Researchers' night
Researchers’ Night is an annual science event where researchers across Europe open their doors to curious minds of all ages. The event takes place on Friday, 25 September 2026, and its multidisciplinary programme includes workshops, presentations, lectures, and lab visits. During the day, workshops for early childhood, school, and student groups are held on campus, and in the evening the programme is open to everyone at public venues.
In the evening, anyone can dive into the fascinating world of science through activities led by researchers. The Observatory’s permanent exhibition also invites you to explore the mysteries of the universe.
There is also a free entry to the Helsinki University Museum Flame exhibition centre from 16-20.
Addresses:
Kopernikuksentie 1, Helsinki (Observatory)
Fabianinkatu 33, Helsinki (Exhibition centre)
The Observatory and Kaisa Library programmes, as well as the Observatory and Exhibition centre exhibitions, are open to everyone and free of charge during Researchers’ Night, with no registration required.
Nature movie night: short documentaries of habitat restoration of Colombia and Sweden.
Organisers: Daniel Dornan and Frauke Ecke,
Target audience: Fun for the entire family.
Description: Two documentaries from two continents, documenting habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, and we as human beings fit within the natural world. The Night will be split into two movies, both with a Q&A:
Part A: The BÅVER movie with Q&A (45 mins).
Language: Swedish (English subtitles).
Dive into the fascinating life and history of the beaver, Sweden’s largest rodent captured in an intimate and immersive film. What unfolds when this charismatic, yet controversial species reclaims its place in the landscape? Explore the surprising connection between King Gustav III’s fashionable hat and the beaver’s disappearance from Sweden. Delve into current research revealing how beaver dams reshape ecosystems, influencing everything from fish migration to the dynamics of zoonotic diseases. And yes, hear the unexpected sound a beaver makes when it passes gas. Everything you could want to know about beavers and then some.
Part B: Colombian movie with Q&A (45 mins).
Language: Columbian (English subtitles).
In the Colombian lowlands, a vast 4,440-hectare cattle ranch becomes the stage for a race against an invisible threat. Set against the realities of an agriculture-based economy, this documentary follows a pioneering case study where science, conservation, and sustainable livestock management converge. As researchers track wild mammals and their encounters with domestic animals, they search for the hidden reservoirs of pathogens such as Leptospira, Rickettsia, Plasmodium, and respiratory and hemorrhagic viruses. Every footprint, movement, and animal interaction may reveal how diseases travel across the boundaries between forest, farm, and home. But the mystery extends beyond the animals. Through conversations with local communities, the research team explores how people understand biodiversity, ecosystem health, conservation, and the risks of zoonotic disease. At the heart of the investigation lies one question: can a healthy, conserved forest protect both wildlife and people through a natural “dilution effect”?
Mitochondria, Circle of Life and Energy
Organisers: Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara, Safak Er, Anastasiia Marmyleva, Kaisa Sarkkinen
Target audience: Our programme is going to be designed for a broad, non-specialist audience, including children and adults from all educational backgrounds.
Description: Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell. Mitochondria transform the energy contained by our food and drinks to a form that our bodies can use, but they also have other essential functions that maintain our health. They produce building blocks, called metabolites, for growth and repair of our cells, and contribute to fight against bacteria and viruses. Let's talk about mitochondria and their functions for healthy cells and metabolism. The programme includes colorful visuals from cutting-edge microscopy by our research team, coloring sheets for younger children and adults, a 3D model of mitochondria, information about mitochondrial disease awareness week (September 14-20, 2026) and voice messages from mitochondrial disease patients in Finland (please bring your own headphones to listen, in Finnish only). As small mementos of the event, participants will be able to take original mitochondria stickers designed by the scientists.
Science or Nonsense – the Allure of Pseudoscience
Organisers: EduQ working group (University of Helsinki & InstituteQ
Description: Why is quantum physics invoked in advertisements selling crystals or “energy water”? Why does homeopathy seem to work, even though science says otherwise? Why does someone at work claim that my personality is “blue”? Why do even science journalists sometimes defend pseudoscience? How can you recognize reliable scientific information amid the endless stream of social media content?
