Upcoming professorial lectures

Twenty newly appointed professors of the University of Helsinki will give their inaugural lectures on Wednesday, 31 May 2023, starting at 14. The lectures are open to the public and take place in the University’s Main Building (Unioninkatu 34) and Metsätalo (Unioninkatu 40). The public can watch the lectures also via Unitube live stream. The lectures serve as popular introductions to the professors’ fields of science and current research issues. The programme below includes the timetable, lecture rooms and topics for individual lectures. The inaugural lectures will be held in the language of the topic indicated in the programme.

The inauguration ceremony, open to all, will begin at 16.30 in the Great Hall. The programme includes a speech by Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri, musical performances and introductions of the new professors. In addition, the inauguration ceremony will feature an inaugural lecture by Professor Arniika Kuusisto.

Welcome!

PROGRAMME

RUNEBERG HALL, Main Building of the University of Helsinki, second floor
Streaming page for the room

• at 14.15, Riikka Rossi, Professor of Finnish literature: Kirjallisuus ja tunteet
• at 14.45, Titus Hjelm, Professor of Study of religions: Maallistuminen ja uskonnon uusi näkyvyys
• at 15.15, Terhi Utriainen, Professor of Study of religions: Uskontotieteellinen mielikuvitus ja kuunteleva laadullinen tutkimus
• at 15.45, Katja Valaskivi, Professor of Religious studies and media research: Yhteisö ja uskomukset tekoälyjen aikakaudella

HALL U3032, Main Building of the University of Helsinki, third floor
Streaming page for the room

• at 14.15, Lena Näre, Professor of Professor of Sociology, with an emphasis on Societal Structure and Social Change: Epävarma työ muuttuvassa yhteiskunnassa
• at 14.45, Markus Kröger, Professor of Global development studies: Vastarinnan vaikutukset eri luonnonvarakonflikteissa
• at 15.15, Marianna Muravyeva, Professor of Russian Law and Administration: Is There Law in Russia? Legal Tradition, Authoritarianism and Post-Soviet Legal Choices
• at 15.45, Leena Peltonen, Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology: Lääkeaineen huono liukeneminen lääkekehityksen esteenä?

HALL 1, Metsätalo, first floor
Streaming page for the room

• at 14.15, Ian Hardy, Professor of Agricultural entomology: Parasitoids: sex ratio control and pest control
• at 14.45, Maijaliisa Erkkola, Professor of Nutrition (public health nutrition): Oispa onneks joka muru - kohti ihmisten ja planeetan hyvinvointia
• at 15.15, Erik Andersson, Professor of Sustainable development: Managing complex landscapes
• at 15.45, Matti Järvisalo, Professor of Computer science (algorithms and machine learning): Loogisen päättelyn tehokkaan automatisoinnin keskeisyydestä digitalisoituneessa maailmassa

HALL 2, Metsätalo, second floor
Streaming page for the room

• at 14.15, Taru Lindblom, Professor of Food culture: Hyvää ja kaunista – Syömisen kulttuuriset ja sosiaaliset hierarkiat
• at 14.45, Lauri Väkevä, Professor of Arts and Applied Arts Education: John Deweyn naturalistinen pragmatismi taide- ja taitokasvatuksen filosofisena lähtökohtana
• at 15.15, Kalle Juuti, Professor of Digital Learning at Schools: Miten digitaaliset välineet muuttavat opetusta ja oppimista?

HALL 4, Metsätalo, second floor
Streaming page for the room

• at 14.15, Mikael Ehn, Professor of Atmospheric physical chemistry: Luften: intressantare än den ser ut?
• at 14.45, Jiaheng Lu, Professor of Computer Science (Data Management): How to Cope with the Variety Challenge of Big Data?
• at 15.15, Matti Rissanen, Professor of Physical chemistry: The fast reactions that shape the air
• at 15.45, Kimmo Tuominen, Professor of Theoretical particle physics: Pimeän aineen metsästäjät

INAUGURATION CEREMONY
at 16.30, Great Hall, Main Building of the University of Helsinki, second floor
Streaming page for the room

• Music
• Speech: Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri
• Inaugural lecture: Arniika Kuusisto, Professor of Early childhood education: Lasten arvotutkimuksen uudet aakkoset: Frozenin Annasta Minecraftin Zombiin
• Introductions of the new professors

The public is welcome to arrive in the Great Hall from 16.15 onwards. After the ceremony, the reception, including refreshments, will be held on the second floor of the Main Building. Accessible entrance from the courtyard of the Main Building through the archway at Yliopistonkatu 2.

Dress code for the public: Dark suit without a doctoral hat.
More information: helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi.

During the coronavirus situation, the professorial lectures transformed into an online event: New professors’ week. Lectures held in autumn 2020 and spring 2021 can be viewed on the University of Helsinki YouTube channel. Each lecture lasts roughly 10 minutes and focuses on the professors’ research topics. The 2021 online event was part of the Year of research-based knowledge 2021 programme. 

The dress code for the new professors is a tailcoat with a white bow tie and black waistcoat for men, and a black dress with long sleeves for women. Members of the clergy may wear clerical dress. Professors who defended their doctoral thesis abroad may wear the doctoral gown of their home university. The new professors carry their doctoral hats with them. Participants in the procession wear a dark suit. Other participants to the ceremony should take into account the nature of the event.

More information: helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi.