Are you conducting research related to outdoor education? Would you like to hear about and discuss the latest research on outdoor teaching and learning?
We are organizing a research symposium called Ihan villinä! (Going Out Wild!) at the ULOS-UT-OUT event on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Come and present your research on this topic and hear about others’ research! We hope to see presentations from a wide range of fields. Presentations will be held outdoors and indoors.
In keeping with the spirit of the ULOS-UT-OUT event, by outdoor education research we mean research that in one way or another relates to teaching and learning that takes place outdoors, “under the open sky.” Outdoor education applies to all age groups, from early childhood education to old age. We also welcome research that promotes understanding and use of the outdoor learning environment and increases knowledge about the importance of outdoor teaching and learning for well-being and learning, for example. The research presented may be empirical or theoretical. We hope to receive presentations from a wide range of fields and perspectives.
Important dates and abstract guidelines:
- Abstract submission begins on November 1, 2025
- The deadline for abstract submission is December 8, 2025
- Submit your abstract here
When submitting your abstract, please note the following:
- Abstracts should be no longer than 2,500 characters.
- Do not include images or tables in your abstract.
- Do not use text references in your abstract.
- Add 1–3 sources that are central to your research at the end of your abstract.
- Suggest whether your presentation should be a poster or oral presentation.
- Suggest whether your presentation can be held outdoors and/or indoors.
- The abstract and presentation can be in English, Finnish or Swedish.
- Decisions on the acceptance of abstracts will be made in January 2026.
Registration and participation fees:
- Ihan Villinä researcher symposium, €130 / 1 day
- Researcher symposium and entire ULOS-UT-OUT event, €200 / 3 days
- The registration link will open in January
If enough high-quality scientific presentations are submitted to the symposium, we will promote a peer-reviewed conference publication specializing in the theme of outdoor teaching and learning.
The research symposium is organized in collaboration with the University of Tampere, the University of Helsinki, and ULOS-UT-OUT.
Further information:
ULOS-UT-OUT event organizers: info@ulosutout.fi
Arja Kaasinen, University of Helsinki: arja.kaasinen@helsinki.fi
Merike Kesler, University of Helsinki: merike.kesler@helsinki.fi
Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori, University of Tampere: essi.aarnio-linnanvuori@tuni.fi
Research symposium program Tue, June 9, 2026
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
9:00 a.m. Registration
9:30–9:50 a.m. Opening speeches for the research symposium
10:00–11:30 a.m. Poster presentations and presentations outdoors and indoors
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Park lunch
12:30-13:00 Opening speeches for the ULOS-UT-OUT event
13:00-13:45 Keynote: Kirsipauliina Kallio, University of Tampere
14:00–15:30 Presentations and discussions
The ULOS-UT-OUT event continues after the Ihan Villinä research symposium on June 9–11.
