Blog

Updates from the project meeting in the Ahlainen archipelago

The second in-person meeting for the History of Winter project was organised off the coast of Pori on the island of Iso-Väkkärä on Monday, 26 May 2025. It was time to catch up, share preliminary findings, and plan our next steps.

The way to the meeting venue led across the water. The second group to arrive to the island included Niko Hakkarainen, Anna Sivula’s partner Petri (top row, left to right), Rami Mähkä, Saara Matala, Janne Mäkiranta (bottom row, left to right), and Simo Laakkonen. The group steered clear of the reefs coming and going, thanks to Petri. Image: Simo Laakkonen.

The four-year-old academic project History of Winter: Winter and People during the Industrial Transformation of Finland was launched on 16 September 2024. Some of the project researchers have already spent many an hour at the grindstone. Everyone has been working on their chapters of the Finnish-language book Talven historia (History of Winter) produced in the project. The researchers have also delved into the history of food security.

But the first thing the group did was to settle in at the principal investigator’s holiday home. Image: Niko Hakkarainen.

The surroundings of the old fishing farmstead, steeped in decades and centuries of history, were an apt choice for the meeting of historians. Image: Niko Hakkarainen.

The meeting was held in the older building in the yard. At the research seminar held around the cottage table, each scholar shared how they had progressed in writing their chapters in the book. Saara Matala gave a presentation on winter maritime navigation systems, Tanja Riekkinen on heating systems in Oulu, Rami Mähkä on artificial winter, Petri Talvitie on winter unemployment, Simo Laakkonen on the future history of the climate, and Janne Mäkiranta on animals in the wintry countryside and on flying in winter. Everyone was offered tools for completing their sub-studies. The conclusion of the seminar was that the book project is progressing well. The next update will be given in autumn 2025. The first version of the article focusing on food security will be completed this August.

Rami Mähkä and Saara Matala at the research seminar. Image: Simo Laakkonen.

At the end of the meeting day, the focus shifted to the future. In addition to the Finnish-language book, the project will produce an English-language book on the same topic. A decision was made to continue planning the second book in August.

As well as archival work and writing, the plans also include conference trips. Some of the project researchers will participate in the Maataloushistorian päivät (Agricultural History Conference) on 12–13 June 2025 and in the workshop on food security organised at the event.

In August, the group will make its way to Uppsala for the Climate Histories conference for environmental historians. It is possible to hear more project updates at the session entitled “History of Winter: Changes in the Rhythm of Society, Environment and Climate During Industrialization in Finland.”

Tanja Riekkinen, Project Researcher