Research and Activism Workshop at NAAS Conference 2025

The WHISOL project hosted a workshop on research and activism at the biannual Nordic Association for American Studies conference at the University of Turku, 4-6 June 2025.

The two-part Experiences of Researchivism workshop kicked off with a roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Julie Sze (Professor of American Studies, UC Davis), Dr. Alice Baroni (Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Turku), Dr. Laura De Vos (Assistant Professor, Radboud University), and Hải Nguyễn (Doctoral Researcher, University of Turku) and the session was facilitated by Dr. Reetta Humalajoki and Mila Seppälä (Doctoral Researcher, University of Turku).

 Both the panelists and the audience engaged in a lively discussion around their experiences, aspirations and the challenges they face engaging in activism as researchers.

The second part of the workshop was a creative zine-making session, where all participants created their own zine – a mini-booklet folded out of sheets of paper – on the theme(s) that touched and inspired them the most. These included explorations of settler colonialism, activist research, but also self-care in academia and beyond. The workshop was appreciated by all participants as it offered a space for contemplation and quite togetherness in the midst of a busy academic conference.