COLD PEOPLE TECHNOLOGY HOT Super hot For Reetta Kivelä vegan Now, this is The complete guide Arctic skills meat is not an oxymoron rocket science to cool saunas

2017

ISSN 2342-01702343-3272 A NEW LEARNING PHASE 2 WE MAKE IT 3 WORK By Hannele Tavi Photo Antti Kurola / Visit AN ICE-BREAKING CRAFT

An icy open sea extends ahead. The shipyard, nowadays Arctech Underneath, 75 metres of steel is pushing Helsinki Shipyard, has built more icebreakers its way through the cold ice, powered by a than any other shipyard in the world. That is also strong diesel engine. where icebreaker Sampo was built in the 1960s. The latest vessel manufactured at the shipyard Icebreaker Sampo, built in Helsinki in 1961, is is Polaris, the world’s first icebreaker to run on cleaving the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia. liquefied natural gas (LNG). The goal of the Sampo was on official duty as an icebreaker until 115-metre vessel is to offer more environmentally 1987, assisting commercial vessels in navigating friendly service in the demanding conditions of the wintry sea to their destinations. Today, the the Baltic Sea for the next 50 years. vessel braves the seas offering memorable Finnish exports in the wintertime have relied experiences to 150 tourists at a time. on the tireless work of icebreakers since the The four-hour cruise culminates in the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1971, passengers floating in the newly opened water. icebreakers have made it possible for marine Moving about in orange floatation suits is as traffic to continue along the entire coast awkward as it must be for an astronaut to walk throughout the year. In the future, this expertise in space. The icy sea radiates coldness through will be used even more around the globe, as the the suit, but the passengers are overjoyed at the world turns to the Arctic waters! opportunity to play among blocks of ice in the youtube.com/ArctechViestinta water. 4 5

EDITORIAL In 2017 Finland will celebrate its centenary – a About the Magazine fact that is highlighted in this magazine. But we This is FINLAND Magazine is available are also looking into the future. in English, Chinese, French, German, Russian and Spanish. To read the In the beginning of the magazine, we tell the magazine online or order free paper story of researcher Henna Tyynismaa, who is a copies, please visit toolbox.finland.fi. true superstar in the field of genetics. Brilliant For paper copies you can also contact HEAD FOR the nearest Finnish embassy. researchers, a thorough health-related data restored to biobanks, and good cooperation THE STARS between public and private sector are attracting large medical corporations to our country. 2017 Jari Gustafsson Finland is joining the club of space nations Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment as the first satellite Aalto-1 is waiting its launch. In this magazine you’ll find an inspiring article EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mika Hammarén WHY FINLAND EDITORIAL BOARD Katja Anttila, Eeva of young entrepreneurs who believe that their 6 Landowski, Johanna Keskitalo, Peter business of combining Arctic know-how and Marten, Petra Theman, Sari Tuori, Sara Gene Genie space data is their main competition asset. The Vihavainen EDITORIAL STAFF Otavamedia Henna Tyynismaa’s research is making OMA Oy PRODUCER Hannele Tavi same confidence in Finnish skills can be found LAYOUT DESIGN Linda Macken ENGLISH important new breakthroughs for in the offer to start an Arctic space accelerator personalised medicine. EDITOR Nouveau Language COVER 25 PHOTOGRAPH by Arto Wiikari PRINTED in Finland made by the European Space Agency 10 A Great Vision Requires Big Data BY PunaMusta Oy PUBLISHERS: MINISTRY ESA. The space accelerator will be a community FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS formin.finland.fi Finland has an extensive network of MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND of companies and researchers who will benefit biobanks and research centres. EMPLOYMENT www.tem.fi from Arctic know-how and satellite expertise. SITRA www.sitra.fi TEKES www.tekes.fi INVEST IN FINLAND www.investinfinland.fi The magazine wraps up where all FINNFACTS www.finnfacts.fi knowledge starts: in school. We’ll go back to 12 MEET&GREET ISSN 2342-01702343-3272 school together with 96-year-old Taito Vesala Sweat, Tech, and Energy and his descendants. The four generations Pick an event and meet with a Finn. will tell the story of a school system that is constantly reaching for new galaxies of Stories illuminated learning. The Finnish school system has made 14 SOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHIER PLANET This magazine is printed on Finnish the right reforms at the right time. The new LumiSilk – a woodfree, multicoated silk Better Oats and Living paper. It is made of virgin wood fibre * core curriculum is a step in the right direction from Finnish woods and produced in but in the future we have to keep evolving as Reetta Kivelä set her sights on developing 6 StoraEnso’s Oulu mill in northern Finland. the surrounding world is changing. Another a vegan meat alternative. LumiSilk has PEFC certificate and fulfils the Nordic Swan criteria. step ahead is the Reboot Finland project, which 18 Cold is the new hot 17 will take Finnish digital knowledge to a new Learn from a Finn how to tackle ice and level making Finland the world’s largest open snow. innovation platform. 20 Up, up and away There is stardust in this business. PEFC/02-31-151 4041-0619 Painotuote * The Helsinki study chair was designed in 2014 by Wilhelmiina Kosonen as a study project. “My inspiration for the 30 CULTURE wooden chair was drawn from playful characters. The aim was to create visually soft lines and a strong form,” Kosonen 22 KEEP IT SHORT says. The designer is especially known for her series of wall-mounted acoustic panels. The Business of Illustration The bits and bytes of fresh Finnish technological innovations. Finnish designers are out there, watch out! SHE MAKES IT WORK

32 KNOWLEDGE DRIVEN PICTURE THIS 24 THE SOCIAL CONTEXT Four Generations of Education The twisted world map on pages 12–13 was illustrated by Hot or Not? 37 Ilona Partanen (b. 1986), who creates her colourful illustrations The family of Taito Vesala has seen how Is it possible to be too early? with gouache, ink, and computer. Strong colour intensity, Finnish education is evolving. patterns, and powerful contrasts are the cornerstones for this 37 3 x 100 ideas to develop education Helsinki-based illustrator and graphic designer. In her works Pick the best ones. organic shapes, mischievous characters, scarves, dreams, and 25 IN TOUCH rhythmic lines weave into twisted humour and grinning double A Quirky Love of Saunas FINNISH BY NATURE meanings. Partanen is a graduate of Lahti Institute of Design 38 The Finnish sauna is getting a makeover as and she is finishing her MA in Visual Communication Design at Stop Right There new venues offer creative options to the Aalto University School of Arts. traditional steam bath. Take a day or two and stop over in Finland. ilonaillustrations.com 6 WHY FINLAND 7

By Silja Kudel Photo Aleksi Poutanen

GENE GENIE

One of Finland’s brightest young talents unlocking the mysteries of the human genome is Henna Tyynismaa, whose frontier research is making important new breakthroughs for personalised medicine.

