Issue 3 – 2010 May 31 English Contents 2 Claire Aho’s Helsinki Supplement in 1968 3 Unravelling mysteries of climate change
5 University glossary
6 New directions at Helsinki Zoo
8 Users develop Infobank
9 Happy Helsinki Day
10 Helsinki Week
11 Shaman´s haven of the Kalevala Unravelling 12 Information services for non-Europeans
the mysteries of climate changePage 3
Page 9 Mari Hohtari
Happy Helsinki Week Mari Hohtari English Supplement
Young couples in love celebrating Labour Day, daredevils in a twirling carousel, market vendors behind their stands… In 1968 photographer Claire Aho participated in a Nordic photog- raphy exhibition in Kiel, Germany with her images of Helsinki. These photographs, which feature sur- prising compositions and offer fascinat- ing depictions of the era, are now being exhibited in Finland for the first time. Claire Aho, born 1925 in Helsinki and now living in Stockholm, is the grand old lady of Finnish photography FRONT PAGE with a huge amount of portraits, post- ers, fashion plates and artistic photos. She is also a pioneer of Finnish docu- mentary film like her father Heikki
Aho and her uncle Björn Soldan. Claire Aho Claire Aho is the granddaughter of author Juhani Aho (earlier Brofeldt) and Venny Soldan-Brofeldt (1863– 1945), one of the leading women painters of her time. Claire Aho’s Helsinki in 1968 Juhani Aho (1861–1921) was a jour- nalist and the first Finnish professional Although Juhani Aho chose his sub- is seen in his first novel Rautatie Exhibition in the Virka Gallery 4.6.–5.9. writer, best known Finnish author in jects from Finnish folk life, his works (Railway) from the year 1884. Aho Helsinki City Hall lobby, Scandinavia in his own time, who spe- were far from provincial. They also translated to Finnish such writers Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13 cialized in short stories called ”lastuja” reflected consciously modern literary as Kielland, Daudet, Lagerlöf, Hugo, Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9–19 (splinters). movements, especially realism, which and Maeterlinck. Sat–Sun 11–17. English Supplement
At the forefront of geosciences:
Unravelling mysteries of climate change
By Johanna Lemola
FRONT PAGE Markku Kulmala is at the helm of world- leading research on aerosols and their influence on climate change.
Professor Markku Kulmala agrees with the legendary fic- tional detective Nero Wolfe in one ambition: never leave your home to conduct an investigation. Dr Kulmala would prefer to stay securely at his home base to conduct his “investigation”, research on aerosols. This year, he has to make a compromise, having accepted a visiting professorship in environmental science at Stock- holm University by invitation of the King of Sweden. Home base to Dr Kulmala has been the Department of Physics at the University of Helsinki for his entire 26-year career. This career has taken him and his team to the top of the world in atmospheric science. Mari Hohtari English Supplement
No. 3 on the world ranking list originating from Finland published in tion, founded by Dr Kulmala and col- Professor Kulmala’s team at the the respected Science magazine. leagues in 1995, has an extensive Department of Physics’ Division of range of measurement capabilities, Atmospheric Sciences – designated The makings of success from atmospheric and irradiation to by the Academy of Finland as a Cen- The reasons for the team’s success soil-water measurements. tre of Excellence – studies aerosols are many. “Hyytiälä has produced the longest and the interactions between the bio- The Division of Atmospheric Sci- unbroken records from field measure- sphere and the atmosphere. ences at the University of Helsinki is ments in the world”, Dr Kulmala says. The findings of the team bear direct the pioneer in field measurements. “These records enable us to formu- relevance to the understanding of cli- The Division has run stations for late a clear view of how the atmos- mate change. While greenhouse measuring ecosystem-atmosphere phere, trees, moss and soil all play gases heat the atmosphere, aerosols relationships for close to 20 years together.” exert a cooling influence by reflecting and produced continuous records for A key factor in the success of the solar radiation back to space and by 15 years. The Hyytiälä measuring sta- team is its multidisciplinary base of forming clouds, thereby slowing research. The team works in close co- FRONT PAGE down climate change. operation with the University’s