Science and pseudoscience are both part of our everyday lives, and today they may be more intertwined than ever before. Drawing the line between them can be surprisingly difficult. Social media serves up an endless stream of ineffective – and sometimes even harmful – alternative treatments and nutrition advice. In working life, people encounter personality tests comparable to horoscopes and management theories based on New Age thinking. Pseudoscientific accounts of history that proclaim the heroism of one’s own nation remain influential, especially in authoritarian states. And there are always those who believe they have single-handedly discovered a theory that overturns established scientific understanding. We will discuss all of this!
This Researchers’ Night stand is a continuation of the event of the same name, which will be held at Think Corner on 11.9.2026.
Multilingual stadi
Organisers: African and South Asian languages study track: AMY- KIGY ( Asiantuntijuus monikielisissä yhteisöissä - Kieli ja identiteetti globaaleissa yhteisöissä)
Target audience: Everyone is welcome, everyone can participate
Helsinki is becoming a multilingual city. In the streets and public areas, we can hear a variety of languages, including English, Arabic, Somali, French, Turkish, and more.
In this corner, you will explore some aspects of African and Asian languages, including Arabic, Swahili, Somali, Turkish, Hindi, and Urdu. You might even learn a few words to use with your friends at school or work! And, of course, you will have your name written in a unique calligraphy style!
What does science look like on social media?
Organisers: Virve Koljonen, Samuli Siltanen, Laura Säilä, Reija Pesonen
Target audience: Youth and adults
Description: Create your own science video with researchers! In this workshop, you will get to try different science activities and create your own video content based on them. You can also learn how videos are used in science communication and get tips on how to plan and create your own science video content.
Dark waters, hooting owls and hunting lynxes
Organisers: Lammi Biological Station, Science School Ilves
Target audience: Everyone
Description: What does water browning look like, and what causes it? At the Lammi Biological Station stand, you can explore this natural phenomenon through hands-on activities. Compare real water samples collected from different lakes and discover how much water colour can vary between aquatic environments. You can also investigate how water changes as it filters through different soil and vegetation layers in an interactive experiment.
In addition, you can listen to the calls of different Ural owls and examine their vocalisations as spectrograms. Can you spot the individual differences in their calls? At the same time, you will learn how researchers use bioacoustics to study wildlife.
You can also try the Lynx Game, where you take on the role of a hunting lynx. How do different habitats affect hunting success? Through the game, you will learn about predator ecology and the importance of habitats for wildlife.
Come and experiment, listen and explore how lakes, forests and animals reveal the richness of biodiversity!
Stormy Weather now and in the future
Target audience: general public
Description: Storms, or low-pressure weather systems regularly affect Finland bringing rain and wind. Occasionally these weather systems disrupt day-to-day life by power cuts, travel disruption, and damage to property. Here we provide an interactive experience to help you understand why these low-pressure weather systems form, why some produce heavy rain or snow or strong winds, why some are very hard to forecast, and also how they might change in the future. You will be able to modify the condition of the atmosphere and see how it can impact the strength of the resulting storms and compare it with storms which have impacted Finland in the past. We will also have a quiz where you can test your knowledge on Finnish weather records as well as on previous storms – do you remember Hannes, Lyly or even Tapani? We will also have information about the research concerning these low-pressure systems that we are performing in INAR – the Institution of Atmospheric and Earth System Research.
This workshop is intended for a Finnish-speaking and English-speaking audience, but on-site explanation can be provided in French, German, and Hungarian.
Exploring Urban Life Together
Organisers: William Smolander, Haikku Arosuo, Raine Aiava, Wolfgang Zeller (or other researchers from the Affective geographies and poltics of education - research group)
Target audience: anyone
Description: Come share your experience of the city! During the day, school students have worked with researchers from the Affective Geographies and Politics of Education research group to develop research questions and methods for exploring urban life. In the evening programme, you are invited to participate in the young researchers’ study project by sharing your own experiences and observations of the city. You can also meet members of the research group and discuss how they study cities.