omething potentially eventually – develop precision treatments for revolutionary is brewing individual patients. in the Petri dishes on the “When we started this research four years S fifth floor of Helsinki’s ago, it was uncharted territory in Finland. Biomedicum research centre. Since then, we have found several mutations Here Henna Tyynismaa and that are causing these axonal disorders. Some her team are studying the genetic causes of a are triggered by as many as 70 different genes. group of diseases characterised by progressive We have even found new, previously unknown stiffness and spasticity of the lower limbs. genes,” Tyynismaa says. The Petri dishes contain patients’ motor neurons that have been differentiated from GETTING PERSONAL skin cells that were first reprogrammed into Tyynismaa’s work is part of a paradigm shift stem cells. that is going on in the clinical world today. “Motor neurons are much easier to study “Thanks to next-generation gene in a dish than in a patient’s body!” quips technology and the shrinking cost of reading Tyynismaa, a rising star in the research of DNA, the next five years will bring major genetics and molecular neurology. developments to our understanding of Rapid advances are being made in this the mechanisms that cause diseases,” the emerging field, including innovations in testing researcher states. methods that enable scientists to pinpoint In the not-so-distant future, a routine visit the genetic causes of medical disorders and – to the physician could be radically different 8 WHY FINLAND 9

from the one-size-fits-all approach of While genomic diagnostic methods existing drug. These cases are rare, but it’s “I fell in love with genetics back today. are advancing rapidly, a vast amount of a promising start,” she says. when I was studying for a high school “Tomorrow, when a patient comes to work still needs to be done before DNA biology exam. From the day I realised a clinic with certain symptoms, instead sequencing can be applied routinely DNA TREASURE TROVE that there are people who research for THIS IS HOW WE DO IT THIS IS HOW of performing the traditional run of to deliver targeted cures for individual Tyynismaa believes Finland has the a living, I knew it was the life for me,” expensive tests, we will simply use genome patients. potential to become a global leader in she says. sequencing to identify the mutant “But every time we identify a disease genomic diagnostics. Tyynismaa modestly credits her EXCELLENT SUPPORT FOR genotypes responsible for the disorder,” gene, we understand a little bit more about “But we have to convince policymakers success to “patience, hard work and TECHNOLOGY CANCER PATIENTS predicts Tyynismaa. the underlying mechanisms. This doesn’t that it’s a cost-effective option,” she says. Finland’s education system.” She also This is what is called personalised translate directly into treatments yet, but A clear advantage for Finland – praises pioneers such as the late Leena Hospitals in over 120 countries rely on After cancer treatment, many patients are medicine: an approach that emphasises there have been cases where we have been in addition to being an established Peltonen-Palotie, one of the world’s Merivaara, a Finnish health tech veteran left feeling alone and abandoned – at the uniqueness of each patient’s particular able to offer suggestions – for instance forerunner in genetic research – is its well- most influential geneticists. with over 100 years’ experience designing the very moment in their lives when they disease risks. we can target a known pathway with an organised healthcare system. “Leena was a tremendous hospital furniture and systems. Their user- need more support than ever. Netmedi “Luckily people in Finland are very inspiration to many of us. Finland has friendly surgical tables, medical lights and is a Finnish startup that has developed an willing to participate in genetic studies,” had great people spearheading our integrated Operating Room (OR) systems intelligent digital application to support says Tyynismaa. genetic research right from the start,” are designed to enhance comfort, helping cancer patients. The solution “speaks” with Another goldmine for medical she says. the surgical team focus on what they do the patient, asking relevant questions and researchers is Finland’s unique gene pool. best. Their latest innovation, Merivaara providing personalised guidance in each “OUR EXPERIENCE WITH “It’s very limited, and we have specific SCIENCE AS TEAMWORK Fluent™, brings sweet simplicity to the therapy phase. It provides medical staff diseases that aren’t present anywhere else, Tyynismaa is a member of many OR by integrating a variety of devices with valuable data on treatment outcomes RARE DISEASES WILL HELP US which is excellent for research. There has parallel research projects, including and panels in a logical, easy-to-use smart and gives the patient something vital to SOLVE THE MYSTERIES OF THE been lots of overseas interest in Finnish the MitoLink group, a network of interface. the healing process: a voice that is heard. biobanks,” she says. young independent mitochondrial merivaara.com kaikuhealth.com COMMON ONES.” scientists from Northern Europe. GENETIC DESTINY The members of this group work at With quiet determination, Tyynismaa different universities studying various has steadily risen to the forefront of her aspects of mitochondrial biology, field. After publishing an award-winning from basic biochemistry to specific PhD, she secured a position at Helsinki human diseases. An extensive range of University as post-doctoral research fellow, research methods and model systems followed by tenure as academy research are in use, from fruit flies to patients’ fellow, being the first ever to hold the two motor neurons. positions simultaneously – and all before “Science today is all about turning 40. collaboration. Pooling our different types of expertise is the fastest way to get results and EU funding,” according to Tyynismaa. HENNA TYYNISMAA While science has made impressive • Specialist in molecular neurology, human genetics and headway identifying the genes that mitochondrial biology cause rare health disorders, we are • Director of Research Program Unit, still far from unlocking the genetic 50 TIMES MORE DATA University of Helsinki, 2015- mysteries behind the world’s most • European Research Council grant recipient, 2014- common – and costly – diseases. Brainshake is a Finnish startup that aims prevented before onset. The test offers 50 • University of Helsinki Biomedical Thesis Award for “There’s a great deal of work to be to revolutionise the prevention of chronic times more data than current lipid tests, at an exceptional biomedical thesis, 2007 done in this area, but I’m confident diseases by bringing extensive biological a similar cost – a mere micro-fraction of • Married, two children aged three and ten that our experience with rare diseases data to routine blood testing. Based on the 1.3 trillion dollars spent annually on the • “I don’t really have time for hobbies. Science is will help us solve the mysteries of the the analysis of 220 biomarkers, their treatment of cardiovascular disease and so much fun that it’s enough.” common ones, too – and perhaps one new blood test provides data predicting diabetes. day cure them.” individual risk, enabling diseases to be brainshake.fi 10 WHY FINLAND 11