chem- “In order to determine the mecha- What are aerosols? ists, biologists and forest researchers. nism involved, we need comprehen- The Finnish Meteorological Institute is sive understanding of how aerosol Aerosols are airborne fine solid on the same Kumpula campus with particles are formed and how they particles or liquid droplets – tech- the rest (only forest research is in the behave”, Dr Kulmala explains. nically suspensions of them in a nearby Viikki campus). The close In this work, his team leads the gas. They are created by industrial physical proximity translates into easy world. Dr Kulmala’s personal record or traffic emissions, desert sand- and close collaboration. “There is no bears witness: he is currently the storms and the biosphere, among other unit in this field as versatile as world’s third most quoted researcher other factors. Examples are we are”, Dr Kulmala affirms. in geosciences. He registers more smoke, air pollution and oceanic The team’s scope is also the widest than 10,000 citations in scientific pub- haze. In general, non-scientific in the world, ranging from micro-scale lications over his career and has pub- usage, aerosol usually has a dif- to global scale – from nanocluster lished some 500 articles himself. His ferent meaning and refers to an models to integrated Earth system team is alone responsible for approx- aerosol spray from a can. models ending up with predictions on Mari Hohtari imately ten per cent of all articles a worldwide scale. English
Supplement Sari Ruusutie
Science fiction or a distinct possibility? University glossary Knowing that aerosols cool the atmos- phere, could they be manipulated to fight climate change? English Finnish “First, we should treat such geo- engineering with utmost precaution, because we could go horribly wrong. University of Helsinki: University yliopisto But, keeping that in mind, we seek to In the top league among the world’s research universities Research tutkimus have the knowledge of what could be done in case of emergency.” Multi-disciplinary monitieteinen Such an emergency could emerge if, The University of Helsinki is the biggest university in Finland. It is a for example, the permafrost suddenly multi-disciplinary university with 11 faculties and four campuses. Faculty tiedekunta melted, resulting in the release of The student body numbers 35,000. The staff numbers 8,000 includ- massive amounts of methane (a pow- ing 3,800 in research and teaching positions. Each year, the university Campus kampus erful greenhouse gas) into the atmos- confers some 470 doctoral degrees, and its researchers publish nearly Student opiskelija FRONT PAGE phere. 10,000 scientific articles. The University of Helsinki is among the 10-15 best multi-disciplinary Staff henkilökunta Looking into the future research-intensive universities in Europe and among the 100 best in Predicting the progress of climate the world. This achievement puts the university in the top 0.1 per cent Doctoral degree tohtorin arvo change is difficult, but one thing globally. seems certain: “There is nothing in The League of European Research Universities (LERU) represents Scientific tieteellinen view that would take away our top Europe’s best research-intensive universities. The University of Helsinki Climate change ilmastonmuutos ranking in aerosol research”, Dr Kul- is one of the 22 current members of LERU. The university has been a mala says. LERU member ever since the first members were selected in 2003, Academy of Finland Suomen Akatemia Without making any predictions, it ranking fifth in that year. seems fitting that Dr Kulmala has The Academy of Finland has designated 39 Finnish research units as spent much of his time this year in centres of excellence. Out of them, 26 operate within the University of very close proximity to the Royal Helsinki or include TimoUniversity Cantell of Helsinki plays researchers. Swedish Academy, the awarder of the The universitya major rolewas infounded the generation in Turku in 1640 and moved to Helsinki Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry. in 1827. of diverse urban data. Kimmo Brandt English Supplement
NewNew FRONT PAGE directionsdirections atat HelsinkiHelsinki
“I’m lucky to have been able to study the Zooworld’sZoo natural environment on a broad basis”, says Jukka Salo, the new director of the Helsinki Zoo in Korkeasaari. Kimmo Brandt English Supplement
