Assistant Professor Arild Husby from the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences has been elected as member of the Young Academy of Europe (YAE). The Young Academy of Europe is a pan-European initiative of outstanding young scientists for networking, scientific exchange and science policy.
“It is a great honour to join the YAE. I look forward to working together with the other members of YAE to help shape future science policies both nationally and on a European level,” says Husby.
YAE was established in 2012. It is an independent association with collaboration to the Academy of Europe that aims to provide advice and feedback on science policy and involve top young scientists in future European research strategies.
“Being part of YAE offers a platform not only for exchanging ideas and viewpoints with other researchers in Europe, but also provides a unique opportunity to influence science policy. In that respect it is my goal to initiate a Young Academy of Finland that can offer a platform for young researchers to voice their opinion on research and education issues in Finland," Arild Husby says, and continues: "The cuts to research and education implemented by the Finnish government and the Ministry of Education are very unfortunate. Hopefully a unified front from young researchers can work together to increase future funding for research and education."
"It is important to make politicians aware of the importance of basic research for the future of economic growth in Finland simply because applied research is dependent on basic research. Perhaps if more politicians understood this fact there would be less cuts in research and education and so we need to get this message across to them, and hopefully a Young Academy of Finland can be the messenger,” Husby says.