By Christopher Ryan Jones Illustration Visit Finland and Istock

ight major biobanks currently collect, analyse, and store Finnish data samples. When these E biobanks are linked with the single-payer healthcare system, in which every Finnish citizen is registered under one national programme, virtually the entire population structure can be mapped, grouped, and analysed. And because Finland has WE DO IT THIS IS HOW historically had a largely isolated and homogenous population, it provides exceptional opportunities for targeting genomic variations that underlie diseases. Such a combination is invaluable to medical GET A GRIP OF companies both domestic and global. MEDICAL DATA “What the modern medical vision needs is big data,” says Dr. Aarno Palotie, faculty member at the BC Platforms offers data A DIAGNOSIS BEFORE FASTER, BETTER, Center for Human Genome Research in Boston and at management and analysis software ANY SYMPTOMS CHEAPER the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. solutions integrating and analysing “Biobank samples, per se, are worthless unless they large amounts of genomic data LS CancerDiag’s DiagMMR DNA sequencing method developed are linked with data. We have a healthcare system together with sample and clinical technology also stems from by Blueprint Genetics helps in analysing linked with social security numbers, which provides data. Its customers consist of top- academic research, in this case from genes fast, with good quality and access to longitudinal healthcare over decades, tier research groups, biobanks and that performed at the University of affordable price. The company founded something that isn’t possible in many places.” major pharmaceutical companies Helsinki. There researchers realised in 2012 is based on a technological collecting and analysing medical that most current Lynch syndrome innovation renewing a targeted ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES data. Recently BC Platforms (e.g., colorectal cancer) diagnoses sequencing method. The method is used In Finland there is a close cooperation between both extended its research partnership rely on tumour studies, whereas the to analyse genetic factors that cause a public and private organisations and enterprises. with Center for Molecular Medicine DiagMMR method enables diagnosis predisposition to disease. At the moment The country has also been instrumental in the at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, based on a non-invasive tissue sample clinics around the world are utilising the development of Europe’s legislation for the to add capacity for large-scale next- before a person has developed any company’s targeted gene tests in the A GREAT implementation and security of health-related data, generation sequencing. signs of cancer. diagnosis of hereditary diseases. as well as in refining domestic legislation – both bcplatforms.com lscancerdiag.com blueprintgenetics.com of which are key for creating new methods and opportunities for research and innovation. VISION Thus, measures are being taken to bolster the country’s reputation as the premiere destination for medical research and business. The report will be used to implement Finland’s “There is a lot of governmental support,” says health sector growth strategy, which has become “OUR DATA QUALITY IS REQUIRES Palotie. “I would especially praise what the ministries increasingly important. Recent surveys indicate that SUPERB.” have done to ease the regulatory burden here, the greatest area for potential cooperation between especially for health-related studies.” multinational pharmaceutical companies and One example is that the Ministry of Social Affairs domestic medical faculties is that of research related Still, Finland’s data is unrivalled in quality and BIG DATA and Health has appointed a working group to prepare to cancer and cardiovascular diseases. depth, and the studies are longitudinal, which means the setting up of a genome centre. The centre’s tasks The healthcare sector in Finland is ripe for that they observe the same variables over periods would include taking responsibility for the creation growth. Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for as long as multiple decades. That, along with the While some of Finland’s more and development of a national genome database. Innovation, estimates that investments into Finnish isolated population structure, will be key for variety Also Sitra, the state-based Finnish Innovation companies working in the wellbeing and healthcare of study designs essential for drug development. media-friendly digital health tech Fund, spearheaded the implementation of the sectors will reach into hundreds of millions of euros “Finland has a tradition for doing this type of products garner publicity around recently completed Medical Research Map, which over the next five years. research,” says Palotie. “Our data quality is superb, aims to increase the transparency of the collaboration our health register data that provides longitudinal the globe, perhaps its greatest potential between global pharmaceutical companies COMPETITION AND QUALITY follow-up is unique, our infrastructure is top-class, and Finnish medical faculties. Support for the report The competition, however, is serious. The U.K., for and our legal and ethical and regulatory systems asset is its extensive network of has been high, with five Finnish medical faculties and example, operates a biobank comprising half a are more in sync with countries where big pharma biobanks and research centres. 16 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical corporations million samples, and China is gathering samples from headquarters are located.” contributing to it. five to ten million individuals over the next decade. finlandhealth.fi 12 MEET & GREET 13 FINLAND By Hannele Tavi Illustration Ilona Partanen TAMPERE, FINLAND HELSINKI, FINLAND 8 MARCH 2017 9–13 AUGUST WOW – Women of the World Worldcon 75 Gender equality is one of the greatest success stories Finland Sci-Fi fans around the world will has achieved in the course of its independence. Women of time travel to Helsinki this summer. the World will take place on International Women’s Day in The 75th World Science Fiction Tampere, Finland. This feminist festival will highlight the Convention will bring science fiction capacity and creativity of women and girls. stars such as Nalo Hopkinson and Claire Wendling to the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. But watch out for the worm holes! EUROPE worldcon.fi THE WHOLE YEAR Mobile Home 2017 What is home? Mobile Home 2017 is a joint venture of Finnish cultural institutes in , Berlin, ALL AROUND THE the Benelux, and London. The project explores WORLD and interprets different meanings of home through experiences, architecture, art, science 25–27 AUGUST and sociology. Check the latest locations and Finnish Your Dinner! details. Nordic food has been a trend for mobilehome2017.com some time now. Simple, healthy food originating from Finnish forests, fields and waters will be highlighted also at The World’s Greatest Village Celebration. Hundreds of TURKU, FINLAND organisations all across Finland will 10–14 MAY create their own village festivals. European Heritage Congress 2017 Among these are celebrations in national parks, under the open sky, in Do you know your cultural heritage? Around 400 garrisons, schools, and restaurants. heritage players from all over Europe will gather Finns also serve up Finnish meals to to city of Turku in June to discuss how cultural strangers all over the world. Book heritage could be mainstreamed. The Congress yourself into one or offer up a meal will provide a unique platform for exchanging yourself! of views on the latest EU policy developments related to heritage. And of course the chance to finnishyourdinner.fi experience the fantastic city of Turku. syodaanyhdessa.fi europanostra.fi/european-heritage-congress-2017 HELSINKI, FINLAND SWEAT, 30 NOVEMBER – LAHTI, FINLAND ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN 1 DECEMBER TECH, 22 FEBRUARY–3 MARCH 10 JUNE–10 SEPTEMBER Slush Nobody in their right mind would Nordic World Ski Championships Astana EXPO 2017 come to Helsinki in November. Well, AND ENERGY Finland doesn’t freeze even though there Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana hosts EXPO except for 15,000 techheads who is snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. 2017, with the theme of future energy solutions. come to celebrate Slush, Europe’s This year Finland celebrates the centenary of The power of snow-how is on display at Finland is one of the world’s leading countries in leading startup event. Come and the Nordic World Ski Championships energy sector expertise, energy efficiency, and experience the Finnish weather first its independence with a wide range of events. organised in the city of Lahti. Guaranteed clean tech – all of which will be showcased in the hand, or just watch the live stream winter fun! Finnish pavilion. with a million other people. Pick one and meet and greet Finns and Finland. lahti2017.fi expo2017astana.com slush.org 14 SOLUTIONS FOR 15 A HEALTHIER PLANET

By Hanna Ojanpää Photo Kreetta Järvenpää

ALL ABOUT OATS

How do you develop vegan protein that will be easy to cook and feel as chewy as meat to eat? This is the question Reetta Kivelä, Gold&Green Foods’ co-founder set her mind to when she started her work with pulled oats.

e want to provide a be difficult when people have gone to the genuine alternative to effort of preparing food,” Kivelä says. meat and in our own W way help to reduce MAKING OAT MEAT the unsustainable Kivelä’s doctoral dissertation on processing mass production of oats was accepted with honours by meat. We firmly believe that we as a the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of company – like each individual – can have Agriculture and Forestry in 2011. When she an impact on global phenomena such as took job-alternation leave from Finland’s climate change,” says Dr. Reetta Kivelä, 39, largest sweets and bakery company, Fazer, co-founder and chief technology officer she was ready for new ideas. She met up of Gold&Green Foods, and one of the with Maija Itkonen, a high school friend developers of the startup’s hit product, who was already an acclaimed startup pulled oats. entrepreneur and co-founder of Aalto Climate change is a driving force University’s Design Factory. Itkonen Asked whether she only behind Gold&Green Foods’ values. Reetta suggested they should team up to create approves of Finnish food Kivelä admits that she has a weakness “oat meat.” on her plate, Reetta for trying to save the world. She became a “At first the idea sounded rather Kivelä replies: vegetarian in high school, but as a young unappealing,” Kivelä recalls with a laugh. “I’m a fan of local food – adult and active athlete, had to consider “But soon we started to move forward with when I’m in Finland, it’s Finnish, and when I’m in whether her diet was providing her with the idea of ‘perfect protein’.” France, it’s French.” enough protein. Their research work led to a vegan “Since then, I’ve eaten based on who product made of oats, fava beans, and I’m with and what’s served. I don’t want to peas. The natural taste of the product is Reetta Kivelä was photographed in Unique Lapland Helsinki Winter World wearing accessories by Papu. 16 SOLUTIONS FOR 17 A HEALTHIER PLANET

GLUTEN-FREE GUARANTEED

Kivelä is confident that Finland has Gluto is a brand of fresh pasta that other Arctic raw materials to offer the suits virtually everyone, regardless of REETTA KIVELÄ’S world besides oats. dietary restrictions. Its fresh pastas CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “But the competition is stiff, so no more are made from naturally gluten- 1. Working in product development about that for now,” she says, with a smile. free rice and corn flour, without at food-processing company Atria: dairy products, eggs, or additives.

