As part of the Lumo Art & Tech Festival, the University of Oulu will bring a series of open lectures and public discussions to the city centre of Oulu from 13–22 November 2026.
The Lumo Art & Tech Festival is one of the highlights of Oulu’s European Capital of Culture year, inviting residents to discover the intersections of art, science and technology. As part of the festival programme, the University of Oulu will host several free public events, making research and expert knowledge approachable for all interested audiences.
Open public lectures in Oulu city centre on weekday evenings
One of the programme highlights is a public lecture at Saari Central Library on 17 November, focusing on examining how creativity and technology come together and how technological advances are creating new opportunities for building the future. Assistant Professor Ella Peltonen, Fab Lab Director Jani Ylioja, and Professor Marianne Kinnula will introduce topics such as virtual and immersive environments, creative opportunities enabled by digital fabrication, and the involvement of children and young people in the development of future technologies. The lecture is suitable for anyone interested in understanding how technology shapes everyday life, creativity and society. The Brown Bag Seminar: When Technology Meets Creativity will take place on 17 November from 18:00 to 19:15 at Saari Central Library. The event will be held in Finnish, and advance registration is recommended.
The Kaitera Talks speaker series, held at Oulun Lyseon lukio (Upper Secondary School), brings together four distinguished experts to discuss the role of creativity, culture and research in solving future challenges. The public talks will be held from 16–19 November, daily from 18:00 to 19:00. The speakers include author and visual artist Rosa Liksom, world-renowned geneticist Aarno Palotie, Professor of Aquatic Ecology Timo Muotka, and the University of Oulu’s Vice Rector for Research and Professor of Wireless Communications Matti Latva-Aho. The talks will highlight timely topics at the intersection of science, art and technology and discuss how they can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Seminar Programme at Tarkastamo
In addition to the public lectures, the University of Oulu will bring festival activities to the Tarkastamo event venue at Oulu Market Square. On Wednesday 18 November at 12:00, LuovAIn! Roadshow in Oulu: Humans and AI – Creating Together or Separately? will examine the impact of artificial intelligence on the present and future of the creative industries. The programme includes a panel discussion, a collaborative AI art workshop and a stand-up performance hosted by a comedian with AI as part of the act. The event offers perspectives on how humans and artificial intelligence can engage in creative work together.
During the festival, Tarkastamo will also host a daytime seminar programmes aimed at professionals. The daily themes include sustainability, innovation, the future of work and new forms of collaboration. Starting at 10:00 on Thursday 19 November, Tarkastamo’s Art of Innovation seminar programme will present a curated selection of demonstrations and expert talks showcasing research conducted within the University of Oulu’s 6G Flagship.
For more information about the University of Oulu’s programme at the Lumo Art & Tech Festival, visit the University of Oulu website: www.oulu.fi/en/events/lumo-art-tech-festival-university-oulu
