University of Helsinki
The 2015–2016 academic year is launching in style on Monday 31st August. The opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the University’s Main Building at 12.15 will feature Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and Carlos Moedas, the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation. After the event, the guests will form a procession and move to an ecumenical service at Helsinki Cathedral. At the same time, a nondenominational event will be held in the Language Centre festival hall.
Following the official ceremonies, at 14.00 the streets and alleyways of the City Centre Campus will become the setting for the opening carnival. The programme will feature a bouncy castle, a science sauna on wheels, pop-up shows put on by students and cheap ice cream in seasonal flavours.
The University’s student organisations and other institutions will have info stalls in Porthania and the Main Building simultaneously. Come find people with similar interests or hear what the organisations and the University have to offer!
The opening day will end with an open science panel discussion in the Great Hall of the Main Building, featuring Commissioner Moedas and Chancellor Thomas Wilhelmsson among others.
The opening ceremony and open science panel discussion can be viewed also live online
Visit the website of the Student Union for more on the opening carnival programme
Text: Tiina Palomäki
Photo: Linda Tammisto