“I’m still grateful that I was given so much EYES ON BIGGER MARKETS WE DO IT THIS IS HOW Gluto fresh pasta is made in Finland responsibility straight out of school, and for In June 2016 the University of Helsinki’s with pure raw materials and Italian all that I learned there.” Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry culinary know-how. The products honoured Kivelä as the Influencer of the bring together the best of two 2. Discovering food technology Year, and in 2015 she was named Young countries: Finland’s exacting food by chance: “We lived in the Viikki Researcher Entrepreneur of the Year. standards and Italian gastronomical neighbourhood of Helsinki, near the There’s plenty of interest and demand delights. Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry focused on her. Kivelä does not see her glutzero.com campus, and I happened to see their past as a career path leading up to her brochure. Later, writing articles that led to present situation, but says that things have my dissertation also affected my thinking progressed quickly since the company was and who I am today.” formed. In the spring of 2016, when the product 3. Taking a job-alternation sabbatical was launched, the company had just five from Fazer: “Detaching myself from employees, whereas now only Kivelä has a work gave me an opportunity to grasp staff of 25 working under her at the factory everything, including entrepreneurship.” in Järvenpää, just north of Helsinki. “In the near future, we plan to set up a production facility in Sweden to serve the local market,” Kivelä says. “Some people say that there’s a grim economic atmosphere in Finland at the smooth and fits naturally in many dishes amazed that we’ve been able to achieve so moment, but we don’t see it that way. “OAT FIBRE IS being perfect for busy families. The much in such a short time – though it has Maybe it comes from the joy of success,” manufacturing process of pulled oats is a required some sleepless nights,” she says. she adds. UNIQUE. IT secret Kivelä and her business associates Gold&Green’s entrepreneurs adapted from China. It includes only THE GENTLE GRAIN have their sights set on ambitious RYE-BASED ARCTIC POWERS FOR HAS A LOT OF mechanical processing such as mixing, Earlier Kivelä didn’t have a particular internationalisation. The company’s WHISKY EVERYONE PROTEIN AND pressing and heating. passion for oats, but she does now. first product has already been noted for Kivelä says that at first the name “Oats are a gentle grain compared to example by news agency Reuters and in Kyrö Distillery started up in 2014 The natural products company Arctic HEALTHY FATS.” “pulled oats” was a joke, but early rye, for instance. And oat fibre is unique. autumn 2016 earned the “Best New Protein in Isokyrö, Ostrobothnia, western Warriors was born out of a desire customer focus groups liked it. It has a lot of protein, healthy fats, and Product of the Year” title in France. Finland, with a focus on producing to bring the power of Lapland’s “So our ‘working title’ became the antioxidants, so its health benefits are The startup is gaining some muscle for rye whisky. It also produces Napue herbs within everyone’s reach. These official name,” she says. incomparable,” says Kivelä. the worldwide launch of pulled oats from gin, which in 2015 won the Gin & Warriors’ mission is to fight for a The entrepreneurs obtained startup Finland is a significant producer of its partnership with the large Finnish Tonic series of the International good life, natural well-being, and funds from Tekes, the Finnish Funding oats in global terms. Most of its crop coffee and food group Paulig, which Wine and Spirits Competition in the a vibrant Lapland. The company Agency for Innovation, and facilities for is exported, with only one-tenth used bought a majority stake in Gold&Green in UK out of 150 competitors. Within sources its raw materials from product development at Aalto University. in domestic food production. Kivelä autumn 2016. 20 years, Kyrö Distillery aims to be local small farmers and wild herb Kivelä says it’s great that there have been notes that Nordic growth conditions are “Pulled oats has basically been sold out the world’s best-known distiller of harvesters. Arctic Warriors earned an people who believed in the fledgling firm particularly favourable for oats. in Finland since its market breakthrough,” rye-based single malt whisky, with an award as the Most Innovative Rural from the beginning. “Oats simply love the Finnish growing says Kivelä. “Paulig provides us with annual output target of 20,000 litres Startup of 2015. “We set up the company in 2015 under season conditions, which include plenty extra resources for production, sales and of whisky and 30,000 litres of gin. arcticwarriors.fi the name Oat Kitchen, but changed it of sun and water. Oats are also one of the marketing, but also to expand our product kyrodistillery.com to Gold&Green Foods that autumn. I’m world’s ecological crops,” says Kivelä. family.” 18 SOLUTIONS FOR 19 A HEALTHIER PLANET

By Leena Koskenlaakso Photo Markus Pentikäinen

COLD IS THE ARCTIC TESTING NEW HOT 2.GROUND FOR VEHICLES A new testing area designed for testing and office building. There are also Owing to the cold winters, Finns know Will their engine start? self-driving vehicles in a cold climate cold chambers available that can be how to cope with ice and snow. In Will they stay on the road? has been opened in Muonio, about cooled down to a minimum of minus Cars are being tested under 200 kilometres north of the Arctic 45 degrees. today’s Arctic boom there is strong harsh conditions in Finnish Circle. The 5,000-square-metre testing Additional research and Lapland. area, which is open to all automotive development facilities are located close demand for Finnish Arctic know-how. industry manufacturers, is called to the testing ground, in the Arctic Lapland Proving Ground. Research Centre. The centre facilities inns spend their winters in freezing Muonio is one of the coldest can be used by R&D organisations, temperatures and darkness but they have municipalities in Finland, which makes universities and technology or service learnt to make the most of it. Everyone it an ideal place for vehicle testing in providers working for the automotive F knows how to drive a car on an icy road, extreme Arctic conditions – chilling testing industry. The Lapland Proving and Finns know how to test cars in Arctic cold, snow, ice and darkness. Ground is a part of the Aurora project, conditions. Thanks to fundamental low- The proving ground provides 20 aimed at building a world-class Arctic temperature research, there is know-how and infrastructure to kilometres of different land test tracks, testing ecosystem for intelligent build quantum technology and nanotechnology solutions. up to 10 kilometres of ice tracks on transport systems and automated the local lake, plus a large workshop driving in Finnish Lapland.

WORLD RECORD IN LOW 3. TEMPERATURES BREAKING ICE IN “The scaled ship models being tested are 1. AALTO ICE TANK typically 5 to 6 metres long. The wide basin makes “Many physics phenomena manifest “In 2000, our low temperature it possible to study turning of ships in ice, and ice themselves more clearly in low laboratory reached the low In the Helsinki metropolitan region there is an failure against wide offshore structures, such as temperatures, where thermal noise temperature world record of 0.000 Arctic marine technology ecosystem with three harbours and windmill farms, attached to the sea doesn’t interfere with them. The field of 000 000 1 Kelvin,” Pekola says. separate water basin facilities for testing Arctic bottom. You can test Arctic offshore structures by science researching these phenomena In a sense, low temperature vessels and offshore structures. One of them, building scaled models of them and then pushing is called low temperature physics,” says physics is thus an enabling the Aalto Ice Tank, is located in the premises ice against them,” Tuhkuri explains. academy professor Jukka Pekola. He technology, and the research being of Aalto University Department of Mechanical Typical experiments in the 2.8-metre-deep heads the Centre of Excellence on Low carried out in the low temperature Engineering in Espoo. The facility can be used by ice tank include resistance, propulsion and Temperature Quantum Phenomena laboratory is fundamental research, academic professionals and industrial experts maneuvring tests of scaled-down ship models in and Devices at Aalto University. without which practical applications alike. ice, ice load tests on offshore structures, as well “Our research takes place in the would not be possible. “The Aalto Ice Tank, which was throughly as modelling of natural ice formations such as ice “MANY PHYSICS temperature range close to the absolute “Ten to 20 years from now, renovated during 2015 and 2016, is unique in ridges. zero that is -273.15 degrees Celsius. quantum computers might not exist Europe because of its dimensions, particularly Professor Tuhkuri is a member of the Arctic PHENOMENA Especially interesting are quantum yet, but quantum simulators will. its large width. The 40-metre-wide and 40-metre- Marine Technology research team, one of the MANIFEST phenomena, such as superconductivity, They will be used for simulating long water basin is equipped with a cooling foremost research groups in this field in the world. superfluids and nanoelectronics,” he molecules, and the applications system and equipment that produces model-scale Apart from the Aalto Ice Tank, they also carry THEMSELVES MORE says. can be used, for example, in the sea ice. The ice is fine-grained and generated via out field experiments and measurements in the CLEARLY IN LOW Pekola and his team develop development of new medicines.” a spraying process,” says Jukka Tuhkuri, solid Antarctica, in Arctic waters, on board vessels, and various refrigeration techniques at mechanics professor at Aalto University. in other laboratories. TEMPERATURES.” temperatures close to absolute zero. 20 SOLUTIONS FOR 21 A HEALTHIER PLANET By Leena Koskenlaakso Photos Jari Kokkonen/Vastavalo and Iceye

Pekka Laurila, CFO and co-founder of Iceye they can be operated in a swarm that delivers good quality images more often.

GROWTH IS THE ONLY OPTION “WE REALISED YOU DON’T NEED When the technology and business plan started taking shape, it turned out the A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MONEY system could do a lot more than serve only TO BUILD A SATELLITE.” the Arctic seas. It was time to shift the focus into doing more global business. “It’s still early days. So far we have made a Proof of Concept satellite, and later in How did he end up establishing a business If an oil rig is drilling for oil, the owners 2017 we hope to be able to demonstrate it of his own with two other students in 2012? need to know in real time how sea ice in orbit,” Laurila says. “In the student satellite project we moves. If shipping lines and oil companies “The best benefit we offer is speed. realised you don’t need a lot of people and want to see the location of ice and cracks When you need images from a flooded money to build a satellite. Later we started in real time, they have to send out a area, you must get information fast. Our looking for ways to utilise this new satellite helicopter or an airplane, which is costly. timescale is hours, not days,” he says. UP, UP AND AWAY technology commercially, and came up But the risk involved in a vessel and its To get the update speed, several with various ideas. There was big demand cargo getting stuck in ice is so big that the satellites are needed. A swarm of for services where our earth imaging owners are willing to invest in getting ice approximately six satellites is required to Iceye is an ambitious Finnish startup that wants expertise could be put to use,” Laurila says. information quickly. cover arctic sea areas. “One particular application area – Arctic Few governmental radar satellites Iceye manufactures the satellites and to disrupt traditional earth imaging with its seas and monitoring of the ice situation – exist, but their updating speed for ice delivers them to a commercial launching radar-carrying microsatellites. The radar images stood out from the rest. There was strong information is low. In an operation, one firm that loads them into a carrier rocket demand for this from potential customers.” image per day is not enough. which takes them into orbit. transmitted from space can be received in minutes or Having completed the business course, Small satellites are the answer because “Our business is growing continuously. Laurila and his mates embarked on a they are made of ordinary off-the-shelf For us, big-scale global business is the only hours, not days. two-year validation project. It was aimed components that can make them up to option. In five years’ time, we must have at building a prototype to demonstrate hundred times cheaper than governmental at least 20 satellites in the sky. That’s a the technology required for providing the weather satellites. With lower unit cost, realistic goal.” ometimes your life can microsatellites launched into orbit in a envisioned radar imaging service. be changed by a single carrier rocket. “Iceye is a spin-off of this prototype event. That’s what project. Since we made the original S happened in 2010 to INNOVATIVE SPACE TECHNOLOGY prototype at Aalto University, they are Pekka Laurila, an Aalto Yes, it’s partly rocket science. And from one of the owners of our company. Aalto University engineering a wider perspective, it’s innovative University has good and transparent student in his early 20s. Browsing online, commercial space technology that could technology transfer rules, and everything he spotted a notification saying Aalto change the way shipping lines monitor worked out really well,” he says. University Department of Radio Science the sea ice and iceberg situation in Arctic Iceye offices are still located on Aalto and Engineering was running a new type seas, the way rescue crews get timely University campus, allowing Iceye staff of satellite course, aimed at building the information on flood and storm damages to work in close collaboration with the first Finnish satellite. and oil spills. Ultimately, this satellite- University’s Space Technology group. Little did he know that he would based radar imaging technology could even become the CFO and co-founder of Iceye, a help us map other planets for resources. IT’S ALL ABOUT UPDATING SPEED startup with 20-plus employees. It’s meant But let’s not get ahead of things. Let’s Arctic seas are vast areas where for developing real-time radar imaging go back to the days when Laurila was infrastructure is sparse and little real- services delivered straight from space via attending the university satellite course. time information is available on the environment. Iceye’s founder Pekka Laurila is ardently in love with satellites. 22 SHORT KEEP IT By Monika Winqvist of theproduction. out noraddinganything to thesignal inany stage nuances of thesound,withoutleavinganything and AV installation use.They reveal theoriginal designed for demanding professional, home, revolutionary designs.Genelecproducts are has ledto several innovative technologies and design. GenelecR&D team’s technical ambition systems can becombined withhigh-quality High qualitystudiomonitors andactive speaker location information or, ifneeded,to askfor help. opportunities. Buddy improves safety, asitcan beusedto share loved onesof theuser, anditoffers communication andalerting possibilities. 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Photo iStock 23 24 THE SOCIAL IN TOUCH 25

CONTEXT By Anni Saastamoinen Photo iStock By Hannele Tavi Photos Interviewees HOT OR NOT? Five people give their honest opinion on whether Finnish punctuality is hot or cold. A QUIRKY LOVE FOR SAUNAS

Traditional saunas have long been a mainstay of HELEN BEKELE JUSTIN GONEY KSENIYA KAVERINA Finnish culture. In recent years, a range of unusual Originally from Ethiopia Originally from United States Originally from Russia Web programmer Software engineer Graduate student steam baths have entered the scene. Now, it ‘s possible “Finnish punctuality is hot. It is one of the “Finnish punctuality is like in Goldilocks and “It is dangerously contagious. Now Finnish customs and traditions I like most. the Three Bears: not hot, not cold, but just I’m almost always in time. I find it cute to enjoy a sauna in exotic locations ranging from a Punctuality gives ample time to prepare, be right. In my experience, Finns tend to be how Finns are conscious about their Ferris Wheel to the shores of Helsinki’s waterfront. calm and collected before any intended very punctual for important things, but they punctuality and sometimes feel bad meeting. It also allows people to manage usually fall within the ‘acceptable window of about it before foreigners. I used to their time efficiently. I believe social or tardiness’ regarding social engagements. It’s have a Finnish friend who would leave business meetings are more fruitful when refreshing after having lived in a few places after seven minutes if you’re late; now people are punctual. Most importantly, it where an agreed-upon time is more of a she would wait for ten minutes. Being shows how one value others’ time.” suggestion than anything else.” punctual is hot.”

PEDRO DÍAZ JUNGSOO MIN Originally from Spain Originally from South Korea Senior service operations engineer Interactive media student “It is cold in a sense that it is almost too “It is definitely hot. Finnish people just perfect. We Spaniards sometimes have can’t stand bothering other people so ‘issues’ with punctuality so it is very refreshing they want to be everywhere in time.” to see that if you agree on a day or time, Finns will appear in time.” 26 IN TOUCH 27

Photos Harvia, Touko Hujanen, LuinSpa and iStock LUXURY IN SAUNAS Sauna scents, sauna hats, and sauna stove decorations have taken their share of the sauna market. Sauna scents have various options from the scent of smoke to the scent of birch leaves, and sauna hats come in many designs. Sauna seems like a regular part of the Finnish culture, but it is also considered as a luxury. This luxury is a strong message of Finnish towel brand LuinSpa. LuinSpa wanted to bring the luxurious feeling of spas to every sauna and started to make good- quality towels, bath robes, and such for sauna-lovers.

SWIMMING YOUR WORRIES AWAY BUSINESS OF SAUNA Finland is a land of thousands of lakes There are some 30 commercial sauna and millions of saunas, so it is only natural stove brands in Finland and that to combine these two elements. The is totally normal for a sauna crazy ideal Finnish sauna experience includes country. According to the executive a refreshing swim in natural waters, no FREEZING HOT director of the Sauna from Finland matter what time of the year it is. Ice swimming is a big part of a Finnish refreshing effect of winter swimming network Carita Harju, the sauna-loving winter bathing experience. While it may is good for the body: It improves blood Finns know their way around different sound scary, in fact it is good for you – and circulation and boosts the metabolism. sauna stoves. nothing can be more refreshing. According to Huttunen’s findings frequent “There are so many different kinds Finnish docent Pirkko Huttunen from ice swimming will also lower blood of saunas in Finland, that many types University of Oulu has found that the pressure. of sauna stoves are necessary,” Harju says. A MINDFUL SWEAT The biggest sauna stove brands In Finnish culture sauna has always in Finland are Harvia and Helo, and been thought of as a place that approximately 50 percent of their keeps people healthy. There is a sauna stoves are sold abroad. proverb that says: “If liquor, tar, and sauna won’t help, the illness is fatal.” Nowadays it is proven to be true: sauna can actually heal, or at least keep people healthier. JAMA Internal Medicine medical journal published research conducted by the Eastern University of Finland, proving the health benefits of sauna. According to the research, frequent sauna bathing reduces risks of cardiac arrest. 28 IN TOUCH 29

Photos Seppo Saarentola, Kari Savolainen, Jorma Marstio, Kuvio.com, Sport Resort Ylläs, Tommi Haapaniemi / Allas Sea Pool

FINLAND’S OLDEST PUBLIC SAUNA

The heart of the oldest Finnish public sauna still in use lies in Pispala, Tampere. Its large sauna stove, or kiuas, is heated by steam stones weighing over a 1,000 kilos in all. It is a challenging task to heat up this sauna, as it has to be heated with one metre logs. FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC Though the heating process takes time, the steam stones are There are approximately three heated only once – and are large million saunas in Finland – and enough to hold the heat for the there are only about 5.5 million whole day. people living in Finland. This find a sauna 40 metres off the ground In Finnish culture, sauna is a equation means, that there are – in a Ferris Wheel. Sky Sauna’s unique place where the mind and the saunas that are not in use as often sauna cabin above the ground fits five body rest as well as cleanse, so at as they could be. This was the people, and is probably the hottest way HELSINKI’S TRENDIEST SAUNA ON THE SEAFRONT this sauna you will have to silence thought that created Helsinki to enjoy the view of Helsinki. The sauna Löyly is a monument to the development of modern your mobile phones. It is enough Sauna Day. experience is perfected with a hot tub, sauna. It is an impressive building located in a beautiful to listen to the calming hiss of the The idea of Helsinki Sauna Day located safely on the ground so you can spot in Helsinki’s waterfront. The building is a steam stones. is that everyone who has access enjoy the sauna steam in the air and then rectangular, sculptural structure made of heat-treated to a sauna can invite people to come down and relax in the hot tub. pine. The ”cloak-like” wooden structure forms intimate come to their sauna through Close to the Ferris wheel is also a terraces, on which people can also sit. The building web application. The city is full GET SPECIAL! newcomer, Allas Sea Pool. The unique consists of two parts: public saunas and a restaurant. of saunas that are not used, and There are always some new, exotic complex brings together swimming in Traditionally men and women bathe separately, but saunas that people will not be saunas popping up as the sauna sea water pools, urban culture, and of the owners and architects of Löyly wanted the sauna able to see – the private saunas of culture evolves. course saunas. be a place where people can spend time with their people, the saunas of apartment In Finnish Lapland, at Ylläs, As most of the bigger cities, Helsinki A compact guide friends, regardless of gender. As such, bathing suits are buildings, and such. Sauna Day you can steam your muscles after has got its own Burger King, but with to Finnish sauna worn in the sauna. celebrates all the saunas and all the skiing in the Sauna Gondola. Sauna a twist: there is a sauna in this one. etiquette and more! The architects who designed Löyly, Anu Puustinen sauna lovers. Gondola starts from the top of The sauna is located downstairs of the To be naked or not, should you and Ville Hara of Avanto Architects, believe that in the Ylläs hill and takes four people in its restaurant, and fits 15 burger and sauna go for a swim, and so on… Do not future there will be more unisex saunas. gondola lift. loving people. Yes – you can order food worry – find the compact guide to “Finnish saunas will become more interesting and Located in Helsinki with a and enjoy it in the sauna. Finnish sauna etiquette and other gain more global popularity, and they will be regarded marvellous view of the sea you can sauna facts on: for their curative properties as well as a luxurious place finland.fi/life-society/ of cleansing. Nowadays people see sauna bathing as a compact-guide-to-sauna-etiquette social event, so we believe there will be more Löyly- Rauhaniemi Public Sauna at like public bath houses in cities.” Tampere was built in 1929; the beach and the buildings retain almost their original appearance. 30 CULTURE 31

