Save the date: 10-year anniversary seminar of the Taita Research Station

The 10-year anniversary seminar of the Taita Research Station of the University of Helsinki in Kenya takes place on January 28, 2021 in Tavastia, the Great Hall of Hämäläis-Osakunta of the University of Helsinki.

The multidisciplinary Taita Research Station was officially opened on January 12, 2011, but research started already in 1989 during a geography field course. Research re-started by the University of Helsinki in 2004, and the premises of current research station were purchased in 2009. During all these years, almost 70 MSc theses and 30 PhD theses works in Finland, Kenya, and elsewhere have used the data, infrastructure and logistics provided by the station.

Please join us in the Taita 10-year celebrations and hear how we have come this far, what is going on and what looms in the future!

In the event, greetings will be given by funders of the research: the University of Helsinki, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the collaboration partners from Kenya: University of Nairobi, Taita Taveta University, Ministry for Agriculture of Kenya and Embassy of Finland in Kenya.

Reports of experiences and research results will be presented by MSc and PhD students and scientists about the impact of land cover change to ecosystem services, climate and biodiversity.

Future work is presented by Academician Markku Kulmala as Taita Research Station is part of Flagship “Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center” funded by the Academy of Finland, and by Dr Tino Johansson who will tell about a new project funded by EC Development on “Earth observation and environmental sensing for climate-smart sustainable agro-pastoralism ecosystem transformation in East Africa” under DeSIRA programme.

Taita Research Station 10-year anniversary seminar, event programme:

Time: Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 9:00-16:00 (Helsinki EET).

Place: in Tavastia, the Great Hall of Hämäläis-Osakunta of the University of Helsinki, Finland. Join Zoom Meeting.

(Please, notice that there might be changes to this programme)

Session 1 - Greetings from cooperation partners and key scientific talks

9:00 DVC Hanna Snellman, University of Helsinki  

Taita Research Station and Africa programme of the Universty of Helsinki

Hanna Snellman is a professor of European Ethnology and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University in charge of international cooperation and partnerships.

9:10 Petri Pellikka, Director, Taita Research Station.

Taita - from a base camp to a multidisciplinary research institute.

Petri Pellikka is a professor of geoinformatics at the University of Helsinki and a director of Taita Research Station.

9:25 Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Finland

Greetings from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Pekka Haavisto is the minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland and honorary member of Hämäläis-Osakunta of the University of Helsinki.

9:35 VC Stephen Kiama, University of Nairobi

Long-term cooperation between UoN and UH

Stephen Kiama is Vice Chancellor of University of Nairobi and professor in veterinary sciences. He holds a doctorate degree in Structural Biology from the University of Bern and served as the founding director of the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi.

9:45 PS Jaana Husu-Kallio, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Greetings from Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Dr. Jaana Husu-Kallio is the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. She served as a chairperson of the Board of University of Helsinki between 2014 and 2018, and has been a board member of European Food Safety Authority since 2012

9:55 Taita Research Station Staff

Taita Research Station staff present

Taita Research Station Staff consists of manager, three research assistants, technician, catering staff, and caretakers and watchmen; James Mwangombe (MSc in conservation in Kent University, MSc in soil and hydrology and BSc in forestry in Moi University), Mwadime Mjomba, Peter Mwasi, Darius Kimuzi, Ken Muhia Gicheru, Rebecca Mwanyolo, Granton Righa Mwamburi, Elphinstone Mwashighari Kalaghe, Julius Mzae Mwamburi.

10:10 President Tarja Halonen

Safe future of ours and the planet needs cooperation

Tarja Halonen is the Chairperson of the Board of the University of Helsinki. She was the president of Finland between 2000-2012 as the first female president.

10:20 Prof. Olli Vapalahti, University of Helsinki

Zoonotic virology research between UoN and UH

Olli Vapalahti is a professor of zoonotic virology at the University of Helsinki and has been carrying out research in Kenya and Taita Taveta since 2014 with University of Nairobi. He has been the academic figure in Finland in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

10:30 Curator Laura Arppe, Finnish Museum of Natural History

The IsoTermes project – unraveling termite ecology using stable isotopes 

Dr. Laura Arppe is a curator at the Finnish Museum of Natural History. She is an isotopist, paleoecologist, paleoclimatologist and applies isotope geochemical techniques to study a variety of topics related to past environments, also in termite mounds in the Taita Taveta County, Kenya since 2018. She leads a project funded by Academy of Finland in termite ecology.

