10 questions to our Study Affairs Coordinator Viola Niklander-Teeri

Tällä kertaa 10 kysymystä-vastausvuorossa on maataloustieteiden laitoksen opintotoimiston esimies Viola Niklander-Teeri. This time we interviewed the department’s Study Affairs Coordinator Viola Niklander-Teeri. Read what she has to say!

1. Mikä oli haaveammattisi lapsena? What was your dream occupation as a child?

Lentoemäntä. Nykyisin kyllä pelkään lentämistä.

Stewardess. Although nowadays I’m afraid of flying.

2.    Mikä on parasta nykyisessä työssäsi?  What do you like most in your current workplace?

Olen tutkijaluonne ja tykkään siitä, että työni on itsenäistä. Joka päivä on erilainen ja saa itse suunnitella oman työnkuvansa. Tutkijatausta auttaa tässä työssä hirveästi, koska siinä työssä syntynyt ajatusmaailma ja kontaktit ovat jäljellä.

I’m a researcher by nature and I like to work independently. In my work, no day is alike the other and I get to plan my own daily schedule. My background as a researcher is of tremendous help since I still have my mindset and contacts from those years.

3.  Miten päädyit maataloustieteiden alalle? How did you end up in agricultural sciences?

Koulutustaustaltani olen puhdas perustieteilijä. Olen aikoinani valmistunut perinnöllisyystieteestä (molekyyligenetiikka) Helsingin yliopistosta. Väitöskirjani tein Ruotsin maatalousyliopistossa SLU:ssa Uppsalassa ja post docini CSIRO:ssa (valtion tutkimuslaitos) Canberrassa, Australiassa. Erinäisten mutkien kautta päädyin maataloustieteiden laitokselle, jossa taustastani on kuitenkin ollut hyötyä. Modernissa kasvi- ja kotieläintieteessä käytetään nykyisin molekyylibiologisia menetelmiä ja työkaluja.

My educational background is in basic sciences. I’ve graduated from  Genetics (Molecular Genetics) from UH. I completed my Doctoral thesis in SLU, Uppsala, Sweden and my post doc in CSIRO (a governmental research institute in Canberra), Australia. Following a series of twists and turns, I ended up here at the Department of Agricultural Sciences. I’ve noticed my educational background is of use here, since modern plant and animal science benefits a lot from molecular biology methods and tools.

4. Mitkä kaksi asiaa ottaisit mukaan autiolle saarelle? What would you take with you on a desert island? You can choose two.

Pari vuotta sitten kesken pahimpien ruuhkavuosien halusin paeta yksin autiolle saarelle. Nykyisin ajattelen, että ottaisin mukaan läheiset ihmiset, mukaan lukien koiran. Ja tietenkin hyvää ruokaa.

A few years back during some really busy times in my life I would have wanted to escape to that desert island all by myself. Today the answer is my closest family and our dog. And of course good food.

5. Jos saisit kuulla elämässäsi enää vain yhden musiikkikappaleen, mikä se olisi? If you were allowed to listen to only one more song in your life, what song would it be?

Joan Baez-klassikko. / Some classic song from Joan Baez.

6. Mikä on lempiruokaasi?  Your favourite dish?

Sushi.

7. Lempipaikkasi Viikissä?  Your favourite spot in Viikki?

Oma työhuone. Tykkään työstäni.

My office – I really like my job.

8. Ketkä ovat toimineet sinulle omalla alalla inspiroijina ja suunnannäyttäjinä? Who has been an inspiration for you during your career?

Koulussa biologian opettaja inspiroi, mikään muu ei kiinnostanut. Yliopistolla minua on inspiroinut graduohjaajani  Teemu (vuonna 1985).

In high school my biology teacher, I was practically not interested in anything else. At the university my Master’s thesis instructor Teemu, back in 1985.

9. Miksi maataloustieteitä tarvitaan tulevaisuudessakin? Mitä maailmanlaajuisia ongelmia sillä ratkaistaan? Why are agricultural sciences needed in the future? What problems can it solve?

Ihmiset ajattelevat yhä enemmän sitä, mitä syövät ja mistä ruoka tulee. Ala ei koskaan lopu, aina riittää tutkittavaa ja kehitettävää.

People are more and more interested in what they eat and where food comes from. This field will never expire, there is always something to develop or study.

10. Edellinen haastateltava Jarmo Juga lähetti seuraavalle haastateltavalle kysymyksen. Hän kysyy, miten aiot seuraavan nelivuotiskauden aikana kehittää laitoksen toimintaa. Our previous interviewee Jarmo Juga sent you a question. He wants to know how you are going to develop the department during its next four-year period.

Yritän tuoda alaamme näkyvämmäksi, koska täällä on paljon mahdollisuuksia. Itsekin laitokselle ulkopuolisena tulleena olen huomannut alan suurenmoiset mahdollisuudet. Erityisesti haluan parantaa hyvien kaupunkilaistaustaisten opiskelijoiden sekä kansainvälisten opiskelijoiden rekrytointia. Aion panostaa siihen, että kansainväliset opiskelijamme otetaan hyvin vastaan, koska itsekin ulkomalla opiskelleena tiedän miten paljon ystävällinen vastaanotto uuteen maahan merkitsee. Kansainvälisyys on tätä päivää.

I will try to promote our field since there are a lot of opportunities here. Having entered the department as an outsider myself, I have noticed the various possibilities in this field. I will pay attention to recruiting talented students with urban background and students from abroad. Also I’ll try and make sure our international students have a smooth and warm start for their studies in Viikki, because from my own experiences as a student in a foreign country I know how important it is.. Internationality is today’s world.

11.   Mitä haluat kysyä seuraavalta haastateltavalta? What question would you like to pose to the person we interview next?

Millainen Viikin kampus on kymmenen vuoden päästä? What is Viikki campus like in 10 years?

Educating future experts – meet our international students

Plant production sciences, environment and natural resources, biotechnology. Those are the disciplines in which our department offers international Master’s Programmes. The three programmes, PPS, MENVI and MBIOT, have attracted over 100 students to our department from around the world since 2005. We took a little time to interview our international students for the blog.

Atte, Catherine and Farhan are all students in MENVI, Master’s Degree Programme in Environment and Natural Resources. The programme is a shared one between two departments. In MENVI students choose between four majors, agroecology, environmental engineering in agriculture, microbiology or environmental soil science. The three chose MENVI because they were interested in environmental and sustainability issues. “My background in Bachelor level education was in agriculture, and I was looking for something in Finland”, Catherine explains.

Learning about agriculture

“Before coming to Finland, I only had a general picture about agriculture. Now that I’ve taken specific courses on agricultural production, I am confident about developing such systems in my own country”, Farhan says when asked if his expectations have been met when studying in MENVI. “But I could have learned even more about plants and animals, basic agricultural stuff”, he continues. Catherine and Atte agree. They think some pre-reading or introductory courses to agriculture might have helped in their studies. “There could be a joint introductory course about agriculture for all MENVI students, at least for us in agroecology and environmental engineering in agriculture”, Farhan suggests.

Getting started

MENVI students from left: Atte Penttilä (agroecology), Catherine Schreurs (agroecology), Sobowale Sotunde (environmental engineering in agriculture), Farhan Pavel Kobi (environmental engineering in agriculture)

A smooth start is always important for settling in, especially in a foreign country. “I was really amazed by the first meeting with my professor, Laura Alakukku. When she saw me, she already knew my name and was very helpful”, Farhan says. Catherine said it took her a little time to adapt to the studying rhythm. Atte remembers that tutors were helpful and there was a nice crowd of people around.

All three have found great friends in the programme. “Friends are really the best memory for me, I’ve been lucky”, Farhan sums up.

Inspiration along the study road

Finally, we asked if there were any particular persons who have acted as mentors or inspiration for our interviewees during their MENVI studies. Atte begins: “For me, it has been Tomas Roslin, the supervisor for my Master’s thesis. One could say he is a super supervisor.” Farhan continues: “In my studies, our department’s PhD student Mikko Hakojärvi has been a great teacher and support”. “I’ve been impressed by Irina Herzon and her teaching methods”, Catherine finishes the list.

Next time we’ll interview some of our PPS and MBIOT students. Stay tuned!