Science for a better world seminar and Helsinki Challenge Grand Finale
Top research strives to provide solutions to grand challenges. The University of Helsinki’s 375th anniversary year will culminate in the Science for a Better World seminar. The seminar will gather the top names in Finnish and international research as well as the most interesting speakers from the society – the common aim is to build solutions for the future wellbeing.
Thursday evening will also feature the Grand Finale of the Helsinki Challenge, the science-based idea competition launched to celebrate the 375th anniversary year. The seminar and the Grand Finale will take place in the Great Hall of the University of Helsinki. Registration here!
Thursday 12 November, Great Hall of the University of Helsinki
13.00-13.10 Opening words by Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Helsinki
Theme: Health without borders (keynotes and discussion in English)
13.20-13.45 Keynote by John Walker, Professor, Director Emeritus, MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit
13.50-14.15 Keynote by Kari Alitalo, Professor, University of Helsinki
14.20-15.00 Helsinki Health Capital
Discussion with Marja-Leena Rinkineva, Director, City of Helsinki, Risto Renkonen, Professor, University of Helsinki and Pekka Sivonen, Director, Vertical Accelarator
15.05-15.30 Tauko/Break
Theme: Climate Changes Everything (keynote and discussion in Finnish)
15.35-15.45 Keynote by Markku Kulmala, Professor, University of Helsinki
15.45-16.20 Discussion with Minttu Jaakkola, Head of Research, Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of the European Parliament and Markku Kulmala, Professor, University of Helsinki
16.30-16.45 Keynote by Santtu Vekkeli, Managing Director, Nordic Insect Economy Ltd
Theme: Science as a Changemaker (keynote in Finnish)
16.45-17.00 Keynote by Mari Kiviniemi, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD
17.00-17.30 Tauko/Break
Helsinki Challenge Grand Finale (in English)
17.30-17.40 Opening words by Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Helsinki
17.40-17.50 Keynote by Alexander Stubb, Minister of Finance
17.50-19.15 Helsinki Challenge Finalist Pitch
Markku Ollikainen, team Biodiversity Now!
Anu-Katriina Pesonen, team Helsinki Sleep Factory
Michael Laakasuo, team Moralities of Intelligent Machines
Katri Saarikivi, team NEMO – Natural Emotionality in Digital Interaction
Katri Räikkönen, team Safepreg
19.30-21.30 Cocktails/Get together
Friday 13 November, Great Hall of the University of Helsinki
10.00−10.05 Opening words by Keijo Hämäläinen, Vice-Rector, University of Helsinki
Theme: Global responsibility (keynotes and discussion in English)
10.10-10.30 Keynote by Paula Vanninen, Director of the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention
10.40-11.30 Discussion with Fadumo Dayib, Doctoral candidate, University of Helsinki Ozan Yanar, Member of the Parliament and Pasi Saukkonen, Director of the Finnish Foundation for Cultural Policy Research
11.40-11.55 Keynote by Tuija Talvitie, Executive Director, Crisis Management Initiative, CMI
12.00-12.55 Lounas/Lunch
Theme: New knowledge surprises (keynotes in English)
13.00-13.25 Keynote by Lawrence Krauss, Professor, Arizona State University
13.35-13.55 Keynote by Lotta Uusitalo-Malmivaara, University lecturer, University of Helsinki
Theme: The Digital Revolution of Learning (keynotes and discussion in Finnish)
14.00-14.20 Keynote by Pasi Sahlberg, visiting Professor of Practice at Harvard University
14.25-14.55 Discussion with Elina Kiiski Kataja, Specialist in foresight at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, Jari Lavonen, Professor, University of Helsinki
14.55-15.05 Closing words by Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Helsinki