The zoo was founded on the rocky breed here. The Amur leopard suffers urban development and new traffic island in 1889. The island, a favourite in its natural environment and will connections”, Dr Salo says, comment- among families and tourists, wel- probably die out in a couple of ing on the zoo’s future. An ideas com- comes more than half a million visi- decades”, Dr Salo points out. petition was organized on the zoo Mari Hohtari tors each year. “The African elephant would not some years ago. New plans are aimed Dr Salo, age 52, is a professor from manage here very well, and we have at increasing the wellbeing of animals, The whole the city of Pori in western Finland. His not acquired any so far,” he contin- improving visitor facilities and upgrad- main interest throughout his career ues. “But new techniques can make it ing services especially in winter. world on one has been biodiversity (the diversity of possible for us to have elephants one life forms). He has served at the helm day. Our partners in Africa send us Opening hours: island of many environmental organizations live images of these magnificent May–August 10–20 and worked abroad for years. giants of the savanna.” The Helsinki Zoo in Korkeas- He benefits from his international “Korkeasaari will be strongly devel- Note: Ticket sales close one hour aari allows visitors to travel background and networks, because oped as part of Eastern Helsinki’s before the zoo closing time. from tundra to rainforest and zoos worldwide co-operate widely in from foreign mountain tops to FRONT PAGE animal acquisitions, protection of domestic wetlands. The 150 endangered species and returning animal species and almost animals to nature. 1,000 plant species truly reveal Helsinki Zoo is home to many the diversity of nature. The endangered species, including “big Korkeasaari island is located cats” from the Amur region and both Blue-throated and Hyacinth Macaws close to the city centre. It is from the Amazon. The zoo enhances accessible through the Mus- the protection of these, and many tikkamaa recreational area all other species, in their natural environ- year round. In summer, the ments with the help of zoo visitors, island is served by a ferry boat corporations and various organiza- from the Kauppatori Market tions. Square and Hakaniemi. The “We can offer good conditions for Pukki Restaurant and Safari animals from northern climates. For Café are open every day of the example, Amur leopards can live and
Matti Tirri year when the zoo is open. English Supplement
The Info Bank web service, a spouse, a student, an immigrant co-ordinated by the City of who has moved to Finland to look for Helsinki’s Cultural Office, employment, a person planning to provides information on move to Finland, and a Finn moving Finland in 15 languages. Info Users develop back to Finland from abroad. Bank is now developed with “Our experiences from this joint the help of a jury consisting effort to improve user-friendliness are of 15 foreign-born users. excellent. It is optimal for everybody that the service is developed by those Info Bank at www.infopankki.fi is for whom it is intended”, says Henni intended for immigrants in Finland, Päivi Arvonen Info Bank Ahvenlampi, a web service planner people planning to move to Finland, who co-ordinates the jury’s work. and authorities working with immi- The jury members were recruited grants or immigration-related ques- last summer with multi-lingual ads, tions. and one hundred people applied. The The contents are categorized accord- jury meets four times a year. In the FRONT PAGE ing to 11 themes, including employ- interim, the members work through ment and starting a business, Finnish the social media to carry out tasks and Swedish languages, and educa- and, if they so wish, assist in commu- tion. Information is available at three nicating about Info Bank in various levels: national, regional and local. connections. The most popular pages are those in “The jury members are not volun- Finnish, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Eng- teers. They are paid regular City of lish and Russian. The rest of the 15 Helsinki expert-advisor fees”, Ahven- languages are Swedish, Estonian, lampi says. Somali, Serbo-Croatian, French, Span- Info Bank brochures are available ish, Albanian, Chinese and Kurdish. free of charge and can be ordered at The members of the jury represent [email protected]. various backgrounds: there is an eth- nically Finnish person from Russia, a Henni Ahvenlampi refugee, a family member of an asy- co-ordinates More: www.infopankki.fi and lum seeker, an academic researcher, the jury’s work. www.facebook.com/infopankki English Supplement
