Author: Ashenafi Legehar

Career seminar: Working outside academia

13^th  of May 2024

17h00-19h00

Viikki Info Centre room K1088

Helsingin yliopiston loimulaiset HYLO ry arranges a career seminar event on Monday 13 May 2024 in collaboration with Viikki Postdoctoral Association (ViPA). Come to hear career stories from the private and public world (outside academia): What to expect when moving from academia to other sectors? What opportunities do companies offer to academics?

We will have speakers from three organizations and a Loimu career representative:

Sonja Klärck, Senior territory account manager, Illumina

 Mari Kekkonen, PhD, AI Engineer, Silo AI

Outi Ala-Honkola, PhD, Senior Specialist on biodiversity, Ministry of the Environment

Suvi Liikkanen, Loimu Career Services presenting: “As an international talent in Finland – what is Loimu doing for us?”

There is a possibility for discussion after the presentations.

Vegan salty snacks will be served. The event is free of charge.

Registration before the 5^th of May at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScawCkahnP6vhEYaxMgieYqwAED9KmZrKpA0qr3Bg-sEL_ecQ/viewform

Career thinking through climate urgency

24^th  April, 2024

16h00-18h00

Viikki Think Corner company (Latokartanonkaari 3)

Careers are often a stressful time for young researchers. Amid the climate crisis and the growing consequences, the uncertainty and the anxiety related to academics day-to-day work, and life is growing. Come to listen to and discuss with career professionals studying this matter as well as fellow academics engaged into climate awareness.

About our speakers:

Dr. Panu Pihkala (b. 1979, he/his) is an adjunct professor of environmental theology (Title of Docent) at the University of Helsinki. He is currently known as a leading expert in interdisciplinary eco-anxiety research. Pihkala is the author of several books about eco-emotions in Finnish and he has received many awards in Finland for his work with eco-anxiety. He hosts the podcast “Climate Change and Happiness” with pioneering environmental psychologist Thomas Doherty. Pihkala has developed practical methods for eco-emotion work and he leads workshops often in collaboration with artists and/or educators. He serves as an advisor for many practical projects especially in Finland.

Heini Hult-Miekkavaara is as a career counsellor at the University of Helsinki and head and coordinator of the Aarresaari career services’ network. She also a member of the steering group for the implementation of the university’s sustainability and responsibility strategy. She is interested in post-fossil careers and how career counseling can play a transformative role in the sustainability transition. She has just embarked on a research of young activists’ thoughts on the future, work and career in the context of the eco-social crisis.

Scientist Rebellion Finland: Scientist Rebellion primarily consists of scientists, scholars, and academics and is geared towards mobilizing the academic community to engage in non-violent civil disobedience.

Registration : https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/129266/lomake.html

What would my research look like as a startup company?

20^th March, 2024

16h00-17h30

Viikki Think Corner company (Latokartanonkaari 3)

Organized with VIPA and Helsinki Incubators, discover how would your research be as a startup company.

In this workshop, we will let our creative confidence shine. Our goal is to understand what impact your topic of research and studies could have to the world as an innovation or a company. We will learn what it takes from an invention such as discovery of “electricity” to become a system changing innovation in societies and how us researchers are central part of the world’s novelties!

This workshop will consist of short introduction to the topic, brainstorming exercises, and understanding your role in the envisioned future. You will experience the different steps that forge the startup culture, using associations thinking, brainstorming and following startup team structure models to understand what your unique position is in making the innovation become reality.

For example, we are able to use the newest AI tool which we have in Helsinki Incubators to generate business plans from research during the workshop to give concrete examples of participants’ own research.

The event is organized with VIPA and Helsinki Incubators. Santeri Tuovila is the workshop host, with experience in organizing several innovation and startup programmes as well as self-development workshops and courses.

After work – Game night

27^th February, 2024

17h30-20h30

Coolhead Brewery (Koetilantie 1)

Come and meet the other postdocs of Viikki campus around boardgames. It is the perfect opportunity of knowing who is working in the next room/building in a relax atmosphere. Enjoy some drinks and/or pizzas from CoolHead brew. Discuss with the board members of ViPA about the next events or possible involvements in the association.