18/06/2026
Last week, our doctoral researchers Joanna Laast and Karmen Kütt-Ehala attended the 26th Futures Conference in Turku, Finland, which this year focused on "Sustainability, Temporalities and Futures." At the conference, they presented a work-in-progress paper titled "Exploring Multiple Futures for Sustainability Transitions: A Rules-Based Participatory Foresight Approach."
🟢 The paper introduces a novel rules-based card method that combines sustainability transitions research with participatory foresight. Drawing on the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and the Deep Transitions framework, the method helps participants explore and compare alternative future pathways across key socio-technical dimensions, including technology, markets, governance, and societal values.
🟢 The method has already been applied in workshops focusing on mobility, food, and the built environment, bringing together representatives from organisations including Bolt, CityBee, Rail Baltica, ÄIO, LaMuu, Paulig Group, Rimi Baltic Group, and Eleport, as well as developers of the Hundipea district and the Krulli kvartal.
The approach was developed as part of the project "Green Transition Opportunities for the Estonian Economy", funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
👉 The conference provided an opportunity to share their research, exchange ideas with the international futures studies community, and discuss new approaches for exploring sustainability transitions and long-term societal change.
Photos by: Kristiina Paju (from the conference) & Joanna Laast (from a workshop where participants are using the cards.