The Researchers' Night is a Europe-wide science event making science and the work of researchers known to the general public. The happening on 27 Sept 2024 will include free and varied events for both children and adults.
Daytime events for children and young people in central Helsinki, Meilahti, Viikki, and Kumpula
Campus workshops will give children and young people a daytime opportunity to explore the work and facilities of researchers on the four campuses of the University of Helsinki. The workshops are free of charge.
Please register your kindergarten, school or educational institution group for the workshop of your choice by 20.9.2024 at the latest using the forms, which can be accessed via the workshop links listed below. The workshops will be filled in the order of registration.
You can find more information about the workshops on the forms below. If the language of the workshop is both Finnish and English, it is indicated in the workshop form. Please make sure you choose the right time for your group. Check the classroom and building address of the workshop in the confirmation message you receive before planning your itinerary. For help with planning your route, see for example the campus sites and the HSL Journey Planner. Please arrive well in advance of the workshop. You will also receive instructions on how to participate in the workshop in the confirmation message.
In Kumpula, we will learn about the world of geosciences, geography and fake news, solar storms and chemistry (chemistry in three different workshops: Sweets and lights, Sweets and lasers); Measure your own NMR spectrum, and ALD – more powerful computers one atomic layer at a time. In Meilahti, we will learn about cancer research, in Viikki about microbes and plant health, measuring forests with laser scanning, as well as the warning colours of animals, and at the City Centre campus, we will will be making animations with the help of AIand study empowering places of power.
- Testaa medialukutaitosi: harhaanjohtavan tiedon tunnistaminen maailman uutisista (Perusopetuksen luokat 5-9, sekä lukio)
- Bjurböle meteorite impact! (Kindergarten and preschool group, Primary and secondary school students. Päiväkoti, esikoulu, alakoulu, yläkoulu)
- From the Sun to the Earth: the journey of solar storms (Kindergarten and preschool group. Primary and secondary school students. Päiväkoti, esikoulu, ala-aste, yläaste, lukio, ammatillinen koulutus.)
- Karkkeja ja valoja (esi- ja alakoulu)
- Karkkeja ja lasereita (lukio / yläkoulu)
- Mittaa oma NMR-spektri (lukio)
- ALD – tehokkaampia tietokoneita atomikerros kerrallaan (lukio)
- Rakenna seismometri ja hyppää maanjäristys (Esikouluikäiset tai 1.–3. luokat/6–9-vuotiaat) (4. luokasta ylöspäin/10-vuotiaasta ylöspäin)
- Tutustu syöpätutkimuksen saloihin! / Dive into the world of cancer research! (Vierailu sopii 9-luokkalaisille ja toiseen asteen opiskelijoille, sekä sosiaali- ja terveysalan opiskelijoille. 9th graders and up, incl. students of universities of applied sciences. )
- Eläinten varoitusvärit –työpaja (Eskarista lukioon)
- Mikrobit ja kasvien terveys (Peruskoululaiset (8-9 luokka) tai toisen asteen opiskelijat (Lukio))
- Laserkeilaus paljastaa puiden ja metsien salaisuuksia (Ensisijaisesti lukio/toinen aste)
- AI opetusvideot / AI teaching videos (Primary and secondary school students/ Ala- ja yläkoulun oppilaille)
- Voiman paikka (Peruskoululaiset, luokka-aste 3-6.)
Evening programme at the Observatory and Think Corner
In the evening, anyone can attend presentations on the wonderful world of science at researcher stands at the Observatory (from 17.00 to 20.00) and Think Corner (from 16.00 to 20.00). You can also delve into the secrets of the universe in the permanent exhibition at the Observatory.
Examples of the researchers’ stalls: A hundred years of seismic measurements in Finland * Physics-themed escape room * How are social media giants profiling us? * Test your media literacy – how are we manipulated with maps, images, and diagrams? * Human-centred research and care * Microbes and plant health * Crafting and science – craft science! * Which factors in our environment empower us? * Climate change, loss of biodiversity, and the forests of the future * Sustainability transformations in society * Latest research with Bjurböle meteorites
The events at the Observatory and Think Corner and the exhibition at the Observatory are free and open for all, and there is no registration for them.
Address: Kopernikuksentie 1, Helsinki (Observatory) and Yliopistonkatu 4, Helsinki (Think Corner)
The Researchers' Night at the Helsinki University Museum Flame
On Fri 27 September 2024 at 16-20, entrance to the exhibition centre of the Helsinki University Museum Flame will be free.
Have you seen the new exhibitions at Museum Flame? Welcome for a visit! The exhibition ‘Food for All’ lets you sink your teeth into a topic that concerns us all: how has science affected what we eat? Where does food come from? We have a rich offering of science history spiced with a pinch of humour. The exhibition challenges the viewer to consider our notions about food.
The permanent exhibition ‘Passion for knowledge’ tells you stories about the university and its people. In what kind of places is research carried out, and how have different disciplines affected the emergence and development of Finland?
Address: Fabianinkatu 33, Helsinki.
At the Science Corner, you can visit the researchers’ stands
Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science
HELSUS will present examples of multidisciplinary research at the University of Helsinki that will enable and guide sustainability transformations in society. The display stand also provides information on how the visitor(s) can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Organiser: HELSUS Coordination Unit
Climate change, biodiversity loss and forests
How will climate change and the loss of biodiversity affect the forests, the carbon assimilation of forests, and the organisms living in them? Further, will the use of wood as part of sustainable building have any impact on the wellbeing experienced and measured in humans? What kind of tools are currently used to measure forests and what will they be like in future? At this stand you will be able to take methane and carbon dioxide measurements, hug different kinds of trees, and find out which is your favourite kind of tree. You will also be able to look at the light produced by tree leaves, which is invisible to the human eye, and which gives us an indication of how the tree is doing. We also have information on various forest insects and their secret social life, looking at insects through a microscope, learning to identify where insects have been feeding, and a detective assignment where you can learn about the colour vision and behaviour of pollenating insects with the help of UV lamps. These activities are suited both for children and adults.
