Organisers
Biocolours 2024
Chair of the organising committee
Professor Riikka Räisänen, University of Helsinki
Riikka Räisänen is a professor in craft science and craft pedagogy in the University of Helsinki. Her background is in chemistry and natural sciences, craft studies and education. She has over twenty years of experience in research of natural colourants and textiles, and has published numerous articles and books on the topic. In 2016 she was awarded with the Silver Medal of the Society of Dyers and Colourists (UK) for the research in the field of natural colourants.
Members of the organising committee
Professor Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro, Universidade de Campinas, UNICAMP

 

Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro is a full professor at School of Technology – Universidade de Campinas, UNICAMP, Brazil and an adjunct professor at Wilson College of Textiles, NCSU, USA. She is a biologist with a Ph.D. in genetics. She worked for 22 years at the Environmental Agency of São Paulo State (CETESB) and participated in the construction of several legal norms in Brazil. She was a visitor professor at NIEHS and USEPA. She has experience in environmental mutagenesis, ecotoxicology and regulatory toxicology with  emphasis on dyes. She authored several papers and books. 
Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto University
Principal Research Scientist Päivi Laaksonen, Häme University of Applied Sciences
Päivi Laaksonen is a principal research scientist and leads the research group of Long-Term Durability at HAMK Tech research unit. She has a DSc. degree in physical chemistry and has worked over 15 years with nanomaterials, biomaterials and recently also with biocolourants. She has research and educational interest in sustainable materials, especially related to built environment. The current research projects relate to bio-based materials and their applications.
Kristiina Wähälä