Teaching at the University of Helsinki is based on research and provided by researchers well-versed in their discipline, teaching the topics of their research.
In addition to relevant research-based knowledge, university education utilises diverse teaching and assessment methods promoting students’ learning, the development of scholarly thinking and the establishment of expertise.
From the beginning of their studies, students are part of the academic community. They get to familiarise themselves with the latest research. In many fields, students have the opportunity to complete their thesis in collaboration with research groups.
The future of our planet cannot be based on the continuous and increasing use of non-renewable global resources. Instead, pathways towards a sustainable and circular future need to be established. Providing solutions for sustainability through chemistry research and teaching is the core mission of the Department of Chemistry. Our research is focused on three main research themes: Materials, Energy, and Health and environment.
Our materials chemistry research focuses on the green transition and digitalisation. We develop new methods for synthesizing and processing materials, with an emphasis on thin films, responsive polymers, novel catalysts, green solvents, and material recycling. Target application areas include the microelectronic, solar cell, and biomass industries.
Our researchers study material properties for renewable energy systems, develop novel catalytic concepts, innovate cleaner chemical syntheses, develop know-how for safe nuclear waste management, and devise new technologies for the selective recovery of energy-critical elements. Our mission is to conduct cutting-edge fundamental and applied research in the energy sector that contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable world.
Our research helps to understand the impact of climate change and environmental pollution from the bedrock to the atmosphere and provides sustainable solutions to these global problems. Additionally, we harness cutting-edge chemistry to visualize and monitor the human body in health and disease and to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in applications such as biomarker discovery, drug delivery, and radiopharmaceutical chemistry.
Research methods range from laboratory work to demanding equipment technologies, computational research and modelling. Research projects are often multidisciplinary.
Researchers at the Department of Chemistry have joint projects with university units in the fields of, for example, physics, biological sciences, pharmacy and medicine. Other key partners include Aalto University, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and many universities, research institutes and companies in Finland and abroad.
In addition, the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN) operates at the Department of Chemistry. The Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education actively researches the teaching of chemistry and the development of teaching methods.