Finding a Common Ground: Reducing the Gap Between Linguistics and Genetics
An interdisciplinary BIP course, University of Turku (Finland)
In collaboration with University of Tartu (Estonia) and Uppsala University (Sweden)
Course: Reducing the Gap Between Linguistics and Genetics
Course schedule as pdf
Time and place
On-site: November 30–December 4, 2026, University of Turku, Finland
Preceded and followed by several online meetings: November 16–27, 2026; December 7–18, 2026
About the course
This course is aimed towards early-career researchers (MA students, PhD students, and Postdoctoral researchers) interested in interdisciplinary research within the fields of linguistics and genetics. The course covers a range of topics in both disciplines and beyond, highlighting similarities between linguistics and genetics in data, research questions, methods, and interpretations, and promoting multidisciplinary collaboration. The course includes lectures, interactive sessions, and group discussions. During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to speak about their previous work in a special poster session, as well as establish or strengthen contacts with other participants and researchers at a networking event.
There are 4 open lectures for everyone interested. Please sign up here.
Important dates
The online component requires each participant to attend 4 seminar meetings, one at each week (4 in total). For each week, you may choose the time slot that best fits your schedule. The meetings will be held on Zoom.
(Please note that the the schedule uses Finnish time!)
Week 1, Nov 16-20, time slots: Monday 16/11 17-18.30, or Thursday 19/11 18-19.30 (Finnish time);
Week 2, Nov 23-27, time slots: Monday 23/11 17-18.30, or Thursday 26/11 18-19.30 (Finnish time);
Week 3: no online meetings (all meetings on-site)
Week 4, Dec 7-11, time slots: Monday 7/12 17-18.30, or Thursday 10/12 18-19.30 (Finnish time);
Week 5, Dec 14-18, time slots: Monday 14/11 17-18.30, or Thursday 17/12 18-19.30 (Finnish time).
Practical information
Language: English
Credits: 3 ECTS
Cost: The workshop is free of charge for all participants. Food and accommodation are not provided. Please contact your local university to explore travel funding options.
The organisers:
Tina Saupe, University of Turku (tina.saupe@utu.fi)
Tatiana Kachkovskaia, University of Turku (tatiana.kachkovskaia@utu.fi)
Miina Norvik, University of Tartu
Axel Palmér, Uppsala University
Please contact us with any questions: tina.saupe@utu.fi
Lecturers
Sampsa Holopainen, University of Helsinki (linguistics)
Ilmari Ivaska, University of Turku (mathematics)
Tatiana Kachkovskaia, University of Turku (linguistics)
Jenna Kanerva, University of Turku (linguistics)
Tarmo Ketola, University of Turku (epidemiology),
Alena Kushniarevich, University of Tartu (genetics)
Thiseas Lamnidis, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (genetics)
Kerkko Nordqvist, University of Turku (archaeology)
Miina Norvik, University of Tartu (linguistics)
Lehti Saag, University of Tartu (genetics)
Elina Salmela, University of Turku (genetics)
Tina Saupe, University of Turku (genetics)
Outi Vesakoski, University of Turku (interdisciplinary)
Tentative schedule
Day 1 (8.30-17.00)
Key concepts in linguistics
Data in linguistics: Linguistic corpora and typological databases
Lunch break
Key concepts in genetics
Key concepts in computational data science
Day 2 (9.00-17.00)
Data in genetics: Human population genomics resources
Methods in computational linguistics
Lunch break
Archaeology: Key concepts and interdisciplinary approaches (Open Lecture)
Poster session
Day 3 (9.00-17.30)
Inheritance and contact in genetics and linguistics
Epidemics of infectious diseases and contact networks (Open Lecture)
Lunch break
Human Diversity Seminar: An overview of the Poseidon Framework of archaeogenetics data management. (Open Lecture)
Methods in historical linguistics
Methods in genetics, Part 1
Day 4 (9.00-17.30)
Methods in genetics, Part 2
Bridging genetics, archaeology and linguistics: perspectives and case studies (Open Lecture)
Lunch break
Case studies in human diversity (group work), Part 1
Case studies in human diversity (group work), Part 2
Day 5 (9.00-13.00)
Networking event
Multidisciplinary research in human diversity (Open Lecture)
Round table: Q & A