Guest blog by Doctoral Researcher Kristina Vitek

Small Matters Workshop – 8th to 10th of October 2025 

The Small Matters group (plus a few friends) gathered once again for our autumn workshop, this time marking the halfway point of the project. We kicked things off on an October morning at the University of Oulu’s Botanical Garden, where the trees were showing off their golden hues. Some joined us online, including our newest honorary member, little Iikka 😊-a reminder that small matters come in many forms! 

Day One: Catching Up & Thinking Deeply 

We met and caught up over coffee and conversation, then started with updates on the project: what’s been done, what’s in progress, and what’s still to come. George shared the beautiful Canva-based pedagogical documentation and living archive: a big thank you for all the work that’s gone into creating such a rich and inviting space! 

The morning was full of inspiring presentations: 

• Renske and Inka introduced their upcoming publication on a critical framework of children’s understandings of death and grief  

• Katja and Karin shared their soon-to-be-submitted article that brings Karen Barad and Emmanuel Levinas into dialogue around responsibility and response-ability. 

• Soern and Karin gave us a glimpse into their creative work on performative videography. 

After lunch, we slowed things down with a Slow Reading session featuring The Grateful Dead, (no, not the band 😉) written by Belgian philosopher Vinciane Despret . The day wrapped up with planning for future work, including a visit to the University’s Researchers’ Night next year—stay tuned for your chance to meet the team and get to  know the project! 

Day Two: Sound, Image & Cemetery Walks 

On Thursday, the workshop got more hands-on. We explored how video and sound can offer alternative ways of responding to research questions, ways that go beyond traditional writing. Our very own DJ Tuure and movie director Soern led us through both the theory and practice of working with digital media using iPads, using data from a cemetery walk done with children earlier in the spring. In the afternoon, we took a “small” field trip and re-turned to the city cemetery, this time under clear blue skies. We wandered, listened, and responded to questions about life, death, and the more-than-human. The day ended at the team-favorite Tuba restaurant, where we shared impressions and sorted through the materials over dinner. 

Day Three: Re-mixing & Diffracting 

Friday was all about mixing and making. We layered sound, image, and meaning, exploring questions of time, temporality, repetition, and care. The workshop closed with a screening and sound performance session, where participants shared their creations and reflected on how working with media opens up alternative perspectives on the Small Matters research questions. We wrapped things up with a final lunch, full of new ideas and energy for the coming months! 

For more information about Kristina visit this website.