Xplorer Conference

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Geopolitics and energy transition are changing the mining and minerals sector profoundly, and implications for security of supply are at the fore. We expect the circular economy to be the path forward, yet how realistic are plans for secondary resources? A changing world order and unpredictability also impact the pipe-line of future experts, so there is a need to also address mining education.

At Xplorer Conference 2024 we have an opportunity to discuss and address options and a way-forward for a mineral-centered way of living. Xplorer Conference is multidisciplinary, and topics will be discussed from varying perspectives across technology, business, and society. Expert presentations are by invitation, whereby poster sessions are available via an application.

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Registration for Xplorer Conference 2024

Registration fees

€200 (+ VAT 24%)Full participant, June 11-12
€150 (+ VAT 24%) Students
€150 (+ VAT 24%) One day participation

The registration fee covers attendance to the sessions, coffees, lunches and the dinner cruise on Tuesday June 11. Registration can be confirmed by credit card (Visa, Master Card). The registration ends on May 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM (UTC+2) after which refunds will not be issued. When cancellation occurs before this date, 50% of the fee will be refunded. Cancellations should be made via email to xplorer@lut.fi.

Registration has been extended to May 31, 2024.

Register here

Program

DAY 1	Tuesday, June 11
09.00	Registration
10.00	Opening remarks Sami Virolainen, Head - Department of Separation Science, LUT University

	Session 1: Geopolitics and energy transition’s impact on the mining sector For the energy transition to be successful many metals and minerals are needed. Considering geopolitics are profoundly changing the supply-chains, what does it mean for the mining sector from the perspective of security? Chair: Prof. Saija Luukkanen Abstracts and bios
10.15–10.55	Keynote: Critical Minerals Strategy in Finland and the EU Pekka Suomela, Executive Officer - Finnish Mining Association
10.55–11.15	Supply-chain Resilience - Recent Research Findings Professor Veli Matti Virolainen, LUT University
11.15–11.35	Ensuring Mineral Security in a Digital Society Juha Ilkka, Chief Preparedness Specialist and Program Director, Digital Security 2030, National Emergency Supply Agency, Finland
11.35–12.30	Lunch
	Session 1 continues:
12.30–13.00	Requirements of the CRM Act and How to Tackle Future Talent Challenges Toni Rönnberg, Regional Director - EIT Raw Materials, Baltic Sea & North
	Exploring global perspectives: Security of Supply beyond Europe
13.00–13.20	Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy: Jeanette Stovel, Ambassador of Canada to Finland
13.20–13.40	Lithium in Latin America: Bolivia’s approach, America Quinteros Condoretty, Junior Researcher, LUT Business School
13.40–14.00	Critical Minerals Sustainable Production in Chile: A Window of Opportunity to Drive a Transition Towards a Smart, Green and Inclusive economy: Dr. Osvaldo Urzúa, Karungen
14.00–14.15	Discussion
14.15–14.45	Break
	Session 2: Environmental law, society and sustainability transition Sustainability transition challenges all sectors of life. What are the challenges from the perspective of law and society when talking about mining and the mineral sector? Chair: Assoc. Prof. Hanna-Mari Husu Abstracts and bios
14.45–15.25	Keynote: Critical Raw Materials for the Sustainability Transformation: Promise and Pitfalls in the Context of Legal Systems, Professor Seita Vesa, UEF
15.25–15.45	Socially Sustainable Sourcing of Critical Raw Materials for the Green Transition: Acceptance and the Role of Citizens' Knowledge and Awareness Tuija Jartti, Postdoctoral Researcher, UEF
15.45–16.05	EU and Recycling of Critical Raw Materials: Stuck in Legal Limbo Topi Turunen, Senior Research Scientist, Syke, Finnish Environment Institute
16.05–16.25	The Green Transition – a Right Way to Safeguard our Planetary Future? Hanna Halmeenpää, Chair of the Board, The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation
16.25–16.45	Discussion and closing
	Social program:
19.00–22.00	Dinner cruise on Lake Saimaa On Tuesday night, our conference will set sail on Lake Saimaa. Come aboard the M/S Camilla for a dinner cruise and experience the magic of the Nordic White Nights in the archipelago of the largest lake in Finland. Your conference fee includes a three-course meal and beverages. The three-hour cruise departs at 7 pm from the Lappeenranta city harbour, conveniently located within walking distance from the hotels. We look forward to welcoming you onboard!

