University of Helsinki offers access to environmental research through IRISCC

Climate change presents a complex existential threat, demanding a unified and comprehensive response. Integrated Research Infrastructure Services for Climate Change Risks (IRISCC) is an infrastructure project funded by Horizon Europe (2024-2028), including 79 partners from 22 European countries. This unique collaboration allows partners to establish a robust service portfolio with transnational and virtual access provision to integrated research infrastructure services. Through IRISCC, researchers from academia as well as industry can gain access to a network of interdisciplinary cutting-edge European research infrastructures. 

- We are excited to offer our services for the multidisciplinary science in IRISCC. The global grand challenges are intertwined. We need to make the Transnational Access easy to all the research infrastructures tackling different aspects of these challenges. This is one major topic in IRISCC and exactly what we can provide at our research stations. They provide access to nature, research infrastructure services as well as datasets and information. Through the combination of research, education and innovation, we have the capacity to understand climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development, says Jouni Heiskanen, Director of Biological Research Stations from the University of Helsinki.

The University of Helsinki is proud to be a partner in IRISCC, offering Transitional Access (TNA) to several different research stations. The research stations enable world-class multidisciplinary study of the environment. They provide access to nature, research infrastructure services as well as datasets and information. Through the combination of research, education and innovation, we have the capacity to understand climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development. For the University, the research stations serve as links to local society, business life and citizens. 

The IRISCC Transnational Access call is now open () and eligible users across Europe can apply for access physically, remotely, in hybrid mode, or virtually. 

Through IRISCC, researchers from academia and industry can apply for free access to research stations, infrastructure services, and datasets – either physically, remotely, virtually or in hybrid form. Travel and subsistence costs (up to €2000 per proposal) are covered.

What is included in transnational access: 

• Access to IRISCC services, installations, and data
• Travel & subsistence: up to €2000 per proposal
• Salaries are not covered  

is a site for comprehensive measurements of ecosystem – atmosphere interactions and a co-location of ICOS, ACTRIS, eLTER and AnaEE infrastructures. We offer access to coniferous forest, peatland and lake ecosystems, sampling equipment and long-term datasets of fluxes, storages and concentrations in the land ecosystem–atmosphere continuum. 

is the largest coastal research station in the northern Baltic Sea and a co-location of EMBRC, ICOS and eLTER infrastructures. We offer access to coastal ecosystems, several research vessels, sampling equipment, scientific diving facilities, aquarium rooms, laboratories and long-term datasets. 

– is the is a site for comprehensive measurements of ecosystem – atmosphere interactions, air composition and biological variables including e.g. insect and bird populations and a co-location of ICOS, ACTRIS, eLTER infrastructures. We offer access to northern boreal coniferous forest, peatland, alpine fell ecosystems, lake and river ecosystems as well as long-term datasets. 

is a versatile research site located in the southern boreal forest zone. We offer access to boreal freshwater, forest and agricultural ecosystems, a fish research facility, outdoor enclosures, laboratories, vehicles and long-term data on environmental  and biodiversity variables. Our infrastructure supports experimental and field-based ecological and environmental research, including Wild Animal Phenotyping.

is a northern subarctic research site in the unique tundra zone of Finnish Lapland. The station offers varied infrastructure in unique settings for diverse research and educational activities throughout the year. The station has laboratories, equipment and vehicles to support field research, and offers technician services. Extensive long-term data on climate, land use, geology, fauna and vegetation are available.

The IRISCC Catalogue of Services offers streamlined access to cutting-edge European research infrastructures for studying climate change-related risks. The catalogue supports interdisciplinary research by bringing together services focused on hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities. The first release is aimed at researchers, with future expansions planned for policymakers and industry.