Threads of Change – Local Engagement
In this student-led workshop, civil society representatives and students from Karolinska Institutet, KTH and Stockholm University explore the role of community-driven initiatives in broader societal transitions.
Date: 21 April 2026
Time: 16:00–20:00
Place: Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8 Geovetenskapens hus, room: Degeersalen
How can local engagement contribute to addressing global challenges? This session approaches global challenges from the grassroots level, focusing on how local involvement can remain meaningful even when the challenges themselves are structural and far-reaching.
Together, civil society representatives, researchers and students will explore how community-driven initiatives, civic engagement and everyday choices can contribute to broader societal shifts, without assuming that local efforts alone can resolve global challenges.
The session aims to support participants in staying engaged rather than desensitised, while highlighting how collective, locally grounded action can foster agency, resilience and momentum within wider systems of governance.
Speakers
Markus Olsson External link. – Representative of Hands2Ocean, an initiative that combines environmental engagement, volunteer action and public awareness to reduce pollution in aquatic environments.
Raaya De Silva External link. – Representative of Plant-Based Campus, a student-led movement advocating plant-based catering on campus as part of the transition to more sustainable food systems.
Erik Ahlström External link. – Founder of Plogga showing a simple idea can inspire global change. Through Plogga, thousands of people have turned their runs into opportunities to protect nature, build community, and celebrate movement in a more conscious way.
Program
16:00–17:00 – Fika and poster exhibition
Meet invited PhD students, student organisations and NGOs. Vegan fika will be served.
17:00–18:15 – Talks
Short presentations by invited speakers followed by questions.
18:15–19:00 – Panel discussion
19:00–21:00 – Dinner
The evening concludes with a shared vegan dinner. The first 100 participants to register will receive dinner free of charge.
Who is the event for?
Students at Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Stockholm University.
Registration
Register for the event. External link, opens in new window.
The first 100 participants to register will receive dinner free of charge!
Contact
For questions please contact Niccolo Mattiotti at mattnicco@outlook.com or email sceg.studentcouncil@gmail.com
The event is organised by volunteer students from Stockholm University and is supported by Stockholm Trio for Sustainable Actions