DAY 2	Wednesday, June 12
	Session 3: Circular economy – A Reality Check Circular economy is essential to the sustainability transition. How well are we doing with minerals and metals? Chair: Prof. Juan Maria Menéndez Aguado Abstracts and bios
09.00–09.40	Keynote: Circularity and the Implications of the New Critical Raw Materials Act, David Peck, Associate Professor, Delft University
09.40–10.10	Towards Value Added Sustainable Mining, Docent Jutta Nuortila-Jokinen, LUT
10.10-10.25	Break
10.25–10.45	Circularity in Policy Implementation Laura Kainiemi, Postdoctoral Researcher, LUT
10.45–11.05	Opportunities of Increased Recovery – an SME Perspective, Riina Salmimies, CEO, Sofi Filtration
11.05–11.30	Poster pitching: Working Towards the Circular Economy
11.30–12.30	Lunch
	Session 4: Poster session. See abstracts
12.30–13.00	Visit posters, Working Towards the Circular Economy
	Session 5: Education in transition – the future is now! Mining sector professionals are at the core of the sustainability transition. But how do we effectively train these experts? What specific expertise will be crucial for the mining and battery industry in the future? And how can we address the persistent skills shortage in this sector? Chair: Dr. Katja Lahikainen Abstracts and bios
13.00–13.30	Keynote: Criticality Aspects in Education for the European Raw Materials Value Chain, Professor Juan Maria Menéndez Aguado, University of Oviedo
13.30–13.50	Industry’s perspective, Asko Saastamoinen, Head of HR, Sibanye-Stillwater
13.50–14.05	Bridging Studies to Practice, Vilma Laitinen, Sustainability expert, Nordkalk
14.05–14.35	Coffee break
14.35–14.50	Academia-Industry Cooperation for Advancing Business Goals, Salla Pyhäjärvi, Partnership Coordinator, RDI Specialist, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
14.50–15.05	Exploring Possibilities in Vocational Mining Education and Training Veli Pyhtilä, Lecturer, Educational Consortium OSAO Taivalkoski
15.05–15.20	Strengthening Education through Cooperation in Joint Programs Ritva Tuunila, Associate Professor, LUT University
15.20–15.40	Value Chain Perspectives in Mining Education Professor Saija Luukkanen, Oulu University
15.40–16.00	Discussion & Closing remarks

Spotlight on Our Speakers

Pekka Suomela

Executive Officer, Finnish Mining Association

Prof. Seita Vesa

University of Eastern Finland

Assoc. Prof. David Peck

Delft University of Technology

Prof. Juan Maria Menendez Aguado

University of Oviedo

Jeanette Stovel

Ambassador of Canada to Finland

Toni Rönnberg

Regional Director, EITRawmaterials

Juha Ilkka

Chief Preparedness Specialist, National Emergency Supply Agency

Presentations

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Oral presentations at Xplorer Conference are by invitation only, and poster presentations are available for all by email submission.

Abstracts for poster presentations must be submitted in English and be maximum of 300 words. Please submit your abstract to xplorer@lut.fi.
Deadline is June 2, 2024.

Send your abstract to xplorer@lut.fi Abstract template

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The poster session "Working towards Circular Economy" takes place on Wednesday June 12. It will start with a pitching session, during which presenters are allotted 3 minutes to pitch their work and topic. The poster size for the conference is A0.

Topics for posters include, but are not limited to:
•    Minerals and Metals: Energy security & Security of Supply
•    Circular Economy of (Mineral) Raw materials
•    Sustainability Transition in Society
•    Education in Mining and Metallurgy

Accomodation

Allotments for accommodation have been reserved for Conference participants from the hotels Lappee, Lähde and Rakuuna. The price is valid only when you make the reservation directly with the hotel. Please note that the full quantity of pre-booked rooms can only be guaranteed until the specific dates. Rooms are rented on a first come first served basis.