Helsinki Bike Show ion. A tango instructor is on hand at Happy Helsinki Day! At 11–16, Railway Square the start of the evening to show you Admire the finest custom motorbikes the steps. Tickets in advance from in Finland at this ride-in exhibition in Tiketti 8 € (available from 3 May) or Railway Square. Further information: 10 € from the door. www.helsinkibikeshow.fi
See you in Esplanade Park Finnish folk dancing Enjoy events throughout Helsinki Day at Seurasaari on the Espa Stage and along the Enjoy Finnish folk dancing and music Esplanade Park. performed by bands from throughout Traditional Helsinki Day handicrafts Greater Helsinki. Visitors are also market and Helsinki Day design mar- invited to part in the dancing and ket. enjoy a picnic! Antin aukio, from 14 hrs. FRONT PAGE Dive in for a swim! Free admission to the Seurasaari In honour of Helsinki Day the follow- Open-Air Museum 11 through 17. Lauri Rotko ing swimming halls are offering free Take bus 24 from Erottaja. admission throughout the day: Helsinki Day celebrates the city´s birthday on Saturday, Itäkeskus, Pirkkola, Swimming Sta- June 12. Everyone is invited to participate in the various dium, Kumpula, Kallio, Kontula, Kontula Shopping events of the day, starting with the Mayor’s morning coffee Malmi, Mäkelänrinne, Siltamäki, Töölö Centre Festival in the City Hall inner courtyard. and Vuosaari. At 14–18 (Metro: Kontula) This year the programme includes Summer dancing and even more events at several locations, Helsinki Samba Carnaval tango lessons by “We love including Kontulatalo, Wanha Posti Helsinki” and Kontulan Lähiöasema. Perform- This year the Samba Carnaval cele- 12 June at 12 the Samba parade gath- At 9–16, Korjaamo Culture ances in the Kontula metro stations brates its 20th anniversary. The festi- ers and performs in the Senate Square, Factory begin at 2pm and include: Sirkus Hel- val spreads carnaval spirit and music and at 15 the parade departs from the Dance to old Finnish hits. Guests are sinki, Mikko Perkola, II Terzetto di Luca for the entire weekend on 11–12 June square. invited to dress up in traditional fash- Cannavò and Honey B. & T-Bones. Lauri Rotko English Supplement
Enjoy Helsinki Week! Helsinki Week on 3-20 June offers a variety of events before, during and after Helsinki’s birthday.
Guard’s Band festival and other performers include the Riku 3–6 June, Suomenlinna maritime Niemi Orchestra, Turku Konehuone fortress and Tommi Läntinen. The music of Finland’s oldest professional orchestra the classic Turku duo Matti & Teppo presents the nation’s military music will also be heard. culture figurative marches. European Capitals of Café Ehrensvärd Culture 2011 visit Helsinki in Sederholm House 11–13 June, Senate Square FRONT PAGE 7–13 June, at 11–18, The 2011 European Capitals of Culture Aleksanterinkatu 18 Turku and Tallinn will present their Delicious pastries based on the origi- programmes at Senate Square on 11 nal recipes from the 18th century – in and 13 June. Helsinki had its year as honour of the 300th anniversary of European Cultural Capital 10 years ago the birth of Augustin Ehrensvärd, the in 2000. man who built the Suomenlinna mari- time fortress. Tallinn Day Lauri Rotko 13 June at 11–17 Senate Square, Turkuun Fun family events are on offer at Sen- For more information about Turkuun concert ate Square, including dancing, music, Les Lumières Helsinki Day and Helsinki Week see 11 June at 19–21.30 highlights from musicals and youth 14–20 June www.helsinkiviikko.fi All the performances in this concert circus performances. At the Culinary Les Lumières, cultural festival of the Changes to the programme are related in some way to the City of Circus leading chefs from Tallinn, Enlightment, offers music and philos- are possible. Turku. The Aino Choir presents the Turku and Helsinki present their reci- ophy in different venues in Helsinki Free admission to events, music of Ressu Redford and Neon 2, pes and samples of their dishes. and Suomenlinna. unless otherwise stated. English Supplement
Concept for The Shaman’s Haven of The students and professors of the Spirit of Place/ Final model of The Shaman’s Haven the Kalevala. Students of the Spirit of Spirit of Design program in a charrette at the Finn- of the Kalevala. Students of the Spirit Place/Spirit of Design program. ish Embassy in Washington, DC, January 2010 of Place/Spirit of Design program.
