As a tribute to the work of director Vanninen, a group of his friends and colleagues have decided to make a portrait of her, which will be added to the art collection of the University of Helsinki and placed on the Kumpula campus. The unveiling of the portrait of Director Paula Vanninen was on Oct 3rd 2024.
Director Paula Vanninen has been the director of the Chemical Weapons Convention Institute (VERIFIN) since 2005.
During Vanninen's time, VERIFIN's role as an international operator has grown and VERIFIN has coordinated three publications of the "Recommended operating procedures for analysis in the verification of chemical disarmament", the so-called Finnish Blue Book. The Finnish Blue Book is a collection of recommended procedures for chemicals covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention and is the most important reference work in its field.
At the same time, VERIFIN's research has expanded into the biomedical direction, whose methods are also accredited.
Director Vanninen officially retired at the end of 2023 but will continue to work in the chemistry department.