Month: January 2023

Marius Junkkarinen participated in vocational training in the space physics group during a week in December, and writes:

Hey! I’m currently in 9th grade, at Järvenperän koulu. I spent my one week work practice here at University of Helsinki, with the Vlasiator space physics group in the department of physics. I decided to apply here, because I’ve been interested in space since I was little. I found out about this place by searching the websites of the Universities located in Espoo and Helsinki.

During the week I got to know what it’s like to be a space physicist. I also participated in a science meeting, and a few seminars, which were about fusion energy, astrophotography and space applications about plasma physics. My main project of the week was to take good looking 3D renders of velocity distribution functions using Blender, and then make a poster about that. Here’s a few photos about that.

Overall, the week was very rewarding, as I learned a lot of new stuff. If your TET-week will be soon, and you are interested in space and physics, consider applying here! You can find contacts from here: https://www.helsinki.fi/fi/tutustu-meihin/ihmiset/henkilohaku. The people working here seem motivated to do their job.

The UH Space Physics Group is recruiting summer trainees!

We are offering several positions which will challenge and inspire new space scientists, with topics ranging from solar eruptions such as coronal mass ejections to the complicated plasma dynamics of near-Earth space. Most projects will use either the world’s most accurate space weather simulation Vlasiator or the leading European space weather simulation EUHFORIA, both developed by members of our groups. Some projects will also include direct analysis of satellite observation datasets. Experience with Python and basics of plasma physics are a plus, but not required. Most positions provide an excellent topic for BSc or MSc theses!

A short overview of some of our offered topics are listed below, some full descriptions and staff members who can answer your questions can be found in our thesis section. Please indicate in your application which projects you are interested in and any preference between modelling, observations/data analysis or theory. Also, please indicate if you would like to do your BSc or MSc work based on your summer trainee work.

Please apply for these positions through the University of Helsinki Department of Physics summer trainee application system by 31.1.2023! These positions are open only to students enrolled at the University of Helsinki.

Continue reading “Recruiting summer trainees for 2023”

TET-harjoittelijat Anna Pärssinen ja Aurora Airaksinen tekivät myös haastattelun Kumpulan kampuksella. He haastattelivat opiskelijoita tarkoituksena selvittää mitä he ajattelivat avaruusfysiikasta. 

Kysymykset olivat

• Kuinka kiinnostavalta avaruusfysiikka kuulostaa asteikolla 1-10?
• Mikä on ensimmäinen asia, joka tulee mieleen avaruusfysiikasta?

Kyselyyn vastasi yhteensä 30 henkilöä, joiden pääaineet vaihtelivat fysiikasta taloustieteeseen ja psykologiaan. 

Keskiarvoksi avaruusfysiikan kiinnostavuus sai 8 (keskihajonta 1.7). Kun ottaa huomioon asteikon (1-10) tämä taitaa olla ihan hyvä tulos.  Vastauksien jakautumisen näkee alla olevasta kaaviosta

Toiseen kysymykseen tuli runsaasti erilaisia vastauksia.

Continue reading “Kiinnostaako avaruusfysiikka?”