10:40 Academician Markku Kulmala, INAR, University of Helsinki

Global SMEAR - observing atmosphere - biosphere interactions, also in Africa

Academician Markku Kulmala is the head of Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research at the University of Helsinki. He is a founder of SMEAR protocol and infrastrucrure to study atmosphere-biosphere processes, linkages and feedback.

10:50 Mr. Jarmo Kankkunen, Geography/Biology teacher, Kauniainen High School

Taita as a field trip destination for high school groups

Jarmo Kankkunen is biology and geography teacher at Kauniainen high school, who has led 4 school excursions to Kenya and Taita Research Station. He has been honored as a teacher of a year in Finland.

11:00 Dr. Tino Johansson, Coordinator, Taita Research Station

Earth observation for climate-smart sustainable agro-pastoralism ecosystem transformation

Dr. Tino Johansson is the coordinator of European Commission funded ESSA project on climate-smart sustainable agro-pastoralism ecosystem transformation and coordinator of Taita Research Station.

11:15 Dean Ritva Toivonen, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

Greetings from Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

Dr. Ritva Toivonen is the dean of the Faculty for Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Helsinki.

11:20 Ms. Hanna Rosti, PhD student, University of Helsinki

Nocturnal mammals of Taita Hills - new species or what?

Hanna Rosti is a high-school teacher and a PhD student at the University of Helsinki. She studies ecology and communication of endangered nocturnal mammals in the rain forests of the Taita Hills.

11:30 VC Fred Simiyu Barasa, Taita Taveta University

TTU - Small and new university as scientific cooperation partner

Fred Simiyu Barasa is the Vice Chancellor of Taita Taveta University. He holds a PhD in comparative and international education from the University of Natal in South Africa. He also served as Manager for Academic Program Development and Management at the African Virtual University.

11:40 Purity Ncabira, Student, Taita Taveta University

Agricultural MSc thesis at Taita Taveta University using Taita Research Station infra and test fields

Purity Ncabira is a graduate student of Taita Taveta University and carries out her thesis studies in Smartland project on climate-smart agriculture funded by the Academy of Finland.

11:50 Ms. Sari Aroalho, MSc student, University of Helsinki

From students view- making MSc thesis in Taita on creative economy in Kenya

Sari Aroalho is a graduate student at the University of Helsinki. She carries out the field-work on creative industry in Kenya and Taita Taveta.

12:00 PS Prof. Hamadi Boga, Ministry of Agriculture of Kenya

Land cover changes and climate change impact on food security in Kenya

Prof. Hamadi Boga is a permanent secretary at Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya. He is previous VC of Taita Taveta University

12:10 HE Erik Lundberg, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in Nairobi

Finnish cooperation in Kenya and Taita

His Excellency Erik Lundberg is the Ambassador of Finland in Kenya.

Session 2 - Main research results on environment

13:00 DG Leif Schulman, Finnish Environment Institute

Greetings from Finnish Environment Institute

Dr. Leif Schulman is a director general of the Finnish Environment Institute and previous director of the Finnish Museum of Natural History. He is a biologist and has visited Taita Research Station several times as a member of the Advisory Board

13:10 Prof. Thomas Wilhelmsson, rector emeritus, University of Helsinki

Greetings from rector, chanchellor emeritus

Prof. Thomas Wilhelmsson is emeritus rector and chancellor of University of Helsinki. He opened Taita Research Station in 2011.

13:15 VC Jukka Kola, University of Turku

Greetings from University of Turku

Prof. Jukka Kola is a Vice Chancellor of University of Turku and emeritus rector of University of Helsinki.

13:20 Dean Kai Nordlund, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki

Greetings from Faculty of Science

Kai Nordlund is a professor in material physics and Dean of the Faculty of Science of the University of Helsinki.

13:25 Mr. Antti Autio, University of Helsinki

Agricultural system in Taita Taveta County

Antti Autio is a PhD student at Department of Geosciences and Geography in development geography within Smartland project. He made his MSc thesis in Taita about a road project and regional development.

13:35 Mr. Juuso Tuure, PhD student, University of Helsinki

Soil-crop system at the smallholder lands

 Juuso Tuure is a PhD student in agricultural sciences within Smartland project.

13:45 Mr. Ilja Vuorinne, PhD student, University of Helsinki

Geographic datasets and environmental sensing infrastructure of Taita Research Station

Ilja Vuorinne is a PhD student in remote sensing in atmospheric sciences within ESSA project. He carried out his MSc thesis in Taita about remote sensing of biomass of sisal plantation.