By Tiia Rask Photos Hugo & Marie and illustrators FINNISH DESIGNERS TO CHECK OUT

Saksi points out. “But in addition to that you’ll need hard work and a pinch of good luck.” Saksi, whose work has been exhibited all around the world, and commissioned by clients such as Nike and the New York Times, is wowing people with his experimental material usage, psychedelic atmospheres, and daunting imaginary. Finnish graphic designers are technically skilful and they have an ability to adapt different styles and to filter them in their own way. EDITOR’S PICK “Also the dark Nordic sense of humour and worldview are characteristics for Finnish designers,” Lotta Nieminen THE says Saksi. “Finnish designers are known for their courage Lotta Nieminen is a New York-based illustrator to commit so wholeheartedly to a concept,” says and graphic designer who, among other things, is BUSINESS OF Teemu Suviala. As the executive creative director of behind the illustrations for Facebook’s event and the New York-based brand and design consultancy ’s calendar. Nieminen is the creator of Collins, Suviala really knows the ins and outs of the strikingly coloured, nuanced illustrations for clients international world of design. And as the unifying such as IBM, Hermes, and the New York Times, ILLUSTRATION characteristic of great Finnish designers, Suviala and she has even made it onto Forbes magazine’s names the courage to commit. 30 under 30 list. The Aalto University graduate inland is known to many as a design nation “No matter whether the concept is minimalist has designed everything from window display – anywhere you go, you are surrounded by or maximalist, Finnish designers approach it with illustrations to children’s books. The most recent Iittala, Arabia, and the iconic, bold Unikko similar fearlessness,” says Suviala. work of Lotta Nieminen is her illustrated children’s F floral prints. But gone are the days when Saksi doesn’t think it is important that a designer book Pancakes! An Interactive Recipe Book. Finnish design only meant Marimekko should represent a certain country. He has lived and smart tableware. Now, gifted Finnish outside Finland for 12 years. illustrators and graphic designers are putting Finland on the “I am, of course, a Finn and have grown up in map one illustration at a time. Finland, so impressions for my works come from Kustaa Saksi is one of Finland’s internationally best-known there. But designers should keep their eyes open and illustrators. The artist has recently added textile arts to his live in a moment,” Saksi says. already impressive portfolio, and is now taking New York by For the courageous approach, we have our storm with his modern take on tapestry. educational system partly to thank. “Creating an international career nowadays is surely a “Our education aims to spur fearless, open- lot easier when the Internet makes spreading works more minded, and curious approaches to design,” Teemu democratic. Anyone, from anywhere can in principle start an Suviala says. And this leads in his opinion to a style ‘international’ career by putting their work portfolio online,” that is both original and unique. Just the kind that has put artists such as Saksi on the design map. Illustration agencies play a key role when it comes to opening international doors, says Suviala. They partner talented artists with clients, and take care Klaus Haapaniemi “THE DARK NORDIC of the business end of things – everything from marketing to contracts to international property Inspired by folklore and nature, Klaus SENSE OF HUMOUR IS rights issues, freeing the designer’s time solely for Haapaniemi is a London-based designer and the creative work. co-founder of the design and lifestyle brand Klaus CHARACTERISTIC FOR “A good, holistic design is the best way for a brand Haapaniemi & Co. His impressive resume includes to stand out,” says Suviala, and quotes Thomas J. work for global brands such as Christian Louboutin FINNISH DESIGN.” Watson: “Good design is good business.” and Established & Sons, and his designs that draw from mythological elements can also be found on Iittala’s tableware and even on the opera stage.

Kustaa Saksi design for Marimekko design for Saksi Kustaa Since 2010, he has had his own shop on popular Redchurch Street in London. 32 KNOWLEDGE 33 DRIVEN

By Hannele Tavi Photos Arto Wiikari and Lehtikuva

FOUR

GENERATIONS Taito Vesala, 96, has seen how blackboards have been replaced OF EDUCATION by tablet computers in Finnish classrooms. The skills of Taito’s descendants never cease to amaze him.

hen Taito Vesala, 96, started school at the age of six in 1926, in the first year he had two weeks of school in the autumn and W another two weeks in the spring in an ambulatory school. After that, he had four years of primary school, and there his education ended. “Before we were given our school-leaving certificates, the teacher’s niece and I competed on who had the best grades in the class. The teacher very much wanted me to continue to grammar school, since my grades were actually quite good. But my family was poor, so I had to go to work and give the money I earned to my parents,” Taito recalls. “So that was the end of my formal education, and the rest of my learning took place in the school of life,” says Taito. In the 1920s, Finland was a poor, predominantly agricultural country, which had just recently become independent. Taito was the first one in his family to receive formal education. When Taito’s great-grandson Tatu Vesala, 10, started school in 2013, he had a minimum of nine years of schooling ahead of him. Tatu, now in the fifth grade, enjoys going to school and dreams of becoming an actor. The development of the Finnish school system has coincided with the growing up of Taito’s descendants. Each generation has received more education than their predecessors. The Finnish education system has received Jarmo Vesala (from left), Taito Vesala, Jari recognition worldwide. In the PISA study, or the joint Vesala, and Tatu Vesala share common research programme of the OECD member states, the skills experiences from school. of Finnish schoolchildren have frequently been ranked high. 34 KNOWLEDGE 35 DRIVEN

International comparison of schools is difficult, but Finland’s good performance in tests is based on a few cornerstones. In Finland, the attitude towards education is In the recent years, the grading system positive and education is valued. changed from numeric grading towards written assessments. Tatu’s assessment A JOURNEY OF 100 YEARS was given in letters up until now. During the first years of the 20th century, “I CAN’T HELP BUT ADMIRE “For example, I got an A in the big only a third of rural children went to German test last spring. My classroom school. In the 1921 act on compulsory HOW THE SCHOOL LUNCH conduct was a B, but proactiveness an A+,” education, the objective was for all children the quick-witted boy explains. to learn the primary school syllabus. After ROOM SERVES MEALS Grandfather Jarmo admires Tatu’s the fourth grade, the children who had TO 700 PUPILS ON EACH aptitude for foreign languages. He himself the financial means and sufficient grades Today, a free meal is served to all preschoolers and comprehensive school pupils as did not learn any foreign languages in could apply to grammar school. well as upper secondary level pupils on each of the five school days. SCHOOL DAY.” school. Despite his good grades, this “And here we have a ten-year-old opportunity was not within Taito’s reach. who speaks both English and German!” Thus, at the beginning of his career, he exclaims Jarmo. worked in a variety of jobs, ranging from the nine-year comprehensive school, which lunch. In 1948, the act on school meals times and nutritional recommendations. “I can’t help but admire how the school Tatu started learning German in the a police officer to a real estate broker. The consisted of a six-year lower level and a was enacted, obligating municipalities to Today, a free meal is served to all pupils on lunch room serves meals to 700 pupils on fourth grade, and English started when he career path of his son Jarmo Vesala, 66, has three-year upper level. provide a free-of-charge lunch in schools each of the five school days. each school day,” says Jarmo. was halfway through the second grade. been similar: he just retired from his job as The comprehensive school system was on each of the then six school days. Tatu, a school-goer in the 2010s, is happy The new core curriculum enables Tatu to a service station entrepreneur. implemented in Finland gradually starting “In the 1950s, the school meal service with the meals served in school. ASSESSMENT WITHOUT GRADES start learning Swedish in the sixth grade Jarmo’s education began in Helsinki in in 1972. This coincided with Jarmo’s son was very much like it is today. At a certain “Usually the food is quite OK. For Ever since the day when Taito was in next year, so after six years in school, he 1956. The Primary Schools Act was enacted Jari Vesala, 47, starting school. time, we all got together to have lunch. I example, I like ham and potato casserole. school, the Finnish school system has will have studied three languages. two years after he started school, adding The comprehensive school reform was a was taught at home that you had to finish The food is tasty and good,” says Tatu. used a grading scale of 4–10, with 10 two compulsory study years. Thus, Jarmo’s hot topic at the time, but for Jari, the new all food on your plate,” Taito’s son Jarmo Jari, who is an earth-moving contractor, being the highest grade, to assess pupils’ VERSATILE LEARNING education was that much longer than his school system was the way of learning. recalls. is also among those who praise school performance twice per year. The stories of four generations illustrate father’s had been. “For me, the comprehensive school was “A dish with a bad reputation in my meals. “I used to be a solid 7,” Jarmo describes that while the basic principle of school has The Finnish school system was the only option to receive education,” says school was meat stew with dill. I was the “I have good memories of school meals. his own school years. remained unchanged for nearly a century, reformed almost completely in the 1970s, Jari. only one in my class who was ever able to The food served in schools is still good – in The grades were given based on tests the school system is also being constantly when the comprehensive school reform eat all of it,” Jarmo says, with a smirk. fact, my father Jarmo and I go to a school and classroom performance. The only renewed. A big reform that will shuffle the ended the era of the primary and grammar THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A FREE LUNCH The years have gone by and meat stew located near our current earth-moving oral test in the 1950s was the singing test, Finnish school system in the coming years school system. The reform replaced the One of the recipes for success in the with dill is no longer on the school menu, site to have lunch. The food is reasonably where each student had to stand in front is the new core curriculum. In elementary primary and grammar school system with Finnish school system is the school which has kept up with the changing priced, healthy, and really tasty,” Jari says. of the class. school it took effect in autumn 2016.