The Heated Rivalry of Health and Disease: Brain Temperature's Role in Depression
Organisers: Áron Bendegúz Varga (Systems Neuropharmacology Research Group)
Target audience: Our programme is going to be designed for a broad, non-specialist audience, including teenagers and adults from all educational backgrounds. Most activities are suitable for visitors regardless of their language skills, although some are available in English only.
Description: Why can both a steaming sauna and an icy plunge make us feel mentally better, and what does that reveal about how brain temperature shapes mood and brain health? Explore the emerging science of brain temperature and discover how warming and cooling the brain may influence its chemistry, sleep and response to stress. At this interactive station, you can navigate real brain-temperature recordings in a computer game and observe how they change in response to different drugs. Find out how neuroscientists study the link between body, brain and mind—and why brain temperature could eventually help us understand depression in new ways.
From Sun to Earth: The Journey of Solar Storms
Organisers: Space Physics Research group
Target audience: All ages
Description:
You are welcome to join us at our stand and explore the journey of a solar storm, from the moment it is born at the Sun all the way to Earth. You will get hear how it impacts our planet, generating the beautiful aurora among other fascinating phenomena, and how it can be hazardous for humans in space and for our technology in space and on the ground. We will provide hands-on activities suitable for adults and children. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Modelling the Universe from Galaxies to Black Holes
Organisers: Helsinki Theoretical Extragalactic Research Group
Target audience: Everyone curious about galaxies and astrophysics
Description:
We present and highlight results of recent and ongoing work by the Helsinki theoretical astrophysics group. See simulation visualisations from the Helsinki Theoretical Extragalactic Research Group. How do galaxies look at different wavelengths? Interactive experiment: will the Milky Way collide with Andromeda?
Let's look up in the sky
Organisers: INAR: Laura Riuttanen, Juliana Friedrichsen, Jonathan Duplissy, Tuomo Nieminen...
Target audience: Citizens of all ages
Let's look up in the sky. Clouds can be fluffy or stormy, but how do they form? Welcome to learn to identify clouds, or craft your own. Also, by studying meteorites, we can learn about the formation of our planetary system. In this workshop, we will manipulate different meteorites and learn how to identify them. We will discuss what we can learn from them and how they interact with planetary atmospheres.
During the European Researchers' Night, entry to the Helsinki University Museum Flame exhibition centre is free from 16-20.
Explore the tradition of academic drawing instruction that stretches back to the University’s predecessor, the Royal Academy of Turku, in the 18th century! The exhibition will feature a selection from the Art Room’s plaster cast collection alongside intriguing examples of work by artists who have studied there, including pieces from what has been termed the Golden Age of Finnish Art and works by the current drawing master Vappu Rossi.
The permanent Passion for knowledge exhibition introduces stories from the University of Helsinki and the people who have worked there. What kinds of places is research conducted in, and how have different fields of science shaped the development of Finland?
Address: Fabianinkatu 33, from 18-20 entry via Yliopistonkatu 2
During the day, children and young people can explore researchers’ work and university facilities in workshops held on University of Helsinki campuses. The workshops are free of charge.
There are more workshops in Finnish site that are only in Finnish.
From Sun to Earth: The Journey of Solar Storms
Organiser: Space Physics Research group
Target group: Early childhood education, Primary school 1.-3., Primary School 4.-6., Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: During the workshop we will follow the journey of a solar storm, from the moment it is born at the Sun all the way to Earth. We will explore how it impacts our planet, generating the beautiful aurora among other fascinating phenomena, and how it can be hazardous for humans in space and for our technology in space and on the ground. The workshop will start with a short presentation and interactive activities tailored to the age of the registered group. The language of the workshop is also tailored to the registered group.
From Sun to Earth: The Journey of Solar Storms
Organiser: Space Physics Research group
Target group: Early childhood education, Primary school 1.-3., Primary School 4.-6., Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: During the workshop we will follow the journey of a solar storm, from the moment it is born at the Sun all the way to Earth. We will explore how it impacts our planet, generating the beautiful aurora among other fascinating phenomena, and how it can be hazardous for humans in space and for our technology in space and on the ground. The workshop will start with a short presentation and interactive activities tailored to the age of the registered group. The language of the workshop is also tailored to the registered group.
