Team and partners

Meet the people and partner organizations behind Matikkasurina. The project is funded by the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation and is carried out in collaboration with the University of Helsinki, the University of Jyväskylä, the Finnish Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Informatics (MAOL), and Åbo Akademi.
University of Helsinki
Dr. Kati Sormunen

Dr. Kati Sormunen is the Principal Investigator of the project and is primarily responsible for planning the nationwide tour.

Dr. Jenni Vartiainen

Dr. Jenni Vartiainen is the Deputy Director of the project and is primarily responsible for its societal engagement and public visibility.

Dr. Anssi Vanhala

Dr. Anssi Vanhala is responsible for the project's research activities and impact evaluation.

Emilia Mattila

Emilia Mattila serves as the Project Manager of the project.

Lotta Abendstein

Lotta Abendstein is responsible for the project's visual identity and creates content for social media and online platforms.

Odetta Lee-Simmons

Odetta Lee-Simmons serves as a Visual Content Creator for the project, producing content for social media and online platforms.

Emilia Tuovila

Emilia Tuovila is the project's Pedagogical Content Specialist, responsible for developing educational content and learning materials.

Niina Knaapila

Niina Knaapila is a Master's student in the project and a content creator responsible for developing materials for children under the age of three.

Veikko Knuuttila

Veikko Knuuttila is technical assistant.

University of Jyväskylä
Dr. Donna Niemistö

Dr. Donna Niemistö is a Co-Director of the project and is responsible for its research activities and impact evaluation. She also leads the project's implementation in Central Finland and oversees the development of movement-based and hands-on learning approaches.

Elina Alvoittu

Elina Alvoittu is a Research Assistant in the project and is responsible for the project's local implementation in Central Finland, as well as for developing movement-based and hands-on learning methods.

Åbo Akademi
Dr. Heidi Hellstrand

Dr. Heidi Hellstrand is a Co-Director of the project and is responsible for its Swedish-language activities.

Mira Sjöberg

Mira Sjöberg is a Research Assistant in the project and is responsible for developing Swedish-language materials.

Hannah Rönnqvist

Hannah Rönnqvist is a part-time Research Assistant in the project and is responsible for developing Swedish-language materials.

The Finnish Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Informatics (MAOL)
Jasmin Välimäki

Jasmin Välimäki is responsible for the project's family club activities.

Professional Development Partners
Minna Salminen

Minna serves as a trainer on the Matikkasurina training tour in 2026. She is an early childhood education teacher, primary school teacher, author of educational materials, and mathematics educator.

Elin Kjellberg

Elin serves as a trainer for the Swedish-language professional development courses on the Matikkasurina training tour in 2026.