Joint SIG 3 & SIG 20 Conference 2026

25 August to 27 August 2026

University of Turku, Finland

This special version of our bi-annual meetings aims to bring together researchers from around the world who are interested in conceptual learning, inquiry learning, and related fields. At this meeting, we invite researchers focusing on topics related to conceptual change processes, inquiry-based learning environments, and their interaction. We hope bringing together researchers from both SIGs will place an emphasis on the potential of these two fields for supporting meaningful learning. Thus, our conference theme is: Bridging Conceptual Change and Inquiry: Pathways to meaningful learning.

JURE Summer School (24 August)

The Summer School will begin the morning of Monday the 24th, with a informal get together the night before.

Registration is free of charge! Register here

Theme

Bridging Conceptual Change and Inquiry: Pathways to meaningful learning

EDUCA Education for the Future FLAGSHIP

This special version of our bi-annual meetings aims to bring together researchers from around the world who are interested in conceptual learning, inquiry learning, and related fields. At this meeting, we invite researchers focusing on topics related to conceptual change processes, inquiry-based learning environments, and their interaction. We hope bringing together researchers from both SIGs will place an emphasis on the potential of these two fields for supporting meaningful learning. Thus, our conference theme is: Bridging Conceptual Change and Inquiry: Pathways to meaningful learning. Regardless of the conference theme, submissions of other topics related to these fields are welcome!

Keynotes

Chinn headshot

Clark Chinn (Rutgers University)

Paths to epistemic change through inquiry and explanation

C a m

Carla van Boxtel (University of Amsterdam)

Implementing guided inquiry-based learning in the classroom: Linking theories and practice

Edelsbrunner Portrait hf Kopfshot

Peter Edelsbrunner (Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität-Munchen)

Modeling Knowledge: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Venue

UTU logo

Educarium Directions

The Main Conference will take place on the Lower Campus of the University of Turku, primarily in the Educarium building (Assistentinkatu 5, 20500 Turku).

Registration desk will be in the Educarium lobby.

Lunch will be served in the Educarium restaurant Piccu Maccia.

Coffee breaks, the welcome reception, and poster session will be held in the hallways of Educarium on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Paper sessions, Symposia, and Keynotes will be held in the Educarium, Calonia, and Publicum. Please follow signs to the different venues or ask conference staff for help.

Campus map and more information can be found at: https://www.utu.fi/en/universi...


Wireless Networks

You can access the wireless network anywhere on campus. There are two networks: UTU Visitor for Visitors and Eduroam.

Eduroam

Eduroam is a global network for university and research visitors, and the University of Turku is a participating member. It provides free, secure, and easy-to-use wireless internet access. University members can use the eduroam network not only at the University of Turku but also at other eduroam-affiliated organizations worldwide. Eduroam ensures a high level of security, encrypting your wireless device traffic to keep your connection safe.

To access the Eduroam network (if your university is a participating member), select it from the list of available wireless networks on your computer. Use the credentials from your home university to login.

UTU Visitor

Connecting to UTU Visitor

To access the UTU Visitor network, select it from the list of available wireless networks on your computer.

Once connected, open your web browser to be redirected to the registration page. If your browser is not redirecting to the portal, type neverssl.com into your browser's address field.

On the registration page, you will need to enter a name, email address (to which the credentials will be sent) and accept the terms of the network. You will then be automatically logged in and the browser page will be redirected to the Guide service.

Network Restrictions

Only normal browser traffic, tunneling protocols, and secure email traffic are allowed on the UTU Visitor network. Codes are valid for 8h and you can import up to two devices with one account.


How to Travel to Turku

It’s easy to get around on public transportation in Turku. There is efficient public transportation for local and long distance travel. In addition, there is an international airport in Turku.

Turku Airport

Turku has air connections via Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Riga, and Gdansk.

There is a regular bus to city center (travel time approx. 20 minutes), every 20 minutes. Tickets cost 3 or 4 euros and can be purchased through a mobile app orcontactless payment from the driver. More information can be found here.

Helsinki Airport

There is a bus to Turku operated by Expressbus (travel time 2-2,5 hours, departures about every hour) from Helsinki-Vantaa airport. It is also possible to travel by train: take the commuter train from the airport to Pasila station and change to a train to Turku (see below). The trip to Turku from the Helsinki-Vantaa airport-Helsinki-Pasila station takes about 2,5 hours.

By train

VR manage the railway network in Finland and information of long-distance trains and booking can be found on their website.

Program

Scheduleoverview 18082026

Program & Book of Abstracts (Venue information on final page)

Detailed schedule (Updated 24.08.2026)

Directions

Conference Dinner

The venue for conference dinner will be the Queen’s room in Turku Castle.

https://turunlinna.fi/en/home-page/

Walking along the Aura River, the distance from the market square is about three kilometres.