Small worlds, big discoveries
Campus: Viikki
Organisers: Michael Jeltsch et al.
Target group: Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: Take a close-up photo of your bedbugs—or any other tiny object you bring with you. We have two state-of-the-art microscopes connected to the internet that you can use to examine tiny animals (or anything else small). You take a picture and post it to our online gallery. We also provide cool specimens (micro-worms, aphids, micro-crystals).
Get ready to learn laboratory skills in virtual reality!
Campus: Viikki
Organiser: Faculty of Pharmacy
Target group: Secondary school, Upper Secondary school
Description: Can laboratory skills be learned in virtual reality? Try studying pharmacy with VR glasses! In this workshop, you will explore VR education in pharmacy and research on learning.
Young People as Urban Researchers – Putting City Experiences on the Map
Campus: Kumpula
Target group: Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: In this workshop, students become urban researchers. With the help of researchers from the University of Helsinki, the students are inspired to come up with their own research questions and design a research approach to explore people’s experiences of urban life. The students’ approaches could include methods such as map-based surveys, photography prompts, or questionnaires. Later, the University of Helsinki researchers will put the students’ projects into action: visitors to the Researchers’ Night evening programme (at the Learning Centre Alexandria in the city center) are invited to participate in the designed research. The findings of the students’ research will be presented to the students by University of Helsinki researchers after Researchers’ Night.
The workshop takes place at Kumpula Campus and lasts 120 minutes. It is suitable for an upper secondary school group of maximum 30 students. During the workshop, students will work in smaller groups. The workshop is facilitated in both Finnish and English. Students may work bilingually, or some sub-groups can work in Finnish while others work in English.
From Sun to Earth: The Journey of Solar Storms
Organiser: Space Physics Research group
Target group: Early childhood education, Primary school 1.-3., Primary School 4.-6., Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: During the workshop we will follow the journey of a solar storm, from the moment it is born at the Sun all the way to Earth. We will explore how it impacts our planet, generating the beautiful aurora among other fascinating phenomena, and how it can be hazardous for humans in space and for our technology in space and on the ground. The workshop will start with a short presentation and interactive activities tailored to the age of the registered group. The language of the workshop is also tailored to the registered group.
Small worlds, big discoveries
Campus: Viikki
Organisers: Michael Jeltsch et al.
Target group: Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: Take a close-up photo of your bedbugs—or any other tiny object you bring with you. We have two state-of-the-art microscopes connected to the internet that you can use to examine tiny animals (or anything else small). You take a picture and post it to our online gallery. We also provide cool specimens (micro-worms, aphids, micro-crystals).
Get ready to learn laboratory skills in virtual reality!
Campus: Viikki
Organiser: Faculty of Pharmacy
Target group: Secondary school, Upper Secondary school
Description: Can laboratory skills be learned in virtual reality? Try studying pharmacy with VR glasses! In this workshop, you will explore VR education in pharmacy and research on learning.
Young People as Urban Researchers – Putting City Experiences on the Map
Campus: Kumpula
Target group: Lower secondary school, Upper secondary school
Description: In this workshop, students become urban researchers. They will design their own research questions and, together with researchers from the University of Helsinki, plan different methods to explore people’s experiences of urban life. These can include methods such as map-based surveys, questionnaires or photography. Later, visitors to the Researchers’ Night evening programme, arranged at the Learning Centre Alexandria in the city center, will be invited to take part in the research by, for instance, responding to surveys developed by the students. After the Researchers’ Night, researchers from the University of Helsinki will present the findings to the student group.
The workshop takes place at Kumpula Campus and lasts 120 minutes. It is suitable for an upper secondary school group of up to 30 students. During the workshop, students will work in smaller groups. The workshop is facilitated in both Finnish and English. Students may work bilingually, or some sub-groups can work in Finnish while others work in English.
