The inaugural lectures of the new professors

Newly appointed professors are celebrated at the university twice a year: usually in May and in December. As they take up their new role, each professor holds a public inaugural lecture.

Upcoming professorial lectures

The next inaugural lectures of the new professors will be held on Wednesday 13 December 2023, starting at 14. The lectures are open to the public and take place in the University’s Main Building (Unioninkatu 34). The lectures serve as popular introductions to the professors’ fields of science and current research issues. A detailed programme of the event will be published in this announcement at a later date.

More information: helsinkiunievents@helsinki.fi.

Get to know our new professors of 2023 through their introduction articles
Read more about the new professors appointed in 2022
Read more about the new professors appointed in 2021
New professors' week

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. 

Dress code

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.