EuPRA Conference Tampere 2022

In the last months, we have faced a global challenge, which has forced all of us to think about the fragility of human lives and our social relationships. The Covid19 pandemic has tested economies and societies and in many cases, exacerbated inequalities and social injustices all around the world.

Unfortunately, we have been witnessing serious cases of violence, although civil society has reacted to this with strong peaceful determination. In such threatening and fragile times, voices have been raised worldwide in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has provided an exemplary case of global activism and support for human rights.

Borders in Europe were closed for the first time after many decades of free mobility within its territories. Nationalisms raised their voices once again, trying to create more confusion in such a delicate and vulnerable period. But solidarity resisted and showed up through innovative communication channels, such as social media and online platforms.

We are resilient, we can adapt to difficult situations and find new solutions to problems. The development of technologies has been crucial in these challenging times, also as a tool for supporting, promoting and making peace.

What are the lessons we have learnt from this pandemic situation? How can peace research contribute to understanding and transforming the new conflicts we are facing? What are the new power structures which are challenging peace in Europe? What is the role of civil society in relation to them? What are the obstacles to a more inclusive and diverse society, and in which ways can peace research contributes to understanding and removing them? How are new generations of scholars and activists tackling the challenges of our contemporary times?

The programme is open to last-minute changes. Please check the programme regularly.  
Updates to the programme will also be announced on Twitter @euprapeace #EuPRA2022

	To save paper, no copies of the programme or abstracts will be handed out at the conference.
	Hybrid sessions can be followed on Zoom. The Zoom links have been sent ahead of the conference to the email address you registered with. You can download Zoom here.

Tampere Train & Bus Stations and Tampere University

Tampere University Grounds

All events will take place in the Main Building (1) and the Linna Building (5).

Practicalities about getting to Tampere and your stay here

Grants and financial support

In case you need support for funding your travel and accommodation costs, you can look through the following funding option that could cover up to €1,000 of the expenses: https://applytelepart.com/about/

How to get to Tampere

Reaching Tampere from Finnish cities and abroad is easy thanks to the wide range of transportation options available. In this section, you can find information about transportation and infrastructures that would safely bring you to Tampere.

You can arrive in Tampere by taking a flight to Tampere-Pirkkala airport or by bus or train if your flight arrives at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, which is the more popular airport for international travel.

From Tampere Pirkkala Airport

The Tampere-Pirkkala airport is located 17 kilometers from the city centre. You can reach the city centre of Tampere by bus and taxi (airport taxi or normal taxi). There is also a car rental available.

Address of the airport: Tornikaari 50, 33960 Pirkkala

Bus 103

Bus 103 runs daily between Tampere-Pirkkala Airport and Tampere and stops and picks up passengers in front of terminals 1 and 2. The route passes through the train station and bus station in the city centre. The line has connections for both departing and arriving flights. You can learn more about the schedule of the bus through the following link: Schedule of Bus 103.

Taxi

At the airport, there is a taxi rank in front of Terminal 1 and a free phone for calling a taxi (in case there are no taxis available). The trip to/from the centre costs approximately 50 euros, somewhat more at weekends and nights.

There are several companies in Tampere offering taxi services:

Taksi Tampere is the biggest taxi operator in the Pirkanmaa region – taksitampere.fi
Liuttu Logistics offers logistic services that combine both person and parcel transport – http://www.liuttu.com/en/front-page/
02 Taxi is a fast and easy way to order a taxi – 02taksi.fi

Car rental

There are car rental services available at Tampere-Pirkkala Airport (terminal 1). Below you can find the websites of those car rentals linked for your convenience:

• Europcar
• Hertz
• Sixt

From Helsinki Vantaa Airport

If your flight arrives at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, you can continue your travel to Tampere from there by bus or train. The distance between the airport and Tampere is approximately 170km.

From Helsinki Vantaa Airport to Tampere by train

To travel easily from the Helsinki airport, we recommend taking a train to Tampere via Tikkurila. At the airport, the train station is located in connection with the hall of arrivals. You can take an elevator or an escalator to the lower floor of the train station.

You can get train tickets directly through the website of VR Ltd Finnish Railways ahead of your travel or use vending machines inside the airport. Please make sure to book tickets from and to Helsinki Airport and not Helsinki, if you want to take a train directly from the airport. The Railway Waiting Room is open 24h daily.