The castle can be reached by bus from the market square within 15 minutes and buses go regularly

You can check timetables for buses on this website: https://www.foli.fi/en

Below is an example of going from the market square to the castle

Origin: Kauppatori, Kauppatori VI, Turku

Destination: Turun linna (Turku Castle), Linnankatu 80, Turku

Submit

Submit Here

Submissions are closed

Submission Types

  • Individual Paper (empirical, theoretical)
    15-min presentation followed by a 5-min discussion
  • Symposium
    3–4 thematically related presentations (15 min each) and a discussant (10 min) from at least two different countries
  • Interactive Session (e.g., Roundtable, ICT Demonstration, Panel Discussion)
    90-min sessions, the structure defined by the organizers
  • Poster
    90-min session (poster size: DIN A0)
  • Presentation in Junior Research Feedback Session (NOTE: during JURE Summer School)
    15-min presentation plus 15-min feedback by experienced researchers. Presentations can include PhD projects, project plans, work in progress

Required Submission Information

Regardless of the submission type, we ask you to provide an abstract (100–250 words) for inclusion in the abstract booklet and an extended summary (600–1000 words, including references) for the reviewing process. Please also choose four keywords from a drop-down menu. If you need to include graphs or complex tables, you may upload them as attachments.

Organizers of a symposium should submit an abstract and extended summary for each paper, and a general abstract for the symposium as a whole (max 250 words). Please select “new symposium” when starting the submission process.

Please note that authors can be presenting authors for at most two presentations.

When submitting, you will be asked whether you would be willing to participate in the review process as a reviewer of up to four submissions. We highly appreciate your support of the review process.

Review criteria for all types of submissions

For empirical research, the extended abstract should include a clear statement of the research questions motivated by a brief review of the relevant literature, a description of the research methodology, a summary of the main research findings, and a conclusion pointing out the significance of the research findings with possible implications for theory and practice.

For theoretical research, the extended abstract should include a clear statement of the theoretical problem motivated by a brief review of the relevant literature, an account of the theoretical proposal being made clarifying the novel contribution of this particular study, and a conclusion that addresses implications of this work for further theory development and/or implications for practice.

Review criteria

  • Relevance to the domain of conceptual change or learning with digital media
  • Theoretical framework, conceptual rationale or pragmatic grounding
  • Research method and design (research questions, context, participants, data sources, sampling, procedure)
  • Overall quality and scientific originality

JURE Summer School

The Summer School will begin in the morning of Monday the 24th, with a informal get together the night before.

Registration is free of charge! Register here

You will get to know other junior researchers working on similar topics and get feedback on your research from experienced researchers.

  • Present your own research projects with ample time for feedback from experienced professors
  • Join workshops on writing and publishing, conceptual change, statistics, and artificial intelligence
  • Get to know other junior researchers during social activities

Detailed Programme

Important Dates

  • Submissions Open

  • Submission Deadline

  • Notification of Acceptance

  • Early Bird Deadline (required for presenters)

  • JURE Summer School

  • Conference Begins

Organising Committee

Local Committee
Jake McMullen, University of Turku, Co-chair (SIG 03) jamcmu@utu.fi

Koen Veermans, University of Turku, Co-chair (SIG 20) koevee@utu.fi

Tommi Kokkonen, University of Turku

Marjaana Puurtinen, University of Turku

Jo Van Hoof, University of Turku

Sofia Vanhatalo, University of Turku

Heli Nurminen, University of Turku

SIG 03 Team
Natassa Kyriakopoulou, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Ilona Södervik, University of Helsinki, Finland

Katarina Gvozdic, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Madalin Marian Deliu, University of Salamanca, Spain

SIG 20 Team
Tomi Jaakola, Tampere University, Finland

Salome Flegr, Dresden University of Technology, Germany

Yoana Omarchevska, University of Potsdam, Germany

Marvin Fendt, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany

Register

Registration is now open here

Conference fees

Early Bird (DL: 21 June) Regular
EARLI member 260 300
EARLI non-member 325 375
Reduced rate (JURE member, local school teacher, Low-GDP country) 150

175

Accomodation

Below are a few options for hotels/hostels in the Turku area

Original Sokos Hotel Wiklund

Eerikinkatu 11, 20100 Turku
Phone: +358 10 786 5000
Email: sokos.hotels@sok.fi
website

Original Sokos Hotel Kupittaa

Joukahaisenkatu 6, 20520 Turku
+358 300 870 000 sokos.hotels@sok.fi

website

Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel

Linnankatu 32, 20100 Turku
+358 20 1234 710
reservations.finland@radissonblu.com
Hotel website

Omenahotels

Kauppiaskatu 4

Hotel website
Omenahotels is a simple and budget-friendly option located in central Turku. No reception, checking in and out is done online. There are two Omenahotels locations in Turku:

Hostel S/S Bore

Linnankatu 72, 20100 Turku
Phone: +358 40 843 661
Email: hostel.bore@turku.fi
Hostel website