Design (SPSD), which for 15 years has tural heritage preservation in distant The team of students and local arti- Shaman´s led architecture students to create landscapes continues to guide the sans will build The Shaman’s Haven meaningful monuments that echo methodology of research and design. of the Kalevala over nine intensive haven of and celebrate the most ancient cul- The program’s overriding objective is days of construction out of Finnish FRONT PAGE tural lyrics of a place by means of to foster a method for design educa- wood, glass and stainless steel. They the Kalevala modern design. The program, headed tion that engages the most deeply res- will construct a small building, approx- by Price at The Catholic University of onant qualities of culture and the imately 15’ x 40’ (5m x 13m) with Helsinki will witness the culmination America in Washington, DC, has so specificity of place. foundations bolted on granite boul- of a prominent architectural and aca- far designed and built projects around In Helsinki, Spirit of Place/Spirit of ders. The building will function as a demic program in late August 2010, as the world from the mountains of Design will blend imagery of the Finn- “think tank,” a meeting place for American architect Travis Price leads Machu Picchu to the rugged west ish cultural heritage with realities of a reflection and creative dialogue. an international group of students to coast of Ireland and to the sacred modern-day, competitive information The dedication ceremonies, on build a poetic evocation of the Finnish sites of Nepal. society. On a pristine natural site at August 26th, will launch Helsinki national epic Kalevala. The Shaman’s The goal of the Spirit of Place/Spirit water’s edge on Seurasaari, a museum Design Week 2010 and coincide with Haven of the Kalevala is to be built of Design program is to explore the island that honors Finnish history with the Helsinki Festival, the largest on the southern tip of the Seurasaari design and construction of architec- buildings from past centuries, The Sha- annual event on the Finnish cultural Island. tural forms that successfully respond man’s Haven of the Kalevala will over- calendar. The project is the latest chapter in a to natural and cultural settings in a look Helsinki’s newest concentration of design-build expedition program contemporary language of design. business and 21st century technology known as Spirit of Place/Spirit of Environmental stewardship and cul- across the bay in Ruoholahti. www.SpiritofPlace-Design.com English English Supplement Supplement
Helsinki City Tourist Office Helsinki City Tourist Helsinki Info is a printed newspaper published by the City of Helsinki and distributed to all Helsinki households six times a year. Information Services Helsinki Info’s English Supplement resembles the main publication in for non-Europeans format but is published online on the City Website, also six times a year. FINFO services are for anyone who has moved to Next issue 20.9.2010 Finland from a non-European country, as well as for those professionals who in some capacity assist people Publisher: City of Helsinki who are new to Finland, such as teachers, healthcare www.hel.fi professionals or immigration advisors. The primary Editor-in-Chief: Rita Ekelund language is English, but FINFO also provides e-mail Phone (+358 9) 310 36074 and phone services in Russian, Arabic, French and City of Helsinki, Communications Finnish. P.O. Box 1 Helsinki Helpers FI-00099 City of Helsinki, Finland bring information on the streets FINFO advice line: 0207 40 11 60 Graphic design: Guassi Oy open Tue–Fri 10–15 (standard call rates apply) This summer tourists will again be served on the Send us feedback: FRONT PAGE languages: English, French, Arabic, Finnish (10–15) and streets and in the parks of the city by Helsinki Help- [email protected] Russian (12-15) ers. Their season begins on Helsinki Day, 12 June and Do you want to subscribe to Helsinki Info Eng- continues until 29 August. 28 Helsinki Helpers will lish Supplement? Send your e-mail address to FINFO email advice: [email protected] (or via this patrol the city daily from 9 hrs to 18 hrs. Visitors are [email protected] website by clicking ”Contact FINFO”) served in a total of 10 languages. The Tourist & Con- languages: English, French, Arabic, Russian, Finnish vention Bureau’s popular Helsinki Helpers served last Info kit Replies within 2–3 working days year over 92,000 customers, of whom over 80 per- cent were foreign visitors. Information for all residents FINFO service portal for professionals (in Finnish) Helsinki Helpers will be accompanied in and Virka Info telephone service (09) 310 11111 FINFO services are being developed and tested as a around the Market Square by Helppi, the friendly (Mon-Fri 9–15) and information point in the City Hall lobby, address Pohjoisesplanadi 11–13 part of a three-year project ”Welmig”, funded by the mascot of Helsinki’s family tourism campaign. A new (Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat–Sun 11–17). www.virka.fi European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country information pavilion will open at the Market Square Nationals and RAY, and administered by Väestöliitto ry. in July, where Helsinki Helpers will be on hand Info Bank is an online service aimed at immi- For more information about the project, please visit throughout the summer to assist tourists. The mobile grants, offering information on Finnish society and life in Finland in 15 languages. The website http://www.vaestoliitto.fi/monikulttuurisuus/ information pavilion will also be tried at several other also contains local information on Helsinki. hankkeet/welmig-hanke/ locations during the summer. www.infopankki.fi