Science Night LIVE! at Heureka is an evening full of inspiring stories, fascinating research, and good vibes! The event will take place on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Heureka, the Finnish Science Center in Vantaa. This year's theme is “Science solving problems”. The event is organised by E2 Research, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, and Heureka. Tieteen tiedotus is funding the event.  

The multidisciplinary, diverse, and nationwide nature of the event is reflected in the selection of speakers. 

The first confirmed speakers taking the stage in March are: 

• Rosa Maria Ballardini, Professor, IP law, and Vice Dean, Faculty of Law (University of Lapland).  
• Klaus Grobys, Associate Professor, Finance, School of Accounting and Finance (University of Vaasa) 
• Miloš Mladenović, Associate Professor, Transportation Engineering, School of Engineering (Aalto University) 
• Adam Smale, Professor, Management and Business Administration, and the Dean at the School of Management (University of Vaasa) 
• Chiara Valentini, Professor and Head of Corporate Communication, School of Business and Economics (University of Jyväskylä) 
• Julia Valle Noronha, Assistant Professor, Fashion Design, Department of Design (Aalto University) 
• Paola Vivo, Associate Professor, Materials Chemistry, specifically Solar-Driven Chemistry (Tampere University) 
• Sam White, Professor of Political History, Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Helsinki)
• Baoru Yang, Professor, Food Sciences, and Vice Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering (University of Turku)

The first hosts recruited for facilitating the event are entrepreneurs with ties to the University of Turku through studies or work: Megha Goswami and Kristaps Kovalonoks (Couple of Expats) for the main stage, and Khalil Shahramian for the pitching competition (Science Pitchers). 

The Science Night LIVE! at Heureka consists of several formats in which researchers can share their scientific knowledge, insights on research work, and experiences on their personal path as a researcher while becoming familiar with stakeholders and the wider public in Finland. Event formats are described in more detail here.

The speakers announced today will appear in the panel discussion on the main stage or in the more intimate Science Theater setting, where researchers share their stories under the theme of “My research topic and I”. The recruitment of speakers continues for the “Pitching competition” and “Interviews in the media stage” as the Call for Speakers is open until January 27 for these two formats. 

The pitching competition prizes (6 000 euros) will be allocated by a jury including event partner representatives from Business Finland, CGI Finland, Technology Industries of Finland and The Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers.

The work of event organisers is supported by the Dean Team, which includes representatives from eight Finnish universities. 

 “Deans’ generous support for the event and help in identifying speakers have been highly valuable. In the next wave of speaker recruitment, we hope to receive applications across a wide selection of universities and other research organisations, and from scholars of all career stages,” Director Mari K. Niemi from E2 Research explains. 

The importance of the event is widely acknowledged across Finnish universities, as the Dean Team members elaborate: 

“Finland is home to a vast number of talented international academics who have a lot to offer to society. For example, some are contributing to policy issues, others are developing novel applications that Finns - and indeed people of all nationalities - benefit from. Science Night LIVE! is a great platform to showcase some of this talent, and to spread the word about scientific innovation in Finland.”  
Vice Dean, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Neil Cronin, University of Jyväskylä 

“Finland is facing an increasing shortage of skilled employees in several areas of science and technology. Our goal is to improve the integration of foreign scholars into Finnish working life, where their exceptional expertise can help in solving key problems in various societal sectors.”  
Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Martti Kauranen, Tampere University

What? 

Science Night LIVE! at Heureka is a multidisciplinary science communication and networking event – an evening full of inspiring stories, fascinating research, and good vibes!  

Where and when? 

The event will take place on Wednesday, 29 March 2023 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Heureka, the Finnish Science Center in Vantaa. This year's theme is “Science solving problems”.  

To Whom? 

All academics, stakeholders, media, and the wider public are warmly welcome to join the event as the audience. The speakers will be recruited amongst foreign academics living and working in Finland. 

Why? 

Science Night LIVE! at Heureka’s goal is to help Finnish media, decision-makers, companies, and third-sector organisations in finding the expertise of foreign scholars working in Finland. Equally, we want to offer international academics in Finland opportunities for societal engagement with the public and stakeholders. 

Who are the organisers? 

The event is organised by E2 Research, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, and Heureka. Organisers’ work is supported by the “Dean Team” which is comprised of representatives from eight Finnish universities.

Who are the funders and partners?

Tieteen tiedotus is funding the event. Our partners for the pitching competition are Business Finland, CGI Finland, Technology Industries of Finland (Teknologiateollisuus) and The Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (Tieteentekijöiden liitto, FUURT).

Event Contact Person: 
Venni Arra 
venni.arra@e2.fi
Specialist, E2 Research

Chair of the Organising Team:
Mari K. Niemi 
mari.k.niemi@e2.fi 
Director, E2 Research 

Twitter: @SciNightLive