Events

Current Issues Seminar: “Abortion Politics in the U.S. and Beyond”

Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
Time: 11:15-18:15
Place: University of Turku, Publicum, Pub3

Program

  • 11:15–11:30 Opening Remarks
  • 11:30–12:45 Documentary: The American Abortion War, Dir. Minna Pye
  • 12:45–14:00 Lunch break
  • 14:00–15:15 Presentations by the Research Council of Finland -funded REPRO Team
    • Speakers: Dr. Michael Hansen, Dr. Benita Heiskanen, Dr. Niko Heikkilä, Dr. Pekka Kolehmainen, and PhD. Cand. Nadia Nava Contreras
  • 15:15–15:30 Break
  • 15:30–16:45 Roundtable by the REPRO Advisory Board
    • Panelists: Dr. Outi Hakola, Dr. Anu Koivunen, Dr. Leena-Maija Rossi, and Dr. Susanne Uusitalo
  • 16:45–17:00 Break
  • 17:00–18:00 Keynote Adress by Dr. Ophra Leyser-Whalen, “Abortion Funds: A Lifeline for Abortion Access across the United States”
  • 18:00–18:15 Closing Remarks

The event is free and open to all.

Meeting

November 26, 2024: REPRO Project meeting in preparation for the 2025 activities and the September Current Issues Seminar.

Guest Lecture

October 15, 2024: The REPRO-team gives a presentation at The University of Texas at Austin.

Guest Lecture

October 9, 2024: The REPRO-team givea a presentation at the Texas A & M University in San Antonio.

Guest Lecture

September 30, 2024: The REPRO-team gives a presentation at The University of Texas at El Paso.

News article and Documentary

The REPRO-team provides background information for Yle Uutiset, September 12, 2024, and for the documentary “The American Abortion War,” YLE TV1, published in September 9, 2024.

Interview

August 23, 2024: Dr. Niko Heikkilä interviewed for STT on Harris’s speech, and related discussions about abortion rights and the situation in Gaza amongst the Democratic party. Published in Demokraatti.

Planning Meeting

July 30, 2024: REPRO Project meeting in preparation for the fieldwork trip and collection of data.

Non-academic Article

May 8, 2024: Dr. Niko Heikkilä writes about how abortion legislation affects border security and vice-versa for SAM Magazine.

Advisory Board meeting, April 22, 2024.

Guest Lecture

March 18, 2024: Dr. Pekka Kolehmainen presents at Turku City Library as part of the Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS) -lecture series on the anti-abortion movement in the United States today.

Guest Speaker

February 27, 2024: Dr. Niko Heikkilä presents at a seminar at the Center on US Politics and Power (FIIA), titled “Abortion and the United States: changing strategies in the ongoing conflict”.

Meeting

January 31, 2024: REPRO Project meeting to discuss the Ethical review package.

Writing Retreat

Jan. 10-13, 2024: REPRO-workshop at Tammela.

Planning meeting with YLE, January 11, 2022.