13:55 Dr. Temesgen Abera, University of Helsinki

Climatic impacts of bushland to cropland conversion in Taita

Dr. Temesgen Abera is a post doc scientist in remote sensing in the ESSA project. He carried out his PhD studies about climatic impacts of vegetation dynamics in East Africa.

14:05 Ms Iris Aalto, PhD student, University of Helsinki

Tree canopy cover as a modifier of microclimate in tropical landscapes

 Iris Aalto is a PhD student in remote sensing. She carried out her MSc thesis studying impact of vegetation canopy cover to land surface temperatures in Taita.

14:15 Dr. Eduardo Maeda, University of Helsinki

Terrestrial laser scanning for ecological applications

Dr. Eduardo Maeda is Academy Research Fellow in remote sensing. He studies land cover and forest cover change globally and is impact to ecosystem services. He made his PhD thesis land cover change in Taita Taveta.

14:25 Dr. Janne Heiskanen, University of Helsinki

Land cover and biomass research with remote sensing

Dr. Janne Heiskanen is a senior scientist at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research. He focuses on remote sensing of land cover, biomass and carbon sequestrated in woody vegetation.

14:35 Ms. Yang Liu, PhD student, University of Helsinki

Biogenic VOC mixing ratios from different ecosystems in southern Kenya

Yang Liu is a PhD student in atmospheric sciences studying biogenic volatile organic compounds from various ecosystem types in the Taita Hills. She has graduated from Beijing Normal University.

14:45 Mr. Edward Amara, PhD student, University of Helsinki/Sierra Leone Agriculture Research Institute

Land use impacts on biomass distribution in a multi-use savannah landscape

Edward Amara is a PhD student in remote sensing studying vegetation biomass in African landscapes, and especially impact of land use and fencing on biomass in Taita Taveta. He is a scientist in Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute

15:00 Prof. Kristiina Karhu, University of Helsinki

Soil microbes on altitudinal gradient

Kristiina Karhu is a tenure-track professor in soil science in forestry, and Academy Research Fellow studying microbes in tropical altitudinal gradient in Taita Hills and elsewhere.

15:10 Ms. Martha Munayo, PhD student, Taita Taveta University/University of Helsinki/Kenya Wildlife Service

Human wildlife conflicts

Martha Munayo is a scientist at Kenya Wildlife Service, graduate student at Taita Taveta University in geoinformatics and PhD student in environmental studies at the University of Helsinki. She studies human-wildlife conflicts in Taita Taveta County.

15:20 Prof. Janne Rinne, Lund University

Termite mounds as source for greenhouse gases

Janne Rinne is a professor in physical geography in Lund University. He is a micrometeorologist studying fluxes from varying ecosystems, including termite mound landscapes in Taita.

15:30 Ms. Sheila Wachiye, PhD student, Kabianga University/University of Helsinki

Soil respiration from various land uses in Taita Taveta

Sheila Wachiye is a teacher at Kabianga University, Kenya and a PhD student in atmospheric sciences at the University of Helsinki. She studies greenhouse gases and soil respiration from various land uses in Taita Taveta.

15:40 Curator Charolette Sletten-Bjorå, Natural History Museum of University of Oslo

Taita Research Station as target for student trips

Curator Charlotte Sletten Bjorå is from Natural History Museum in Norway. She is interested in a wide range of plant groups and topics, including evolution and speciation, molecular systematics, historic biogeography, conservation and ethnobotany.  She has been leading student excursions to East Africa.

15:45 Dr. Gretchen Gettel, IHE Delft

Taita as a platform for hydrological research

Dr Gretchen Gettel is a scientist at International Hydrology Education in Delft, Netherlands. She has supervised numerous MSc thesis in Taita Hills done by African students.

15:55 Prof. Jouko Rikkinen, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki

Final remarks

Jouko Rikkinen is a professor of botany at the University of Helsinki and chairman of the Advisory Board of Taita Research Station. He has carried out research in Taita since 2009 and supervised MSc and PhD thesis.

The University of Helsinki warmly welcomes you to the event!

More information:

Petri Pellikka, PhD

Professor of Geoinformatics

Earth Change Observation Laboratory

University of Helsinki

www.helsinki.fi/echolab

Director, Taita Research Station of the University of Helsinki in Kenya