Sokos Hotelli Lappee

https://www.sokoshotels.fi/fi/lappeenranta/sokos-hotel-lappee

Single room €122 €/room/night
Double room €142/room/night
Conference prices are available until 3.6.2024

Note: The final cancellation date without charge for an individual reservation made from the quota is 7 days prior to the arrival date.

Prices include breakfast, gym and spa access (sauna and swimming pool)
Reservation code: XPLORER24
Contact information:
Reservations at www.sokoshotels.fi by using code BXPLORER24
Or directly at the hotel, using code BXPLORER24
Tel. +358 10 7621000 OR e-mail lappee.lappeenranta@sokoshotels.fi

Hotel Lähde

Single room: €108/room/night and
Double room: €118/room/night.
Book a room by emailing info@hotellilahde.fi and include the code XPLORER24.

https://hotellilahde.fi/ 
Contact address:
Ainonkatu 17/12
53100 Lappeenranta
Tel. +358 44 766 5005

Hotel Rakuuna

Book a room directly from the hotel using the code "XPLORER".
Single room: €98/room/night
Double room: €108/room/night.

https://www.rakuunahotelli.fi/ 
Contact address:
Mannerheiminkatu 8
53900 Lappeenranta
Tel. +358 10 340 2040

Hotel Scandic Patria

https://www.scandichotels.fi/hotellit/suomi/lappeenranta/scandic-patria…;
Contact address:
Scandic Patria
Kauppakatu 21
53100 LAPPEENRANTA
Tel. +358 300308451
E-mail: patria@scandichotels.com

Venue

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LUT University

Our conference venue is at the LUT campus in Lappeenranta. LUT University today is a hub of 7,500 students and staff members. Established in Lappeenranta some 50 years ago, LUT has become one of the world’s best universities, recognized for its work in international rankings. LUT has two campuses in two cities: one in Lappeenranta and one in Lahti, and two regional units in Mikkeli and Kouvola. Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT University seek new solutions with our expertise in technology, business and social sciences. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal.

Our conference room is located in the main building, Room 1316, on the 3rd floor.

Welcome to the green campus of LUT!

Lappeenranta

Lappeenranta (in Swedish Villmanstrand) is a lovely small city in South Karelia region by lake Saimaa, the biggest lake in Finland. Lappeenranta is a perfect place to combine work with holiday.

Find here, what the city has to offer https://www.visitlappeenranta.fi/fi

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Travel

By Plane and train

Fly to Helsinki, then take a train to Lappeenranta

Use the VR (National Railway operator) on-line service to find schedules and buy tickets.

The distance between Helsinki and Lappeenranta is approximately 230 km (two hours by train). The Helsinki Airport is situated 19 km from the centre of Helsinki. Take the Commuter Train P from the airport and change trains at the Tikkurila railway station. It is a small station, and the change is easy to make. You don’t have to come all the way to Helsinki’s main railway station. But if you do, the change is easy to make there as well. When in Lappeenranta, take a taxi or a city bus from the station to the campus.

Note: There is a small airport in Lappeenranta mainly servicing charter flights. At the moment there are scheduled flights from/to Bergamo, Italy.

More information https://lppairport.fi/

By Ferry and car

Arrive by ferry in Helsinki from Estonia, Sweden and Germany

There is daily ferry services to Helsinki from Estonia, Sweden and Germany. All ferry companies allow you to pre-book and take a car with you. Ferry trips are popular in the summer, so book your trip early.

By Bus

Onnibussi company offers affordable bus fares to Lappeenranta in Finland.

By Car

There is a visitor parking next to our conference venue. Please find all visitor parking information on LUT website Campuses and directions

City bus in Lappeenranta

LUT Campus is located a few kilometers from downtown Lappeenranta and the railway station, and it is well connected by city bus (lines 1 and 5) https://lappeenranta.digitransit.fi/

See Instructions for visitors on the Lappeenranta campus

Jaana Ryynänen

Coordinator

Separation Science

Jaana.Ryynanen@lut.fi

+358 50 353 8674