8.5	From acid mine drainage to critical raw materials: the HydroShift approach to metal recovery	Assoc. Prof. Małgorzata Szlachta, Tampere University
16.00		Closing words