From Helsinki Vantaa Airport to Tampere by bus

If you prefer travelling by bus, there are versatile connection options available.

One of the inter-city bus operators in Finland is OnniBus.com. You can find tickets available on their website www.onnibus.com.

For bus and coach services in Finland, you can also look into the website of Oy Matkahuolto Ab.  Single tickets can be purchased quickly and easily from the online shop, mobile app and Matkahuolto service outlets.

Your stay in Tampere

Below we are offering a list of recommended hotels and sites where you can search for accommodation in Tampere.

• Scandic Hotels – http://www.scandichotels.com (use the EuPRA discount code you received as part of the acceptance email)
• Scandic Tampere City
• Scandic Tampere Station
  Sokos Hotels – https://sokoshotels.fi  (use the EuPRA discount code you received as part of the acceptance email)
• Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere
• Omena hotels – https://www.omenahotels.com/en/hotels/tampere-en/ 
• Dream Hostel (hostel, hotel, apartments) https://www.dreamhostel.fi/en/front-page/

You can also look through the following websites to assist your search for accommodation in Tampere:

• AirBnb – https://www.airbnb.com
• Booking.com – https://www.booking.com
• Couchsurfing – https://couchsurfing.com
• VisitTampere – https://visittampere.fi 

Explore Tampere Online

To get acquainted with the city of Tampere, we suggest you look through the Visit Tampere official webpage, which will help you explore the city online from wherever you are and get acquainted with what the city has to offer prior to your arrival. It can also serve as a guide for you during your stay in Tampere as it gives important tips and guidance from practical issues such as transportation matters to cultural activities, and from questions related to accommodation in Tampere to suggestions of activities in the nature.

Moving around in Tampere

Going to places and finding your way in Tampere is not a difficult task. Most of the places are located within walking distance of the city, but if you prefer to get to your destination faster, there are alternative means of transportation. The infrastructure is well planned, and transportation functions smoothly in Tampere. Public transportation is run by Nysse, which has a comprehensive selection of bus lines and a newly built tram line, which started functioning in August 2021. There are a variety of ways of paying for your trip: mobile ticket, contactless payment on the bus/tram and travel card. You can also buy a ticket at the sales point 90 minutes before your trip.

Nysse also offers a rental of city bikes, which can ease getting around in Tampere, at the same time allowing you to breathe fresh air and enjoy the summer warmth of the city. Tampere is a bike-friendly city with special lanes for cycling alongside the sidewalk. Registration and payment for the city bikes are handled through the Tampereen kaupunkipyörät application, which you can download either on Google Play or App Store.

There is also a possibility of renting scooters in Tampere, which is becoming more and more popular every year. You can rent scooters either via Tier or Voi scooter apps.

If you are looking for taxi services to get around in Tampere, we suggest looking into the following options:

• Taksi Tampere is the biggest taxi operator in the Pirkanmaa region – https://taksitampere.fi 
• Liuttu Logistics offers logistic services that combine both person and parcel transport – http://www.liuttu.com/en/front-page/ 
• 02 Taxi is a fast and easy way to order a taxi – https://02taksi.fi 

Car rental services are also available in Tampere if you want to make the logistics of moving around easier. For car rentals, check the websites below.

• Europcar
• Hertz
• Sixt

Parking in Tampere might be troublesome in areas where major constructions are ongoing. You can use the parking map of Tampere to ease the search for parking spaces.

After productive and intensive panels and discussions in EuPRA, we know that you might want to explore the Finnish leisure activities. Have you also been wondering what Tampere has to offer in your free time?

On this page, we have compiled and categorized the most well-known leisure activities and attractions in Tampere that might help you get a better understanding of how one can pause and recharge in Finland.

While exploring your options for leisure, please keep in mind that we will have a group of locals in Tampere who will guide you one of the evenings here, about which we will update you later as part of the programme.

Nature

As you might have heard, Finland is a country of a thousand lakes. Moreover, Finland is the world’s most forested country as about 70% of the land is covered with trees. You might be correct now by guessing that nature plays a huge role in the everyday lives of those residing in Finland. Here, everyone is free to roam and should have access to the pearls of nature regardless of who owns the area.