1920 Taito is born 1958 1971 Compulsory education is 1948 A five-day school week extended by two years The act on school meals is implemented brings free-of-charge 1972 1921 lunches to schools 1969 1950 The comprehensive Jari is born The act on compulsory Jarmo is born school reform begins education is enacted, covering from Lapland all children aged 7–13 36 KNOWLEDGE 37 DRIVEN

sat between the pupils and a blackboard, and the pupils were seated in rows of “THE PEDAGOGIC FOCUS IS desks. Today, school rooms are open and transformable. The teacher no longer SHIFTING FROM COLLECTING lectures from a podium, due to the use of INFORMATION TO LEARNING wireless computers and digitalisation. Tatu’s classrooms no longer have STUDY SKILLS.” blackboards or chalks. There is a digital camera on the teacher’s desk in the classroom for displaying materials on a smart board. The teacher may also show In the recent years, phenomenon-based learning videos from their computer. At times, the extending across different subjects has been introduced pupils also get to use tablets or computers. in schools, among others. Tatu comes to the interview “For example, when we colour or draw, directly from school, from a class-organised travel fair. we can use the tablet to look at models,” In the lessons, pupils plan and organise a travel fair, in Tatu says. which they present destinations and cultures of different Information retrieval skills are practised countries to other classmates. in connection with presentations, which “This morning, Tatu left for school carrying our old are given frequently in pairs or in a group. suitcase, which is bigger than he is,” Jari says and explains Some of the textbooks are now that the old suitcase will be included in the props of the completely electronic. Tatu’s elder brother travel fair. Leevi Vesala, 14, has been assigned a tablet 3 X 100 IDEAS TO from school. The majority of learning NO MORE BLACKBOARDS materials are already electronic. DEVELOP EDUCATION New learning methods also have an impact on the “The young people today are quite school premises. As the pedagogic focus is shifting from something,” says 96-year-old Taito. On 18 January 2017 at 6 p.m, every The non-profit HundrED project is collecting information to learning study skills, classrooms “They receive so much information that school in Finland will hold a parent- the outcome of cooperation between are transformed as well. Previously, the teacher’s desk I can’t help but admire their skills!” teacher meeting where parents several players consisting of three sub- receive information on the school projects, each of which aims to find a NEW GUIDELINES world and have an opportunity to 100 innovations. The world’s largest FOR EDUCATION discuss and influence it. parent-teacher meeting is part of the 100 Finland project, which aims to find a 100 The national core curriculum Since parents have an important role projects or experiments, which will be undergoes a reform in the transformation of the school, the followed up on in schools. In the second approximately every ten years world’s largest parent-teacher meeting project world-class innovations will be in Finland. The new core will cover the challenges the changing sought and in the third one 100 experts curriculum, which took effect in schools are facing and present various will be interviewed in different fields of the autumn 2016, is a publication inspiring operating models. education and on different continents. of almost 500 pages. The new This meeting is a part of the HundrED “We wanted to find people who core curriculum defines seven project which is to discover educational are passionate about the direction in areas of broad, contemporary innovations from around the world and to which schools are headed and should competence. Such areas include 2016 share them with others. be heading,” Tuominen says. “We have ICT competence, working life The first stage of the a l “To celebrate Finland’s 100 years of participation from an enormous number skills and entrepreneurship, as new core curriculum a s independence, we came up with the idea of top experts in the field. The interviews well as building a sustainable becomes effective e 2004 V u t of involving Finland in a project that is will be shared with the world both on future. For example, pupils will a The core curriculum is T n extensive and useful on an international video and in written format.” start learning programming as reformed the previous so s scale as well and focuses on the future hundred.fi part of mathematics in the first hi time d an of education,” says Saku Tuominen, the grade. la esa 2005 Jari V producer responsible for the project. finland.fi/life-society/ the-truth-about-finnish-schools Tatu is born 38 FINNISH 39 BY NATURE By Hannele Tavi Photo Visit Finland

STOP RIGHT THERE!

Helsinki Airport is the leading long-haul airport in Northern Europe, serving over 16 million passengers annually. Each year more passengers travelling to or from Asia stop over for just five hours or a couple of nights to investigate what Finland has to offer them.

And there are many things to explore. Lonely Planet – the number one travel guide publisher in the world – nominated Finland as the third best travel destination for year 2017. Lonely Planet promises that with the centenary celebrations the country will be filled with interesting events happening in every region. If your path crosses Helsinki Airport take some extra time and stop for some overnighting designed by the StopOver Finland programme. “Highlights from the programme include jogging between flights, where travellers are invited to stretch their legs, enjoy some fresh air and see Helsinki’s main sites all at once, with an English-speaking running guide”, says Kaisa Kosonen, programme manager for StopOver Finland. Kosonen also recommends Northern Lights in winter, which is a three-night stopover, providing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the natural phenomenon of Aurora Borealis, nature’s spectacular light snow. Another fascinating way to spend your stop is live like a local option, which offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy life like a genuine Finn. The package includes a compact introduction to the Finnish way of life with a dinner at a local home, amongst many other unique experiences.

Further information on StopOver Finland can be found via: www.visitfinland.com/stopover Photo Flow Festival / Samuli Pentti

FINNISH SUMMER IS...

Green. It is the greenest country Safe. Finland is the safest country, says Perky. Finns are number one in the in the world, when you look at the the World Economic Forum. International Coffee Trade Statistics. Environmental Performance Index. Time for coffee? Dialogic. Finland is ranked first in Cultural. The Most Literate Nation, do freedom of the press according to the More facts about Finland: we need to say more? World Press Freedom Index. thisisfinland.fi