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Aalto WiTLAB - World in Transition
Humanitarian crises call for our action
Aalto WiTLAB - World in Transition
What is the role of architecture in the globalizing world?
Aalto WiTLAB - World in Transition
Can architecture be a component in capacity building?
Aalto WiTLAB - World in Transition
An interdisciplinary network of education and research
Aalto WiTLAB - World in Transition
Aiming for global real-life impact on the built environment
Aalto WiT (World in Transition) LAB is an interdisciplinary cross-school research and education unit hosting collaborative initiatives across Aalto University. It is rooted in sustainable development of the built environment in vulnerable communities and fragile environments globally. WiTLAB serves as a platform for researchers and projects focusing on resilient human settlements, humanitarian architecture, community engagement and grass roots action. It furthers the Aalto University’s strategy on sustainability, transdisciplinary collaboration and Life-Wide-Learning.
Aalto WiTLAB provides a flexible and horizontal network for units and individuals within and outside Aalto University, with a variety of interests and professional experience on related topics. The international experience of the members creates a vast global network of experts, institutes, programs and universities. It is a forum for discussion and action for people within the academia, who are passionate about changing the world for the better.
Aalto WiTLAB coordinates and carries out basic and applied research, publication of topical literature and expert assignments on the above mentioned themes. It also supports master’s level and continuing education courses through real-life case studies in collaboration with partners outside academia.
Aalto WiT Programme
Aalto WiT Programme is a 5-month transdisciplinary professional diploma programme under the Aalto University World in Transition Research LAB (WiTLAB). The programme focuses on the resilience of human settlements in low and middle-income countries.
People
Aalto WiTLAB consists of a team of researchers and educators, constantly looking for new collaborations and transdisciplinary partnerships worldwide. Image: Lauri Nykopp
WiTLAB alumni stories
Meet the professionals who have participated in WiTLAB's courses and collaborative projects through time! Here you find interviews where the alumni share their learning experiences and career journeys after graduating from Aalto University.
Niina Rinne - WiTLAB collaborator
Niina is an alumna of the Creative Sustainability programme, currently working at UN-Habitat in Nairobi as a Programme Management Officer
Milja Lindberg - WiTLAB research alumna
Milja is a Finnish-Canadian architect and independent researcher from the early years of WiTLAB’s research group
Maria Hedengren - Cities in Transition alumna
Maria is an architect currently working as a creative director, marketing strategist and planner
Emma Lappalainen - City in Crisis alumna
Emma is an architect and alumna of the ‘City in Crisis’ studio 2010, currently working as the CEO and lead consultant at Finngroup ConsultantsBackground
Aalto WiTLAB was founded in 2014 to adress challenges in the Global Majority context. It connects to the larger strategies and frameworks of the UN Agenda 2030.
News
Current news related to WiTLAB
WiT Talks - where theory meets practice, and dialogue meets impact
In a world where crises are becoming increasingly complex and interlinked, the need for transformative conversations and actionable solutions for global sustainability and resilience is paramount. In response to this pressing demand, WiT Talks emerges as a dynamic entity that transcends the boundaries of traditional discourse.WiT Talks is a WiTLAB-led initiative at Aalto University that stands at the forefront of a paradigm shift. We recognise the urgency of uniting passionate academics and researchers, forward-thinking practitioners, NGOs, community activists, and visionary policymakers in an environment where silos are dismantled and collaboration reigns supreme. The talks are designed to be the nexus where the realms of theory and practice converge, birthing novel insights and actionable strategies that have the power to reshape the future. These discussions are global, inclusive, and cross-cutting, fostering an innovative blend of perspectives. Through WiT Talks events and activities, we foster collaborations, enabling participants to translate discussions into tangible, real-world actions.
Welcome to a realm where conversations are catalysts for action, and every voice, every idea, and every contribution matters.
Panel discussion 'Humanitarian approach in the changing world' by Aalto WiT Programme, RLabs Tanzania and Finn Church Aid
Join us for an engaging panel discussion where we will explore the evolving landscape of humanitarian efforts with the challenges and opportunities it presents. Our panelists will address key questions shaping the future of the field in an insightful and thought-provoking discussion, offering a glimpse into the future of humanitarian work and the collaborative strategies necessary for positive change.
WiTLAB guesting on the Hopeful Globe Podcast
Aalto WiTLAB has guested on an episode of the Hopeful Globe Podcast by the University of Turku. The Hopeful Globe Podcast series is a collaboration between Institutes of Higher Education, sharing inspiring stories across the globe.
WiTLAB Side Event at UIA Copenhagen
Aalto WiT Programme launch and workshop - Side event at UIA Copenhagen 2023Saija Hollmén, Professor of Practice in Humanitarian Architecture at Aalto UniversityOur globe is a closed system, and in the end, we all share the same resources. The fact that these now are unequally distributed should be the concern of us all.
Events
Events related to WiTLAB's interests
“A Knitted River” - Textile and emotional memory of the waters of the Cochrane River
Textile arts, design, craft, and science converge to give prominence to the Cochrane River.
NODUS TALKS Experiential Futures – What? Why? How?
Presentations and panel discussion with İdil Gaziulusoy and Anu Seisto.
Sustainability Science Days 2024
Finland will be the hot spot for sustainability related research, innovations, and solutions in June 2024 when Sustainability Science Days (SSD) unites with one of the world's biggest sustainability congresses – the Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress (SRI).
ARCH24 - The 6th International conference on Architecture, Research, Health and Care (external link)
The International ARCH24 Conference will be held at Aalto University, Espoo, in June 17th to 19th in 2024.CONTACT
E-mail: [email protected]
Visiting Address: we reside in Väre, Otaniementie 14, 3th floor
Mailing Address: WiT LAB PO Box 31000 FI-00076 AALTO FINLAND
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