Organiser: Research groups from the Department of Forestry at the University of Helsinki.
Crafting and science – crafting science!
At the crafting science stand we will crochet plants together and learn about plant-based dyeing in the BioColour project. You can try ways of crocheting and, if you wish, participate in crocheting a green wall. There is also a collection of interesting and imaginative crocheted plants that have been made as a part of the basic module in crafting science.
Organiser: Anna Kouhia, Laura Virta, Saara Tahvanainen, Milla Plit
Microbes and plant health
The microbes living in plant roots are very significant for the growth, yield profile, and resistance to disease of plants. The microbes can set free nutrients in the soil, for example, for the plants to use, and keep bacteria that are pathogenic to plants in check through competition or parasitism. Come and see how we in Viikki study useful and harmful microbes, and how microbes can be utilised in agriculture. At the same time, you can see the collections of microbe strains at the University of Helsinki, which are maintained at the Department of Microbiology (HAMBI).
Organiser: Ville Friman’s research group
How do the social-media giants profile us?
The workshop will study the Somekone, a social-media simulator developed by the Generation AI project. With the help of the Somekone, aimed for basic education, we can learn what kind of information social-media applications harvest on us, and how this information is used for profiling and marketing.
Organiser: Researchers in the Generation AI project Kaiju Kangas, Sini Davies, and Kati Sormunen
Test you media literacy: identifying misinformation in world news
We all read, hear and see news and events from around the world in the media every day. News reaches us quickly and the flow of news is endless. Our news-filled days are tinted by news about e.g. extensive forest fires, famine, human trafficking, wars and conflicts. These are all geographical phenomena. Maps, images, videos, text or e.g. diagrams in the news convey this geographical information to us. In such cases they can be called geomedia. Such an avalanche of geomedia on the world and its events demands good critical geomedia literacy and knowledge of its readers. It is easy to mislead the reader – on purpose or by mistake – with maps, diagrams, photographs and other forms of geomedia. Are you literate in geomedia or are you being misled? Come and test your skills!
Organiser: The CRITICAL project at the Department of Geosciences and Geography
The place of power
What is your place of power and what makes it such? During the workshop, we will discuss places that are important to us through post cards and other inspiring materials. We will consider which factors in our environment empower us and how the significance of our power places manifest in our everyday lives.
Organiser: Terhi Ainiala & Pia Olsson
People-centered research and care
Patients are active participants and agents in their own care. How are patient-centeredness and participation realized in research and treatment? Come and assess your quality of life! At our booth, you can also test your speed and dexterity with mini lab tubes and learn about the rights of those giving biobank consent.
Organisers: iCAN – Digital Precision Cancer Medicine (collaboration between HUS and UH), Helsinki Biobank, Blood Service Biobank, HUS Plastic surgery
At the Observatory, you can visit the researchers’ stands:
HIPScapeRoom – a high-energy-physics-themed escape room
You have about half an hour to escape the snares of high-energy physics. Max 10 persons per session, sign up the same night by the entrance to the escape room at the Observatory.
A particle of physics
What are particle accelerators? How can radiation be observed? What is behind experimental particle physics? Come and hear what a theoretical physicist actually does and what e.g. the standard model is. Once you have learned about the world of particle physics, you can enter a small quiz on particles and answer a few questions.
Organiser: Helsinki Institute of Physics HIP
Latest research with Bjurböle meteorites
The Bjurböle meteorite impacted sea ice close to Porvoo 125 years ago. The meteorite collection is still valuable in topical research. We will show you how Bjurböle is utilized to calibrate the ASPECT hyperspectral camera sent to space to study the composition of asteroids. You can laser-scan the meteorites to study their shapes in 3D, and investigate X-ray microtomography sections to visualize voids within the meteorites.
Organisers: Tomas Kohout, Arto Luttinen
Bjurbölen meteoriitin uusimmat tutkimukset
Bjurbölen meteoriitti iskeytyi meri jäähän lähellä Porvoota 125 vuotta sitten. Meteoriittikokoelma on edelleen arvokasta tutkimusaineistoa. Näytämme, kuinka Bjurböleä käytetään avaruuteen lähetetyn ASPECT-hyperspektrikameran kalibrointiin asteroidien koostumustutkimuksessa. Meteoriitin kolmiulotteinen muoto voidaan määrittää laserkeilauksella ja sen sisäosan huokoset ja muut rakenteet voidaan tutkia röntgenmikrotomografialla.
Järjestäjät: Tomas Kohout, Arto Luttinen
A hundred years of seismic measurements in Finland
In 2024, it is a hundred years since the first seismologic measurements were made in Finland. Though the natural seismicity in Finland does not constitute any cause for social concern, the seismic measurements made here have several important uses and applications. With the help of the measurements, we can e.g. evaluate seismic threats at nuclear power plants, study the occurrence of earthquakes in our bedrock, identify seismically active areas, and participate in the world-wide monitoring of nuclear testing. We want to welcome you to hear about the history of seismic measurements, learn more about seismicity, and about the current and future research directions in seismology.
Organiser: Experts from the Institute of Seismology