On 25 October, the City of Hämeenlinna, the Regional Council of Häme, the Vanajavesi Foundation and the University of Helsinki signed a funding agreement for a professorship to be located at the Lammi Biological Station. The five-year term of the professorship will begin on 1 August 2019. This fixed-term position was originally established in 2004, and its funding agreement has previously been renewed twice, in 2008 and 2014.
A particular duty of the professor of environmental research is to conduct research concerning the aquatic environment. The appointee will also develop research activities at the Lammi Biological Station and participate in supervising theses and dissertations. In cooperation with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Helsinki, the professor of environmental research will also contribute to the planning and provision of teaching targeted at students of the Faculty.
Furthermore, it will be the appointee’s duty to promote opportunities in developing the region of Kanta-Häme into an innovation hub in the fields of sustainable development, natural resources and bioeconomy together with other regional research and education organisations, as well as authorities. The professor will also engage in the operations of the Vanajavesi Centre.
The professorship is connected to HELSUS, the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science of the University of Helsinki.