Besides the two biggest lakes in Tampere, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi, there are also hundreds of smaller lakes, and almost on every lake, you can find a beach to swim in. Here are our picks for lakes and beaches that we suggest you try out.

Lakes

PYYNIKKI AND TAHMELA

The Pyynikki swimming beach is on the shore of Pyhäjärvi lake. It is in the middle of the beautiful Pyynikki forest, one of the most beautiful parts of the city. It is not far from the centre, easily accessible by local transportation, but you can also walk there. While the Pyynikki beach is more known as a destination for young people, if you are coming with families and children, we recommend checking out the Tahmela beach, which is more considered and widely attended by families. To get to Tahmela beach, you can take bus N10.

Addresses: Pyynikki beach is in Jalkasaarentie 7 – Tahmela beach is in Tahmelankatu 25

RAUHANIEMI

One of the other well-known beaches in Tampere is Rauhaniemi swimming beach, which is located on the shore of Lake Näsijärvi. The Rauhaniemi beach is also known because of the public sauna that many locals use to relax. This part of the city is well-known for its harmonious and peaceful energy, as is reflected in the name of the neighbourhood. Rauhaniemi is the peninsula of peace, with rauha meaning peace and niemi translating into English as peninsula.

Address: Rauhaniementie 23 (you can reach here by bus N2)

KAUPINOJA

The beach in Kaupinoja, not too far from the centre, is another worthwhile option to consider if you are looking for a smaller and quieter spot in town. Kaupinoja is part of the beautiful forest of Kauppi, where in winter, many sports are organized. This beach is also recommended because there is a public sauna that could keep you warm if the weather gets cooler.

Address: Kaupinpuistokatu 2

VIIKINSAARI ISLAND

The Viikinsaari Island is only a 20-minute boat ride away from the Tampere city centre. It is a perfect destination for spending a summer day away from the city. A boat service to the island is available at the beginning of June, and departures take place from Laukontori harbour on the hour.

You can buy tickets and see the summer program following this link.

Parks in Tampere

Living in Tampere partially means living in and around nature. There are parks and forests around us all year long and nature is charming here in each season differently.

Some of the most famous parks in Tampere are Koskipuisto, Hämeenpuisto, Eteläpuisto Sorsapuisto, Näsinpuisto, and Hämeenpuisto. The latter is the city’s boulevard, hosting various events during summer, and this is where the main library of the city is located, which offers services on three floors with a wide range of collections, computers, a music department, a newsroom and a café.

We also recommend checking out Hatanpää arboretum, Pyynikki and Kauppi areas, which are favorites for many locals and visitors who enjoy walking, jogging, meditating or simply being in nature.

If you visit Pyynikki make sure to check out the city from the Pyynikki observation tower and enjoy the most delicious doughnuts in Tampere (munkki) in the Pyynikki Coffee Shop.

Saunas

When one searches for facts about Finland, it is very often possible to come across the fact that there are over 2 million registered saunas in the country and Tampere is known as the capital of saunas hosting the oldest public sauna in Finland. Do not miss this section if you want to experience one of the most Finnish activities.

The Rajaportti sauna, located in beautiful Pispala, was built in 1906, and it is the oldest public sauna still in use in Finland. Although the Rajaportti sauna does not have access to the lake, the beauty of the Pispala neighbourhood will ensure your satisfaction with the visit. Pispala is one of the best-known parts of the city due to its historical importance and magnificent views of the two main lakes in Tampere. You can have a sunny summer evening walk in the Pispala neighbourhood and conclude your day visiting the sauna.

The Rauhaniemi public sauna is located by one of the biggest lakes in the city, Näsijärvi, where you can get an experience of both the sauna and swimming.  To experience another sauna legend in Tampere, check out the Experiential Kaupinoja’s sauna, which also allows you to swim in the Näsijärvi lake.

Flavours

If you are among people who find gastro-tourism as one of the most efficient ways of discovering cultures, then the first place to start in Tampere is by visiting the local market hall located in the heart of the city centre. The local market in Tampere is the largest Market Hall in the Nordics, which offers the local taste of Tampere to all its visitors. Here you can find fresh and local delicacies such as fish, meat, cheese and vegetables, warm buns, and pastries.

For an open-air market, we suggest that you look into Tammelantori, which is a perfect spot to get fresh fruits and products, and a cup of morning coffee before the conference programme starts. The established start of the day for most of the merchants is 6 am.

For more places where you can find local flavours, we recommend checking Visit Tampere's official website.

To learn more about the legendary restaurants in Tampere, check out the following link.

Live music

Being immersed in music is an important aspect of life for many locals. In Tampere, many places offer gigs with free entrance or with affordable tickets, which speak about the importance of culture and music in city life. Below we are offering a list of favourite places where you can spend a restful evening with live music in an authentic environment.

• Telakka – http://www.telakka.eu/
• Tullikamari – https://tullikamari.net/en
• Maanalainen – https://maanalainen.net/
• G Livelab – https://www.glivelab.fi/tampere/
• Paapan Kapakka – https://paappa.fi/
• YO Talo – https://yo-talo.fi/
• Vastavirta Club – https://vastavirta.net/
• Public House Huurre – http://publichousehuurre.fi/

You can also check out Visit Tampere’s event calendar, which has various categories for events in and around Tampere. The calendar is a helpful tool for searching for events and activities by offered categories and within a specific timeframe.

Museums & art

Did you know that Tampere is the only city that hosts a Moomin museum in the world? Besides, Tampere has different kinds of museums, and everyone can find one that they will love!

The official website of Visit Tampere lists the museums in the Tampere region to choose from.

To explore more opportunities for artistic experiences, galleries and museums, you can look through the pages of Visit Tampere Official, where you can find a variety of interesting museums and exhibitions taking you through time, from historical exhibitions to modern art and installations.

If you want to explore the architecture of Tampere and reveal the connection between place and design and understand the physical environment in which people in Tampere live and create, we recommend having a walking tour and passing through the pearls of architecture in Tampere. As part of the trip, we recommend having the following sites in your plan:

TAMPEREEN TUOMIOKIRKKO

The Tampere Cathedral (Tampereen tuomiokirkko) is a 20th-century Lutheran church built between 1902 and 1907. It serves as the seat of the Diocese of Tampere and received the name of a Cathedral in 1923 after the bishop’s seat was moved to Tampere. The cathedral is known for its frescoes painted by Hugo Simberg. The altarpiece was painted by Magnus Enckell.

KALEVAN KIRKKO

The Kaleva parish was established in 1953, but it did not have a church of its own, which was consecrated only in 1966. The church was designed by architects Reima Pietilä and Raili Pietilä (former Paatelainen). The Tampere church is one of the examples of modern architectural style. It is one of the most unique churches in Finland and one of the most known sites in Tampere.

TAMPERE ORTHODOX CHURCH

The Tampere Orthodox Church (also known as the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Nicholas) was built between 1896 and 1899 to the design of the Russian military architect T. U. Yazukov. It is located in the heart of Tampere, east of Tammerkoski. The church is cross-shaped and represents Neo-Byzantine church architecture.

THE METSO LIBRARY

The Main Library in Tampere is located on the corner of Hameenpuisto park and Pirkankatu street. It was opened to the public in 1986 and is in itself a work of art. While from the street, it is not as easy to recognize the shape of the building; but from above, the shape is clear. It represents a capercaillie, metso in Finnish.

PIKKUPALATSI

Pikkupalatsi, or the Little Palace, is a spectacular building that was built in 1898. It is located in Hämeenpuisto, not far from the main library. Currently, the building serves as a venue for anniversaries, business meetings, and other events. It also has sauna facilities and a swimming pool.

FIRE STATION AND MONITOIMITALO

The Tampere Central Fire Station is located at Satakunnankatu 16, on the eastern shore of Tammerkoski. It was completed in 1908. Architect Wivi Lönn designed the fire station building, which has an Art Nouveau-style. Similarly, the old business school and current-day Monitoimitalo (community center) was designed by Wivi Lönn, who was the first woman to be awarded the honorary title of ““Professo”” by the Finnish Association of Architects. These 100-year-old pair of monuments, the Fire station and Monitoimitalo are rare gems in the centre of Tampere, which we recommend paying attention to as part of the exploration of Tampere.

TAMPERE CITY HALL

Finally, we believe you will come across the Tampere City Hall more than once in your stay in Finland. This stunning neo-renaissance style building is located on keskustori (the central square). It was designed by Georg Schreck and completed in 1890.